The site experienced issues yesterday that prevented comments from appearing, which are now more-or-less resolved. However, this involved a lot of plugin updates that might cause certain of the site’s features to misfire for a while. One issue seems to be that comments pagination wasn’t working on the previous thread, hence the need for a new thread despite me not having all that much to relate. Except:
• The Association of Market and Social Research Organisations has published its report into the 2019 opinion poll failure, which is important and a big deal, but such has been the pace of events lately that I haven’t had time to really look at it yet. Kevin Bonham has though, and he elaborates upon the report’s analysis of historical federal poll performance by looking at state polls as well, which fail to replicate a finding that polls have a general skew to Labor.
• Recounts in the Queensland cliffhanger seats of Bundaberg and Nicklin confirmed Labor’s narrow victories, by nine rather than the original 11 votes in Bundaberg, and by 85 rather than the original 79 in Nicklin.
• Simon Benson of The Australian reports privately commissioned post-Queensland election polling by JWS Research found 24% rated “economy, jobs and living costs” as the most important issue, with COVID-19 on 15%, the state’s border arrangements in response on 14% (one might well think the results for these two responses should be combined), environment and climate change on 9%, health on 8% and infrastructure on 6%.
I can’t believe Trump simply ran out of hair colouring. Trump plays to his supporters. His hair colour is part of his makeup. He is now in a short Act III and the theatrical curtain is coming. So he’s trying for “presidential silver-haired statesman”. And perhaps he’s playing the sympathy card, for his supporters.
This is frickin hilarious
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
1m
I would like to file a motion that the music from the Creature Cantina be played in the courtroom when one or all appear. You couldn’t get
@JudgeJeanine
. LOL.
Quote Tweet
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
· 12m
I look forward to Mayor Giuliani spearheading the legal effort to defend OUR RIGHT to FREE and FAIR ELECTIONS! Rudy Giuliani, Joseph diGenova, Victoria Toensing, Sidney Powell, and Jenna Ellis, a truly great team, added to our other wonderful lawyers and representatives!
Donny Deutsch is on the money about Trump as usual:
https://youtu.be/a8-hcg9VHdg
Trump is going to become a TV Evangelist! A TV political evangelist and he has already secured the patent for ‘Telerallies’.
Lol, dirty old bastard thinks he is going to make a comeback in 2024. Just has to keep serving up the Trump brand Kool Aid to the MAGAts.
You could almost feel sympathetic for this pathetic individual. Almost.
Late Riser
It looks a pretty true blue yankee RWNJ outfit. I suppose “The Russians” serve the same purpose many Labor “devotees” here use the ‘Eeeevil Greens’. Someone to blame for your own failings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parler#cite_note-fortune-21
Player One:
Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 2:10 pm
[‘The hair will probably leave of its own accord. Trump will have to be dragged out.’]
It’s shocking that you’d take the piss out of a work of art. Such is its wonder that it will probably be housed in the Smithsonian; the owner of it, in Rikers Island, pending trial. And, I beg to differ on his mode of departure. As posted earlier, if he’s still there after noon on January, 20, he’ll be treated as an old man who has lost his way and gently escorted to a waiting prison van.
Number of the Beast!
In a bizarre coincidence, the number of children Mr Trump has irreparably separated from their parents is 666!
The yankee elections have long been not fit for purpose. Which seems just the way the GOP wants it to be.
………………………………………………………………………
Jimmy Carter Tried to Make It Easier to Vote in 1977. The Right Stopped Him With the Same Arguments It’s Using Today
AUGUST 20, 2020 3:32 PM EDT
The president was concerned that America ranked twenty-first in voter participation among the world’s democracies. He argued that the problem was not voter apathy but that “millions of Americans are prevented or discouraged from voting in every election by antiquated and overly restrictive voter registration laws”—…………….a conservative newspaper, was bannered, “ELECTION ‘REFORM’ PACKAGE: EUTHANASIA FOR THE GOP.”
https://time.com/5881305/president-carter-election-reform/
Victoriasays: Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 2:26 pm
This is frickin hilarious
Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump
I look forward to Mayor Giuliani spearheading the legal effort to defend OUR RIGHT to FREE and FAIR ELECTIONS! Rudy Giuliani, Joseph diGenova, Victoria Toensing, Sidney Powell, and Jenna Ellis, a truly great team, added to our other wonderful lawyers and representatives!
**********************************************************************
‘A truly great team’: Trump praises Giuliani for his legal team of ‘wonderful lawyers’
President Donald Trump legal efforts have backfired, but nonetheless he is praising attorney Rudy Giuliani.
“Rather than revealing widespread — or even isolated — fraud, the effort by Trump’s legal team has so far done the opposite: It’s affirmed the integrity of the election that Trump lost. Nearly every GOP challenge has been tossed out.
Not a single vote has been overturned,” The Washington Post reported Saturday.
Late Riser
Re time to immunise community.
It should be noted that this year the commonwealth bought 18 million doses of flu vaccine. I don’t know how many were used but I’m guessing most. Flu vaccination season lasts about 6-8 weeks with little attached fuss.
With appropriate resources and campaign Australia could reach herd immunity levels within a few months.
