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Punch on: Open thread 04/08/2010

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

04 Aug 04:59am

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Filed under: Henry Kissinger, Open Thread, Vietnam War

37 comments

Henry Kissinger began secret negotiations with representatives from Hanoi in a Paris apartment today in 1969. Although they failed to reach agreement, these talks paved the way towards the Paris Peace Accords of 1973.

Australian soldiers on the ground in South Vietnam, 1969.

It’s also Wednesday, so what’s on your mind? Share it here.

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37 comments

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    • James says:

      07:31am | 04/08/10

      Did you hear about the outrage in the USA about a black woman being appointed as fashion director of a white womens magazine?  (yes I’ve reversed that on purpose)

      Reply

    • T.Chong says:

      08:17am | 04/08/10

      No JIm, tell us more ! Is this from Lefty Huffington Post , or Commom Dreams, or Rightist Faux News or Frontpagemag ?

    • Pete says:

      08:33am | 04/08/10

      Racism is acceptable, so long as you are not white!

    • Macca says:

      01:13pm | 04/08/10

      @James, I saw that story too. Only in America

    • danj says:

      08:08am | 04/08/10

      Did anyone else see that amateur effort by Wayne Swan on Lateline last night? Well done to punch contributor Leigh Sales for asking the hard questions and taking him to task on a few issues, but Swan just waffled on with absolute garbage and it must have been frustrating for her.

      If the following ground rules had been laid out before the interview, Swan would have had no choice but to sit there like a stunned mullet.
      1. Don’t mention the following words/phrases
      -Tony Abbott
      -The previous government
      -The Liberal Party
      (At one stage Sales even had to say ‘Can we please focus on your side?’)
      2. You cannot give the same answer to about five different questions.

      Not only did Swan come across badly with his waffle and his going on about Tony Abbott, but I could have taken him to task on a few of his comments on basic economics. I am genuinely shocked that this man is the Treasurer of Australia after that interview and hence my little editorial. Thanks for reading.

      Reply

    • Macca says:

      12:04pm | 04/08/10

      @Danj, Swan is the perfect picture of an ALP member who believe(d) that Abbott is / was unelectable. He is one the Rudd / Gillard Government’s great amateurs

    • DC says:

      04:02pm | 04/08/10

      @Macca:  His own party thought that as well.  And so does the LNP chief of staff.

      And so will you after the election.

    • Family Guy says:

      08:28am | 04/08/10

      No but I did read this morning in the SMH about the 12th wife of the King of Swaziland having a fling with the Justice Minister.  Doesn’t anybody respect marriage anymore.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      11:06pm | 04/08/10

      I believe Tony Abbott is unelectable however that doesn’t mean he won’t win the election!

    • shabangabang says:

      09:07am | 04/08/10

      I thought today I might use the open thread to ask a question. What is the best concert people have been to in the recent past.
      Mine was Newton Faulkner at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney. What a brilliant performer. No backing band, just himself and lots of different guitars.

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      09:28am | 04/08/10

      I haven’t seen him live, but he is fantastic isn’t he. I even enjoy that stoopid “I hate Mondays” song that he recorded for Hamish and Andy… The song is light hearted and funny, but you can’t get past how good the arrangement of it all actually is. Very talented man and from interviews I have watched he seems very down to earth, funny and modest. The best concert I have ever been to was Eskimo Joe. Intimate in that it was a small crowd and a lot of interaction with the audience. Not a the biggest fan of arena style, but I will say I enjoyed Robbie Williams in 06.

    • Macca says:

      01:10pm | 04/08/10

      @Shabang, Coldplay in ‘06 was pretty amazing. that was the night the Socceroos got knocked out against Italy so a pretty vivid memory of that evening & morning.

      I saw Michael Buble once and that was pretty awesome, although I think he was a bit drunk. He’s definitely the most charasmatic performer I’ve seen

      Still can’t decide who is a better guitarist live between John Mayer and Santana. Have seen both live twice and all 4 shows have been awesome. Both had increadible backing bands. The doubters will think I’m kidding, but Mayer is up there with the best Guitarists going around at the moment. He still can’t hide his douchebag personality whilst he’s on stage tho.

      For most fun, it has to be The Wombats

    • SK says:

      01:55pm | 04/08/10

      Best concert ever was Brand New at the Roundhouse in ‘06. Wilco at the Enmore around that time almost equaled it, and they were amazing too. Best concert lately was ‘78 Saab at the Sandringham. I’m slightly biased as I’m friends with the band, but it was pretty damn cool to see people who weren’t know all their words and sway around with punch-drunk happiness. Next on the agenda is Senses Fail at the Factory Theatre. Can’t wait.

    • stephen says:

      09:37am | 04/08/10

      A bloke rocks up to a service station in Bathurst and sticks his head out the window and says to the pump attendant,
      ‘Hey, mate, whats the quickest way ter Sydney ?’
      The pm goes ‘Are yer walkin’ or drivin’?
      ‘Drivin’
      ‘That’ll do it !’

      Reply

    • Stiffy says:

      12:25pm | 04/08/10

      If i was driving to Sydney there is no way i would start from Bathurst

    • Gregg says:

      02:16am | 05/08/10

      They’re sure smarter folks out there in the country, you too Stiffy but that Albanese guy, he’d be a city slicker wouldn’t he be?
      Yep, he’s going to blow $20M for some folk to think again about a fast train and crikey, we could tell him there’s just no people in the country let alone in the whole country to make one of those even merit the thought.

