The pond had a severe bout of nausea yesterday and it continued unabated into what should usually be a meditative Sunday with selected reptiles ...
The pond had fair warning, with prattling Polonius seizing the chance to have another go at the ABC and thereby add to the trope of endless, never ending attacks on the ABC... fundamentally, unhelpfully destructive as they are, designed to take out the one alternative to a Chairman Emeritus monopoly ... (the pond would like to count SBS as an alternative, but apart from Nazis and quizzes before the news?)
The pond can't remember a time when Polonius wasn't attacking the ABC.
His obsessive compulsive interest in the ABC has long zoomed past the monomaniacal into the sociopathic ... but here we are, yet again, for the umpteenth time ... with the pond yearning for a dollar each time it had read this sort of stuff, because the pond would long ago have retired to its private island home ...
Of course there's a back story to the bitterness and bile, as we come up to an anniversary in the tragic story of Polonius and the ABC ...
It seems so long ago, but the scars are still vivid in the Polonial mind ... Conservative commentator Gerard Henderson dropped from ABC's Insiders program ...
Of course he was seething before, even when he had a regular seat to spar with Marr, but the seething since has been incessant, relentless, and here we are ... yep, that line about the ABC being a conservative-free zone comes out for the zillionth time, and if only the pond had a dollar riding on each appearance, how that luxurious private island would beckon ...
Speaking of gassing, the pond hasn't heard a peep from the reptiles about that Alabama gassing ... surely they could have helped out by suggesting that Zyklon B had proved effective and if you wanted to do barbarity properly, why go past previous examples?
And that brings the pond back to the nausea, and the many errors and omissions this weekend.
With the brain dulled by Polonius prattling on about soviets and collectives and Dame Slaps, there seemed to be no space for grand news ...
There seemed to be no easy way to segue into a celebration of the latest Hydeing ... Stop badgering the Tories to run the country. They’re plotting and putsching, and really don’t have the time
Spoiler alert, it ended this way ...
...We’ll play out with the news that Open Democracy has published a story reporting the sale of the Kigali homes that Suella Braverman once claimed would house the asylum seekers Britain was soon to deport there. Back when she was home secretary, you’ll recall, Braverman flew to Kigali and was pictured laughing it up round various sites apparently earmarked for deportees. But this week, it emerged that Open Democracy’s reporter had found the properties had largely already been sold.
If so, you can quite see why. There seems something acutely symbolic about the fact that Rwanda is – unlike our current government – capable of a) building some housing and b) moving on sensibly and in timely fashion when something is clearly never going to work (in this case, ironically, our current government’s Rwandan policy). Being gazumped by realists who are finally sick of waiting … it’s a little on the nose, message-wise – but even then there’s no earthly indication it’ll get through.
If so, you can quite see why. There seems something acutely symbolic about the fact that Rwanda is – unlike our current government – capable of a) building some housing and b) moving on sensibly and in timely fashion when something is clearly never going to work (in this case, ironically, our current government’s Rwandan policy). Being gazumped by realists who are finally sick of waiting … it’s a little on the nose, message-wise – but even then there’s no earthly indication it’ll get through.
And as noted there was absolutely no way to bounce off a reptile story with news regarding Gaza, though the Graudian was quickly on the case with Steve Crawshaw's This momentous ICJ ruling may be brushed aside by Israel - but the US and UK can’t afford to ignore it ...
Israel will no doubt continue to pour scorn on the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague in the days and weeks to come. “Hague Shmague” was the first response from the security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. But the provisional measures ordered by the world court today are historic, by any measure.
The requirement that Israel must take steps to prevent genocidal acts, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and report back on its actions within a month, will all have rippling implications – not just in the weeks but in the years to come.
The court has few powers of enforcement, as Russia and others have made clear. In its provisional measures on a case brought by Ukraine in 2022, the court called on Russia to immediately suspend military operations, presumably with little hope of being heard. Russia responded by demanding that the court throw out the “hopelessly flawed” case (spoiler: it didn’t). But that lack of enforcement doesn’t lessen the political discomfort for Israel – or for those who have seemed so ready to protect Israel from any and all criticism...
