Paul Toohey
Paul Toohey is a senior reporter for the News Ltd group of papers, currently based in the United States of America.
Articles by Paul Toohey
People, not pollies, should decide our Prime Minister
Imagine if Australia had no Opposition Leader. It’s not such a stretch. The United States operates without one for almost…... Read more
How to die slowly - and just keep going
Some performers get on stage and die. Glen Campbell is in the process of dying, beautifully, on stage. A half-full…... Read more
Neil Young: Music should fulfil its potential
Something is happening to Neil Young’s brain, which may be the onset of Alzheimer’s. His dad had it, and it…... Read more
Despite the delivery, Clint was speaking for a big crowd
Mitt Romney has a real chance to make Barack Obama a one—term president. The polls say the two men are…... Read more
The New York Jew who wandered from the flock
In Pearl Reich’s lounge room in Lakewood, New Jersey, is a symbol of her defiance. It is a large, new…... Read more
A sad little hate group, thankfully, fades away
It’s a lonely and worrying business being racist. There are no signposts guiding the way to the Baptist church that…... Read more
The world belongs to Kevin. It always will.
Kevin Rudd, the backbencher from Queensland? No such thing. In his own mind, he’s still Foreign Minister. Prime Minister, too.…... Read more
The elephant in the room trumpets your values
Once I met a man who possessed an object of such great value that it was, in a monetary sense,…... Read more
This woman gives lawyers a good name
It can be hard to fathom how a lawyer can stand up for a person who’s obviously a pedophile or…... Read more
We must do what we can to stop President Cruise
Call it second sight. Call it bullshit. I know the exact moment when Tom Cruise decided he’d have Katie Holmes.…... Read more
When it comes to aliens Australia is not alone
On a highway in Arizona, south of Phoenix, a sign reads: DANGER — PUBLIC WARNING — TRAVEL NOT RECOMMENDED -…... Read more
Assange is no hero, but he deserves better from our govt
Australian leaders like to claim, disingenuously, that a characteristic of the alliance with America is that Australia reserves the right…... Read more
The twisted Marine rotting in Goulburn Supermax
When a small group of elite US Marines gather next year for their long overdue, 30 year reunion, they will…... Read more
Will Baz do to Gatsby what he did to Australia?
Just across from Manhattan, on Long Island, two small peninsulas lean out and give shelter to a shallow dagger of…... Read more
Waiting for Mel…
Been trying to get an interview with Mel. Gibson. No luck so far. Frankly, I’m not even sure Mel knows…... Read more
Do humans dream of biological sheep?
George Orwell’s deadline came and went. No doubt for many who read 1984 in the years after it was published…... Read more
Our special forces don’t always need special treatment
We admire them, but we’re not entirely sure why. We allow them to operate in the shadows; we rarely ask…... Read more
The brave chronicler of Mexico’s deadly drug war
Ciudad Juarez, which shares a border with El Paso, in Texas, is the most violent city on earth. But you…... Read more
Reports of Ron Paul’s death are greatly exaggerated
Reports of Ron Paul’s political demise have been greatly exaggerated and his tactical genius is becoming apparent as he gives…... Read more
The seedy little CD store where music is strict taboo
A few months ago, Bill, the owner of Rainbow Music, spent several hours trapped under collapsed piles of CDs in…... Read more
New forms of language actually make us more liter8
The computer has cleaned up poor handwriting by eliminating it. Everyone can now write in a legible font and everyone,…... Read more
Stolen and raised by a different tribe
As best I know, Australia has no true accounts of white people being kidnapped or rescued and raised by tribal…... Read more
Zero tolerance on crime: Can you dig it?
