[Via Grodscorp.] Brendan Nelson has posted his listening tour diary online. I’m a tad puzzled at why “helping bag the groceries” at the Nundah Woollies is a feature of his peregrinations. He doesn’t say whether he asked the checkout staff if they’re overjoyed with their WorkChoices era wages.
Is there a shelf-life for triumphalism? Honestly. Didn’t we have enough chest-beating over the last 11 years?
No.
We’ve had less than six months of a Labor government. We have a right to enjoy it!
This is photograph evidence that Brendan Nelson has done more manual labour than the federal cabinet has collectively.
Mark asks:
The answer is, ‘Yes, they are.’
http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,23420598-462,00.html
Mark #2 - Oh yuk yuk yuk. I am beginning to feel sorry for Brendan. Actually I began to feel sorry for him when he got elected. Being opposition leader after getting dumped is always a mug’s game. Ask the Bomb(er). Funny thing is the stupid dopes actually reckon they’ve got a chance. Politics the ritual by which the ego strangles the intellect. Earth to Brendan: there’s a reason why Turnball was smiling when he lost.
>
SATP - Yuk yuk yuk.
I IZ IN YR GROCIES
I CAN HAS YR CHEEZE?
IM IN UR CART, LUKIN FUR CLUE
It’s normal to feel sorry for someone who is floundering and in over their heads. Even if you don’t like’em.
I HAZ MORE FREQUET FLYER POINTS!
It’s also normal to feel sorry for someone who is the intended victim of treacherous intrigues by members of the contemporary Liberal Party - even if they’re also a member of the contemporary Liberal Party.
UR CHIKIN, IZ WARM ON DOCS FINGURZ. I CAN HAZ NAPKIN?
IZ JUSS PUT ME FINGAZ THRU DA BAG. LOOK HOLZ!
Great goddlemighty once upon a time it was just the kiddies and the poor souls in the old folks’ homes who had to endure having their lives disrupted by pollies trailing hordes of media. Now we have to be on the lookout for them at petrol stations and at supermarket queues. And not just at election times apparently but constantly.
You never saw Menzies doing this sort of thing *grumbles*.
Damned if you do damned if you don’t.
At least the man can honestly say he has (or should have) a clue about the contents and price of the ‘average’ supermarket trolley - one of the more predictable questions put to pollies ad nauseum by journo’s.
Its good PR.
I’m not so sure about that - couldn’t it be a little *too* contrived? On the other hand, that never stopped Kev07.
And single working women without kids get welfare payments from where, Eliot?
Looks like five-finger discount time to me.
Actually Brendan knows he’s toast soon and he’s just getting a little relevant work experience for his next career move.
A better title:
Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables
Full props to the guy. I don’t think it’s ridiculous, I’m with sublime cowgirl, if he’s inevitably going to be demeaned in the media, he might as well do it on his own terms. I’ve never had a great deal of respect for Nelson but I’ve got a (little) bit more now.
Politicians in opposition can never be too cheesy. It ought to be a rule of thumb: if the message hasn’t sunk it, whack it with more schtick.
I’m with Liam - he’s out there getting his mug on the TV and bldg a profile. Any profile is better than none. A warm cuddly one is as good a place to start as any this early on. Pushing shit uphill though. He won’t succeed.
Can some one tell me what this bit of jargon from Nelson means?
“but you’ve just got to spend a bit of time at the Lowood service station to see Australians coming in with their cars – 10, 12, 15 years old – putting $5, $7 or $30 worth of petrol in the tank. ”
Why should they, as a class, get any welfare payments, Kim?
Julia Gillard’s doing it tough on her salary, is she?
Well these things are complicated for the layman audience but if you conceptually synthesise the natural complementarity of prelegitimate maturity standardization facilitations with the innovations in the extra-legal acquisition of internal combustion propulsion geographica transferrable modalities one can see the emergence of dichotmies of scale correlantative with the secularisation of hormonally differentiated behaviourisms.
Exhibit B in the case for political self-abasement, demonstrating (m’lud) that opposition members of Parliament seek out unnecessary embarrassing contrivance like Australian athletes go out of their way for after-closing time biff. Greg Smith will be the next leader of the NSW Conservative Party—you heard it here first.
Well, I think Nelson blown any checkout chick street cred with his gobsmackinlgy idiot comments on mortgage foreclosures.
Who knew it was “just as tough” on the banks?
Answer: just Brendan. Its a one in twenty million viewpoint.