Sadly they can afford to ignore it, in much the same way that Vlad the sociopathic impaler has ignored it, and the way that the lizards of Oz have buried the story ...
The pond is also dismayed that it can't pay attention to other loons, thanks to the narrow nature of reptile obsessions.
The other day the pond wandered past the New Republic, and caught this ripping yarn from Tori Otten,
Elon Musk, who has used social media to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories, is now arguing that had social media existed at the time of the Holocaust, it could have prevented the tragedy.
Musk visited the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau on Monday, as part of an apparent apology tour for his blatant antisemitism. Later that day, he participated in a conference on antisemitism organized in Krakow by the European Jewish Association.
Musk admitted he had been “somewhat naive” about the dangers of antisemitism. But he revealed how little he actually cares by sitting down for an interview with Ben Shapiro, a far-right commentator and conspiracy theorist. The two men then insisted that social media could have prevented the Holocaust from happening.
To prove their argument, Musk showed fake tweets he created of people sharing photos of Nazi attacks on synagogues, supporting Jewish resistance fighters, and pushing back against Holocaust deniers. There was even a tweet from the “official” Auschwitz account claiming Jews there were “thriving”—only to have a community note debunk that claim.
This claim holds very little water, for many reasons. A major one, as journalist Aaron Gordon pointed out, was that Nazi Germany revoked Jews’ right to free movement long before the death camps were built. So all those tweets from people urging Jews to leave Germany would have been meaningless.
Another reason is that many civilians were well aware of what Nazis were doing, or at least aware that Jewish people were being removed and never seen again. And they were perfectly content to let it happen.
In fact, if the current state of X (formerly Twitter) is anything to go by, social media could have actually made the Holocaust happen faster.
Since Musk took over the social media platform, X has been rife with hate speech. Musk himself is a major source of disinformation and hate speech, particularly antisemitism. He has also let multiple neo-Nazis back onto X, after previous leadership banned them.
In November, Musk backed a vile antisemitic conspiracy theory that Jewish people are getting what they deserve because they harbor “diabolical hatred against whites.” That, combined with the revelation that X was placing ads next to pro-Hitler and pro-Nazi content, sent advertisers fleeing the platform in droves (again).
Musk said Monday that his November post was “literally the worst and dumbest post I’ve ever done,” which is saying something if you look at his X feed. He claimed he hadn’t understood the dangers of anti-Jewish sentiment because “in the circles I move in, I see no antisemitism.”
He said that “two-thirds of my friends are Jewish,” which actually undercuts his previous claim. Surely at least one of those Jewish friends would have been able to tell Musk about antisemitism.
Musk then claimed that thanks to all his information-hoarding friends, he is “Jewish by association.”
The genocides in Gaza and Ukraine show the absurdity of the proposition - how have the twittering twits sorted them out? - but how the pond yearns to do a Tootle and leave the reptile tracks ...
Instead here we are, glumly standing by for the return of nattering "Ned"...
Whatever you do, don't blame the pond, the medium isn't the massage, blame the reptiles, blame the lizard Oz, blame "Ned" himself ...
It was an omen, because it didn't get any better ... especially if you'd spent the week trying to duck and weave away from the faux indignation and horror mounted by the reptiles, all in service to Captain Spud ...
But that luckily was then and now the pond was back to the new year bashing of the tax breaks, and the blathering about division, because ... the suffering of the filthy rich ...
Forgive the pond, better minds in the comments section will have a field day, but from distant foggy memories of doing courses in economics and economic history, is not the whole point of a progressive tax model to put into effect a form of redistribution ... so that the wealthy might share a little more of their wealth than some poor bugger taking away their overflowing garbage bins...
It's just a rhetorical question, the pond gets where "Ned" is coming from ...
