Good guy
Good guy
Friend
Arsehole
Arsehole
Bad guy
Liar
Liar
Bad guy
Trust
Trust
Good guy
"That required a lot of courage, a lot of commitment, we know you went to some tough places while you were there"
Liar
Liar
Fairfax
Trust
Truth
Good guy
"I also place on record my appreciation for the efforts of the Australian Islamic community and of Sheik Taj al Hilaly."
There now. Have I got all the right boxes?
Excellent, saint, now I don’t have to watch the Ch.10 show I taped earlier!
Excellent, saint, now I don’t have to watch the Ch.10 show I taped earlier!
What the hell are you doing up there? Get back down in comments, where you belong!
What the hell are you doing up there? Get back down in comments, where you belong!
bwhahahahahaha…black helicopters approaching
bwhahahahahaha…black helicopters approaching
Someone’s watching Minority Report.
Someone’s watching Minority Report.
Tom Cruise? Not on your Nelly.
Tom Cruise? Not on your Nelly.
Oh come on!
Oh come on!
Not a very good film, Nic. You should read the original Phil K. Dick novels and stories – much better than most of the film adaptations (though obviously Blade Runner is a standout – but it’s only very loosely based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). Having said that, I quite enjoyed Arnie on Mars.
Back On T, is it or can it be a coincidence that Mr Wood looks remarkably like General Eisenhower in the first photo?
Not a very good film, Nic. You should read the original Phil K. Dick novels and stories – much better than most of the film adaptations (though obviously Blade Runner is a standout – but it’s only very loosely based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep). Having said that, I quite enjoyed Arnie on Mars.
Back On T, is it or can it be a coincidence that Mr Wood looks remarkably like General Eisenhower in the first photo?
“Minority Report” is another example of Speilberg busting a gut to be taken seriously as an artist. But it still ends as too many of his flicks do with happy people bathed by bright light.
Stop it Steve. Stick to your guns as the best suspense director since Hitchcock. Making movies not films.
Back OT, isn’t the Doug Wood story turning out to be so much more complex, convoluted and variably venal than the media first told us – and unfolding in a such sloppy human way that real life keeps showing us ’tis alway so?
There?Äôs gonna be lot of backfilling, tapdancing, shifting and repositioning on the blogosphere over the next 48 hours.
“Minority Report” is another example of Speilberg busting a gut to be taken seriously as an artist. But it still ends as too many of his flicks do with happy people bathed by bright light.
Stop it Steve. Stick to your guns as the best suspense director since Hitchcock. Making movies not films.
Back OT, isn’t the Doug Wood story turning out to be so much more complex, convoluted and variably venal than the media first told us – and unfolding in a such sloppy human way that real life keeps showing us ’tis alway so?
There?Äôs gonna be lot of backfilling, tapdancing, shifting and repositioning on the blogosphere over the next 48 hours.
Too right Nabs. I was almost going to write elsewhere that it’s easy to put everything and everyone in neat little boxes when you talk in the abstract or the aggregate, but when it gets down low and personal, it gets grimy and human.
I think we also saw that with Corby.
I’m expecting to do some backfilling and repositioning myself, having thought this was an accidental and fortuitous rescue. Now I’m not sure.
Too right Nabs. I was almost going to write elsewhere that it’s easy to put everything and everyone in neat little boxes when you talk in the abstract or the aggregate, but when it gets down low and personal, it gets grimy and human.
I think we also saw that with Corby.
I’m expecting to do some backfilling and repositioning myself, having thought this was an accidental and fortuitous rescue. Now I’m not sure.
Yes, saint, only a few people know what really happened. One of them is being paid the price of a nice beachside shack in FNQ by a media outlet that prides itself on roping in Gen X eyeballs – and the other folks involved in the story seem unavailable for comment.
If 9 and Harry M Miller are not players then the stamp is not on the meat. Now I wonder why that is? ‘specially since Kerry brought Sam back to beat 7 or else…
Yes, saint, only a few people know what really happened. One of them is being paid the price of a nice beachside shack in FNQ by a media outlet that prides itself on roping in Gen X eyeballs – and the other folks involved in the story seem unavailable for comment.
If 9 and Harry M Miller are not players then the stamp is not on the meat. Now I wonder why that is? ‘specially since Kerry brought Sam back to beat 7 or else…
Cut it out with the lame innuendo.
I s’pose the Iraqi troops were using blanks, and some guy in a restaurant told somebody that the terrorists had already left the building?
Are we going to have to wait for a conspiracy theory out of the BBC to capture the left’s imagination?
As a good mate of mine once asked:
“Why is it the left is the home of conspiracy theories?”
I dunno, maybe that’s how it is when you live in the ‘reality-based commune’.
Cut it out with the lame innuendo.
I s’pose the Iraqi troops were using blanks, and some guy in a restaurant told somebody that the terrorists had already left the building?
Are we going to have to wait for a conspiracy theory out of the BBC to capture the left’s imagination?
