Dennis Shanahan of The Australian, who is always well plugged into government’s line of tactical thinking, wrote on Monday on the likelihood of a federal election in the second half of this year ($) rather than the first half of the next, that being the full extent of the window for a normal election of the House of Representatives and half the Senate. This basically boils down to a view that the government’s perceived current dominance means the sooner it goes the better, tempered by a desire to avoid an election in winter.
An unidentified Liberal MP quoted in The Australian ($) said they were “almost certain” they were “almost certain” the election would be in August or September, although another felt November more likely since an earlier election would be seen as too opportunistic. Why November would be a whole lot better on that count is unclear, since there seems to be no particular obstacle to Morrison holding out until May next year, by which time it will have been a full three years since the last election. For what it’s worth, the latter MP was also quoted saying it “also depends on if Labor ditch Anthony Albanese and get someone more electable”.
In more definite news for the year ahead, the Western Australian state election is set for March 13 — I am presently furiously hard at work on my election guide, which I can assure those of you who like that kind of thing will be a classic of its genre. As for opinion polling, the silly season proved no obstacle to Newspoll last year, which opened its account with a poll conducted from Wednesday, January 8 and Saturday, January 11, so there may be action on that front this or (probably more likely) next weekend.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Matthew Knott reviews yesterday’s events in Washington and Trump describing his as “the greatest first term in presidential history”.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/he-lit-the-flame-republican-fury-at-trump-for-inciting-mob-violence-20210107-p56sf9.html
Democracy is a mindset and Americans are losing it, opines Peter Hartcher. It’s not a pretty picture that he describes.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/democracy-is-a-mindset-and-americans-are-losing-it-20210107-p56si7.html
The SMH editorial calls for Trump to face a reckoning for the insane attack on Congress.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-must-face-a-reckoning-for-the-insane-attack-on-congress-20210107-p56sh9.html
Nick O’Malley writes that the two narrow victories in the senate run-off elections in Georgia will have significant national and global ramifications. As a result of these wins, he says, US President-elect Joe Biden now stands a chance of becoming a president of consequence.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-two-tiny-victories-that-may-reshape-the-biden-presidency-20210107-p56shg.html
An upset Bob Carr writes that the Capitol chaos is just the first act, saying the Republican party is shattered and civility is not coming back.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/capitol-chaos-is-just-the-first-act-the-republican-party-is-shattered-and-civility-is-not-coming-back-20210107-p56sdw.html
Bill Wyman, formerly from the NPR, writes about the confederacy of dunces mobbing the US Congress. “Goons and poltroons” he calls them.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/goons-and-poltroons-a-confederacy-of-dunces-mobs-us-congress-20210107-p56scj.html
Facebook and Instagram will bar President Donald Trump from posting on its system at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, and possibly longer, the platform said. So, come on down, Twitter!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/facebook-bans-donald-trump-for-the-remainder-of-his-presidency-20210108-p56sjm.html
Paul Kelly, now, says that the demagogue Donald Trump has proved he was never fit to be president. He writes that Biden’s position in terms of institutional power has strengthened each day, and Trump’s only resort against him is mob incitement, which comes at the ongoing erosion of Republican support.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/demagogue-donald-trump-proves-he-was-never-fit-to-be-president/news-story/ba36ade45e6bb2fe3b792c0d5599722a
Australia has taken strides to defeat disinformation from authoritarian states, but Scott Morrison must be able to counter it from his own MPs and Australia’s allies too, writes Anthony Galloway.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-needs-to-counter-australian-and-american-disinformation-too-20210107-p56sgh.html
John Kehoe simply says that Trump has blood on his hands.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/trump-has-blood-on-his-hands-20210107-p56scb
Emma Shortis stridently writes that there’s a lot of blame to go around for the chaos in the Capitol, but some belongs to Australia, she says.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/there-s-a-lot-of-blame-to-go-around-for-the-chaos-in-the-capitol-but-some-belongs-to-australia-20210107-p56sfg.html
