Time for the old racists practising old racism to have a fine free for all...

EXCLUSIVE?

Is that a new word to describe the way the government pollies are dropping pearls into the ears of their hagiographic swine?

What a pity the ear droppings in Hamlet have gone out of fashion ...

There has of course been much bleating in recent days about the cone of silence that's descended for all but the chosen. Laure Oakes huffed and puffed, and was recorded in Tony Abbott 'thumbing his nose' at voters, says Laurie Oakes. (forced video at end of link)

As previously noted by the pond, this is good news for cartoonists.

Here's Rowe feeding the hapless, disgruntled chooks. The budgies have never been put to a better use:

(more Rowe here)

Then the other day First Dog also had fun:

(more First Dog here).

Yes, they can all piss in their boots and swim home for the free ride they gave Abbott for three years ...

As for that "exclusive" regarding George Brandis, it's hardly news.

The Bolter back in July 2012 published the thoughts of Brandis, saying that his man had rightly noted his freedom of speech had been seriously threatened by a vindictive, authoritarian Left. (Brandis on the Labor menace to free speech, not to mention the Labor menace to free abuse, and free race-baiting, though these days the Murdochians seem to think it shouldn't be free, and you should pay for your abuse and race-baiting pleasures. It seems free speech requires a hearty stipend).

Because, you know, abusing the shit out of folks is a god-given right, but those who dole out the abuse have to make a living.

Naturally the Bolter was exceptionally modest this morning, as he basked in the reflected glow of Brandis's concern for 'Australia's most popular commentator' (and never mind that last Sunday in their primary outings the Insiders scored 172,000/101,000, while The Bolt Report continued to cast a pall of gloom over the Sunday Ten schedule with 134,000/91,000 - here. If that's popularity, what does it take to be called unpopular? Bankrupt Ten?)

The header says it all: First off: our freedom restored to criticise the New Racism.

That perfectly captures the peculiar, inverted, paranoid world of the Bolter.

You see, he doesn't do racism, it's the New Racists who do New Racism.

It's really weird shit, and then it's on to the modesty:

It shouldn’t be named for me, because this is no personal favor. These wicked provisions have in fact limited the right of all Australians to speak freely and to hear all sides of an argument ...

No, no, no, it's no personal favour.

There's simply no joy in being the coalition pin-up boy, or Australia's most popular commentator, and there's absolutely no benefit in being the leading member of the crony commentariat hagiographic pack.

It's all for you, dear readers, so you too can abuse pesky blacks, and migrants, and refugees, and dangerous terrorist Islamics, and hear all sides of an argument, which is to say that the pesky blacks, migrants, refugees, terrorist Islamics, feminists, and all the rest who are different to angry old white farts are simply ruining the country, and should be taken out to sea and drowned in a chaff bag ...

The Bolter keeps on keeping on with a final flurry of logic:

It should also be made clear that the purpose of any change is not to allow us “to offend and insult people because of their race”, but to allow us to say things without a judge ruling they should be banned because someone took offence on the grounds of their “race”. 

Which is roughly like saying we're not changing the rules of the game, we're just telling any upstart who wants to be a referee or an umpire to bugger off so we can offend and insult people because of their race without fear of any consequences, except maybe a mug punter trying on a defamation action and being done over by the Murdoch squillions, and possibly scoring an apology amongst the ads for escort and massage services on page thirty.

One more thing: the proposed changes, while welcome and brave, simply do not go far enough. I know how keen some judges are use what powers they may be persuaded to find in such legislation. Where there’s a will…

Indeed. And the pond knows how keen some members of the crony commentariat will be to use the power of their platform to provoke and confront and start phoney outrageous culture wars. Where there’s a will…

But the pond is pleased.

Let's start by linking to that golden oldie, Uncle Otto was a Nazi, admits senior Liberal.

Then we can work out the links between "old racists" practising their version of "old racism", not that we can think of any of the moment, since it seems it's all the fault of new racists with their new racism.

Others might think of those two peas in a Dutch pod, Andrew Bolt and Geert Wilders. You might think that, but the pond couldn't possibly comment, even if you proposed reading the rapturous enthusiasm at links such as Wilders' party now Netherlands' most popular ...

Those were the days ... March 2013, before Wilders turned from political peacock to feather duster.

Does any of this abuse and baiting on the basis of race or ethnicity enhance the public discourse?

No, but appealing to prejudice and stereotypes, deploying demagogue touches, sure improves the hits and the profile ...

(Below: a couple of golden oldies from way back when).