Watching from afar, I noted a press release from a federal minister talking about a Brisbane suburb. It was headlined:…... Read more
Of caged monkeys and scientific men
A week or so ago, in New Mexico, I met a man who spent decades interfering, on a scientifically aggressive…... Read more
The saddest, weirdest, most honest little town in America
New Mexico is strange country. On the White Sands Missile Range, they conducted the first atmospheric test of an atom…... Read more
Mao is dead, but his doublespeak lives on
The first and last time I was in mainland China was 1988. I caught a train from Guangzhou to Shanghai.…... Read more
The unsung aviator who helped saved Darwin
A genuine American war ace who did his greatest fighting 70 years ago over the skies of Darwin has passed…... Read more
Steubenville: The place dreams aren’t made of
There is no Dean Martin Museum in Steubenville, Ohio. And the town’s other most famous export, former porn star Traci…... Read more
Back when the barstuds boiled their bloody billies
Published in 1943 and given to every American serviceman heading Down Under to help with the war effort, the US…... Read more
Death by dingo: The 32-year old saga that has to end
It is easy to understand why the parents of Azaria Chamberlain, Lindy and Michael, who have long since gone their…... Read more
American story: meat the last butcher in Little Italy
Moe Albanese is the last butcher standing in New York’s Little Italy. His father, Vincenzo, was a butcher from Polizzi…... Read more
Paradise lost, but a pocket of America found
Just looking at him, elderly Miami resident Pedro C. Alvarez is not the type who would be inclined to take…... Read more
Dog ownership laws a load of total bullpit
Max, a young and handsome American pit bull, sits on death row in Miami-Dade County’s Animal Services, a victim of…... Read more
Over-rated Redford and the Sundance kidding
Robert Redford was born in Santa Monica, California. Burt Lancaster was born in East Harlem, New York. There the similarities…... Read more
The futility and hypocrisy of the Occupy stragglers
Across her neck, the contradiction of a permanent tattoo shackle that reads: “Freedom.” Across one forearm, a tattoo that reads,…... Read more
Disco: When music made straight for your groin
Someone had to pay for disco. Nile Rodgers took the bullet in late 1979 when it finally became official: disco…... Read more
Buried basements, witch hazel and bay rum
Once your eyes adjust to the blur of big city New York, you start to notice there’s another world here.…... Read more
New York I love you, but Christmas here is a let-down
Bing Crosby – or maybe it was Bob Hope, or perhaps even Jimmy Stewart – on New York’s Fifth Avenue,…... Read more
Sweet home Alabama is only sweet for some
Sailor’s Lounge caters to the hard-bittenest drinkers in the deep south coastal town of Mobile, Alabama. There’s a woman, maybe…... Read more
Filthy murderous mobsters are no Goodfellas
It doesn’t matter if these days they’re modern boardroom businessmen in Ermenegildo Zegna suits and Bally shoes. They’re still the…... Read more
Our American dream, our American nightmare
When the Reverend Seth Kaper-Dale took over the running of the Reformed Church of Highland Park, in New Brunswick, New…... Read more
Don’t cry for me Australia. Truth is, I’m glad I left you
What’s Australia like? A sizeable question, but a young Argentine student who has returned home to Buenos Aires after a…... Read more
A walking, talking, real-life zombie from Haiti
Twenty years after his death, Clairvius Narcisse, a zombie from Haiti, stood staring down at his own tombstone. The inscription…... Read more
Blood, gore and a respectful handshake in rural America
Killing animals with antlers and hooves gets some men going. They will cross the world to do it. They like…... Read more
Nannying in New York is a black and white issue
It never looks quite right. On any sunny afternoon in Manhattan’s wealthy Upper West, there are swarms of black nannies…... Read more
The Ronald Reagan Revival
Many regarded him as a dangerously simple man who wanted to save the world by blowing it up. Hell, we…... Read more
Like flickering candles, the 9/11 babies symbolise hope
The lack of comprehension for the atrocity committed on September 11 is such that it has taken 10 full years…... Read more
The day America said no to God
It’s a brave or foolish American who turns his back on God. But that’s what New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg…... Read more
The KKK kicked Butts, then Butts kicked back
Sometimes you can meet a person and feel blessed. I don’t mean touched by the hand of God. I just…... Read more
Bin Laden: From hide and seek to show and tell
Was it a hit squad? The Americans’ codename for Osama Bin Laden was Geronimo. Geronimo was the Apache leader who…... Read more
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The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