A dispirited Steve Evans tells us about the toxic legacy of the conman in chief. He gives Rupert Murdoch a big all out, too!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7077398/the-toxic-legacy-of-the-conman-in-chief/?cs=14329
Legislators are vowing to conduct an investigation into how law enforcement handled Wednesday’s violent breach at the US Capitol, questioning whether an “embarrassing” lack of preparedness allowed a mob to occupy and vandalise the building.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/lawmakers-vow-investigation-over-embarrassing-washington-security-failure-20210107-p56shw.html
A first batch of rioters who stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, at the encouragement of Donald Trump in his futile bid to overturn his election defeat were due in court in Washington DC, to face charges today.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/07/trump-rioters-stormed-capitol-court-charges
Leaders around the world have expressed shock at the storming of the Capitol in the United States, a country they once relied upon for global leadership, but Morrison stopped short of levelling any criticism onto Trump.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/threat-to-democracy-world-leaders-appalled-by-storming-of-us-capitol-20210107-p56sdn.html
The Guardian’s Jason Wilson tells us how right-wing media reacted to Trump’s mob.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/07/rightwing-media-reaction-trump-mob-capitol
There’s a great way the US and the European Union could together address two huge challenges in one policy sweep. It’s to create a transatlantic “carbon club,” suggests Andreas Kluth.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/biden-and-the-eu-can-forge-a-new-path-on-global-warming-20210107-p56scp.html
We must not become complacent about testing for COVID-19. It is the most effective way of potentially stopping its spread, exhorts epidemiologist, Catherin Bennett.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/national-minimum-testing-standard-key-to-fighting-this-virus-20210107-p56sed.html
According to Liam Mannix, a mutant strain of the coronavirus which scientists believe was a precursor to the highly infectious British variant escaped hotel quarantine in Victoria in June during the state’s second wave, but the public was not told about it at the time.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/public-kept-in-dark-after-mutant-virus-seen-in-victoria-s-second-wave-20210107-p56sa3.html
John Kehoe says that Biden’s Senate win will send a climate alarm to Morrison.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/biden-s-senate-win-sends-a-climate-alarm-to-morrison-20210106-p56s8g
Angela McDonald-Smith reports that oil refiners and fuel storage providers will from Monday be able to bid for grants of up to $33.3 million from the Morrison government to build diesel storage facilities in a move intended to increase the country’s fuel security and provide a lift for struggling refineries.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/diesel-storage-contracts-up-for-grabs-20210107-p56sd9
Health authorities have cracked down on a number of wildly inaccurate rapid Covid-19 antibody test kits being pushed on to the Australian market, cancelling approvals, issuing fines and pledging to investigate one supplier marketing an unapproved device.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/08/authorities-crack-down-on-inaccurate-rapid-covid-antibody-test-kits-in-australia
Rex Patrick says the government is undermining the entire FOI system, with an underfunded commissioner overloaded with challenges. Christopher Knaus says that the office that reviews government decisions to withhold or redact information will soon be swamped by a massive workload.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/08/australias-freedom-of-information-regime-heading-for-a-train-smash-senator-says
Harriett Alexander explains how wealthy Sydneysiders are spending up to $6 million on lawyers to wring out favourable property settlements in their divorce proceedings and litigation funders are moving into family law, paying the fees upfront in exchange for a percentage of the settlement. Bloody parasites!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/6-million-in-legal-fees-the-high-price-of-getting-a-divorce-in-sydney-20210106-p56s4k.html
Coal generation fell to its lowest level in the history of the modern power grid last year, as cheaper solar and wind generation surged, and coal’s retreat was exacerbated by maintenance and outages in NSW’s coal fleet.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/coal-generation-drops-to-lowest-ever-in-modern-power-grid-20210106-p56s7y
The Conversation explains how Australia can phase out coal power while maintaining energy security.
