Two days is a long time in politics. Two days ago there were no conspiracies. Now it seems likely Kathy Jackson conspired with Marco Solano and others to set Craig up with prostitutes and wreck his life and career.
Two days ago most people thought Tony Abbott would be Prime Minister soon. Now six million people think him ‘unfit to be an M.P.’
At ten a.m. on Monday it was clear that Craig was gone for all money. It is likely now, though not certain, that he could win his seat as an Independent.
Two days ago we were in a global free market, which all the significant party leaders supported. Now Paul Howes has spoken, and protectionism is once more being talked of with conviction, and popular already with eighty percent of the nation.
Two days ago NATO was in Afghanistan for the long haul. Now France has pulled out of it, and ‘long haul’ has been redefined.
Two days ago it was plain that the Gillard Government was so stenched with scandal it could not survive till even the end of the year. The stench has shifted now, and Pyne and Abbott and Brough and Ashby and Mirabella are in it, and the Government will go its full term, and fight an election, probably, against Morrison or Turnbull not Abbott and win it.
Two days ago it was possible for some though not many to argue that Julie Bishop would make a better Foreign Minister than Bob Carr. Now Schapelle Corby is coming back, and that moment has passed.
At ten a.m. on Monday Bob Ellis was not fit to be seen with, a slovenly grub no respectable person like Henderson or Birmingham would ever debate in a public place. Now he is known to be a speechwriter for the Governor-General, and esteemed by her, and in line, perhaps, for honours akin to those of the great Lionel Logue, his hero, and even a knighthood perhaps, on the Queen’s hundredth birthday, and back until then on The Drum Unleashed.
Two days ago Ellis writing of ‘The Innocence Of Craig Thomson’ was thought the act of a fool. He now seems in the loop, and on the money, and prescient and wise.
Two days ago Ellis was still in his mind a friend of Abbott, and thought of him affectionately. He is of that mind no longer.
At ten a.m on Monday our democracy was in danger of a kind of Inquisition run by the passionate Catholics Abbott and Pyne and Mirabella against the Protestants and agnostics Thomson, Slipper, Carr and Faulkner. Now that danger has passed.
These forty-eight hours have smashed for certain the bookies’ odds that Abbott will make it into the Lodge whenever the election is called, or forced, or held at the last moment, in January, 2014.
These forty-eight hours have shown that you never know.
Name:
Another two days and the pendulum will swing back.
This story has more twists and turns than a big dipper ride.
Now it seems Craig Thomson’s unionist half brother wont even vouch for him.
Two of six witnesses nominated by Mr Thomson yesterday said they had never heard of the allegations.
Your story is crumbling Bob…
What do you call those things that dying men grasp at?
That should be your headline to this piece.
Excellent article on Shakespeare in Bowral by the way.
Keep me posted. In the meantime read, above, Peter Wicks’s piece, which probably changes history.
THis has been a particularly auspicious New Moon of recent days, to be sure.
Paul Howe’s thought provoking speech aside, I believe we are still in a global free market, and see no serious indication from Labor that they wish this to be any other way.
If the Labor Party led by Julia Gillard does find itself fighting this election against Turnbull (it won’t), I fail to see how that improves their prospects. Two days can seem like a long time if you haven’t been getting enough sleep or eating properly.
For some strange reason, the Australian people will never vote for a self-made millionaire “silvertail”.
They had no problem however with the useless, foppish, bloodless chameleon husband of a rich woman however.
Turnbull, as it turns out was the worst opposition leader of all time when faced with a gift of the (then) worst PM ever. Too bad, so sad. I reckon the bauble of a republic debate redux was what kept Turnbull neatly in line.
Notice how the republic dropped right off the radar screen once it couldn’t be used to beat John Howard with post 2007?
Very few people believe Thomson’s farrago of fantasy.
Ask me to list 8 unicorns. Better still, unicorns ridden by leprechauns.
Or in the ALP’s case – LEPERchauns.
What are the fantastic bits?
Be specific.
You did hear the speech, right?
I would say the parts mostly between when he stood up, and the bit when he sat back down again.
Tell me the best bit.
To me the line about “I had lots of enemies”. A rising ALP star such as Thomson could work anywhere within the iron lung surely? Why not leave such a toxic workplace if it was so awful?
Maybe because he wanted to make it a better workplace.As good union men do.
Another?
The reforms he effected, the wage rises he got were all ‘fantastic’ were they?
Please say why.
Why do right wingers sound so rabid in their comments. Even if he were ever found guilty I doubt he would get more than 12 months gaol, I doubt he would get any gaol and so as per the rules he would be free to sit in Parliament. I personally have heard of identity fraud many times on the TV programs now decrying the possibility.
I think you know who excretes the most “rabid” comments on here, Rob.
Who?
I hope you are right mate.
We could end up with mincing Pyne, as you so aptly describe him; nasty Mirabella, who wishes ill of other peoples unborn children; and the sado-masochist Abbott in the early stages of dementia, again a wonderful Ellisism.
If this horror were to eventuate I think I’d take my chances on a leaky boat heading in the other direction. I hear the Indonesians are generally hospitable. Hopefully some kindly Indonesian fishermen would take pitty on me and allow my family to stay in their village safe from the sado-monetarists.
It was actually Belinda Neal (Mrs Della Bosca) of your beloved ALP who chanted that Mirabellas yet to be born child would be a Demon.
Pay attention.
This is true.
Pay attention.
But – notice that the baby was never seen in public? Neal weaves some powerful spells… but the spell that brought her brilliant career crashing down is one that turns a dining area into a nightclub. Magico… Mumbopocus… statdecasaurus!
As I said Rabid comments.
So Bob, why don’t you fill us in on these speeches you supposedly wrote for the GG, or was it just one? In which case, tell us which one. Or are you simply waxing lyrical about nothing more than the GG having asked you once about your opinion on something some one else was writing?
You’ve made the claim of being a speech writer for her, but I don’t seem to see any proof, in fact she herself, when asked about it, seems to have contradicted your grandiose claim of having written speeches for her.
I defy you to provide any proof that you have ever written a speech for her, or man up and admit your were bullshitting, or at least big noting yourself for something that was not, speech writing.
His latest work is sadly lacking according to exhibits A, B and C:
“Look into my eyes”
“circus hypnotist”
“Kabuki actor”
Goodness, I hope the taxpayers didn’t foot the bill for these little gems. I hope however Bob Carr was gouged royally for such “witticisms”. No? Well, one gets what one pays for.
An attacking right wing troll. Why even bother, why not comment on the Menzie’s House Blog?
Attacking right wing troll?
Not at all, just trying to clarify something that seems to be blatantly untrue. Or do you consider fact checking to be the sole domain of the right wing? Maybe it’s my refusal to believe everything Bob says as being gospel truth that paints me as right wing. Either way, I’d still like Bob to provide some evidence of this claim, especially in light of the GG’s comments to the contrary.
Answer me this Rob Pittman, why are you more interested in attacking me, than you seem to be in getting the actual truth from Bob?
It’s then Soviet way
Still waiting Bob. I’ll take your silence to mean that I’ve called you on your BS and proved what a liar you are.