That may work after an election if the author of that text wins. But right now she is campaigning and “Russian money” would work as an attack. It adds weight to the idea that she is afraid, in hiding, and un-American.
Cant wait until the orange fool has to leave the White House or dragged kicking and screaming.
C@tmomma:
Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 2:32 pm
[‘You could almost feel sympathetic for this pathetic individual. Almost.’]
I might feel sorry for him if he was suffering from endogenous depression or even a crossover with reactive. But his is substantially reactive resulting from
the appalling way he’s treated, fooled the American people, and the fact that he’s been fired by them. A one-term president who also had Articles of Impeachment passed by the HOR – a record, not likely to be repeated.
Victoria:
That’s only because the Benny Hill theme has not made it south of the Canadian border.
Up in Canada (and for enthusiasts of the genre) there is this:
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlirlXccYI
(make sure you watch past 2:02 minutes at least…, and no skipping forward!)
Oakeshott Country
Thanks. Backs of envelopes are fraught places. But I’ve since had another thought on the time frame. Some of the vaccines I’ve read about don’t provide permanent immunity. If immunity is not permanent then the strategy will fail unless everyone is inoculated within the time it takes for immunity to decay. And then that leads to the question of what happens afterwards. Do we re-inoculate everyone on a rolling basis, or pull up the drawbridge, or..?
Your question about sticks and carrots still has me thinking. The solution has to be straightforward. I’m not sure we’ve an answer yet. Happy to be wrong on that.
Can you imagine what the conspiracy theorists and Anti Vaxxers (pretty much one and the same these days), will make of frequent COVID-19 vaccination?
Trump tweeted the names of his Giuliani-led legal team — and hilarity ensued: ‘Can’t stop laughing’
Those five couldn’t litigate their way out of a parking ticket https://t.co/QADiGpfmTl — Aaron Rupar
60% of this team has worked for or with the Russian mafia. https://t.co/CtVsugOd18 — Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman
Maybe @RudyGiuliani can get advice from the Russian intelligence asset he worked with. They know so much about free and fair elections. https://t.co/RzqGnkUR7B — David Corn
When no real lawyers want to touch you anymore lol https://t.co/ejcjkz8MMe — MeidasTouch
Lol Giuliani is just as delusional and demented as you are . Accept the Facts already and stop embarrassing yourself more than you already have . We the American People have Spoken . Move on https://t.co/ZRtUOt5nrn — Sherry Chaves
C@tmomma @ #165 Sunday, November 15th, 2020 – 2:04 pm
Yep. Sadly. And now I’m back to pessimism.
There’s an excellent doco on Netflix covering the election of six presidents, starting with Andrew Jackson, through to Bill Clinton. I found JFK’s rise to the top to be the most interesting, giving a clue to as to why Nixon became known as “Tricky Dicky”.
Speaking about Trump possibly having to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the White House, here’s how Rick Wilson sees it:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-final-hissy-fit-is-petty-illegal-and-stupid
And up here in the Sunshine State
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/strength-experience-and-hunger-qld-s-lnp-leader-names-new-frontbench-20201115-p56eo9.html
Frankly, he sounds lost. I’m strong, old, and need feeding? But then again perhaps he’s only speaking to his party.
Condolences to Kristina Kenneally and her family on the loss of her father.
https://twitter.com/KKeneally/status/1327783874710028288?s=19
C@tmommasays: Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Speaking about Trump possibly having to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the White House, here’s how Rick Wilson sees it:
he’ll grump and preen and pretend he’s not leaving, but he’s leaving. For good.
*****************************************************
….. we can dream …..
https://ibb.co/3zMmd46
Mavis @2:06 PM.
… Absent a strong wind when boarding an aircraft, [Trump’s hair] has been a wonderful work of art.
Perhaps his hairdresser should talk to Michaela Cash’s.
Cash is the female equivalent of Trump.
“Cash is the female equivalent of Trump.”
Hair, hair!
Australian businesses, universities and healthcare providers will be given access to 14 countries in the largest free-trade deal ever signed, as the federal government attempts to turn the new trading bloc into a circuit-breaker in its spiralling trade dispute with China.
Following eight years of highly secretive negotiations, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will be signed on Sunday after agreements were reached across the $30-trillion market by Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations including Indonesia and Vietnam.
The Australian government will use the European Union-style trade bloc in the Indo-Pacific to pull China back into multilateral negotiations and end trade disputes that have hit a dozen Australian industries and threatened $20 billion of exports.
“The ball is very much in China’s court to come to the table for that dialogue,” Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/mega-free-trade-deal-a-lifeline-for-australia-china-relations-20201112-p56dx8.html
Bloody hell & forsooth! My obsessively crafted comment on COVID-19 vaccination (essentially – it ain’t flu, don’t hold your breath) just got eaten when posted – just like last night. Doth the hack persist, perchance?
MODERATORS
The changes to page navigation make your site unusable
You have to start at page 1, scroll to bottom of page, select NEWER COMMENTS
Tiresome if coming back at 176 comments brutal if there are 1800 comments
I am using Chrome & Brave on an iPad
Hope this can be rectified soon
Grrr.
dfat has had its teeth pulled through lack of funding.
rhwombat and Billie
The problems seem very variable. I’m using Chrome on a desktop and having no trouble at all. I expect William is trying his best to bring us all into line, but the blog seems a fractious beast.
