Punch on: Open thread 5/02/2013

AJ in Perth says:

08:16am | 05/02/13

(1) it’s similar to selective hearing ... only believe the polls you want and ignore the rest *Julia G’s accent, and read it slowly, very slowly* “we woen’t goevern thes countree based on poell results”
(2) it was just an excuse to roll Kevin R

my money is on 2 ...  I can (sort of) understand why he was replaced, but replacing him with Julia G?  even if my life depended on it, I won’t be able to think of any reasons, let alone one

Rosie says:

09:14am | 05/02/13

Labor is stuck with the worse decision the ‘faceless men’ concocted to knife a sitting elected PM in Australia’s political history. They are now too ashamed to admit that their idea of first female, first atheist, first defacto couple living in the Lodge, first no kids is now not washing with the majority. Getting rid of Gillard will only cement in history that the decision made was made by self serving Labor idiots and even more stupid that those with real Labor values went along with it without any opposition.

Mr Sam says:

10:01am | 05/02/13

AJ I’m picking 2 as well and I also can’t understand why they would replace him with JG. This has to be the worst political move this country has ever seen, it might even destroy the ALP. Amazing isn’t it?

Joan says:

10:19am | 05/02/13

@Rosie

What’s wrong with being female? What’s wrong with being an atheist? What’s wrong with being a defacto couple? What’s wrong with not having kids?

Sam says:

10:58am | 05/02/13

@Joan
Rosie still lives in the 50’s Abbott would drag us all back to.
You know, where everything was Rosie and women knew their place and priests helped the little children with their homework and everything was RIGHT in the world.

AJ in Perth says:

11:13am | 05/02/13

Rosie

none of that would matter if she was doing a better job than Kevin R, which shouldn’t have been too hard given that he was shocking ... even a slight change of direction would have been better after “the government has lost their way” ...

Ando says:

11:52am | 05/02/13

Rosie,
“first female, first atheist, first defacto couple living in the Lodge, first no kids is now not washing with the majority”
As someone who will be voting Liberal I think anyone who considers any of the things you mention is an idiot.

Rosie says:

12:53pm | 05/02/13

Nothing wrong with stating the facts to describe a person? I like mentioning those facts because it is unusual for one’s PM.

Sorry but like Rudd said this morning; ‘you should all go and have a cold shower.’ My message is this Gillard Labor Govt is stuck with the bad decision to knife Rudd in the first place allowing Gillard to become PM without the controversies to follow.

Isn’t Abbott looking presidential? Lovely scene this morning the female PM and the male Opposition Leader laying wreaths at the tomb of the unforgotten soldier. Abbott, the gentleman took his place in the pecking order and Gillard the lady I thought for the first time behaved like a leader of this country that deserved our respect.

I have always said that I would have been very proud of our first female PM regardless of her status if she hadn’t allowed herself to take on the job after the knifing of Kevin Rudd.

abbie says:

01:38pm | 05/02/13

So Rosie, it’s OK for Abbott to knife Turnbull, but not OK for Gillard to knife Rudd
You politics is showing.

AJ in Perth says:

02:31pm | 05/02/13

Mr Sam

so I guess you won’t be able to help me out with why (how?!) she actually managed to get voted in again ... :o)

AJ in Perth says:

02:33pm | 05/02/13

abbie

so are yours ...

Chris L says:

03:27pm | 05/02/13

Caption: Hey Shontel! I think this part of her is still real!

Chris L says:

09:56am | 05/02/13

Even you Jim?

Jim Moriarty says:

12:23pm | 05/02/13

Even me!

TheRealDave says:

09:03am | 05/02/13

LOL! Gold Ma, Gold!

Oh wait….you were serious?

Chris L says:

09:04am | 05/02/13

Actually, the country’s economy is looking pretty great at the moment.

Chillin says:

10:21am | 05/02/13

I did laugh out loud at

“Actually, the country’s economy is looking pretty great at the moment.”

Get’s my vote for most amusing caption of the day.

ZSRenn says:

01:05pm | 05/02/13

@ Chris L I agree,  despite the fact we have had two quarters of negative growth since 2009, a high underemployment rate, Inflation creeping up to 2%, $75 billion in lost business investment, $100 billion more in danger, and $173,000,000,000 in debt we did just overtake Spain who needed to borrow $39 billion to keep afloat as the 12th largest economy!

