Somebody had to do it. Rob Corr’s been tracking Joe Hockey’s opportunistic and wildly inconsistent statements about the economy – much material there – two posts in one day!
And imagine if the Coalition actually came up with a coherent economic policy, instead of constantly changing their minds for the sake of petty politics and their own careers. Uncle Joe’s hypocrisy is enough to send a shiver down your spine.
And since we were previously requested to keep an eye on young Christopher Pyne, duty requires that LP mention that a hitherto unknown frontbencher, Cory Bernardi, has been sacked for dissing Chris.
The South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi, who likes to share his views with the world in general through an emailed blog called Cory’s Comment, issued his latest thoughts last night.
In it, he spoke of a parliamentarian who told him over a golf game that he became a Liberal member because he lived in a Liberal seat, and that if he had lived in a Labor seat, he’d have joined the Labor Party. Dots were joined in at least one media outlet who named Christopher Pyne as the MP in question.
Mr Pyne has strenuously denied this and detailed what he says is his lifelong loyalty to the Liberal Party, including campaigning for the state Liberals when he was 12 and wearing a Liberal badge to school in grade three when he was just eight.
I’m sure we can take Pyne at his word on that one.
So what’s going on with Malcolm sacking Bernardi? It may be to inspire some discipline in the troops. It may also be that he’s a tad sensitive about the notion that ambitious politicians might have contemplated joining Labor at one point… Oh, and in other news, Tony Abbott has attacked Labor’s plan for a rise in the pension.
Watching Joe Hockey on Q&A tonight. One or two days into the Shadow Treasurer’s job, he’s working too hard to impress, I thought. Or he’s a natural Bully and I hadn’t noticed before. Swan meanwhile just sits there and looks unruffled and like he knows what he’s doing. Joe’s problem might be that the information flow from the public service has been cut off, so all that is left is floundering bluster. He might have had his cheer squad (as did Christine Milne) so he (they) would look good. Swannie was so on top of things he didn’t need one.
As for Abbot – now its pensioners – in the past its been the unemployed, single mothers, Aborigines, the disabled, – need I go on. Does the guy fall on hids knees each morning and ask G-O-D what can I do to be mean today?
[Meanwhile, far away in another world Howard was defewnding his legacy, which Rudd has so successfully trashed- or so he seems to think. And Malcolm - how the latter must've broke his heart. Looked like Ratty's been getting sunburnt playing golf.] (I’m being nice.)
Christine Milne was easily best performer on QANDA tonight. The AWU rep made my skin crawl.
But yes the opportunism of Hockey’s GFC posturing is breathtaking.
One minute he wanted a Snowy scheme instead of cash payments. Next minute he wanted tax cuts.
“…and wearing a Liberal badge to school in grade three when he was just eight…”
So he was the little Liberal snot I dacked at the bus stop in 1975.
I think it’s a little bit hilarious that there’s been this much fuss over Cory Bernardi questioning Pyne’s party loyalties when the previous leader of the party (you know, that Nelson fellow) had actually been an actual member of the ALP, not just a putative “maybe if things had been different” one.
Bernardi is actually a reasonably well-known right-wing prick, and Turnbull has had grief from him on a number of occasions in the last couple of years which are recounted in Bernardi’s Wiki entry. I don’t think this sacking has just been about him slurring Pyne (or that Pyne really has anything to do with it), more like Turnbull’s just been pissed off by him one time too many.
Hmm, pro-Life (anti-Choice) traditionalist Catholic MP just happens to be such a strong enemy of the self-described conservatives in the Party that one such conservative decides to risk his career with a public slight against said trad MP.
Mindless factionalism? Or a sign that the Fundis will not tolerate one so idealogically close to them holding Realo tendencies?
Is this like the ALP in the fifties, when everyone was amazed to discover that that party had well defined, and irreconcilable, Left- and Right-wings?
“Is this like the ALP in the fifties, when everyone was amazed to discover that that party had well defined, and irreconcilable, Left- and Right-wings?” asked Nickws @ 5.