Forget all that reptile talk about the smug 'leets, that's just a feint, the 'leets are hurting and the reptiles are hurting with them ...
Back on the tracks and "Ned" was yammering on in his yada yada way ...almost enough to make the pond want to go off the wagon ...
Cue a snap of more Satanists ...
The Handmaid's Tale ...now there's a fine distraction, but there's a price to pay ...more "Ned" natter ... though the pond breathed a sigh of relief when "Ned" opened his listicle and found only two. Sometimes they can run to ten or fifteen or twenty ...
It'd be hugely comical if the pond hadn't been bored stiff.
Then the reptiles brought in a snap of their hero, looking wildly excited and a born leader, Captain Spud himself ...
Oh that stern jutting chub and the dictator-style pate.
For some reason, the pond was reminded of Woollies and Oz day and the Spud's best attempts to introduce Trumpism to Australia ...
It's going to be an interesting year, but not if it consists of reading "Ned" whimpering and moaning and sighing on a meditative Sunday ...
Just an aged, tired propaganda hack, in an aged propaganda rag, back to the treadmill in 2024 to tread out more of the usual, the grapes of wrath for Labor ...
If the pond must do more of "Ned", it will make sure it drags in some other yarns to provide a little relief and the odd distraction ... because it looks like he's going to go beyond the valley of the pitiful into the pit of the deeply pathetic ...
And now to end on an up note, because if nothing else, the state of the world should lead to nervous laughter ...
It may not be easily discernible from today’s standard bitter whinge, but I’d say that Polonius’ heart is currently full of joy - or as close to it as he ever gets. A major change at the ABC provides him with a sense of renewal, giving him the opportunity to target his usual litany of complaints towards a new audience.
ReplyDeleteSure, it’s pretty much the same old sludge - he and his singular obsession are never going to change - and he’ll doubtless soon start whining that Williams has been captured by the Green / Left socialists snd the inner city ‘leets. I’ll bet that though that this week Hendo typed “it’s [the ABC is] a conservative-free zone” for the thousandth time with a rejuvenated enthusiasm.
You’re still never getting back on “Insiders” though, Gerry.
Perhaps Henderson could begin by elucidating who were the traditional viewers of the ABC. Were they the art ‘leets who watched arts and education programs the ABC was broadcasting when the commercial channels were all doing quiz and soap shows? Or were they those who watched the current affairs shows like Four Corners, 7.30, This Day Tonight, Lateline, etc. which the conservatives have always criticised? Or were they the old people who loved the monarchy? Were they the parents who sat their children in front of Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben, Sooty, Mr Squiggle, Play School or Bluey? When exactly did the ABC become a conservative free zone and a hive of green left / socialist left activists or has it always been that? When did the desertion to Sky begin - in 1996 when Sky began in Australia and newly elected, conservative Howard made his anti-ABC position clear?
ReplyDeleteHenderson quotes Buttrose: “being a journalist means that you give up your right to be an activist”. So there must be no journalists in the Murdoch media as they are all activists for the conservative political ideological positions, forever presenting the conservative view of the world. Henderson himself is an activist for the conservative position. Perhaps “Insiders” decided to drop him because they wanted to reduce the number of activists at the ABC.
In the Albrechtsen quote by Henderson, she uses the qualifier “serious”. What organizations do Albrechtsen and Henderson regard as “unserious” (apart from the ABC). Actually unions (aka staff) pass strike actions all the time against management and openly criticise CEOs. So Albrechtsen, as always the activist, gives a slanted view of reality.
Actually it’s almost comforting to hear Gerard to once again carry on about the ABC and defend News Corp; it must be a sign of Stockholm syndrome.
Yes - who are the traditional viewers (and listeners?) - what about the regional and rural folk, especially when there is an emergency; not to mention the lifestyle audience (think collectables, gardening, minor sports) that was initially grown by the ABC; and the vulgar youff listening to triple J; the list goes on. Meanwhile, on commercial channels, we have been treated to Big Brother, Farmer Wants A Wife, I'm A Survivor ...