Pollywatcher says:

01:42pm | 05/02/13

Len
Debt as a percentage of GDP
Australia 29.3
Canada 85.8
France 105.1
Germany 87.6
Ireland 123.2
Japan 214.3
Netherlands 82.5
New Zealand 51.3
Spain 93.8
United Kingdom 105.3
United States 109.8

Notice Spain down there are 93.8 percent?
The rest of your numbers come straight from the babble-on playbook of random numbers. It’s passed from Babylon of Canberra to Babylon to PJ and now to you.

Chris L says:

03:07pm | 05/02/13

Keep the dream alive ZSRenn. If you and Chillin hope and wish really hard the economy may someday collapse the way you want it to.

I look forward to when talk about the economy suddenly reverses to a positive note after September.

ZSRenn says:

03:37pm | 05/02/13

@ Pollywatcher,
When did two wrongs ever make a right!

You just presented more evidence why Australia should be more conservative in its spending. Most of these other nations have racked up debt over decades. With figures like these the world looks to be in big trouble.  A crash is inevitable!

Our debt has been racked up over a very short 6 years from a surplus held in 2007 or do you find it acceptable that if we have another 3 years of Labor our debt / GDP will be around 45% at this rate 60% in another 6 years.

As for my other figures while you’re trolling to see who I am, you must have seen my links in many other posts substantiating those figures.

Just because you say they are untrue doesn’t mean they are! Here is an interesting point of view for you. Your share of the Australian National Debt is about $20,000. What intrinsic value have you got for your $20,000 investment from Labor?

PsychoHyena says:

04:00pm | 05/02/13

@ZSRenn, but inflation going up signifies that people are spending therefore putting pressure on supply therefore increasing the need for more workers to ensure demand is met. If people are spending then this will mean that more money will go to the Government in GST and other levies, etc resulting in the Government being able to reduce the over-expenditure thereby decreasing the amount of money being borrowed and as a result the amount of future interest needing to be paid.

Here’s the big question: If the ALP manage to achieve a surplus (hypothetically) after saying that they wouldn’t manage one, are the Coalition going to acknowledge the success or are they going to say ‘Wayne Swan lied, he said there wouldn’t be a surplus’.

Mouse says:

04:12pm | 05/02/13

Chris L, me too!!  lol :o)

TheRealDave says:

09:05am | 05/02/13

I see what you did thar….

subotic has no destiny, child.... says:

09:32am | 05/02/13

I like Kelly Rowland’s legs better.

Chris L says:

09:58am | 05/02/13

Tim, you have my vote for best caption.

Barrel of Monkeys says:

12:34pm | 05/02/13

Resident Evil: Blackout

dweezy 2176 says:

12:15pm | 05/02/13

Too high, just below the knee…........Ooooooooh that’s better must have been the lemon….....!

nihonin says:

09:17am | 05/02/13

Indeed it is Elphaba, but I do wonder what Blackadder would have to say about it “Oh well done Baldrick, that was your cunning plan, bury him under a car park”. 

Anubis says:

09:23am | 05/02/13

I’ve been following this investigation too. It is quite interesting the extent of the post-mortem ‘revenge’ wounds inflicted on the body too. Obviously he must have been about as popular as Julia Gillard at a democracy rally.

Elphaba says:

09:54am | 05/02/13

@nihonin, I had the same thoughts!  I can see Blackadder’s ‘not impressed’ sneer now.

My sister-in-law got really interested in the history after watching the Tudors. We’re both hopping with excitement over this.

@Anubis, you couldn’t let one go by, could you. Setting aside any parallels with current politics, yes, they were pretty harsh on him after he died.  Clearly he was not well liked.  It’s fascinating, I just want the news to report on this all day…

Grrrr says:

10:27am | 05/02/13

@Anubis

Hell hath no fury like a right wing nutjob scorned.

Damn you Democracy !

Nostromo says:

10:55am | 05/02/13

@Elphaba: it’s just some dead guy’s bones - we won’t be learning anything more or new about his life with them. We already knew he died in battle - though unlike the beLabored ones, he at least had the guts to fight to the bitter end! ;-p

Nostromo says:

11:08am | 05/02/13

@Grrrrotty: did you mean democrazy or demoncracy, which is what we currently have? And ‘right-wing’ nut job - really? Last time I checked, there weren’t any left or right wing parties left in politics, just middlemen & wallet liners. Except maybe for Bobkat. Except he’s more of a schizo nutjob on both ends of the spectrum .