Yes it is! Because, in most states after 1974′s DD, DLP faithful started moving in on the Liberal Party – in Qld, the Country Party, then led by Joh Bjelke Petersen. There’s a considerable corpus of literature on this, beginning in the mid 1960s with speculation (prescient, as it happened) as to where Santamaria’s followers would go if the DLP lost its political clout.
Oldies like me, who lived through the ALP’s Federal & Q state Splits in political households & RC schools, can feel a dint of pity for “l” Liberals, but, given the way Libs used The Split to stay in power, only a very small one, hardly noticeable between thoughts of … which being taught, return to the plague of inventor: this even handed justice condemns the ingredients of our poison’d chalice to our own lips and Revenge is a dish best served cold between bouts of immoderate hilarity.
To paraphrase Gareth Keenan, no-one should be punished for giving Christopher Pyne a hard time. If anything they should be rewarded.
I’d condemn sub-tropical Qld’s ghastly wet-summer sweat-box, if only the dams were full!
So I condemn the dams for not being full, thereby stifling my complains about the bloody awful sweat-box weather, & mould & having to use the clothes dryer & not being able to wash the mould & moss off the outside of the house inc steps, and yada, yada …
Paul, how could you not have noticed that Hockey is a bully? it’s written into every ounce of his overbearing presence. Hardly anyone who was trying to contradict him last night got far without his sniggering interruptions and rude non sequiturs which were wildly applauded by his fans in the audience. I repeat again just for this particular thread that he is equally rude and bombastic with constituents who don’t agree with him as I experienced myself in Lane Cove some years back as an elderly Amnesty supporter asking about interned asylum seekers. If Peter Brent is right and it is Hockey who leads the Libs into the next election my heart quails, not for the Coalition but for the country. Once people like him get leadership positions they somehow gain credibility for their strength particularly at times of low national self confidence. If John Howard could win an election so can Hockey. He has the cunning of a sewer rat and unbounded self confidence and could care less about truth, consistency and policies. I hope LP does keep a close watch on him and finds some way to ensure the wider public gets to note and remember his inconsistencies and dishonesty.
Yes, Hockey’s a hyperactive clown, with the maturity of a 13 year old and a tired facility for glib one-liners. His bully-boy tactics and pseudo charm were on full display on Q&A. I was surprised that Tony Jones gave him such free reign and seemed to find his behaviour amusing.
It’s the nature of the bully-boy schtick that he says something, most often quite unfunny, and all the sycophants fall off their seats laughing. Tony Jones was just another in the peanut gallery, sadly.
Thank you “Oz” for the front page photo of Viscount Turnbull, on stage with Sir John, Lord Warden of the Sink Ports, giving the inaugural John Howard Grand Oration, communing from beyond the political grave with his heirs and successors. The photo is worthy of a “caption competition”.
The Viscount appears to squirm. Is that a blush on his flawless cheek? Are his feathers ruffled, at last? But wait….. are those veriest pearls falling from the mouth of the orating Sir John?
Go hence and vouchsafe the full video on Yew Tewbe, that we might marvel anon.
DeeCee @ 6
No, no it’s not, DeeCee.
We are talking about a situation within the SA division of the Liberal Party.
This “considerable corpus of literature” which you believe shows the escape lines of ex-DLPers into the Coalition mostly deals with individuals in Qld and WA. (Also, DeeCee, I wouldn’t rely on `scholarship’ RE the motives of the DLP written in “the mid 1960s”–none of that would be worth a damn, as it would mostly be propaganda of one sort or another.)
It’s unfair to project this historical narrative onto Pyne and Bernardi, as if the mere fact that they’re both Catholic means they are products of the Split tradition (I don’t know their family backgrounds, so I’m not going to speculate–anyway, if their politics were clerically motivated, why would these two pro-lifers be such bitter enemies?).
You’re Catholic? I thought you had cut’n'pasted DOGS press releases on comments threads here at LP, or am I thinking of someone else?
Patricia WA @ 9,
I watch Sunrise too much.
I agree with you absolutely. I did think he was a bit nicer than that. At least he was one of the few Libs in The Howard Years who was honest. But now I see that as a piece of nasty political calculation.
