What, so I don't get a fresh Newspoll after all? Disappointing.
But what wasn't disappointing was Media Watch and Q&A last night, which made it perfectly clear (if it wasn't already) that the Abbott government massive over-reaction to the Mallah appearance on Q&A was ridiculous from the get-go and utterly fails to bear calm scrutiny.
It was hard to pick who came out looking stupidest last night - bloviating, needs-to-retire bore Paul Kelly, fumbling his way around trying to explain why his paper could do an article painting Mallah as a reformed jihadist but Q&A was the worst show in the world for having him ask a specific question about how proposed citizenship rules could affect him; or Tim Wilson getting upset that people laughed at him when Jones had a silent dig at his selective take on when we can hear free speech on the ABC and when we can't.
The most absurd thing about all of this Abbott hypersensitivity to his government being asked pointed questions is that, in fact, the Australian media (including the ABC) has collectively let his government get away with unjustified secrecy and cover up of a major issue of national interest (boat turn backs, lock ups on the high seas, and what goes on in Manus Island and Naru) to a disgraceful extent.
But Abbott, being the dumbest Prime Minister of at least the last 50 years, doesn't realise the soft glove treatment he's received on this.
Update: am amused to read that the readers of Catallaxy seem to think Wilson and Kelly came out looking good last night. It's like a public service now, that blog: it lets the dumb, the blind, the immature and the offensive who can't get a gig on Bolt's threads comfort and support each other in one little corner of the 'net that's safely cordoned off for people who don't want to hear from them.
I watched Q&A for the first time last night and was impressed. Wilson came across as a pretentious prat and a hypocrite at that. I wonder what the reaction would be if Triggs was as political as he. Kelly was clueless. He said the Cabinet process had been met in terms of the citizenship legislation.
ReplyDeleteOnly problem was only two ministers had read the discussion paper.
amazing.
I also watched a tape on Insiders where Turnbull couldn't answer why security was needed at Q&A when Mallah is allowed to walk around free in shopping centres.
The Government and their supporters simply want to aid and abet ISIL in their recruitment if you judge them by their actions!
Wilson came across as a pretentious prat and a hypocrite at that.
ReplyDeleteYa beat me to it. Wilson was mauled last night. He is a shill for the coalition. He clearly doesn't like dissent.
All this carrying on is going to backfire for the coalition. They seem to have adopted a strategy of viciously attacking anything and anyone they don't like. That is now a very long list. They are divisive and cruel towards anyone who does not hold their opinions.
It is also totally aiding ISIL recruiting!
ReplyDeleteThe Lady made arguments very similar to David Kilcullen
It's like a public service now, that blog: it lets the dumb, the blind, the immature and the offensive who can't get a gig on Bolt's threads comfort and support each other in one little corner of the 'net that's safely cordoned off for people who don't want to hear from them..
ReplyDeleteStephanie, but you read it!
Homer Paxton should be banned from every blog in Australia. He's not a well man.
Never mind JC found out what predecessor means yet?
ReplyDeleteJC, be honest - the place is now a tedious bore full of nutty Kates hyperventilating about Obama and how he's the only economist in the world who understands it properly, Sloan practicing bitchiness, Moron and his jihad on clean energy, Sinclair trying to discredit plain packaging and the fact that the future of coal is not so great - and the threads full of boring, sexist (mostly white male) commentators and women too silly to be offended at casual sexism.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting even you wish there were a better blog in which you could be obnoxious.
So you read it every day Steve? Breaks up the boredom of that DSP?
ReplyDelete