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Punch on: Open thread 03/11/2010

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

03 Nov 05:00am

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Filed under: George W Bush, Open Thread, United States

51 comments

George W Bush won a second term as President of United States, today in 2004.

Take two ...Photo: AP.

And it’s Wednesday at The Punch. What’s on your mind? Share it here.

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51 comments

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    • Biteme says:

      06:15am | 03/11/10

      Who do you think are the biggest shareholders in the banks? Answer: The other banks. Check it out for yourself.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      06:36am | 03/11/10

      I see where Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison are off to Woodside today, to see what they can stir up about the asylum seekers who are to be housed in an army camp there.  Surely it’s only a matter of time before the public cries ‘enough of this poisonous crap’?  Asylum seekers make up a very small proportion of our immigrant intake, they’re NOT AN ISSUE.  However Abbott and Morrison continue to make them one.  Their politics are deplorable!

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      07:14am | 03/11/10

      “they’re NOT AN ISSUE.”

      /smirk
      /sniff desperation

      Are you trying the look over the there at the puppy trick? Are you that bereft of ideas?

    • Aitch B says:

      07:41am | 03/11/10

      @acotrel

      No more or less deplorable than Labor’s politics, my friend. So according to you Joolya can jump on a naval vessel that looks for asylum seekers in a pathetic publicity stunt but members of the Opposition shouldn’t be allowed to visit existing or planned housing for them?

      And if it’s not an issue then why is Joolya making it her number one talking point up in Asia?

    • Jim says:

      07:46am | 03/11/10

      Pitch a tent in your backyard then…

    • Nicole says:

      09:01am | 03/11/10

      acotrel, can you go one day, just one day, without mentioning Tony Abbott?
      You have an obsession.

    • The Badger says:

      09:29am | 03/11/10

      Dr. NO appears to running out of rabbott’s to pluck out of his bag of tricks.

      Labor will go to “work choices” and the conservatives will go to “boat people”

      “work choices” are much more scarier than “boat people” to working families.

    • Jim says:

      11:59am | 03/11/10

      ‘work choices’ are, and only ever were, scary to fat-cat union officials and lazy arsed operators who believed it was their god given right to do as little as possible for as much as possible while complaining the entire time.

    • acotrel says:

      01:06pm | 03/11/10

      Apparently Tonya Abbott believes the conditions at Inverbrackie are too good for the asylum seekers.  That they ‘send the wrong message to people smugglers and their customers’!!  Perhaps we should line up all the asylum seeker hating locals and give the newcomers a good kicking?

    • fairsfair says:

      01:38pm | 03/11/10

      Acotrel, legitimate question here - what are you on?

    • Nicole says:

      02:02pm | 03/11/10

      @fairsfair, probably the same suff as Badger. Whatever it is, keep it far, far away from me !

    • The Badger says:

      02:21pm | 03/11/10

      Nicole
      I’m high on the real thing
      powerful gasoline, a clean windshield and a shoe shine.
      can’t speak for anyone else though

    • Nicole says:

      05:49pm | 03/11/10

      Actually Badger, I’ll retract that comment. At least you live on the same planet. Dunno what planet acotrel lives though.

    • Dan says:

      02:36am | 04/11/10

      Those asking what acotrel is on, do you have to be on something to be a decent human being?

    • TimB says:

      06:45am | 03/11/10

      The CBA’s .45% variable rate rise. Whilst they only raise the interest rates on deposit accounts by the standard 0.25%. What utter hypocritical crap.

      I’m almost tempted to go down to the bank and argue that my “cost of funding” (i.e. my mortgage) has gone up, therefore I’m going to have to charge an extra few percentage points interest on my deposit funds.  I have a suspicion that I wouldn’t get very far though.

      Time to look a bit closer at my contract and find out just how much trouble/cost would be involved in switching.

      Anyone who thinks Hockey’s plan to review the practices of the big banks doesn’t have merit has rocks in their head.

      Reply

    • Adam says:

      07:22am | 03/11/10

      Banks are businesses. They care about minimising costs and maximising profits. They are not required by law to provide a community servce or be warm and cuddly. Change lenders if it’ll make you feel better but just accept lifes not always a bed of roses

    • The Badger says:

      10:03am | 03/11/10

      Adam
      I think you miss the point.