Nelson & Rudd are perhaps in the wrong political parties.
GregM at 22, I’m not saying they should. I’m just trying to puncture the sweeping nature of the claim that Eliot was making. Checkout workers aren’t well paid, and if they’re single and childless, you couldn’t make any assumption that they’re better off as a result of Howard gov’t welfare.
Kim: you missed the main flaw in Eliot’s argument. There was no evidence, or even a mention, of wage growth being caused by Work Choices. In fact, I’m sure some cursory searching will find statistics showing that Work Choices AWAs, especially for women, lowered wages.
But then again, why would we bother arguing when the argument was over months ago.
Kim at the supermarket I go to plenty of the checkout workers are men.
I think the point that Eliot was trying to make was that statistically lower paid workers were better off under Howard than before, which may well be true as i haven’t looked at the statistics. Though I think it was a statistician’s observation that a man with one foot in a bucket of hot water and the other foot on a block of ice was, on average, comfortable.
Sure, GregM, quite a few at my supermarket too. I chose that example because the argument about “rising household incomes” often presumes a dual-income household where the female partner works casually - that’s the line pushed by the CIS’ Peter Saunders for instance.
And, yes, Andos, there was specific evidence of real wage declines in retail related to AWAs which is no doubt what Mark had in mind.
Anyway, FWIW, the thing ER is quoting from was discussed at this very blog on a thread last week:
http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/03/28/tangled-up-in-blue/
To judge by his diary entries so far, Nelson could have saved the taxpayers a bit of dosh by going down to his local shopping centre instead of visiting Queensland.
If he’s only just discovered that people are having difficulty paying for petrol and groceries, that they don’t want a tax on plastic bags and that very few of them are really interested in whether or not Australia has a seat on the Security Council, he hasn’t been getting out much.
I don’t know who’s writing the diary entries, but if it’s a staffer I’d allocate them other duties and if it’s Nelson I’d seek some advice - they’re badly written and very waffly.
Beazley might have been a bit prolix but at least he could string sentences together.
Actually, Woolies workers are heavily unionised in the SDA and were saved the brunt of WorkcChoices. Most are paid roughly 150-160% of minimum wage, far too little, but one of the best organising outcomes for retail workers anywhere in the world (regardless of what you think of the SDA’s social politics).
steve wrote:
Obviously, they haven’t maxed their credit out enough, and are unpatriotic citizens. Imagine the hide of driving a 15 year old car (looks out window) OMGWTFBBQ that’s me!
To which I can only add another stupid caption:
SWAPSIES HARE FOR SPASE FOOD STIX? I HAZ IT!
The good doctor in a supermarket. Now that makes some kind of sense. I am a bit troubled about the plastic bags though.
It’s all part of the plan that Milne has mapped out for the Doctor. Petrol prices, Interest rates and groceries are Rudd’s weak spots according to the Poison Dwarf. Funny that these three issues are ones causing Nelson to be mocked.
Work harder to prop up the poor old banks, has become the Nightwatchman’s Listening Tour motto.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23475450-5001021,00.html
MY KOMMON TUTCH. LET ME SHOW U IT.
I didn’t read the article and cannot find it online but according to Annabel Crabb on teh wireless this AM Laurie Oakes told a story from the listening tour: A young bloke was there in a t-shirt which read “I’m an Orgasm Donor.” Dr. N. misread this as “organ donor” and congratulated him on his exemplary community service ethic. *snort*
Piss on Nelson and all Howard’s Liberal mates. This is the bloke who just yesterday was telling the world “Yes, we invaded Iraq for the oil” but was quite OK with that anyway.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
Think about it before you start feeling sorry for the bastards. They should all be rotting in jail.
HELPIN WURKIN FAMLEES
UR DOIN IT RONG
Kim says:
About the “incomes of the nation’s poorest households” rising “more dramatically than those of the richest Australians in the final years of the Howard government”?
I didn’t make the claim, Kim. It was made by labour economist Mark Wooden from the University of Melbourne’s faculty of economics and commerce in a paper he presented at the recent two-day New Agenda for Prosperity conference.
Why? Wasn’t it what you were led to believe in the run-up to the election?
Imagine the grilling the governor of the Reserve Bank will get at the Parliament from Nelson’s underlings. He will leave feeling that he has been quizzed by a pack of toddlers. I expect they will scream “Great answer ,Governor” after every questionis anwered.
