Yuletide Felicitations

I realise that for many people, 2008 has been a bit of a pooey year. I guess we have to take the good with the bad. There are always folk worse off than us, however, and we should think about them at this time of the year.

Let us hope 2009 contains blessings and uplifting moments for us all.

So, as the lights come on on Christmas eve in Australia; may the sparkling eyes and smiling face of the new-born baby Jesus give us everlasting joy, and remind us of our new birth in Him.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Americans give (our) Rove a job - they must be mad

Australian "comedian" (I use the word advisedly) Rove McManus, has apparently landed a gig on prime time US TV. I said it on November 4, and I'll say it again now: God help America. I might also add: what were they thinking?!

The fact that in Australia McManus is a multiple Logie (Emmy equivalent) award-winning personality, testifies more to the dearth of talent in the field of light entertainment in Australia, than it does to McManus' abilities.

Men's Style Australia magazine, in its October 2005 issue, commented on McManus' Aussie TV show at the time, Rove Live:

Variety at its vomitous nadir. Rove Live is big stars answering weak questions badly asked, strung together with charades, chintz and banal chiackery. A national embarrassment.

A resounding 'hear, hear' from me.

Apparently Alan Jones' home is a private hospital

My best wishes to 2GB's Alan Jones as he recovers from brain surgery, undertaken last week at a private Sydney hospital; NOT where reported in the The Daily Telegraph today:

Alan Jones will be taking it entirely easy for the next month as he recovers from brain surgery at his Southern Highlands home.

I'm Back

Well, actually, I haven't been away, but I have been think of way to re-jig this blog. I will give it some thought over the coming weeks.

In the meantime, in keeping with the mood of the season, I will post little tidbits of non-serious stuff.

Congratulations New Zealand!

Following the New Zealand general election last night, Mr John Key, a 47-year-old, millionaire former currency trader became New Zealand's first conservative Prime Minister in ten years. Proving, mercifully, that sanity still prevails among voters in an English-speaking country.

Any inference of irony in the last sentence is subjective on your part, and was unintended on mine!

Why did the Republicans lose the election?

For a start, take a look at the guy at the top of the GOP ticket.

Now, don't get me wrong - I admire John McCain; and he wasn't the only reason they lost.

McCain has been a wonderful servant of his nation in peace and in war. He wanted to do what is right for the American people by serving as their President. Whilst he must shoulder some blame for not winning the Presidency, it was, as I said, by no means entirely his fault.

Whilst I'm talking about blame, I want any liberal or faux-conservative who is reading this to expunge from their mind immediately any notion that the Republicans lost this election because McCain chose Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, to be his running mate. Without Palin, McCain might have won Oklahoma, but precious little else. His choice of running mate was inspired. The GOP's choice of Presidential candidate, however, was not. And it is the GOP at whose feet the carcass of this election campaign now lies.

I refuse to believe that there is such a paucity of talent in the Republican party that it thought its best chance of winning was with a (then) 71-year-old Senator from Arizona. For all his graces, experience, and wartime service, he was, throughout this campaign, immensely uninspiring. Sure, he tried to rouse the faithful with his "stand up and fight" mantra - but it was never going to cut it.

In a perfect world, McCain should have won this election despite his shortcomings. But the final result vindicates my belief that voters are naive and easily conned. Any savvy they have sadly does not extend to understanding political philosophies and ideologies. For such people, personality will always win over political substance. This, however, is by no means a trait exclusive to American voters; my own country, in its last federal election in November 2007, is case in point. And Australians are already asking themselves what on earth it was they did twelve months ago.

After any election defeat - for whichever is the vanquished party - there will always be cries that their time is over, or this is the end for such-and-such.

This, of course, is utter garbage. Defeats, whilst unpleasant for a team's members and supporters, are often the only time parties can take stock, and do some soul-searching.

It was always going to be a tough ask to get the GOP across the line when it has already had eight years in power; but, elections are cyclical things. Political parties change like the seasons, and the Republicans' time will again come.

One saving grace out of all this is that John McCain has drawn back the curtain on a shining Alaskan star. And for that, all Republicans should be forever grateful to him.

A song for Conservative supporters everywhere

Sarah cracks a funny on the stump

Such a cool video. She just rocks!

The media in Australia can't hide their excitement (for BHO)

Yet again, Channel 9 news (along with the rest of the Australian media) is having trouble countenancing a possible Republican win tomorrow, viz this commentary at the end of a story tonight on the US election:

ANCHOR (Mark Ferguson)...Peter, with so many yet to vote, I guess there's even more travelling ahead for Senator McCain?