      In my mind, the single most effective way of dealing with these banks and bringing down interest rates would be to regulate the fees associated with “getting out” and moving your mortgage to another bank. I have a friend who would like to change banks, but it would cost 14,000 dollars to exit the existing mortgage contract. It would take many years to recoup that money assuming the bank you went to maintained a lower interest rate.

      If the exit cost 500 dollars, people would by moving their mortgage and could re-coup the exit fee quite rapidly. I think this would also result in pressure on banks to keep interest rates low to maintain a competitive position.

    • TimB says:

      12:18pm | 03/11/10

      Badger! You and I agree perfectly for once!

      Oh happy day.

    • acotrel says:

      03:14am | 04/11/10

      What sort of politician resorts to xenophobia to make mileage?  Abbott is a disgrace!  His latest crap is just too much!  Asylum seekers must be treated fairly and humanely.  This is Australia, not Nazi Germany!  If Abbott thinks locking kids up in a prison in the desert is OK, he should go and work with the Israelis or the Palestinians, they might appreciate his politics!  The ‘Pacific Solution’ was the most shameful episode in our history, and the Libs want to repeat it? THINK AGAIN!

    • Jay says:

      07:03am | 03/11/10

      The US political system is in shambles. George W Bush goes to war on two fronts, spends trillions and leads the US economy into the worse meltdown since the depression of the 30’s.Obama comes in and uses his socialist play book and promptly puts the US into so much debt, I seriously doubt they can recover.The Americans ofcourse blame Obama for all their woes. Now the Republicans look like they will gain control of the House and possibly the Senate and will block everything. What happens to the people that need help? Their campaigning lasts for 9 months and they just repeat the same rhetoric over and over.The scary part is that Sarah Palin looks like she will become President in two years as if George W was not scary enough.Which country will become the next target of the Republican war mongering? The Republicans want to cut taxes and reduce spending, expept for the military. There will be thousands of tent cities erected in the US whilst the politicians talk about gay marriage and abortion instead of addressing the problems they face.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      09:02am | 03/11/10

      I just love this stuff about health care for the poor being creeping socialism!  How could any sane person live in the US with so many loopy dills running around? They need the Republicans to show then how it should be done.  After the ensuing revolution, it will all be OK!

    • MalS says:

      02:57pm | 04/11/10

      Actually it was a democrat Kennedy who went to war in Vietnam…

    • acotrel says:

      09:04am | 03/11/10

      Sarah Palin reminds me of Marie Antoinette!

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      10:17am | 03/11/10

      Interesting.

      A woman given a show trial and executed after populist propaganda and lies were used to find her guilty.

      Yes. They even used sexual innuendo to discredit her.

      I see the correlation actually

    • stephen says:

      11:43am | 03/11/10

      No, you mean Sarah Palin reminds you of twinkle-nose, the gal from Bewitched.
      (And as credible,too)

    • Wilma J Craig says:

      01:55pm | 03/11/10

      Hopefully she’ll go the same way!

    • MarK says:

      03:39pm | 03/11/10

      Of course Wilma.

      Being executed for “crimes” you did not commit for the sake of an opposing ideology is always a good thing.

    • The Badger says:

      11:32am | 04/11/10

      Let them eat cake!

      How am I supposed to eat cake when my head is over here and my hands are over there?

    • Phil says:

      09:31am | 03/11/10

      Sharia banking in Australia. I have no problem with people professing to the muslim faith, but why should there be parallel banking laws for them, which more than likely wouldn’t be able to be accessed by those that aren’t muslim? Senator Penny Wong is suggesting tapping into a “trillion dollar market”, yet won’t this create more of a divide between communities than exists already?

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      10:38am | 03/11/10

      It’s no longer the 1930s, and we’re all much better educated these days.  The Yanks need to look where they’re going with their cynical BS.  When you have thousands of mortgage foreclosures, and tent cities arising out of the ashes - watch out! I don’t believe the underpriviledged will cop it sweet this time.