    • Youngone says:

      10:40am | 04/08/10

      I’m a young person who earns $75,000pa. I pay around $18,000pa in income tax. I cannot afford a home because I don’t earn enough money. And yet I must pay tax to pensioners who are sitting in a house they own that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. That pensioner who I pay for owns that house, that I cannot afford to even get a loan for. How is this fair?

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      11:32am | 04/08/10

      Who told you that life is fair?

    • TheRealDave says:

      11:46am | 04/08/10

      My brother is on less than $75k pa and can afford a mortgage. Maybe look at other suburbs or curb some of your sepnding habits? Your first home doesn’t have to be a 5 bedroom monstrocity close to the city for near a million bucks.

      Lower your expectations and or look further afield.

    • AdamC says:

      11:50am | 04/08/10

      It isn’t fair, Youngone. My boyfriend has a small farm animal every time he sees any real-estate related article or TV show. He knows all the cliches, which I find quite funny, but the reality is that it is extremely hard for younger people to get into the market.

      The problem is, what can you do to address the issue?

    • Macca says:

      12:01pm | 04/08/10

      @RealDave, its understandable that someone on $75K cannot afford a property within one hour of their work in Sydney (and possibly Melbourne)

      @Youngone, That pensioner probably grew up without a Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Air Conditioning or any internets, how fair is that? I’m forgoing these things (by choice) so I can afford my current property. To summarise, thats just the way it is, you’re not that bad off. deal with it

    • Stiffy says:

      12:29pm | 04/08/10

      @Adamc, Is that small animal a Donkey?

    • Youngone says:

      03:16pm | 04/08/10

      A person earning $75,000pa can borrow $371,000. I’m a professional person who has to live in a dog house in the bush.

    • TJ says:

      11:24am | 04/08/10

      I saw on the news this morning about the girl that fell off a cliff in Croatia, people are actually suggesting the government send her family over to be with her?????? No, if they can’t afford to go then it is not up to the government to fund the trip, they have already sent a drug addict to Singapore to get a new organ after she lost the other due to her drug use and now this? if they need the money get their local church or community group to raise the money not the government, I don’t want to pay for that with my tax.

      Reply

    • Lou says:

      01:06pm | 04/08/10

      It Is called compassion. Be careful, you might need it yourself one day.

    • TJ says:

      01:45pm | 04/08/10

      let the people who want to contribute contribute then not the government, I didn’t give to the bushfire appeal in Victoria and I am not giving here, they should start up a fund for people to donate if they want

    • Jeeves says:

      04:26pm | 04/08/10

      Suppose you recycle glad wrap too do you TJ? Have some compassion for goodness sakes.

    • James1 says:

      11:30am | 04/08/10

      Why no mention of Le Duc Tho in the intro?  He showed himself the more honourable of the two lead negotiators when he refused his Nobel Peace Prize.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      11:49am | 04/08/10

      Damnit, forgot to add.

      That pensioner worked his/her/their arses off paying off that house. Who the hell do you think you are whinging and bitching at people who worked hard all their lives finally getting to put their feet up and enjoy the twilight of their lives becase you want something out of your pay range right now?

      Their 40 odd years of working paid for the roads you drive on, the telephone infrastructure you enjoy, the education you received etc

      Reply

    • fairsfair says:

      12:04pm | 04/08/10

      yep and we are all paying for that too for our future generations yet we also have to contribute to our own super, will be forced to work until we are (at least!) 75 and there is no pension waiting for us in our “twilight years”. Perhaps not worded the right way Youngone and Dave you’ve flown off the handle a bit too there champ, but there does need to be a serious discussion about the expectations of the now retiring baby boomers and the future of the old age pension and how it is means tested.

    • Macca says:

      12:05pm | 04/08/10

      @Dave, hahah, thats more brutal. I like it

    • Stiffy says:

      12:35pm | 04/08/10

      Hey Youngone, that Pensioner is likely just as worried about your plight also as most likely he/she would have grown up kids in exactly the same situation.

      Reply

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      12:59pm | 04/08/10

      A court in Perth is going to issue a ruling shortly on whether a witness can wear a niqab when answering questions. Talk about setting precedents. 

      I come down on the side of those who say that you must be able to see the face to judge reactions or indeed assess truthfulness, since it is a fact that people who are not looking you in the eye are more willing to lie. 

      I’d also say that if she is allowed to wear a niqab, then others should be able to wear cowls or even Batman masks if they wish, in order to conceal THEIR reactions and expressions. The niqab is not a religious garment, by the way. It is not mentioned as compulsory in any religious tome.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      01:19pm | 04/08/10

      The niqab does not cover the eyes.

    • DC says:

      04:08pm | 04/08/10

      @James1:  I’d like to add that it actually draws attention to the eyes. 

      @Tony:  Maybe we should force all men to be completely clean shaven as well - a bushy beard can hide just as much of a face.

      Then maybe we should ban budgie smugglers - they hide too much of - well, nothing.  It’s almost all out on display.

      When do you think enough is enough and we just ban everything?

    • The Scarlet Pimpernel says:

      04:33pm | 04/08/10

      Actually, according to the followup and a subsequent comment from Tony Abbott, it is about a burqua, which does cover the eyes (with a mesh).

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:51pm | 04/08/10

      That reminds me, Long Tan day soon.

      Reply
 
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