FDB says;
I’ll never forget the year Howard became Prime Minister. On the train the following Monday I picked up a student newspaper (perhaps Honi?) with a picture of Howard on the cover and the headline: “How could this little twerp become Prime Minister?”
Answered their own question.
The very words of my mum, then in her eighties, on election night in 1996.
Oh Dear, one story for bankers and one for everyone else.
In Adelaide Dr Nelson said he had told the finance audience in Sydney that their policies were hurting ordinary Australians.
“What I also said yesterday, by the way, was that those people who are actually foreclosing on peoples’ homes in this environment where interest rates are going up, they also have a difficult job,” he said.
“But you’re absolutely right. I mean I spent 10 years of my life working with families who are losing their homes and there’s no comparison.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23479592-421,00.html
“The very words of my mum, then in her eighties, on election night in 1996.”
Heh.
The only time I’ve ever heard the big C pass my mum’s lips was on a similar occasion in 2001.
Brendan says “But you’re absolutely right. I mean I spent 10 years of my life working with families who are losing their homes and there’s no comparison.”
When and in what capacity did Brendan work with ‘families who are losing their homes’? That makes it sound as if he was actually working to try and help them avoid losing their homes or was working to help families affected by losing their home. Or is he talking about some of his previous patients who might have lost a home?
PS If he had ‘worked for 10 years with families losing their homes’ then he should have know better than to make the stupid statement he did about the banks.
Everyone:
Nah. Call me naive if you like but I’m prepared to give Brendan Nelson a fair go - for now at least.
One thing sticks out like dog’s whatsits is that Brendan Nelson is a far far better politician and more presentable as an alternative Prime Minister than John Howard ever was.
Pollytickedoff [47 & 48]:
Food for thought there.
“Call me naive if you like but I’m prepared to give Brendan Nelson a fair go - for now at least.”
Your “naive” Graham Bell.
Graham Bell wrote:
Geez what a choice, rat cunning + mendacious + stupid vs. vacant + naive + stupid.
Give me neither - the pointless little worm is just cannon fodder anyway. Turnbull is going to be hard work when they finally give him the nod, despite the fact that he comes across as Peacock without the charm or the tan.
“A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.
A million dead.”
Er actually that is incorrect both in magnitude and in implied responsibility. Why don’t you give us a call when you want to engage with the real world?
“I think it’s conduct unbecoming of an Australian prime minister,” Dr Nelson said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23482983-912,00.html
This is the comment that Nelson made after the now famous Rudd jocular salute to Bush. What a drippy thing to say. He is so petty and would do well to remember the generally dignified behaviour of Rudd as opposition leader. This “alternative prime minister” title, that he has given himself, is just such a bad idea as well.
These idiots have to learn that they are now the opposition and commentator Piers material is distastful and will never help their fortunes. I bet no one has the gutse to tell Bumbles that on his so called listening tour.
Has everybody here got a mouthful of Rudd’s organ or something?
If JoHo had saluted the US president this thread would be full of snarky comments, the most printable of which would use terms such as “deppitty sherriff” & “arse-licker”.
A salute to Bush by Rudd or Howard differs HOW exactly?
The difference, Steve, is that if Howard saluted George 11 it would be serious.
And did you hear the story of Nelson on his listening tour congratulating the young man with the “organ donour” t-shirt? Trouble was it actually read.. “orgasm donour”.
Anyway, he has just released his new signature apron to be sold on tour. http://bp1.blogger.com/_NvnTfg2lIaI/R_bsGxSGwvI/AAAAAAAAAP0/md6wj0P1Xss/s1600-h/nelson+bumbles.jpg
Eeeeewwwwwww!!!!!!!!
SATP,
Didn’t it occur to you Rudd might have been sending The American Imbecile up? He does have a rather impish sense of humour. That was the way I read it.
Besides, he was looking very lost and George was the only person he knew in the room, evidently.
Aghast, Adrien?
Do not worry, SATP is prone to latent unconscious fantasizing after XXXX.
“Didn’t it occur to you Rudd might have been sending The American Imbecile up?”
“The difference, Steve, is that if Howard saluted George 11 it would be serious.”
And that is the best you have got?
Didn’t take long for you boys to form a conga line.
“In the salute, caught on camera, Mr Rudd is seen raising his eyebrows to Mr Bush who was across the room, as the President saluted Mr Rudd, the Prime Minister smiled and slowly gave a salute of his own.”
http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/News/4119/Nelson-slams-Rudd
via Fred at R to S.
