Comments on: Turnbull in the corner http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:04:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499302 Ambigulous Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:25:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499302 Jeez, David, in my case it's dementia praecox; you could be right about Phil Lynch. Points off to 4 Corners for the (obligatory) sneer that Lib members are "well-heeled". Some are of course, as are some ALP, some Democrats, some Nats, etc. A party that gets 40% of the vote must be supported by quite a few less-well-heeled too. Or are we all rich now?? Jeez, David, in my case it’s dementia praecox; you could be right about Phil Lynch.

Points off to 4 Corners for the (obligatory) sneer that Lib members are “well-heeled”. Some are of course, as are some ALP, some Democrats, some Nats, etc. A party that gets 40% of the vote must be supported by quite a few less-well-heeled too. Or are we all rich now??

]]> By: wilful http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499265 wilful Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:16:02 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499265 Points off to the 4Corners journos for trying to insert themselves into the narrative far too much. The bit where they included the camera rolling as he attempted to make a libs ad was a bit of gutter journalism. That sort of stuff should stay behind the veil – every one of them does it (the journos most of all) yet it was an attempt to show him as a flawed narcissist. I came away favourably impressed with the fellow. Clearly very smart, and much more palatable to me than most of the awful sorts on the opposition front bench. Points off to the 4Corners journos for trying to insert themselves into the narrative far too much. The bit where they included the camera rolling as he attempted to make a libs ad was a bit of gutter journalism. That sort of stuff should stay behind the veil – every one of them does it (the journos most of all) yet it was an attempt to show him as a flawed narcissist.

I came away favourably impressed with the fellow. Clearly very smart, and much more palatable to me than most of the awful sorts on the opposition front bench.

]]> By: David http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499254 David Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:13:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499254 Jeez, Ambigulous, it was over 30 years ago, and I've destroyed a lot of brain cells in the interim. My (possibly unreliable) recollection is that Phil Lynch was accused of being involved in the bottom-of-the-harbour scheme, along with most of the rest of Melboune's Old money, and paid the price, opening the way for John Winston Howard to become one of the worst treasurers we've ever had as an interesting side-effect. He died before he could be convicted / cleared, but his widow still claims he had nothing to do with it. Jeez, Ambigulous, it was over 30 years ago, and I’ve destroyed a lot of brain cells in the interim. My (possibly unreliable) recollection is that Phil Lynch was accused of being involved in the bottom-of-the-harbour scheme, along with most of the rest of Melboune’s Old money, and paid the price, opening the way for John Winston Howard to become one of the worst treasurers we’ve ever had as an interesting side-effect. He died before he could be convicted / cleared, but his widow still claims he had nothing to do with it.

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499250 Ambigulous Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:54:51 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499250 david, I think with Phil Lynch, it was an obscure land deal ("The Stumpy Gully Affair") that caused him much harm. Malcom Fraser couldn't abide persons making $ in a dodgy way. Sacked a couple of Ministers who allowed their staff to get import duty waived at an airport ("The Colour TV Affair"), didn't he? "Bottom of the Harbour" rather reflected on a whole Cabinet and on the High Court, didn't it? david,

I think with Phil Lynch, it was an obscure land deal (”The Stumpy Gully Affair”) that caused him much harm. Malcom Fraser couldn’t abide persons making $ in a dodgy way. Sacked a couple of Ministers who allowed their staff to get import duty waived at an airport (”The Colour TV Affair”), didn’t he?

“Bottom of the Harbour” rather reflected on a whole Cabinet and on the High Court, didn’t it?

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499248 Ambigulous Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:45:43 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499248 Phil included "buy a whole bunch of folks" did you mean the branch stacked new members in Wentworth when he rolled Mr King? ;-) Phil included “buy a whole bunch of folks”
did you mean the branch stacked new members in Wentworth when he rolled Mr King? ;-)

]]> By: david http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499238 david Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:11:25 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499238 <blockquote>I can’t think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal</blockquote> I dunno, Paul. Phil Lynch never really recovered from the bottom-of-the-harbour thing ... Doubly ironic, as he seems to have been innocent (-ish).

I can’t think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal

I dunno, Paul. Phil Lynch never really recovered from the bottom-of-the-harbour thing …

Doubly ironic, as he seems to have been innocent (-ish).

]]> By: Mercurius http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499237 Mercurius Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:08:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499237 Excellent! The Free Beer Party! Where do I sign? Excellent! The Free Beer Party! Where do I sign?