As a good mate of mine once asked:
“Why is it the left is the home of conspiracy theories?”
I dunno, maybe that’s how it is when you live in the ‘reality-based commune’.
Oh I get it. Woods isn’t *really* a good guy and terrorists aren’t *really* arseholes. And rape victims aren’t really *victims* and their attackers aren’t really *low-lifes*.
Very sophisticated.
Oh I get it. Woods isn’t *really* a good guy and terrorists aren’t *really* arseholes. And rape victims aren’t really *victims* and their attackers aren’t really *low-lifes*.
Very sophisticated.
Funny how the eejit right don’t see their own conspiracy theories as conspiracy theories. I guess they’re more conspiracy facts.
Funny how the eejit right don’t see their own conspiracy theories as conspiracy theories. I guess they’re more conspiracy facts.
Terrorists are arseholes: the left thinks this is a conspiracy. How fucking braindead can you get?
Terrorists are arseholes: the left thinks this is a conspiracy. How fucking braindead can you get?
If I ever start getting into conspiracy theores, CL, I authorise you to pull my plug and allow me some dignity.
If I ever start getting into conspiracy theores, CL, I authorise you to pull my plug and allow me some dignity.
What are the eejit right conspiracy theories in this instance ian?
I thought it was pretty straightforward: Australian guy gets kidnapped in Iraq, lots of people, including the estimable Sheik Al Hilaly work to get him liberated, guy comes back to Australia, recants the ideological line he was forced to utter by his kidnappers, calls them arseholes, signs up to sell his story and seemingly, as a result, ends up about as popular as the late Mal Colston (to whom he does bear an unfortunate resemblance in a certain light).
When one points to that that simple events schematic, saint goes all hysterical on some bizarre box theory and you mutter about conspiracies….
Why do you think Wood has become about as popular as a week old poo in a Goondiwindi summer with the chatterati?
What are the eejit right conspiracy theories in this instance ian?
I thought it was pretty straightforward: Australian guy gets kidnapped in Iraq, lots of people, including the estimable Sheik Al Hilaly work to get him liberated, guy comes back to Australia, recants the ideological line he was forced to utter by his kidnappers, calls them arseholes, signs up to sell his story and seemingly, as a result, ends up about as popular as the late Mal Colston (to whom he does bear an unfortunate resemblance in a certain light).
When one points to that that simple events schematic, saint goes all hysterical on some bizarre box theory and you mutter about conspiracies….
Why do you think Wood has become about as popular as a week old poo in a Goondiwindi summer with the chatterati?
I also taped the Wood interview. Add another one to my Sandra Sully Gold collection. I’ll ebay ‘em one day. The value of the collection has trebled since Ten’s inspired move to show her legs during the news.
I also taped the Wood interview. Add another one to my Sandra Sully Gold collection. I’ll ebay ‘em one day. The value of the collection has trebled since Ten’s inspired move to show her legs during the news.
What Geoff said.
What Geoff said.
I ‘m sorry but just when did Wood become unpopular.
It seems to have passed me by except for some people to set up a straw man.
I can’t seehow ant rational person can criticise wood for his ordeal nor understand his reaction thus far. Let’s face he is a very lucky man.
Just when did Saint go hysterical ?
I ‘m sorry but just when did Wood become unpopular.
It seems to have passed me by except for some people to set up a straw man.
I can’t seehow ant rational person can criticise wood for his ordeal nor understand his reaction thus far. Let’s face he is a very lucky man.
Just when did Saint go hysterical ?
“I ‘m sorry but just when did Wood become unpopular.”
His sectional unpopularity (he’s last week’s story as far as the mass of the Body Australis is concerned) is evidenced by commentary from Fairfax journos, the Age editor, Andrew Jaspan, and similar chatterati. Their take, Homer, is that he’s ungrateful, unattractive, vengeful, mercenary, boorish and probably a lousy husband to boot. Here’s Jaspan:
“I was, I have to say, shocked by Douglas Wood’s use of the a—hole word, if I can put it like that, which I just thought was coarse and very ill-thought through and I think demeans the man and is one of the reasons why people are slightly sceptical of his motives and everything else.
“The issue really is largely, speaking as I understand it, he was treated well there. He says he was fed every day, and as such to turn around and use that kind of language I think is just insensitive.”
Wood may be rude, boorish and unattractive but it doesn’t detract from his inalienable right to critique the people who kidnapped him, imprisoned him and murdered his companions in forceful terms. I’m sure Andrew Jaspan and I would. And we’d probably both welcome the opportunity to get remunerated for reliving the experience. You probably wouldn’t do anything like that, Homer, given your commitment to Christian charity, but you never know…:)
“I ‘m sorry but just when did Wood become unpopular.”
His sectional unpopularity (he’s last week’s story as far as the mass of the Body Australis is concerned) is evidenced by commentary from Fairfax journos, the Age editor, Andrew Jaspan, and similar chatterati. Their take, Homer, is that he’s ungrateful, unattractive, vengeful, mercenary, boorish and probably a lousy husband to boot. Here’s Jaspan:
“I was, I have to say, shocked by Douglas Wood’s use of the a—hole word, if I can put it like that, which I just thought was coarse and very ill-thought through and I think demeans the man and is one of the reasons why people are slightly sceptical of his motives and everything else.