    • Aaron Whiteman says:

      11:23am | 03/11/10

      Post the “girly shoe throwing”  attempt at John Howard I was flicking radio stations on the way to work and heard Camilla Severi from B105 of Big Brother turkey slap notoriety say she condoned the throwing of the shoe at John Howard and asked “why was he even on Q&A as he wasn’t even the Prime Minister anymore”. She proceeded to weighed in on Australia’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Honestly… the dumbest comments I had heard come out of someone’s mouth in quite some time.

      At what point did Wikipedia journo wannabes think they have any credibility on issues like this. she may as well go join the women who yelled from the Q&A audience “you have blood on your hands”

      I would think people would be more educated on such issues and make remarks with more common sense, especially those who have the role of a radio host.

      “Who throws a shoe, honestly…? “ That said… who condones the throwing of one?

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      12:58pm | 03/11/10

      Yes, Austin Powers has offered great insight on this… honestly wink

      I agree totally. I have no idea how these people get to where they are and then manage to stay there. They then publically spew their stupid ideas of what is politics, human rights and popular culture - when they just have absolutely no more idea than me. They question for questions sake only and it shits me to tears. I am all for people having an opinion and voicing it but I am noticing more and more that some nobody’s opinion becomes highly regarded and repeated for no reason at all and then everyone jumps all over legitimate experts in their field. They are decried for their thoughts, when they actually have merit. The world is a bit arse about face lately.

    • NEFFA says:

      12:22pm | 03/11/10

      Is the word paradigm on someones word of the day calender today?

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      12:42pm | 03/11/10

      It’s been “word of the day” ever since the election. I despise it.

      Except when used to mock the ALP or Rob Oakeshott raspberry.

    • Wilma J Craig says:

      01:57pm | 03/11/10

      What the hell does the word mean anyway?

    • MarK says:

      03:42pm | 03/11/10

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm

      that will do.

      Also see “paradigm shift” - it sort of describes the “change” Oakeshott and Windsor believe it was their divine right to foist upon us.

    • stephen says:

      01:06pm | 03/11/10

      G. W. Bush has a book coming out in December, giving his side of the story.
      And don’t forget (as Greg Sheridan once said), despite Bush’s Presidency, 9/11 happened once, but because of it, did not happen twice, and for that the West, on behalf of her economies, should be grateful.

      Reply

    • JulesG says:

      02:12pm | 03/11/10

      OMG! First, there was Tony Blair then John Howard and now George Dubya Bush. The trilogy of the anti Christ are at it again. They just won’t lie down, will they? The 3 of them virtually stuff up the whole western World and large swaths of the developing World. Further, they illicit an unjust and unnecessary war in search of the fabled WMD’s that don’t exist. When we finally get to consign them to the dustbin of history, where they belong, they all decide to write books and come back and haunt us! I am sure that they will be illustrious and illuminating tomes that capture our hearts and minds like some literary beacon, lighting up are poor and uneducated lives. Making us awe struck with wonder at how on Earth we managed before such mind blowing and erudite enlightenment. I reckon George Dubya’s rendition will be a hoot. The man has an IQ of a pea and can barely speak, let alone write. These people are so megalomaniacal they have to keep having ‘guest’ appearances like some erstwhile, has been film stars, strutting out in front of what they perceive as their adoring and sycophantic fans. In reality, we wish that (to use the robust vernacular) they’d bugger off and leave us in peace. Oops, there’s that word again – peace, an abstract concept indeed for the likes of these 3 wise men.

    • Wilma J Craig says:

      01:20pm | 03/11/10

      It has long been known that:
      Plumbers have the worst plumbing in their own homes
      Electricians have the worst electrics in their’s
      Glaziers the worst windows
      Carpenters the worst fitting doors & the creakiest floors
      Now this old lady does not mean to be an absolute & utter bitch but it would seem that those who live in Houses with a Hairdresser have the worst possible, most boring hairstyles!

      Reply

    • Nicole says:

      02:05pm | 03/11/10

      Hahaha - ‘Like’ to all of the above.