https://theconversation.com/how-australia-can-phase-out-coal-power-while-maintaining-energy-security-152747
Australia seems hell-bent of damaging its economic security in the interests of being in the vanguard of a growing international anti-China “cabal”, writes William Briggs.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/australia-china-and-the-weaponising-of-trade,14673
Michael Pascoe explains how, in a worst-case scenario, a $1 super levy increase is worth 12.5% more than a $1 wage rise.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/01/07/michael-pascoe-superannuation-guarantee-increase-wages/
What happened in Washington DC is happening around the world, warns Cas Mudde.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/07/what-happened-in-washington-dc-is-happening-around-the-world
Look at the Capitol Hill rioters, and now imagine if they had been black, writes Derecka Purnell.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/07/capitol-hill-trump-rioters-race-power
David Smith sets out to explain what was behind Trump supporters’ brazen storming of the Capitol.
https://theconversation.com/delighting-in-causing-complete-chaos-whats-behind-trump-supporters-brazen-storming-of-the-capitol-152808
Matthew Knott introduces us to the Americans who believe Trump’s election fraud lies. Such a fine and inspiring bunch!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/meet-the-americans-who-believe-trump-s-election-fraud-lies-20210107-p56s9i.html
As a former reality TV star, Donald Trump knows better than most the power of the visual medium, and he could use it to make more than $1 billion a year and keep the Republican party running scared, says the AFR.
https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/get-ready-for-truth-free-trump-tv-20210107-p56sb2
Multiple nominee for “Arsehole of the Week”, Salim Mejajer, is back in court again having allegedly using a recorded prison phone call to ask his sister to contact his ex-partner to ask her to drop AVO proceedings.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/salim-mehajer-accused-of-getting-sister-to-text-ex-partner-breaching-avo-20210107-p56sgg.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Simon Letch
John Shakespeare
Matt Golding
Alan Moir
Glen Le Lievre – with a couple of gifs
https://twitter.com/i/status/1346701897890029568
https://twitter.com/i/status/1347063945635381248
Johannes Leak
From the US
Wonder if the Trump situation has spooked , newsltd and libs/nats to call the federal election this year.
Calls grow in Congress for Trump to be removed by impeachment or the 25th Amendment
(CNN)A growing number of lawmakers — including from Democratic leadership — are calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office either through impeachment or the 25th Amendment to the Constitution after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer put out a statement Thursday denouncing the “insurrection” at the Capitol “incited by the President,” and saying, “This President should not hold office one day longer.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the call later Thursday at a news conference.
“I join the Senate Democratic leader in calling on the Vice President to remove this President by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment,” Pelosi said. “If the vice president and the Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment that is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus and the American people.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/trump-impeachment-25th-amendment-congress-schumer/index.html
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has just said that if President Trump is not removed under the 25th Amendment, Congress may go forward with impeachment proceedings. She said Trump “incited an armed insurrection against America” at the U.S. Capitol.
It won’t be long before Trump’s supporters take matters into their own hands once again.
By Brendan O’Connor
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/proud-boys-capitol/tnamp/?__twitter_impression=true
At last Boris has got something right.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/boris-johnson-says-donald-trump-is-to-blame-for-capitol-siege-20210108-p56sjq.html
Possum Comitatus on twitter has an interesting thread on protesters carrying flex cuffs and other dark incidents not mentioned by journalists.
Thanks BK!
Your daily contributions are really appreciated.
Twitter has fully banned Donald Trump!
It won’t stop him Tweeting though. Last night he used Dan Scavino’s account to Tweet his, kind of, agreement to hand over power to Joe Biden in an orderly fashion. So, knowing Trump he’ll probably keep using Scavino’s account until they can Scavino.
Iraqi court issues arrest warrant for Trump over killing of paramilitary chief
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/07/iraqi-court-issues-arrest-warrant-for-trump-over-killing-of-top-military-commander
also
lizzie @ #6 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 6:57 am
I’m slightly cynical about this because Boris Johnson knows which way the wind is blowing and can desert a sinking ship quicker than most. He’s also a very cynical politician. I wonder if he said that, before or after Biden had received all the Electoral College votes he needed to be declared POTUS? 🙂
Dennis Shanahan of The Australian, who is always well plugged into government’s line of tactical thinking
Bone dry and wry, to be sure.