“The issue really is largely, speaking as I understand it, he was treated well there. He says he was fed every day, and as such to turn around and use that kind of language I think is just insensitive.”
Wood may be rude, boorish and unattractive but it doesn’t detract from his inalienable right to critique the people who kidnapped him, imprisoned him and murdered his companions in forceful terms. I’m sure Andrew Jaspan and I would. And we’d probably both welcome the opportunity to get remunerated for reliving the experience. You probably wouldn’t do anything like that, Homer, given your commitment to Christian charity, but you never know…:)
Stop the press:
I just heard a shock jock give Wood a fearsome spray.
Didn’t like him taking money when WE had spent so much money trying to get him and didn’t like him saying god bless America.
didn’t like him for trying to make money in Iraq.
I do believe the wheel has turned for dougy.
Stop the press:
I just heard a shock jock give Wood a fearsome spray.
Didn’t like him taking money when WE had spent so much money trying to get him and didn’t like him saying god bless America.
didn’t like him for trying to make money in Iraq.
I do believe the wheel has turned for dougy.
“saint goes all hysterical on some bizarre box theory”
Finally, proof that hysteria, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder?
“saint goes all hysterical on some bizarre box theory”
Finally, proof that hysteria, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder?
I think saint is being satirical rather than hysterical.
I think saint is being satirical rather than hysterical.
So am I.
So am I.
I think Douglas Wood is getting a lot of bad press because of the lack of dignity and grace he seems to possess. The money has nothing to do with it. He spent 47 days captive because he was a contractor for a US multinational.
In 1991, Brian Keenan, Terry Anderson, John McCarthy and Terry Waite were all freed in Lebanon after each spending between 1700 and 2200 days in captivity. Two were journalists, one was a case of mistaken identity and one was sent to free the others. They all spoke of their ordeal with empathy and with their heads held high.
We all feel sorry for Douglas but he is not endearing himself to anyone, except maybe Channel Ten.
I think Douglas Wood is getting a lot of bad press because of the lack of dignity and grace he seems to possess. The money has nothing to do with it. He spent 47 days captive because he was a contractor for a US multinational.
In 1991, Brian Keenan, Terry Anderson, John McCarthy and Terry Waite were all freed in Lebanon after each spending between 1700 and 2200 days in captivity. Two were journalists, one was a case of mistaken identity and one was sent to free the others. They all spoke of their ordeal with empathy and with their heads held high.
We all feel sorry for Douglas but he is not endearing himself to anyone, except maybe Channel Ten.
“He spent 47 days captive because he was a contractor for a US multinational.”
He spent 47 days captive because his captors appear to have wanted money in return for his freedom. He was legally entitled to be in Iraq, going about his business. Who he was working for is immaterial. People taken captive thus far include Margaret Hassan, an NGO worker (she was murdered) and an Italian communist journo. What do you reckon the rationale was in their cases?
“He spent 47 days captive because he was a contractor for a US multinational.”
He spent 47 days captive because his captors appear to have wanted money in return for his freedom. He was legally entitled to be in Iraq, going about his business. Who he was working for is immaterial. People taken captive thus far include Margaret Hassan, an NGO worker (she was murdered) and an Italian communist journo. What do you reckon the rationale was in their cases?
Oh, I realise he was legally entitled to be there but I’m also legally entitled to shoot a Frenchman in Canterbury, England, with a bow & arrow during the hours of darkness. It doesn’t mean that will endear me to the public.
Oh, I realise he was legally entitled to be there but I’m also legally entitled to shoot a Frenchman in Canterbury, England, with a bow & arrow during the hours of darkness. It doesn’t mean that will endear me to the public.
Yeah I was being satirical.
If you want to know what I have been thinking out aloud since the saga started there are about 10 posts about Wood on my blog and comments around the place. The rest I have held close to my chest.
Al, I’m not to sure about who this unidentified ‘left’ and ‘right’ is that people like you rail about. While a few bloggers self identify as left and right, and others put other bloggers into categories of ‘left’ and ‘right’ I have never self identified as either and never will. Because apart from not understanding what those terms mean, it all strikes me as a load of crock in my view. But if you want to self identify with a particular group, go for it – I will happily use the label for you. But if you want to put left-right labels on me, you do so without my permission and without my self identification as anything but. A
nd I suggest that the average punter down the pub sees themselves no differently than me. Just ordinary Aussies with opinions shaped by different things. If newspapers and media outlets want to know one reason why they are losing audiences, it is because average Jo couldn’t give a toss about all the little wars of words about stuff like that. I mean if the editor of Australia mentions ABC or Media Watch one more time, I would suggest that it is he who has some paranoid obsession and that the rest of us are not interested. Honestly, people like you, and memebers of the media and politicians who see everything in terms of left and right just don’t get it that you might as well be operating in a parallell universe compared to the guy down the pub and the woman working at the local shop.