Not sure what the stress is, LR.
We vaccinate for flu every year, in increasingly large numbers, and covering a majority of the population. That’s a purely voluntary vaccine – it has none of the compulsions which are applied to childhood ones, for example – and yet there’s something like a 75% acceptance rate.
Secondly, there’s no need for 100% vaccination rates. As I’ve pointed out before, the smallpox program never achieved that – realised very early that it was, in fact, impossible – and yet smallpox was eradicated.
Thirdly, you assume that the rest of the world isn’t vaccinating. There’s no need for that assumption.
If Australia is basically COVID free (which looks entirely possible), then 100% vaccination certainly isn’t imperative. You would ensure that people entering the country were COVID free – vaccination and a clear test being part of the visa conditions.
Most countries are likely to impose such conditions, which means that anyone who does any travel will be vaccinated as a matter of course. It would be quite likely that better tracking of international travellers would become common place as well (everywhere we went in China we had to carry our passports, and these were scanned when we booked travel or accommodation – not onerous or intrusive but this kind of tracking would allow quick contact tracing where necessary).
Vaccines would thus only be needed (i) to contain outbreaks (which should be seldom and isolated) and (ii) to provide extra protection – just in case – for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and immuno-compromised.
A few common sense measures would mean the virus would be increasingly rare and isolated.
lizzie @ #182 Sunday, November 15th, 2020 – 4:12 pm
I am using Firefox on a laptop with the C+ installed and having no issues. For me the blog stopped at 7:15pm last night until restarted with this new thread this morning.
Same here.
zoomster
What’s your opinion on the ‘expert’ push to stop wearing masks?
zoomster
The question is whether or not we will eliminate the virus within Australia, before a vaccine arrives. If we haven’t by then (next April or so) then I think the argument for high rates of vaccination will be set in stone. I also think the timetable (end of next year) is actually pessimistic. So that’s why I’m not bothered that much by the prioritisation.
Incidentally there was an article yesterday (don’t have a link) stating that prioritisation of the vaccine should be towards those who travel (domestically as well as internationally). There’s some logic to this. A 80-90 percent effective vaccine targeted at the vulnerable will still not protect some vulnerable people. But a vaccine targeted in a way that finalises elimination will fully protect the vulnerable.
lizzie
My opinion is that these “experts” need their heads shoved up their ass.
zoomster, I hope you’re right. But:
Covid-19 isn’t flu, but an annual jab might be acceptable to most people. I don’t know how the epidemiology works, but that might be enough to keep a lid on it.
Regarding smallpox, yes there is hope. But as far as I know smallpox vaccinations don’t expire and it is less contagious. Symptoms too, I think, are noticeable before it becomes contagious. Then depending on how you measure it it took 20 years to eradicate smallpox, but it was decades after we knew how before the world got serious about eliminating smallpox.
At this point in time while I see us living mostly as before, “clusters” and “local lockdowns” will be part of life. And travel will be impacted for years to come. If I may coin the term, I see “quarantels” being built for incoming travellers. That in itself will profoundly change international travel.
I hope I’m wrong.
To those who haven’t read far enough back. William posted saying that he thinks the blog was hacked and he had to restart it from a backup. There is functionality still missing.
LR
Covid isn’t flu and that’s actually a good thing. Its not able to evolve and evade as fast as flu can.
Is it true Morisson used our money to buy a new vip plane but won’t fund bushfire aircraft?
One thing that does cheer me a lot is that the resources poured into a covid vaccine will advance science. We may well see breakthroughs on other viruses as a result. Paradoxically, covid has done us a favour.
CC
When you say, “I also think the timetable (end of next year) is actually pessimistic.”, do you mean that you think we’ll see a vaccine before then?
Cud Chewer
The anti-mask brigade are frequently being quoted in The Age and ABC. Insisting that masks are a political move, not a health recommendation. I’d rather be cautious, myself, butI fear there’ll be enthusiasm from the “freedom” brigade..
Rnm1953
YES!
LR
I’m expecting to see a vaccine being rolled out here in Australia by March. My comment was more about the timeline after that.
It will be interesting to see what our media makes of it when a a vaccine starts rolling out in the US well before us.
Rnm1953
Sorry to shout, but I live in a vulnerable area where water bombers would make a difference.
lizzie
I’m not sure what ‘experts’ you’re referring to!
The expert experts seem to be in favour of mask wearing.
My only thought is that, if there is no community transmission, then they’re not necessary.
Making people do things where they can’t see a clear reason for them can be counter productive. If it’s clear that masks need to be worn for a ‘clear and present’ danger, there’ll be more compliance than if it’s just something one does to avoid being fined.
So I’d opt for mask wearing as a temporary requirement where there is good reason – for example, there has been a case identified in a particular locality, or the sewerage testing suggests there’s COVID in the community.
But I’m no sort of expert – unlike 99% of the rest of the world, I’m not an epidemiologist.