C@t
But Scotty is such a fan of Trump he couldn’t even get the words right.
What has been obvious for years.
……
George Conway
@gtconway3d
·
1h
Anyone who thinks
@realDonaldTrump
is chastened by what happened yesterday misunderstands the mind of a narcissistic psychopath. Driven by narcissistic rage, unrestrained by conscience, compelled by sadistic impulse, he may lash out at any time in increasingly destructive ways.
its a shame that the media organisations who helped and controlled Trump with these domestic terrorist acts such as Murdoch and cronies will not be classed as a terrorist organisation.
Just imagine what the media in Australia would do if they had political links with political party in Australia
As I’ve said countless times, Australia should have adopted a national quarantine centre from the get go.
We would never have had to endure border closures or outbreaks and lockdowns.
Morrison and co have failed a fundamental duty.
Sigh…..
Just imagine Australian prime minister who accepted a medal from the domestic terrorist supporting Murdoch controlled Trump , he would be crucified by the media
Oh Wait the current Australian prime minister is controlled by Murdoch and accepted a medal from Trump
The media will attack Labor instead
As I see it, Morrison is a purveyor of misinformation himself and encourages it in his MPs.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-needs-to-counter-australian-and-american-disinformation-too-20210107-p56sgh.html
The New York Times
@nytimes
·
52m
Breaking News: Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer called on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office.
If he declines, they said, Democrats are prepared to impeach Trump a second time.
Pelosi threatens to pursue impeachment if Trump’s cabinet does not remove him using the 25th…
nytimes.com
Steve Schmidt
@SteveSchmidtSES
·
2h
Some of America’s biggest companies funded this group.
Quote Tweet
David Menschel
@davidminpdx
· 2h
Republican State Attorneys General Association Dark Money Group Organized Protests Preceding Capitol Mob Attack. https://documented.net/2021/01/republ
https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-resignations.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes
lizzie @ #14 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 7:14 am
I wonder if Populist leader bro, Scott, will have the guts to criticise this?
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/politics/trump-self-pardon.html
And I can guarantee you that Scott J.Morrison would do the same for himself and his Ministers in a heartbeat if he could.
The unknown liberal insider, the source, the MP, the Senator, the well placed operative, the shaker and maker said it all depends.
It all depends on whether their estimation of the qualities of their PM is the legend he, and they, think he is.
A rather well known legend has recently had a fall, the stock market has had to borrowed a larger belt, a little matter of an unresolved pandemic remains and a largish dragon has re-awoken.
The well known overseas owned, national newspaper remains unrepentant despite the vagaries of recent events with the oft disproven sages serving up the same muck.
I’d prefer to see the results of some post Christmas, post bush fire, post pandemic, post recession, post stock market bubble and post renewed house price boom, perhaps also including some reference to our largest northern neighbours and their particular hangovers before determining an election result.
The greatest technological boom ever experienced is in full swing and ths confidence predicting an end point is staggering.
In the meantime I’ll continue to enjoy the contributions of many.
This all reminds me of the last days of Nicolae Ceausescu.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/08/australias-freedom-of-information-regime-heading-for-a-train-smash-senator-says
#ragequit
Twitch disables Donald Trump’s account
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/twitch-disables-trumps-account-194327116.html
George Conway
@gtconway3d
·
3m
“The White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, warned Mr. Trump that he could face legal exposure for the riot given that he had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and ‘fight’ beforehand.”
Quote Tweet
Michael S. Schmidt
@nytmike
· 29m
EXCLUSIVE: Trump has suggested to aides he wants to pardon himself in the final days of his presidency, a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history. w/@maggieNYT https://nytimes.com/2021/01/07/us/politics/trump-self-pardon.html
This is why we watched in disbelief.
Victoria @ #15 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 7:15 am
When I was watching CNN last night, Kaitlyn Collins, the White House reporter said that she had heard that during the events that unfolded yesterday Donald Trump wasn’t horrified at what he was seeing on the TV but energised and almost giddy with delight.