Having said that, I also don’t know what the ‘lame innuendo’ is; I had accepted the view that that it was general intelligence about the building where Wood was found that led to his rescue; what I am suspecting now is that they had specific intelligence which located him. If it turns out to be true, that’s hardly something to be upset about, good intelligence like that. I would simply wonder about why the cover up – better to just have stated, “due to security reasons we can’t give you details but we found him”. But you know there’s a war to be won, so better to talk up the Iraqi’s involvement. I mean, the U.S. didn’t have a psychops operation on in Iraq did it? And well this all might be for the benefit of the Iraqis now couldn’t it, to give them confidence. Instead of being for the benefit of all the little cheap point scoring people like you?
Yeah I was being satirical.
If you want to know what I have been thinking out aloud since the saga started there are about 10 posts about Wood on my blog and comments around the place. The rest I have held close to my chest.
Al, I’m not to sure about who this unidentified ‘left’ and ‘right’ is that people like you rail about. While a few bloggers self identify as left and right, and others put other bloggers into categories of ‘left’ and ‘right’ I have never self identified as either and never will. Because apart from not understanding what those terms mean, it all strikes me as a load of crock in my view. But if you want to self identify with a particular group, go for it – I will happily use the label for you. But if you want to put left-right labels on me, you do so without my permission and without my self identification as anything but. A
nd I suggest that the average punter down the pub sees themselves no differently than me. Just ordinary Aussies with opinions shaped by different things. If newspapers and media outlets want to know one reason why they are losing audiences, it is because average Jo couldn’t give a toss about all the little wars of words about stuff like that. I mean if the editor of Australia mentions ABC or Media Watch one more time, I would suggest that it is he who has some paranoid obsession and that the rest of us are not interested. Honestly, people like you, and memebers of the media and politicians who see everything in terms of left and right just don’t get it that you might as well be operating in a parallell universe compared to the guy down the pub and the woman working at the local shop.
Having said that, I also don’t know what the ‘lame innuendo’ is; I had accepted the view that that it was general intelligence about the building where Wood was found that led to his rescue; what I am suspecting now is that they had specific intelligence which located him. If it turns out to be true, that’s hardly something to be upset about, good intelligence like that. I would simply wonder about why the cover up – better to just have stated, “due to security reasons we can’t give you details but we found him”. But you know there’s a war to be won, so better to talk up the Iraqi’s involvement. I mean, the U.S. didn’t have a psychops operation on in Iraq did it? And well this all might be for the benefit of the Iraqis now couldn’t it, to give them confidence. Instead of being for the benefit of all the little cheap point scoring people like you?
I am not aware that Wood was a contractor to a multinational (he used to work for Bechtel), but ran his own business while in Iraq. And frankly it does not matter if he were. There is no excuse for being held captive and terrorized.
I am not aware that Wood was a contractor to a multinational (he used to work for Bechtel), but ran his own business while in Iraq. And frankly it does not matter if he were. There is no excuse for being held captive and terrorized.
“I?Äôm also legally entitled to shoot a Frenchman in Canterbury, England, with a bow & arrow during the hours of darkness.”
I’d advise against exercising your entitlement Russell
“I?Äôm also legally entitled to shoot a Frenchman in Canterbury, England, with a bow & arrow during the hours of darkness.”
I’d advise against exercising your entitlement Russell
The kidnappers aren’t terrorists; just businessmen doing business in one of the few fields of capitalist endeavour that can make a quid in Baghdad these days.
The kidnappers aren’t terrorists; just businessmen doing business in one of the few fields of capitalist endeavour that can make a quid in Baghdad these days.
Apologies. I had read in my local rag (GC Bully) that he was subbed to a US multi. The comment though was not meant to imply that his ordeal was any less painful but I’ve always considered ‘don’t voluntarily go into a war zone if you don’t want to get kidnapped’ as a good rule of thumb to live by.
Apologies. I had read in my local rag (GC Bully) that he was subbed to a US multi. The comment though was not meant to imply that his ordeal was any less painful but I’ve always considered ‘don’t voluntarily go into a war zone if you don’t want to get kidnapped’ as a good rule of thumb to live by.
I like Woods line of “I am sacrificing money by not going back to Iraq”
How noble. Many Australians have sacrificed money by never going to Iraq to profiteer in the first place.
I like Woods line of “I am sacrificing money by not going back to Iraq”
How noble. Many Australians have sacrificed money by never going to Iraq to profiteer in the first place.
And I guess the last few comments show why such a mixed reaction to Wood (whose life, character and activities reminds me so much of one of my uncles): is he just a businessman trying to make a buck, perhaps with a bit of altruism in wanting to help rebuild Iraq or is he a ‘war profiteer’ (not that I think either means he deserves to be kidnapped) is heavily tied to the mixed messages given out about the nature and the status of the situation in Iraq.
