In which the pond finishes its Polonial duty ...

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he.

It seems that Polonius is determinedly against the weeding out of corruption; indeed, he seems determined to sound pro-corruption, but is it whimsical to suggest that the first thing a federal ICAC might investigate is the shocking treatment of Polonius's sterling Saturday outings by the lizards of Oz?

While all the usual show ponies - the bromancer, the dog botherer, Dame Slap - prance about front and centre of the Saturday digital edition, Polonius is shuffled to the edges, hidden deep in the digital bowels.

Eventually he's brought out, just as the mad uncle in the attic is occasionally allowed down for a meal, but really it's shameful to see this treatment dished out to the elderly and the infirm. Naturally the pond stays loyal, if only so it might complete its dishing out of the magic water man's dishing it out to Polonius.

The pond knows for a fact that at least one person read all of the previous offering, and that attempt to prove certifiable lunacy was admired by all ... and so the pond had better start off proceedings with the first gobbet, which will require a click to expand ...

Now as usual, the pond won't do anything except nod along with Polonius ... if vexed or crossed, Polonius is inclined to lash out, and the pond certainly doesn't want to provoke...

Ah, the wicked ABC. Certainly incapable of giving the sort of soft views favoured by Polonial types who apparently don't see anything wrong with a little corruption at the federal level ... and so to another gobbet of the magic water man ...

Now it might have slipped Polonius's mind, that scandal about the AWB, oil and wheat - dedicated Greg Hunters can head off to its wiki here for a refresher. It seems in the Polonial world everything is above board, and nobody is on the take, and it's all best level to the lizards of Oz to conduct investigations ...and besides if it got found out, what need for anyone else to investigate?

Indeed, indeed, and anyone already in Disneyland will be grateful they can keep on pocketing the visitors' dollars thanks to Polonius, and so to yet another gobbet of magic water man bile, directed at our Polonius ...

Yes, if you have no immediate example of corruption to hand, by definition there can't be any corruption to ferret out, a supremely logical position for Polonius to take ...

Really - to the power of three -oh it's such an unfair circus, and do you know, they shamelessly put the Obeids on a walk of the perps so that the public might be entertained, in much the same way as a few shameless types might be entertained by another gobbet from the magic water man ...

But things are winding down, and now Polonius must act as a kind of kangaroo court and bring down an adverse finding against ICACs in general, because after all, wouldn't it have been a shame if a noble politician of the Joh school had to face an investigation while gathering all those nicely filled brown paper bags.

What was wrong with Robin Askin making a bundle? Apparently he did it by astute gambling ... look over there, how amazing, a flying pig ...

And now the kangaroo court has delivered its findings, what better way to end than to run a final gobbet featuring a man accused of silence in the face of assorted scandals, by a man, who himself, in his salad magic water days managed his own fair share of scandals ...

Really.

As for the kangaroo court's findings, talk about a nice fudge, an equivocation and an evasion, all important skills in the Polonial sleight of hand.

Others might scribble ...

The Obeid decision proves ICAC is performing an important function that goes well beyond the work done by law enforcement agencies. The painstaking work of the watchdog, including behind-the-scenes investigators, in tracing Obeid's carefully-concealed business deals should be recognised. Without the agency, it is highly likely Obeid would never have been exposed and he would have retired on his ill-gotten millions. (here)

The Obeids might in fact have felt so chagrined by ICAC that they felt the need to bring a multimillion dollar 'irresponsible' lawsuit against it ... but our man Polonius will have none of that ...they did not step down due to an ICAC finding ...

And so our man Polonius saves the day for any future federal Obeids. What a valiant warrior he is, how adeptly and nobly played ...

Never mind, by the sheerest good luck, it seems that Pope has been channelling Polonius, and produced this cartoon celebrating Polonial thinking ... with more Pope here ...