]]> By: David http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499236 David Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:04:21 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499236 <blockquote>Branch meetings on a Mon night give you even more reason to top yourself on Tuesday.</blockquote> Ours aren't that bad - there's very little procedural guff (although last night had its moments), they finish at a reasonable time (9-ish), and the couple whose house they are at provide a quite reasonable homebrew afterwards.

Branch meetings on a Mon night give you even more reason to top yourself on Tuesday.

Ours aren’t that bad - there’s very little procedural guff (although last night had its moments), they finish at a reasonable time (9-ish), and the couple whose house they are at provide a quite reasonable homebrew afterwards.

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499227 Paul Burns Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:10:58 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499227 Yeah, Don. I mean look at Askin. Yeah, Don. I mean look at Askin.

]]> By: Don Wigan http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499224 Don Wigan Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:47:10 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499224 "...but I can’t think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal, though none who achieved party leadership." Sounds about right, Paul. I suppose Reith is the most recent example. “…but I can’t think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal, though none who achieved party leadership.”

Sounds about right, Paul. I suppose Reith is the most recent example.

]]> By: grace pettigrew http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499220 grace pettigrew Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:49:50 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499220 Turnbull would be very pleased with the 4 Corners show. He comes out looking like a feisty contender. I hope he takes the leadership soon, and brings some sparkle into Circus Time, but it will be over the dead bodies of the hard-line social conservatives like Minchin, and presumably the Oz commentariat whose little hearts were so set on Hammock Man. Turnbull would be very pleased with the 4 Corners show. He comes out looking like a feisty contender. I hope he takes the leadership soon, and brings some sparkle into Circus Time, but it will be over the dead bodies of the hard-line social conservatives like Minchin, and presumably the Oz commentariat whose little hearts were so set on Hammock Man.

]]> By: Mercurius http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499206 Mercurius Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:04:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499206 Well, the rumour about the Packer business, if true, explains a couple of things: a) Why so many of the Libs would die in a ditch rather than let Turnbull be leader. b) Why, now that Jamie is off running casinos for a living, it no longer matters that Turnbull may or may not have run interference on dad's deal over 15 years ago. I daresay that Kerry would even have had some grudging respect for such a move - after all, he'd have acted the same given the same circumstances ;-) ! Well, the rumour about the Packer business, if true, explains a couple of things:

a) Why so many of the Libs would die in a ditch rather than let Turnbull be leader.
b) Why, now that Jamie is off running casinos for a living, it no longer matters that Turnbull may or may not have run interference on dad’s deal over 15 years ago.

I daresay that Kerry would even have had some grudging respect for such a move - after all, he’d have acted the same given the same circumstances ;-) !

]]> By: jo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499182 jo Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:34:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499182 The HIH/FAI/Goldman Sachs stuff should have taken up more air-time. And who wouldn't yell at Michael Yabsley. Adrien, here is smh article from 2004 which covers all the same bases as the 4 corner program tonight - http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/24/1095961858566.html this quote from the paper piece is classic: <blockquote> However, the relationship between (Nick) Whitlam and Turnbull ended in tears. Wran once quipped that the business relationship between the three of them was Wran's first experience of having the smallest ego in the room. </blockquote> The HIH/FAI/Goldman Sachs stuff should have taken up more air-time. And who wouldn’t yell at Michael Yabsley.

Adrien, here is smh article from 2004 which covers all the same bases as the 4 corner program tonight -
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/24/1095961858566.html

this quote from the paper piece is classic:

However, the relationship between (Nick) Whitlam and Turnbull ended in tears. Wran once quipped that the business relationship between the three of them was Wran’s first experience of having the smallest ego in the room.

]]> By: Frank Calabrese http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499167 Frank Calabrese Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:55:01 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499167 <blockquote>Who’s ever heard of an Irish Baptist?</blockquote> As opposed to an Italian Jehovah's witness - and believe me, there are plenty of those in Australia.

Who’s ever heard of an Irish Baptist?

As opposed to an Italian Jehovah’s witness - and believe me, there are plenty of those in Australia.

]]> By: Mark http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499164 Mark Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:46:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499164 I never think of Costello as being Irish. Who's ever heard of an Irish Baptist? ;) I never think of Costello as being Irish. Who’s ever heard of an Irish Baptist? ;)

]]> By: Nick http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499160 Nick Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:38:43 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499160 Shouldn't the idea of an Irish Republican Liberal Prime Minister rule both Turnbull and Costello out? Shouldn’t the idea of an Irish Republican Liberal Prime Minister rule both Turnbull and Costello out?