DeleteI sympathise with your syndrome - all I can say about Gerard is, get me out of here. AG.
And 'Married At First Sight', AG. Don't forget that one.
DeleteAh yes, AG and GB. When I've been to the dentist I sometimes catch parts of these programmes as there is a screen in the foyer and over the dentist chair. "Dr Phil" seems to be my most regular time and I can vouch for the anaesthetic effect.
DeleteNoodlenuts Ned: "...Peter Dutton's strategy to make the Coalition the champion of hardworking battler Aussies." Que ? Is this just the same old, same old "forgotten people" yet again ?
ReplyDeleteNoodles again: "...Labor backed stage three tax cuts in 2022 for is electoral self-interest; it now revises stage three for its electoral self-interest." Ok, so what exactly does "electoral self-interest" mean ? The best understanding I get is that it means Labor was, and is, doing things that will gain it more votes, in short, things that electors want to have happen.
ReplyDeleteSo, is the idea that political parties should do things that electors don't want to happen ? Things that the electors might instead decide to vote for the Opposition over ?
I started my day watching the 'ABC soviet', to read about their series 'Nemesis'. Oh the horror - seems they somehow enticed many members of recent coalition governments into ABC Room 101, holding them in until, in best soviet tradition, they confessed. One shudders to think what threats they uttered at ScoMo and TurNBNbull to get each of them to speak, over two days, and more than 8 hours each. The soviet claims to have more than 2 000 pages of transcript from their hostages.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt when Capt Spud surges to power under the 'Honesty' banner, he will set up another of his special forces to seek out those transcripts, and all available digital material - well, after the new special force has spent 8 months designing its uniform and agreeing on titles.
I am not going 'the full Ned' - Sunday should be a day of rest, recreation, perhaps reflection, re-energisation - I guess I will disappoint Ned who has spent all week writing a mountain of propaganda; still, that's what he's paid for. The opening paras were enough.
ReplyDelete' ... easing cost-of-living pressures for about 12 million Australian taxpayers.'
'His message to the Australian public is: pocket your money and forget my breach of trust - you are all the winners.'
Well, yes. Most Australians, who do not follow politics closely, will do just that. Come polling day, that will be an enduring memory - that Albo put people ahead of political promises. And those who do follow politics will know that Labour never supported the stage 3 breaks of themselves - but waved the wedge through to get an early break for lower and middle income earners. Albo said it was madness to commit to an economic initiative 5 years hence (5 days is a stretch for economic sages these days) so the whole thing is more common sense than betrayal.
Perhaps what really hurts the reptiles and Captain Spud is that this looks like it is straight out of the Coalition playbook - broken promises and buying votes. Even worse, lower and middle income earners in the outer suburbs will appreciate it - this is where the Coalition would have you believe they are going to win the next election; yet still no plan on how they are going to win back some, if any, of the blue ribbon metro seats that are required to form government.
I've already perked up following a sampling of Ned - comedian, some would say fool. AG.
Anonymous, while I agree with your day for 'rest, recreation, reflection and, who knows, re-energisation' it did get to, well, reflecting, on 'Ned'
ReplyDeleteI am still looking for a reliable source for ‘Ned’s’ “The bottom 40 percent of taxpayers pay no net tax”. I suspect this is the standard recycling - Dame Groan wrote it, so it must come from some ‘economic’ source of repute. The point is - the way the Dame used it, I would have liked to see, say, a Treasury or ATO paper showing the balance between tax paid, including that unavoidable one, GST, compared with transfers back to the bottom 40% of us.
Ross Greenwood on ‘Sky’, who used to have some creds, is also prone to using these kinds of ‘factoids’.