One minute we are at a tipping point, the next minute it is all going swimmingly, the other minute it’s a nightmare. No it’s a war zone, yes it’s a nascent democracy. The three contradictory reports by senior U.S.officials this week on the strength of the insurgency was a case in point. I will accept that there will always be a level of uncertainty in trying to describe a fluid situation on the basis of incomplete information, but if our public figures and institutions – be they politicians, journos, the military or whatever – continue to push spin as opposed to a more realistic assessment of the situation and a more reasoned and transparent defense of their actions then one can hardly complain about the sort of mixed reaction we are seeing. It would never go away of course – but the criticisms may well be more constructive and productive.
And I guess the last few comments show why such a mixed reaction to Wood (whose life, character and activities reminds me so much of one of my uncles): is he just a businessman trying to make a buck, perhaps with a bit of altruism in wanting to help rebuild Iraq or is he a ‘war profiteer’ (not that I think either means he deserves to be kidnapped) is heavily tied to the mixed messages given out about the nature and the status of the situation in Iraq.
One minute we are at a tipping point, the next minute it is all going swimmingly, the other minute it’s a nightmare. No it’s a war zone, yes it’s a nascent democracy. The three contradictory reports by senior U.S.officials this week on the strength of the insurgency was a case in point. I will accept that there will always be a level of uncertainty in trying to describe a fluid situation on the basis of incomplete information, but if our public figures and institutions – be they politicians, journos, the military or whatever – continue to push spin as opposed to a more realistic assessment of the situation and a more reasoned and transparent defense of their actions then one can hardly complain about the sort of mixed reaction we are seeing. It would never go away of course – but the criticisms may well be more constructive and productive.
P.S. In any case, one wonders how many Aussies really care, given the viewing figures for the DW interview on 10. Backyard Blitz still won the ratings.
P.S. In any case, one wonders how many Aussies really care, given the viewing figures for the DW interview on 10. Backyard Blitz still won the ratings.
followed by Guinness Book of Records on Seven. The Woody and Sully show came third.
followed by Guinness Book of Records on Seven. The Woody and Sully show came third.
Would’ve got more viewers if it was just Sully.
Would’ve got more viewers if it was just Sully.
Uh-oh, here’s that ‘there’s is no left wing’ meme again, just sensible people with a broad range of views – and right wing ideologues.
Well, Saint, a couple of years ago, ‘cheap little point scoring people like me’ were watching in disbelief as the I-can’t-believe-they’re-not-lefties ridiculed the plight of Jessica Lynch.
John Kampfner of the BBC led the charge with an appallingly loaded and inaccurate cheap shot aimed at ‘hitting back’ at US control of the Iraq-based media.
On the face of it, the story was so far fetched as to defy belief. Apparently, the US, bogged down in their 3 week war against Bobby Fisk’s non-existent battalions, needed a positive story to salvage their flagging morale, and turn the media’s attention away from the ‘quagmire’. So they engineered a stage managed film event, complete with ‘blank’ rounds and non-existent injuries to the girl.
Despite Kampfner’s furious backpeddling a couple of weeks later, the legend of ‘The Confected Rescue’ was born.
Skip forward two years, and the fairy tale ending to the Wood story is looking down the barrel of the same fate.
Oh, but that’s right – it was all in jest!
Well, no, I can’t accept that, I’m afraid. You see, some of the more extreme opinions-shaped-by-different-things-wing websites were openly speculating as to the clearly insufficiently emaciated and unbruised state of Wood.
Now satire apparently goes a long way. Hence the reason the painfully unfunny Glasshouse continues to excite mirth among the steadfastly non-aligned that watch the Apolitical Broadcasting Corporation. I actually caught about five seconds of it the other night, just long enough to catch some side splitting line about Vanstone getting a facial rash from licking the PM’s arse too much.
Comic gold!
Yep, that’s ‘satire’ – otherwise known as ‘political humour’. I doubt there’s a single Howard voter that watches The Glasshouse, other than the odd channel surfer who pauses to marvel at the kindergarten leftism of its humour.
So satire is a very partisan form of humour. What might appear a light-hearted poke at the right’s, er, whatever view on the Wood chapter, is only really funny when viewed through two left lenses. When it follows shortly after Phil’s effort which ended with the line:
“Wood, mercenary to the end, and selling his story like so many wannabe starlets looking for their fifteen minutes of fame, obviously suits the News Limited template of what counts as news.”
…well, it gets one to thinking.
You might not hold quite so jaded a view of Wood, but your opinion of News Ltd reveals some very similar thinking.
You see, I’ve read the long suffering Oz’s columns on MW. If you’ve actually read those columns, you’d know that their major grievance was not an issue of left and right, it was a matter of commercial bias in favor of Fairfax. True, much was made of Marr’s declaration that good journalists were duty bound leftists. But, given that the spirit of the articles was in self defence, I fail to see Murdoch’s crime.