Asked on Thursday about Christensen’s promotion of conspiracy theories, Mr Morrison said “Australia is a free country. There’s such a thing as a freedom of speech in this country, and that will continue”.
Reminds me of John Howard’s reaction to Pauline Hanson’s maiden speech. At that time I took it to mean that Howard secretly supported what she said. Some relatives of mine who liked Hanson also thought so. The dogwhistle worked.
No one is questioning free speech. People have a right to talk crap but it’s still crap. They don’t have a right for their rants to be respected.
lizzie @ #31 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 7:36 am
I was just remembering how the BLM protesters who marched peacefully past those White lawyers’ house were treated. They didn’t even do anything and they were vilified up hill and down dale!
Well, Scott J.Morrison (I’m including the J now because he is our own Donald J.Trump), better not sue anyone for Defamation when we say what we like about HIM on social media or in public. It’s just ‘free speech’ after all. 😐
C@t
There is a video of Trump watching the TV. I wouldn’t say he’s “giddy with delight”, but he’s nodding and smiling approval.
I saw Hunt’s interview with 7.30. Frankly, it was hard to extract facts from his waffle, which might have been deliberately obscure.
lizzie @ #36 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 7:46 am
It was probably after the cameras were off. 😉
Fantastic opinion piece by Emma Shortis:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/there-s-a-lot-of-blame-to-go-around-for-the-chaos-in-the-capitol-but-some-belongs-to-australia-20210107-p56sfg.html
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has just said that if President Trump is not removed under the 25th Amendment, Congress may go forward with impeachment proceedings. She said Trump “incited an armed insurrection against America” at the U.S. Capitol.”
Do it Mike. If nothing else, you were doing you job certifying the election, and because of that you and your colleagues were put in danger. I think some of the Senate Republicans quickly realised this isn’t a game when it came to them and that’s why they changed their minds about their objections.
You’re already doing the job, with things like calling the National Guard when Trump didn’t – make it official so if there is (another) crisis there’s no confusion about who’s in charge.
Not just storage. Prices
How unsurprisement
Eric Garland
@ericgarland
·
4m
BIG SHOCK: Two of the terrorists arrested yesterday were RUSSIAN NATIONALS, a mother and a daughter who’s head of a REPUBLICAN GROUP.
GET IT YET?
Quote Tweet
Ema O’Connor
@o_ema
· 31m
Yevgemya Malimon was released and allowed to return to OR pending her trail. She was banned from DC. Her daughter, Kristina Malimon, who was also arrested yesterday, seems to be the vice chairwoman of Young Republicans Oregon: http://youngrepublicansoforegon.org/about
Show this thread
Morrison should reprimand this nutcase. But we know he won’t.
Maybe Pfizer didn’t make a big enough donation.
One of the symptoms of Covid is you lose your sense of multiplication.
.
Shanners would know.
I have mentioned that Lateline interview he gave a few days before Rudd was dumped many times over the years.
Everyone thought he was crazy but he was spot on.
Surely Morrison cannot continue to allow the nutcase Craig Kelly to go on with crap like that!
Then again . . .
_________
Edit: I have just checked and it looks like the above is a fake Kelly account.
Morrison will go to an election early if it’s to his advantage to do so. He won’t if it isn’t.
Morning all and thanks BK for the thorough roundup as always. I agree with Victoria on Trump – he will learn no lessons as he is a sociopath. If he is not impeached he will try again. There is no excuse not to impeach after as head of state he tried to overturn the democratic process. We condemn African dictators for that.
However in this respect I think that Pelosi and Schumer are waiting in vain. If you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Most of Pence’s cabinet have stayed silent, suggesting they will not sanction Trump.
Scott @ #19 Friday, January 8th, 2021 – 7:22 am
And since Labor is incapable of defending itself, let alone going on the offensive it’s SNAFU and Straya sails calmly on with Cpt Scrooter at the wheel.
Go back to your cabin and shut the door it’s gonna be a long cruise.