No doubt Winston is grinning happily, that his GST - (which, at one time, he promised there would not be, but, y’know, promises) slips right out of Reptile discussion on ‘tax’, and I cannot recall, ever, seeing serious discussion in Limited News on the extent to which the very legislation, the A NEW TAX SYSTEM (GOODS AND SERVICES TAX) ACT 1999 - went on, and on, to exclude so much of financial ‘services’ from its purview. Of course, far better to leave it to the major banks to add all their little extra charges for having us tap the keys to move our money around. Shades of tax farming back in the golden ages.
This bit of “Ned’ recycling is just lazy, in referring sometimes to ‘taxable income’ and at other times, the inference is for gross income. So many of the Reptile defenses of our bizarre taxation treatment of ‘investing’ in residential property still claim that many of the investors are not in the top income tax bracket. Of course not - that part of the taxation system steadily tweaked to help such people ease themselves down into a lower income tax bracket.
"Nearly 90% of Australia better off under new plan, with taxpayers in remote and regional communities to gain the most, ANU analysis shows."
DeleteWorking-class communities in Coalition-held seats the biggest winners in Labor’s stage-three tax cuts overhaul
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/working-class-communities-in-coalition-held-seats-the-biggest-winners-in-labors-stage-three-tax-cuts-overhaul
Oh dear.
They are a simple lot, your commentaters. "If this threshold had been indexed.." writes Ned. Indexed to what? Why, inflation. Which measure of inflation? Monthly CPI, quarterly CPI, Trimmed mean, weighted median... And hang on, they all measure prices, whereas income tax is about wages, so shouldn't we index to Average Weekly Income? But surely this would be unfair to the rich, whose income rises faster than the average (remember the Iron Rule, you must never be unfair to the rich). And while we are indexing, shouldn't we be indexing the GST?
ReplyDeleteJust imagine an indexed goods and services tax!
DeleteWe could have the rich paying 20% GST!
DeleteThe GST is the one tax in which we're all hit by bracket-creep. Every cent that inflation causes prices to rise, is an extra 0.1 cents that the GST on that item rises. And everybody who buys the usual items - food, clothing etc etc - pays GST, even us otherwise untaxed retirees.
DeleteKelly claims the PM is resorting to “old old-fashioned, class war redistribution”, but surely Kelly should argue the Coalition policy was divisive because the policy suggested the wealthy were more deserving of higher breaks than those on lower incomes. The changes cannot be branded “anti-aspirational” unless Kelly is suggesting that middle and low income households are not aspirational but wealthy households are. As for labelling Albanese as untrustworthy and dishonest, the stage three tax cuts are still there, but they have been altered to be less class-conscious. Let’s not forget that the whole point of the stage three tax policy was to undermine the progressive tax model. Morrison did not present the changes at the election in 2019 and so had no mandate either?
ReplyDeleteWill resurrect Labor’s fortunes? Actually, two-party preferred, Labor is still ahead of the Coalition.
“Integrity-busting”? Integrity is holding fast to certain moral and ethical values such as Labor values of economic fairness.
“Albanese has lusted for a cause to inject his government with conviction.” Sounds like a Mills and Boon column. The ideologically driven sure have conviction, but the only cause Dutton sees is to be like Abbott.
Reducing planned tax cuts from about $9K to $4K is punishing people? OK, the Government isn’t giving you a Rolls Royce like they promised for Xmas, but hey isn’t the Range Rover good enough?
What really upsets the Coalition and Kelly is that the tables have been turned and the Coalition is now been wedged by Labor.
Labor ahead on 2PP: yeah, the daze of old are long gone, aren't they. And I'm not sure how often Labor was actually ahead on primary votes anyway. But it seems to be the thing: both major parties have diminishing primary votes, but it seems that most who are deserting Labor, plus a significant percentage of those deserting Coalition simply do not vote for the Coalition (eg 'Teals') and end up ('preferential' voting) with Labor.
DeleteSo we may indeed have a 'minority government' in the Reps more often, and of course we already have had 'minority government' in the Senate for quite some time. Indeed for some time before, and ever since, Little Johnnie's majority in both houses which he used to the magnificent effect of a landslide LNP loss which included his own 'safe' seat.