And Fairfax, from the altitude-challenged Jaspan down to the factually-challenged McGeough, don’t like Wood. He’s really not their sort of guy. He’s beer and pizza, not pastries and unwooded chardonnay.
I reckon I could sink a jar or two with Wood. He strikes me as a hard-to-scare good ‘ol boy. He’s stood up and dismissed the terrorists/ransom-kidnappers as the murdering pieces of shit they really are. In a time of greater moral clarity, he’d have been hailed as a champion. Not so these days.
The picture in Iraq isn’t looking that good at the moment. Today, for example, the bold Jihadis butchered another 30 plus fellow Muslims in courageous attacks against hard targets – like a hospital. It makes me sad, and it makes me angry. It also scares the hell out of me.
And I believe that Moore’s Minutemen Mujahadeeni feed on the doubt and self loathing in the Western press typified by McGeogh’s reporting.
I’m an old fashioned man, Saint. I believe that the time for dissent was before the first Australian troops set foot into Iraq. From that point, my favourite edict applies:
Lead, follow, or get out the way.
Yes, I can understand the humour in your post. I can almost imagine the voiceover to it on Backberner or, indeed, The Glasshouse. But what is your point? How does it promote the causes of democracy and enlightenment in the battle against violent medieval oppression?
Uh-oh, here’s that ‘there’s is no left wing’ meme again, just sensible people with a broad range of views – and right wing ideologues.
Well, Saint, a couple of years ago, ‘cheap little point scoring people like me’ were watching in disbelief as the I-can’t-believe-they’re-not-lefties ridiculed the plight of Jessica Lynch.
John Kampfner of the BBC led the charge with an appallingly loaded and inaccurate cheap shot aimed at ‘hitting back’ at US control of the Iraq-based media.
On the face of it, the story was so far fetched as to defy belief. Apparently, the US, bogged down in their 3 week war against Bobby Fisk’s non-existent battalions, needed a positive story to salvage their flagging morale, and turn the media’s attention away from the ‘quagmire’. So they engineered a stage managed film event, complete with ‘blank’ rounds and non-existent injuries to the girl.
Despite Kampfner’s furious backpeddling a couple of weeks later, the legend of ‘The Confected Rescue’ was born.
Skip forward two years, and the fairy tale ending to the Wood story is looking down the barrel of the same fate.
Oh, but that’s right – it was all in jest!
Well, no, I can’t accept that, I’m afraid. You see, some of the more extreme opinions-shaped-by-different-things-wing websites were openly speculating as to the clearly insufficiently emaciated and unbruised state of Wood.
Now satire apparently goes a long way. Hence the reason the painfully unfunny Glasshouse continues to excite mirth among the steadfastly non-aligned that watch the Apolitical Broadcasting Corporation. I actually caught about five seconds of it the other night, just long enough to catch some side splitting line about Vanstone getting a facial rash from licking the PM’s arse too much.
Comic gold!
Yep, that’s ‘satire’ – otherwise known as ‘political humour’. I doubt there’s a single Howard voter that watches The Glasshouse, other than the odd channel surfer who pauses to marvel at the kindergarten leftism of its humour.
So satire is a very partisan form of humour. What might appear a light-hearted poke at the right’s, er, whatever view on the Wood chapter, is only really funny when viewed through two left lenses. When it follows shortly after Phil’s effort which ended with the line:
“Wood, mercenary to the end, and selling his story like so many wannabe starlets looking for their fifteen minutes of fame, obviously suits the News Limited template of what counts as news.”
…well, it gets one to thinking.
You might not hold quite so jaded a view of Wood, but your opinion of News Ltd reveals some very similar thinking.
You see, I’ve read the long suffering Oz’s columns on MW. If you’ve actually read those columns, you’d know that their major grievance was not an issue of left and right, it was a matter of commercial bias in favor of Fairfax. True, much was made of Marr’s declaration that good journalists were duty bound leftists. But, given that the spirit of the articles was in self defence, I fail to see Murdoch’s crime.
And Fairfax, from the altitude-challenged Jaspan down to the factually-challenged McGeough, don’t like Wood. He’s really not their sort of guy. He’s beer and pizza, not pastries and unwooded chardonnay.
I reckon I could sink a jar or two with Wood. He strikes me as a hard-to-scare good ‘ol boy. He’s stood up and dismissed the terrorists/ransom-kidnappers as the murdering pieces of shit they really are. In a time of greater moral clarity, he’d have been hailed as a champion. Not so these days.
The picture in Iraq isn’t looking that good at the moment. Today, for example, the bold Jihadis butchered another 30 plus fellow Muslims in courageous attacks against hard targets – like a hospital. It makes me sad, and it makes me angry. It also scares the hell out of me.
And I believe that Moore’s Minutemen Mujahadeeni feed on the doubt and self loathing in the Western press typified by McGeogh’s reporting.
I’m an old fashioned man, Saint. I believe that the time for dissent was before the first Australian troops set foot into Iraq. From that point, my favourite edict applies:
Lead, follow, or get out the way.