The current ‘minority’ gubment has already committed several breaches against our constitution (never mind normal laws) tantamount to treason, and should not be running anything, except maybe a numbers racket in an outback pub, which they’re obviously very good at. They certainly don’t have rightful representation to lead our nation (Tony already one a majority of seats & absolute voter numbers), so let’s just get to September as soon as possible & end the farce, including this ridiculous preferential, buy-an-independent BS of a voting system.
</rant>

gobsmack says:

12:07pm | 05/02/13

Richard III’s fate and HenryVII’s ascension ot the English throne illustrates that so-called “royalty” has its origins in violence and thuggery.

Baloo says:

12:35pm | 05/02/13

Ohh, the things I would do for the ability to travel through time.

Anubis says:

02:11pm | 05/02/13

Sorry Elph, couldn’t resist.   BTW - Welcome back from your self imposed exile

Nostromo says:

02:39pm | 05/02/13

@Elphaba: if ur SIL likes Tudors, you might want to up the ante with The Borgias…or if historical accuracy isn’t all important, the new Spartacus is very…‘colourful’, to say the least <EG>.

Mouse says:

03:35pm | 05/02/13

Hey Elph, good to see you again!
I agree with Nostromo. The Borgias, Season 1 is good, waiting to see Season 2.  Spartacus is a bit racy so far (have just watched the Gods of the Arena disc) and the story line is very good, so am looking forward to the rest…..  ;o)
Love the Richard III find, very cool indeed.  Like Baloo I too would love to be able to travel back in time. Just think of all the hijinx you could get up to!!  lol :o)

Chris L says:

04:08pm | 05/02/13

Sparticus?! Meh.

Rome: two seasons with excellent acting, engaging dialogue and a fair amount of attention to historicity.

TimB says:

10:31am | 05/02/13

Step 1- Join a union.
Step 2- Get appointed to position of power that comes with union credit card
Step 3- ???
Step 4- Profit! (?)

...Step 5- Strip search

Easy

Nostromo says:

10:58am | 05/02/13

Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City “Sailor wanna hump-hump” bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we’re all stocked up here.

gobsmack says:

11:03am | 05/02/13

Why would someone charged with fraud need to be strip searched?

Fiddler says:

11:04am | 05/02/13

except that it was bullshit. He was strip searched by two corrective services officers, not police. As happens to every person who enters corrective services custody.

Craig’s solicitor is a nut job and should be ignored.

TimB says:

11:48am | 05/02/13

‘Why would someone charged with fraud need to be strip searched?’

Gobsmack, I believe it’s standard procedure to make sure the person isn’t carrying anything that could be used for self-harm. It doesn’t matter *what* they’re being charged with.

AdamC says:

12:27pm | 05/02/13

Surely even Labor luvvies must be getting sick of Craig Thomson’s ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ routine.

Thommo, you are a suspected criminal like any other. Just deal with it, please.

(Oh God I cannot wait until the good people of Dobell put him out to pasture.)

gobsmack says:

02:00pm | 05/02/13

@TimB

I guess if he’s left in a cell for a while, it would be understandable.  Surely in this instance, he would be in a room full of cops while they read out the charges (or handed him the charge sheets if they were short of time).

A pity he wasn’t metaphorically strip searched before being pre-selected to make sure he had nothing on him that would cause him political self-harm.

TimB says:

03:16pm | 05/02/13

‘A pity he wasn’t metaphorically strip searched before being pre-selected to make sure he had nothing on him that would cause him political self-harm. ‘

He was in 2010. Well kinda. Fairfax had already raised the allegations against him and he’d commenced legal action- Which he promptly dropped once Fairfax started throwing credit card and phone records around.

When his Labor mates questioned him over the issue, he told them he’d ‘won his case’. The ALP being the ALP didn’t look into the issue any more than that and stupidly endorsed him for re-election.

Standard ALP incompetence. Serves them right.

Chillin says:

03:26pm | 05/02/13

@gosmack

He would have waited in the cell for court to commence.

The PC crowd demand that people are properly cared for at all times whilst in custody and then the PC crowd are outraged when they are properly cared for at all times whilst in custody.

gobsmack says:

03:50pm | 05/02/13

@TimB

“The ALP being the ALP didn’t look into the issue any more than that and stupidly endorsed him for re-election.”

Maybe they should have conducted a metaphorical cavity search. 

Tim Burch says:

05:50pm | 05/02/13

Yes timmie
20 years Slipper is a liberal member of parliament and they never cottoned on as to what sort of person he was.
Gotta love conservatives.