Seems to me that all Rudd did was jokingly extend a natural courteous response to the chimp in the room. As ever, the sour grapes brigade, with Nelson as cheer leader and most media suckholes, have jumped on another non-issue. And it really has backfired.
Present opposition tactics are proving a complete failure.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the ALP Caucus Room puts up a big poster of Bumbles with The Boy Who Cried Wolf plastered right across it. Bumbles keeps this up when Labor really stuffs up (and it will happen, according to the inexorable law of politics) and Bumbles starts carrying on about it, nobody out in voter land will believe him. Bumbles, I luv you, you make Red Kev look so-o-o good.
If the only thing which makes Kevin Rudd look good is Brendan Nelson, then God help Australia.
But interesting your mind arrives at that conclusion Paul. Very interesting.
“But interesting your mind arrives at that conclusion Paul. Very interesting.”
Notice the ease that SATP moves from publican to Psychoanalyst.
And they reckon we have a skills shortage.
SATP, Joe2, et al:
[a]. Okay. Naive. But it says a lot for the trainwreck that used to be the Liberal Party if Brendan Nelson looks a far better leader than anyone else that shambles can put up …. including Turnbull, Costello, Abbot or the barber’s cat.
[b]. Yeah. I’ll go along with Paul Burns [57] that Kevin Rudd was taking the mickey out of His Gloriousness Emperor George II The Surrender-Monkey …. though not because he didn’t know anyone else in the room. He certainly deflected that “man-of-steel” insult more deftly than Air-Guard-AWOL expected.
It is my belief that KR was simply waving to GB.
Graham: It is highly unlikely, I repeat, highly unlikely, that a Prime Minister is going to use time on the floor of a (adjourned) NATO meeting, in front of a big chunk of the leaders of the world, to “take the Mickey” out of the President of the USA.
I repeat, HIGHLY UNLIKELY.
Graham is well known for his.. er.. colourful theories,(eg, Howard will declare Martial Law & cancel the election, GB will do the same, & standby for further instalments)
STAP,
I didn’t realise you were so literal-minded. Bumbles is irrelevant. The right wing of the Parliamentary Liberal Party are so worried he’ll get rolled by that dangerous left-winger, Malcolm Turnbull, the rumour is they’re thinking about recalling Costello.
btw, I ain’t a Rudd fan, as you will surely realise when you read what I might say when I think Rudd stuffs up. I’m very cautious about what he might do about among other things, social security, and what he might not do about Aboriginal intervention, climate change, etc., etc.,But at the moment I’m more pleased at what he’s doing, rather than not pleased. On any criterion, he’s a vast, vast improvement on John Winston Howard.
Graham i was prepared to give Nelson a fair go a long time ago. Young and fresh, he might have been part of the reforming movement of the libs. Instead he lurched as far to the right as the rest of Howards sycophants. Like Keating, i liked him more with the earing. He showed some promise then.
These idiots have learnt nothing from the election. They are planning to knife Petro Georgio, for instance. His vote actually went up in the last election.. a sure sign of unsuitability. I don’t reckon Bumbles would give a stuff about that because he’s to busy wanking on about how many guitars he has, that he can’t play.
Joe2 [67]:
Oh, I’m just excessively optimistic in matters like this …. though it is highly likely that Brendan Nelson has little choice but to be nice to the Born-Loser clique for the time being; once they have succumbed to the ravages of time, Korsakoff’s Syndrome and synapse calcification and they can no longer recall what and against whom they were plotting, things will almost certainly be radically changed.
IMHO, it is a close race between Brendan Nelson and Queensland Nationals boss-cocky Lawrence Springborg for the prize of Australia’s Most Improved politician.
You are absolutely right about the 19th Century’s rejects who are white-anting Petro Georgiou …. their strenuous efforts to Prevent Re-Election will be rewarded[?] in the usual way. What idiots!!
SATP [65]:
Just a wave is the most likely explanation …. followed by taking the mickey out of this latter-day Kaiser Bill as the next most likely.
If he was having a joke at the expense of Air-Guard-AWOL then he was miles behind President Ronald Reagan’s notorious announcement joke “We will abolish the Soviet Union in five minutes” …. now THAT was one nobody would ever dare imitate. :-O
b.t.w. run that comment I made about martial law past any refugees from dictatorship you happen to know; they’ll explain for you just what I was doing at that time.
Besides, it would be a dull old world if we all held the same comfortable and conventional views, wouldn’t it.