Just to add: The Liberals and Nationals have their own moderate, conservative, reactionary tendencies, all dating back to eras before anyone ever dreamed of the ALP/DLP split.
It’s just I think they’ve lost some kind of basic ideological equilibrium in recent times, and with the introduction Turnbull as leader, voila! Cats and Dogs!
Nickws
It’s not just ideological factions, there are also personal fiefdoms (I’m thinking of WA Liberals; the Costello & Kennett & Kroger Capers in Victoria; Howard loyalists in NSW; is it Santorini in Qld or is that a volcano off the Italian coast … ??)
There are also mighty fiefdoms in the ALP, of course, and Victorian Labor seems sometimes close to paralysis from their sclerotic struggles.
A simple dichotomy such as DLP vs Labor Saints, or Catholic vs secularists, just can’t do justice to the swirling maelstrom of ambition, intrigue, treachery and fibbing … in any party close to power. What was it that “tends to corrupt”?
Christopher Pyne wouldn’t last a day in the Labor Party with his
whiney voice, public school, self righteous, nauseating view on every social issue. I prefer your truly conservative and obnoxious liberal like Abbot and Mitchen any day of the week.
Christopher “Uriah Heep” Pyne always reminds me of the slimy school bully sycophant in old British movies set in some unbearably snobbish “public” school.
But one can feel sorry for Uriah Heep. (well, I did) Can’t say the same for Pyne.
And look how Malcolm made Nick Minchin eat humble pie. Now that I like.
God no! I wouldn’t waste a nanosecond’s worth of sympathy on the ghastly Pyne; he’s a grovelling sycophant by choice. And a tick for Malvolio for lowering the vile Minchin’s colours.
Am I the only obsessive Hockey hater who is wondering how this blustering, bloated bully can be allowed to appear on the Insiders this morning without being called to account? True, he was a little subdued but he was still evasive and failed to come up with anything that remotely resembled clear answers to direct questions, just his usual obfuscation and bully-boy bonhomie. I thought he looked nervous too and would like to think that Cassidy and Tony Jones too are giving him all this rope so he can hang himself. I would have expected to see him on the 7.30 Report in his first week when Kerry O’Brien would certainly have not let him get away with his pollie-speak evasions. Perhaps next week? The replay of his embrace of Christine Milne on Q&A made me squirm for her, too. She was such a stand-out that evening that I was disappointed she couldn’t have found a rejoinder that squashed him. Tall order, I suppose.
Agree with all of that PatriciaWA.
Hockey is an empty barrel and his party knows it. He’s just keeping the seat warm.
And who can forget Angela Merkel’s visible shrug of revulusion when George W Bush offered her a massage. No words necessary.
Did I mishear or did Hockey boast on Insiders of the Liberal’s consistency in their fiscal line? If I got it right he really is delusional give the quotes Corr puts together.
How he goes is actually quite important. Peter Brent is betting on him being leader at the next election. I doubt that – I reckon it will be Costello, but the fact is that once Costello and Turnbull have both done their dash I cannot see who else they can put in. If Hockey’s no good who have they got. I mean the current situation is bad enough, but at least Turnbull is credible as a leader. Imagine them going to an election lead by Pyne, or Smith or ???
Where are the myth busters? Joe Hockey received a big love-in promotion from Annabel Crabbe at the weekend as a warm hearted, generous guy given to hiding his light under the proverbial bushel and she’s full of stories of Joe’s kindness and generosity. Sounds to me like he’s really worked the crowd and particularly those who matter. Although the news that several pollies share his house in Canberra should have alerted her to something less than generous in his nature, particularly when it seems that Brendan Nelson has been living in his garage. What gives with these people? Aren’t they paid enough that they have to pocket the balance of their living allowances after presumably paying a cut to Joe.
Also Lenore Taylor in the OZ Inquirer gave Hockey huge column space demonstrating how he was busy massaging the news from 2007 to now into a “changed narrative” to put the Coalition case to the public more effectively. Taylor was doubtful about how effective this could be but she doesn’t question his morality. Surely “renewing your narrative” is the same as “changing your story” to fit new circumstances. The police don’t like that sort of thing.