Yes, I can understand the humour in your post. I can almost imagine the voiceover to it on Backberner or, indeed, The Glasshouse. But what is your point? How does it promote the causes of democracy and enlightenment in the battle against violent medieval oppression?
Prefer the footy show Al?
Prefer the footy show Al?
Actually, Flute, Mrs Bundy holds the lounge room and, by default, the household’s only television as occupied territory. I spend most of my time on the Net.
Actually, Flute, Mrs Bundy holds the lounge room and, by default, the household’s only television as occupied territory. I spend most of my time on the Net.
I must admit I’m finding a lot of common ground with the right these days. Backberner and The Glass House are shite.
I must admit I’m finding a lot of common ground with the right these days. Backberner and The Glass House are shite.
Gosh I don’t know if I’ve ever watched Backberner or The Glass House. The TV is not used very often in my household, and for a reason.
Fair comment Al. My point is that the minute someone makes a comment against a certain view, a whole other set of views is imported in with it, usually on the basis of what someone else wrote somewhere sometime and not on the basis of what the person said or wrote themselves. So if you hold one view or are ambivalent about one thing, you apparently hold a particular set of views.
And being in a somewhat grouchy mood these last couple of days (for which I apologise, it’s no excuse) I thought I would just have a dig at that mindset.
Now yes I could easily apply that to anyone and everyone (including me) but it was a comment on the Wood for the Trees thread that made me chose this issue.
I don’t care about who likes Wood or not… in the end he is a flawed human like the rest of us. A drinker, a skirt chaser, a failed businessman, somewhat gauche and unsophisticated for some, but with a soft heart and a gruff exterior who yeah, would probably be good company down at the front bar. Who was just bouncing around Baghdad trying to make a quid with his deals. He could be my uncle (himself citizen of one coutnry, resident in another and with business dealings in the others).
To present him as he is does not mean one condones that he “deserved” to be kidnapped. If some have made that assessment then call it. But then call too the duplicity of others like our own minister Downer who were quick to dismiss Martinkus even as far as suggesting he had no business being in Iraq.
You know, before I started blogging I hadn’t heard of half these people which seem to be the favourite targets of all and sundry, be they opinion writers or Michael Bloody Moore and John Bloody Martinkus. The Australian’s editor may have a beef with Media Watch (and just how many people actually watch it anyway?) but to read it week after week after week stinks of the same sort of petty professional infighting I see every day in the office as if the recent brouhaha over Albrechtsen’s article wasn’t an example. Make the point and then get on with some good journalism of your own. Or as you say, lead, follow or get out of the way.
Although I suspect there your defense suggests a fourth alternative: get the other to change direction.
Gosh I don’t know if I’ve ever watched Backberner or The Glass House. The TV is not used very often in my household, and for a reason.
Fair comment Al. My point is that the minute someone makes a comment against a certain view, a whole other set of views is imported in with it, usually on the basis of what someone else wrote somewhere sometime and not on the basis of what the person said or wrote themselves. So if you hold one view or are ambivalent about one thing, you apparently hold a particular set of views.
And being in a somewhat grouchy mood these last couple of days (for which I apologise, it’s no excuse) I thought I would just have a dig at that mindset.
Now yes I could easily apply that to anyone and everyone (including me) but it was a comment on the Wood for the Trees thread that made me chose this issue.
I don’t care about who likes Wood or not… in the end he is a flawed human like the rest of us. A drinker, a skirt chaser, a failed businessman, somewhat gauche and unsophisticated for some, but with a soft heart and a gruff exterior who yeah, would probably be good company down at the front bar. Who was just bouncing around Baghdad trying to make a quid with his deals. He could be my uncle (himself citizen of one coutnry, resident in another and with business dealings in the others).
To present him as he is does not mean one condones that he “deserved” to be kidnapped. If some have made that assessment then call it. But then call too the duplicity of others like our own minister Downer who were quick to dismiss Martinkus even as far as suggesting he had no business being in Iraq.
You know, before I started blogging I hadn’t heard of half these people which seem to be the favourite targets of all and sundry, be they opinion writers or Michael Bloody Moore and John Bloody Martinkus. The Australian’s editor may have a beef with Media Watch (and just how many people actually watch it anyway?) but to read it week after week after week stinks of the same sort of petty professional infighting I see every day in the office as if the recent brouhaha over Albrechtsen’s article wasn’t an example. Make the point and then get on with some good journalism of your own. Or as you say, lead, follow or get out of the way.
Although I suspect there your defense suggests a fourth alternative: get the other to change direction.
I actaully quite enjoyed the film.
I actaully quite enjoyed the film.
It’s better than The Glass House, which is shite. Never watched Backberner.
It’s better than The Glass House, which is shite. Never watched Backberner.
Backberner was great, but it was a long time ago. The Glasshouse as described, above.