They now know what sort of person Pyne and Brough are and still they remain. This should be good fun as the “campaign” heats up.
Abbott gets near the post and slips on the Slippergate banana peal he threw on the floor..

AJ (the imagining clothing expert) in Perth says:

02:47pm | 05/02/13

Robert S McG

men have it easy ... men can walk into any shop, pick and choose colour, style (and trimmings!!!), even more amazingly, their size will be available

with women, not so much ... most of the time, that’s what they have, take it or leave it, ok, take it being desperate since this would be what shop #10 or something, sorry, don’t have your size and then it just goes downhill from there ...

TheRealDave says:

12:24pm | 05/02/13

I’m more of a fan of - The San Franscisco ‘Very Special Teams’ pulled off an extraordinary Ninja attack on the stadium power….

Shane From Melbourne says:

11:52am | 05/02/13

Sorry about that- I get through Herald Sun paywalls using Google news but forgot that I can’t link through Herald Sun paywalls….

AdamC says:

12:23pm | 05/02/13

I had a quick look at the paper. It was quite interesting.

The paper makes something of a case for limited cuts to migration programs likely to bring in temporary, unskilled labour. (Mainly the working holiday and student categories.) However, the paper also highlights how dependent Australia is on migration. Significant cuts to migration would obviously be a disaster, given our demonstrable dependence on migrant labour.

I thought Birrel’s findings concerning the skills base of new migrants were less well supported by evidence cited, and also something of a strawman. (Nobody really believes many 457 visa recipients are brain surgeons or expert geologists.)

Baloo says:

12:06pm | 05/02/13

I was about to post about this when I read your comment. How hard is it to think for yourself?
I’ve never wanted to be one of those annoying people who say that “people are sheep”, but uuughh more evidence proving this statement correct is presented to me almost daily.

Mouse says:

12:51pm | 05/02/13

While not making any excuses for the drivers, they were probably watching the lights and not some stupid mother walking a pram and her child against a do-not-walk sign!  :o)

Baloo says:

12:57pm | 05/02/13

I just read my comment and it looks like I’m having a go at you Hyena, lol, I meant to direct it at the drivers in this video.

Sozzles

PsychoHyena says:

01:25pm | 05/02/13

@Baloo, it’s amazing, I honestly feel sorry for the kid. Perhaps the Government/Council need to consider pedestrian bridges/tunnels for areas like this.

I agree with the ‘people are sheep’ comment too, though I think it’s worse than being sheep in this situation, it seems more robotic ‘Green light, must move’.

One of the bonuses of being in a small city, less traffic and less distance to cover in order to cross a road, though we still get idiots who feel turning a corner mere millimetres behind a pedestrian is okay.

PsychoHyena says:

03:51pm | 05/02/13

@Mouse, that’s no excuse, as a driver you are supposed to be aware of everything that is happening in and outside of your vehicle. If you are incapable of noticing a woman and a pram or a child directly in front of your car then you shouldn’t be driving. Also how you can tell that they were crossing the road on a ‘Don’t Walk’ I have no idea, you can’t see that.

Looking at the footage again, it actually looks like the pram was initially struck by one of the vehicles.

@Baloo, all good I knew what you meant :D

AJ in Perth says:

02:22pm | 05/02/13

Baloo

Colin actually played the caption comp!  I am shocked! 
it’s something to entertain the great unwashed, not?

Colin says:

02:52pm | 05/02/13

@ AJ in Perth

That’s The Great Unwashed, to you.

AJ in Perth says:

03:40pm | 05/02/13

Colin

touchey! *  I was more expecting “that wasn’t me,someone’s using my handle again” comeback ... :o)

* my english, latin and french is equally good

subotic says:

02:30pm | 05/02/13

There’s the door—>

Anubis is going straight to hell over this one says:

02:37pm | 05/02/13

@ TRaxter - did you bring your gumboots and velcro gloves with you when you left New Zealand?

Chris L says:

03:23pm | 05/02/13

Do you guys still have to import all your virgin wool?

Baloo says:

04:54pm | 05/02/13

Youguysshagsheeplulz

Baloo says:

01:47pm | 05/02/13

This has to win, somebody give jaki prizes or or something!

mystery person says:

01:58pm | 05/02/13

I agree with Baloo. Give me…er, I mean jaki, a prize or or something.

gobsmack says:

02:01pm | 05/02/13

Yes.  That’s got my vote.

StopTheBleed says:

05:09pm | 05/02/13

Actually, it is known as the Beautiful Game.  Er, hang on, wait a sec….