]]> By: Paul Burns http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499147 Paul Burns Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:19:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499147 Intriguing how controversial business deals don't seem to affect Lib. pollies but are career wrecking in terms of party leadership aspirations for Labor guys - Red Ted Theodore, Eddie Ward in the NG Timber scandal (though the crap surrounding the Brisbane Line Controversy and the fact that he was on the far left of the party and lots of people still hated him because he had been a Langite might have helped there), and so on. Maybe I have a failing memory and some LP-ers might be able to put me right, but I can't think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal, though none who achieved party leadership. The idea of Malcolm in the dock while leading the Libs in the next Fed. election campaign almost makes my mouth water. Maybe this is the real reason the RWDBs don't want him in the leadership? They may not be as hard-headed as the ALP because of their devotion to ideology, but they can count, and assess the potential electoral impact of events. (Didn't start watching the program till about 9 pm.) Intriguing how controversial business deals don’t seem to affect Lib. pollies but are career wrecking in terms of party leadership aspirations for Labor guys - Red Ted Theodore, Eddie Ward in the NG Timber scandal (though the crap surrounding the Brisbane Line Controversy and the fact that he was on the far left of the party and lots of people still hated him because he had been a Langite might have helped there), and so on. Maybe I have a failing memory and some LP-ers might be able to put me right, but I can’t think of one Conservative who has not eventually flourished after such a scandal, though none who achieved party leadership.
The idea of Malcolm in the dock while leading the Libs in the next Fed. election campaign almost makes my mouth water. Maybe this is the real reason the RWDBs don’t want him in the leadership? They may not be as hard-headed as the ALP because of their devotion to ideology, but they can count, and assess the potential electoral impact of events.
(Didn’t start watching the program till about 9 pm.)

]]> By: GB http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499138 GB Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:32:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499138 There's no doubt that Turnbull's clever - superficially at least. But is he a good politician? Aside from failing to get a deal on the Murray-Darling, he's all over all the place on economic policy and the besotted press haven't pulled him up on it. Before the budget he warned Labor not to make big spending cuts, then he said Labor should have made deeper cuts, and now he's gone back to saying Labor cut back too much (he made that last switch in the space of one week). It's so mouth-droppingly shameless I almost have to admire it. If a Labor ministers were such a dog's breakfast on economic matters they'd be crucified by the media. There seems to be a bit of a class cringe when it comes to the media. It seems well-spoken former merchant bankers from North Sydney can get away with talking absolute twaddle on economic matters. There’s no doubt that Turnbull’s clever - superficially at least. But is he a good politician? Aside from failing to get a deal on the Murray-Darling, he’s all over all the place on economic policy and the besotted press haven’t pulled him up on it.

Before the budget he warned Labor not to make big spending cuts, then he said Labor should have made deeper cuts, and now he’s gone back to saying Labor cut back too much (he made that last switch in the space of one week). It’s so mouth-droppingly shameless I almost have to admire it.

If a Labor ministers were such a dog’s breakfast on economic matters they’d be crucified by the media. There seems to be a bit of a class cringe when it comes to the media. It seems well-spoken former merchant bankers from North Sydney can get away with talking absolute twaddle on economic matters.

]]> By: Chris (a different one) http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499129 Chris (a different one) Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:59:48 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499129 <blockquote>He was certainly dammed with faint praise buy a whole bunch of folks.</blockquote> Abbott's "endorsement" was particularly funny!

He was certainly dammed with faint praise buy a whole bunch of folks.

Abbott’s “endorsement” was particularly funny!

]]> By: via collins http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499128 via collins Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:59:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/25/turnbull-in-the-corner/#comment-499128 Abbot actually seemed to lick his lips each time he had the opportunity to twist the dagger a little further. That was terrific light entertainment that shone a light on a vacuum. "I have no ambition other than to be the member for Wentworth". The gags just write themselves. Didn't seen Brendan Nelson's name among producers though which was a little odd. Abbot actually seemed to lick his lips each time he had the opportunity to twist the dagger a little further.

That was terrific light entertainment that shone a light on a vacuum. “I have no ambition other than to be the member for Wentworth”.

The gags just write themselves.

Didn’t seen Brendan Nelson’s name among producers though which was a little odd.

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