    • JulesG says:

      02:41pm | 03/11/10

      Ooh, you naughty girl! You shouldn’t talk about Timmy that way

    • The Badger says:

      01:25pm | 03/11/10

      I think that moron Bush should be held accountable for what he did to America’s image, economy and way of life.
      To suggest that Americans be grateful for what didn’t happen has got to be one of the most ridiculous positions I have ever heard.

      Seriously, candidates for president in the U.S. should be forced to take some sort of test that would weed out morons like bush.

      Reply

    • Wilma J Craig says:

      01:54pm | 03/11/10

      It is a pity the Americans don’t read this site for it might just remind them that it was entirely thanks to the Republican Party of the USA led by George W Bush which destroyed the US Economy,
      It was because of them that the recent Global Financial Crisis came about.
      It was down to them &, in particular, George W Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney & Condoleeza Rice that the USA has become possibly the most hated nation of the modern era.

    • stephen says:

      05:55pm | 03/11/10

      To be grateful for no effect is the same as being grateful for no cause.

    • Jacqui says:

      01:28pm | 03/11/10

      Jen Hawkins - What’s the point of her as a fashion ambassador? The girl clearly has no style or class whatsoever. How uncouth - wearing ears as a headpiece and calling it cute (what about ‘traditional’?). Next we’ll be wearing gimp masks to the races and calling it ‘edgy’. Clearly the poor dear wasn’t offered enough freebies to choose from.

      Reply

    • Alaphelpabore says:

      03:34pm | 22/11/10

      And by fantastic, I mainly mean good to handle just in case you need to make use of your insurance plan”. The costs depend on so many factors, that it’s probably not even worth asking here.
      I’m wondering insurance in the Jacksonville area is pretty a bit more  
      Anyhow, appreciate techniques.

      Reply

    • NeheraRorma says:

      12:06am | 29/11/10

      My questions are: How much can a company legally cost you to let coverage holder out of his car insurance policy?
      Exactly how much does your agency charge when anyone would like to terminate and how much pressure would you use to maintain them?
      What are some ideas or something we can say if our customer has many months remaining on his current car insurance policy? Certainly, many of us are not going to wait until his renewal comes due each time.

      Reply

    • NeheraRorma says:

      04:36am | 29/11/10

      My concerns are: Just how much can an agency legally require to let an insurance plan holder out of his vehicle insurance?
      Simply how much does your agency charge when a person chooses to stop and how much pressure can you use to hold them?
      What are some suggestions or something we can say if our customer has many months left on his active automotive insurance policy? Surely, many of us are not going to wait until his renewal comes due each time.

      Reply

    • RoalryavarCaxy says:

      10:32am | 14/09/11

      The take in was organised at near the Anglo Israel Association, whose titular president is the Israeli  
      Ambassador. The Anglo Israel Association lay it on thick that their most successful rise is as propagandists
      representing Israel bringing ‘opinion formers’ to the UK on speaking tours in partnership with British think-tanks
      and universities to push the Israeli perspective. Benny Morris is well known in return his racist views of  
      Arabs and Muslims, his succour and whitewashing of ethnic cleansing and his justification of genocide. 
      <a >scorn israel</a>   
      <a >jews</a> 
       
       
      For more resources supporting our ground, attack and skim:   
      <a >kill arabs</a>
      <a >kill arabs</a>
      <a >kill palestine</a>
      <a >i hate israel</a>
      <a >jew</a>
      <a >love israel</a>
      <a >kill gaza</a>
         
         
      Or link to:   
      <a >love israel</a>
      <a >love israel</a>
      <a >kill arabs</a>
      <a >kill arabs</a>
      <a >kill palestine</a>
      <a >love israel</a>
      <a >kill arabs</a>

      Reply

    • alenesssots says:

      04:59am | 01/10/11

      Hi everyone, 
      I’m going to purchase a good AV receiver kit to connect to my new television. I’m also searching for advice on what to purchase for my Budget is not more than $500? 
      Who can help me find a useful device? 
      Andrew, my friend said the great av receiver device he chose in the reviews is wonderful. What’s your ideas? 
      Plus, I have a meeting to go to England next week, I hope to buy one immediately!

      Reply
 
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