Comments on: You show me yours, I'll show you mine

By: Long John

Long John — Sun, 13 May 2007 21:51:20 +0000

“Maybe it’s part of the Free Trade Agreement” LOL OMG I just love that!

By: Graham Bell

Graham Bell — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:01:33 +0000

Lefty E:
Did you mean Free Trade Agreement or F.T.A. = F**k The Australians?

Guise:
Cubans would fit very neatly into Australia’s large but usually unnoticed Hispanic community. Besides, there are quite a few Cubans here already – including “Castro’s gifts” of a couple of decades ago.

However, they would not make a lazy employer’s fantasy of docile, undemanding, cheap workers come to life.

Pablo:
There is indeed plenty of room in the Christmas Island Konzentrationslager for border-crossers as well as rendered terrorism semi-suspects …… and for Australian political prisoners, election sceptics and assertive citizens too.

By: pablo

pablo — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:01:42 +0000

Minister Andrews has been saying that this arrangement is nothing more than Canberra currently has with countries like Denmark and Sweden where a handful of our castaways have found a safe haven. So what’s a couple of hundred Cubans for ours. Then again, Christmas Island has capacity for many more and who’s to say rendition isn’t also part of the beltway deal.
Like Lefty E I’m wondering what is anticipated in the estimated 4 million Iraqis holed up in Jordan and elsewhere. The people smugglers tended to know their customers and must be praising Allah for the new high seas opportunities. Anyone for Spanish lessons? Rudd must be relieved he’s away long enough to try and figure out a chess play that doesn’t frighten the punters or get himself wedged.

By: philip travers

philip travers — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:15:10 +0000

I think this measure has to be as vigoursly opposed ,if not more so, for the sake of Cubans generally,and some may of already departed the U.S.A to other places.The reason for this is the apparent and real racism in the U.S.A and the Cubans were fairing,faring, well and multiplication the name of the game, has worried the FUERhrerites from upsetting the established order.There doesnt need to be a great conflict between Cuba and the U.S.A. in fact,the Americans really need Cuba as a neighbour,and are just not willing to see that.All these people trained up as soldiers,willing to take commands from above in Cuba could immediately be put to use as National Gaurds in the U.S.A in emergencies like Florida has and the whole country. It is a phoney division now and in the future,to say on the death of Fidel there will be a flood is assuming it will go Northwards.The U.S.A. is silly beyond comprehension to of not built on what Fidel has achieved in his life time and evolve that to a more distinct All Americas development lifting up the peoples North and South.Fidel rarely complains about the American populace.Do not support further divisions by meekly accepting Howards racism development by default.Either people are invited or are real refugees from Cuba now and in the future .I would expect some clearer thinking at this blogsite but the terror of unable to change one policy must be working towards two evils make a default right.

By: Lefty E

Lefty E — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:12:10 +0000

Maybe its part of the Free Trade Agreement Suz.

By: suz

suz — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:11:10 +0000

There is something indescribably nasty about this trading in human beings.

By: QuietStorm

QuietStorm — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:31:57 +0000

Ratty [high on crack]: We decide who gets a Green Card.

… and the circumstances under which they get it?

By: Katz

Katz — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:29:51 +0000

Ratty [high on crack]: We decide who gets a Green Card.

By: Lefty E

Lefty E — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:17:15 +0000

I wouldnt put all sorts of desperate flailing past him, QS.

But Rudd can just note that Howard practically invited them this time by turning Xmas island into a transit lounge for the Land of the Free.

Of course, the reality is the whole policy is based on a flawed “economic migrant” model. Political refugees will come whatever the legal arrangements, and few economic migrants will risk the leaky boats – or ever have for that matter. So I wouldnt be expecting too much border action just yet.

But you know, what about the 4m Iraqis who’ve fled the nightmare that post-regime change Iraq? Any thoughts for them, Ratty?

By: QuietStorm

QuietStorm — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:48:39 +0000

Bushfire Bill (well, his sister, actually) came up with an interesting and sensible, although somewhat insidious, theory in comments over at Blogocracy:

“My sister reckons this is Howardâ??s way of enticing more boat people to Australia so that he can be seen to be telling them to go away.

The Green Card possibility is exactly what he wants. Thatâ??s part of the plan.

More boat people = more â??They shall not passâ?? posturing by the Little General. Supposedly, the Battlers will desert Rudd and vote for Johnny, just for old timeâ??s sake.”

Does this sound feasible to my fellow Prodeans? Will we be seeing yet more iterations of the infamous “We will decide …” ? Is it possible Howard is trying to manufacture another Tampa in the hope that lightning will strike twice, and he’ll be carried over the line by the border security vote? I personally wouldn’t put it past him.