Bernard Keane at Crikey today seemed to me closer to the truth with his “Frat Boy Lite” article. It’s much more forensic and focussed on Hockey’s blithe dismissal of the need for more regulation in the finance industry. A bit of personal description too which suggests he at least doesn’t entirely buy the ‘warm huggable bear with a heart of gold” image.
I know LP has a particular perspective but if I am obsessively concerned that this man be seen for who I think he really is, please let me know. I think I can take constructive criticism. Oh dear, reminds me of the first quarrel I had with husband-to-be eons ago which ended with my walking out yelling, “You’re wrong! Not because I think so, but because you really are!”
Isn’t it time the Joe Hockey watch was re-invigorated? I”ve seen nothing recently on LP. He’s had a week now with lots of exposure as Shadow Treasurer in his new “lower key, responsible, beautiful suited and groomed” image and although still beefy I suspect very slightly thinner in the face. Is he dieting? I can imagine Opposition apparatchiks encouraging him to do that and coaching him to be less aggressive and bombastic. He doesn’t seem to make any more sense to me, but he does come across more measured. I heard today something about further rumblings amongst the Libs and Malcolm being replaced by Hockey. The pollster/punters who’ve already put their money on Joe heading the Libs into the next election look like making a killing. I made need therapy if that’s the case!
And, also, the Abba-Loving Mincing Poodle was accused by Tony Abbott aka the Cold Chisel-Loving Macho Doberman of liking to wear make up. But Joe Hockey assures us they’ve been friends for years.
Any truth to the rumour Joe Hockey is regretting accepting the Shadow Treasurer’s post now that the Libs are a shoo-in for the next NSW election. Wishes he’d moved over so he could be the next NSW Premier.
I’m sure many of you will see what’s happening here.
gee whiz if you should ever worry about my ego then rest assured a quick read of this blog will pull me back to earth. Yes I do read feedback. Yes Bernard Keene is pathetic and I have never met him (and don’t intend to).
patricia wa has a really unhealthy obsession with me. get over it and lets debate policy not personality.
and yes it really is me
Joe
Awesome.
If it really is Joe Hockey, which to be honest I DOUBT (wu’nt he have something better to do than Google himself?) then prove it, Joe, by telling us something only you would know.
LOL
No I’m Joe Hockey.
oh, my god, Joe Hockey rescues kittens off the Harbour Bridge!! http://joehockey.com/blog/default.aspx
That’s it, I’m moving to Sydney & taking whatever toxic cocktail of drugs are necessary to become a Librul voter.
Okay then, if he’s into cat blogging I’m gonna have to lay off a bit.
So. Fucking. Avuncular. It. Hurts.
Laura,
that link is GOLD, GOLD, GOLD for LP. Well done!
“then prove it, Joe, by telling us something only you would know.”
Yeh, like how much do you charge Brendan for living in your garage when he is in Canberra?
I too would love Joe to give proof of identity – has he folllowed this blog back to my recounting our original meeting in NSW? And Joe, I did ask for feedback about my particular view of you and you’re the first to say it’s unreasonable. If it really is you I would love to know why you think it’s OK to throw your weight around in public places and browbeat little old ladies. By the way, even without that particular personal experience I would find your style bombastic and bullying which together with your tendency to throw up sneering non sequiturs when confronted with rational opposition makes you very unappealing to many, entirely contradicting your supposed “friendly face” and warm huggable persona on Sunrise.
Agreed, let’s talk policy not personalities. Where shall we start? Your policies when in government? Refugees? Work Choices? Your party’s policies in opposition? Particularly for the economy? Stimulus Package No. 1 which you’re now so happy to criticise and undermine – entirely ignoring broad support from business, the community and the economic commentariat? I’d be happy to hear more from you about real policy alternatives to meet the GFC and not just sweeping generalisations.
Come on Joe, show us yer policies!
Probably not far off the toxic cocktail that is necessary to be a Labor voter in NSW. We are pretty much rooned no matter who we vote for.
The Friends of Joe video is good for a chuckle or two. His head moves so much I couldn’t help but think of a bobblehead doll.
You could try voting Greens, Shaun. Or informal.