I seriously do not understand the fuss over the Arsehole comment. My rule of thumb is, if someone puts a gun to your head and makes you do things you don’t want to do, you’re entitled to call them arseholes. Fair’s fair. Pretty mild, really. The comments replayed on Media Watch last night by Andrew Jaspan quite astounded, and outraged, me. They didn’t starve him … so? He should be grateful? Like, whatever.
Backberner was great, but it was a long time ago. The Glasshouse as described, above.
I seriously do not understand the fuss over the Arsehole comment. My rule of thumb is, if someone puts a gun to your head and makes you do things you don’t want to do, you’re entitled to call them arseholes. Fair’s fair. Pretty mild, really. The comments replayed on Media Watch last night by Andrew Jaspan quite astounded, and outraged, me. They didn’t starve him … so? He should be grateful? Like, whatever.
Poor Dougy. Three words were all it would have taken to for the left to love him, and he went and picked the wrong three. ‘God bless America’, he said, when he should have said, ‘I blame Howard’.
Poor Dougy. Three words were all it would have taken to for the left to love him, and he went and picked the wrong three. ‘God bless America’, he said, when he should have said, ‘I blame Howard’.
Spot on Amanda. And no they didn’t starve him which is why he is suffering mild malnutrition.
And Rob. Who is this left who doesn’t love him? Why not name names given that I haven’t heard anyone complain about him yelling God Bless America and not everyone would have read or heard what you have. I mean if you look at this photo, what would one expect him to say? God bless Fiji? Or maybe they look like Nigerians?
Spot on Amanda. And no they didn’t starve him which is why he is suffering mild malnutrition.
And Rob. Who is this left who doesn’t love him? Why not name names given that I haven’t heard anyone complain about him yelling God Bless America and not everyone would have read or heard what you have. I mean if you look at this photo, what would one expect him to say? God bless Fiji? Or maybe they look like Nigerians?
I agree with Amanda, Jaspan’s comments as replayed on MW were nonsensical. He made it sound as though Wood should have left his kidnappers a tip.
Rob makes a salient point. If Wood’s post rescue reaction had been to condemn Bush/Howard then I’m sure the story would have played out differently in the media. But then, there would have been elements of the right as ready to dump on him as they were on Martinkus. And he wouldn’t have had all those admiring words from Miranda D the other day.
I agree with Amanda, Jaspan’s comments as replayed on MW were nonsensical. He made it sound as though Wood should have left his kidnappers a tip.
Rob makes a salient point. If Wood’s post rescue reaction had been to condemn Bush/Howard then I’m sure the story would have played out differently in the media. But then, there would have been elements of the right as ready to dump on him as they were on Martinkus. And he wouldn’t have had all those admiring words from Miranda D the other day.
I listen to talkback radio for a living and I can tell you from my experience there has been practically no criticism of Wood for either the God Bless America or the arseholes thing. From lefties and righties, the ABC included. There has been some snarkiness about the chequebook journalism angle but there is that anytime anyone sells their story.
I listen to talkback radio for a living and I can tell you from my experience there has been practically no criticism of Wood for either the God Bless America or the arseholes thing. From lefties and righties, the ABC included. There has been some snarkiness about the chequebook journalism angle but there is that anytime anyone sells their story.
Amanda, the fuss over the “arseholes” comment probably comes from a statement by Trad that this might make kidnappers of any other Australians more inclined to treat them badly. I have no idea whether or not that’s true, but that’s what I suspect the fuss is about.
Amanda, the fuss over the “arseholes” comment probably comes from a statement by Trad that this might make kidnappers of any other Australians more inclined to treat them badly. I have no idea whether or not that’s true, but that’s what I suspect the fuss is about.
saint, I think there has been a certain amount of nastiness even here at LP. As for elsewhere, Prof Bunyip and Mr T Blair are all over it.
saint, I think there has been a certain amount of nastiness even here at LP. As for elsewhere, Prof Bunyip and Mr T Blair are all over it.
Well I don’t read Bunyip and usually Tim Blair provides links and names names even though he is mischievous in the way he incites his little bunyips on to their tirades and crusades (of course, only approved tirades allowed on his own blog) regardless of who they hit with their little sprays. The other day I was appalled to read Tim B whipping up enthusiasm for the Swedish victim’s bounty hunters in Iraq. Sure, I can understand the Swedish guy’s outrage, but yeah, that’s exactly what Iraq needs: more people taking the law into their own hands. Haven’t really felt like reading Tim B since.
Well I don’t read Bunyip and usually Tim Blair provides links and names names even though he is mischievous in the way he incites his little bunyips on to their tirades and crusades (of course, only approved tirades allowed on his own blog) regardless of who they hit with their little sprays. The other day I was appalled to read Tim B whipping up enthusiasm for the Swedish victim’s bounty hunters in Iraq. Sure, I can understand the Swedish guy’s outrage, but yeah, that’s exactly what Iraq needs: more people taking the law into their own hands. Haven’t really felt like reading Tim B since.
Oh and I don’t think Trad is the appointed spokesperson for anyone but himself.
Oh and I don’t think Trad is the appointed spokesperson for anyone but himself.