REPORTER (Peter Stefanovic) Senator McCain votes tomorrow morning, Mark, and then he has two campaign stops in two other US states. His running mate, Sarah Palin, will then head to Anchorage in Alaska and cast her vote - and the two will meet here (Arizona) tomorrow evening for a speech - which is expected to be a concession speech - but, Mark, this is US politics, and anything can happen.

I suppose it was nice of him to add that little caveat at the end - most don't bother. Let's hope anything does happen, and, when it does, I will be emailing a letter (all of six words) to the editor of The Australian newspaper as soon as the magic 270 number comes up for the Republicans. I can't wait!

A final Appeal to American voters

I know you guys have been able to vote for a while now in this election, but, for those of you who haven't been to a polling booth yet, please remember what is at risk here.

At every election you will hear pundits tell you that "this is the most important election we have ever faced" - almost to the extent where that phrase has lost any impact it ever had. But, that saying should have impact now, because it is very apt for this Presidential election.

I have already written why I think John McCain is deserving of your vote.

I will simply say here, have courage, America.

Have the courage to vote for substance over populism.

And have faith that your fellow countrymen and women will realise what is at risk at this election, and will vote with courage also.

Channel 9 (Australia) to take US election coverage

Apparently Channel 9 will be covering the US election from 11am (EDST) Wednesday November 5. I am not sure whether they will be taking the feed from one of their affiliates (ABC or NBC) or if it will be their own panel. Whatever their forum, it will be biased in favour of the Messiah, of course. If it gets too tendentious I will mute the coverage and just watch the electoral college ticker.

At this stage I don't know if other Aussie free-to-air channels are taking the US election, although I would imagine SBS will, seeing as they took all the debates live.

UPDATE

I can confirm that from 11am on 5 November, Channel 9 will be covering the US elections.

I just saw Nine's news with their US reporter Robert Penfold reporting (from an Obama rally - naturally) and yet again dismissing McCain's chances of winning because of another "bad" poll. One poll. As I have said numerous times on this blog, polls are meaningless, except the one on election day.

While such biased reporting continues to burn my onion, I refuse to let my confidence in a McCain/Palin victory be assuaged or diminished by the bleatings of this country's left wing, guilt-ridden media.

We should be thankful for pro-life Gov Sarah Palin

This extract is the last paragraph of an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle, by Marjorie Dannenfelser - president of a nationwide network of pro-life Americans dedicated to advancing pro-life women in the political process, and co-founder of Team Sarah, a national grassroots effort in support of Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy.

The whole article is superb, but this paragraph is an excellent summary:

In the next few days, the women of America may have to work hard to hear Palin's voice. They will have to strain to focus on ignoring the media filter and intense anger and exclusionary politics of some on the left; persevere before it is too late. Palin's leadership brings with it great heart and profound respect for life and the ingenuity of every individual. She brings a fresh perspective that America needs.

Obama in his own words - thanks to Foxnews.com

The impact he will have on the world should, God forbid, he get elected, would be too chilling to contemplate.

US Electoral Votes '08 - Fearless Prediction

What's a US election without a bit of fun with the electoral college, huh?!

I mentioned on an earlier post that I would blog my prediction as to the outcome of the US elections. I am doing so now, a little earlier than I had planned, but, seeing as voting has already commenced, I might as well put my money where my mouth is.

I am having trouble uploading the image of my completed red and blue map of the USA, so I will give you the states' names, together with the number of electoral college votes for that state.

As previously mentioned, my predictions are not based on any polls, but on gut instinct from thousands of articles and blogs viewed in the past couple of months, and past voting patterns.

I believe strongly that in this election a far greater number of states are "in play" than polling would have us believe, which is why a couple of states that I predict will be in the red column will surprise a few people.

So, without further ado, here are The Hutch's fearless predictions for each camp, starting with the Blue corner:

Democrat states won (prediction):
Hawaii 4
Oregon 7
California 55
Minnesota 10
Iowa 7
Wisconsin 10
Illinois 21
Michigan 17
Pennsylvania 21
New York 31
Vermont 3
Massachusetts 12
Connecticut 7
Rhode Island 4
New Jersey 15
District of Columbia 3
Delaware 3
Maryland 10
for a total electoral college of 240.


And, in the Red corner
Republican states won (prediction):
Alaska 3
Washington 11
Idaho 4
Nevada 4
Arizona 10
Utah 5
Montana 3
Wyoming 3
Colorado 9
New Mexico 5
North Dakota 3
South Dakota 3
Nebraska 5
Kansas 6
Oklahoma 7
Texas 34
Missouri 11
Arkansas 6
Louisiana 9
Mississippi 6
Alabama 9
Georgia 15
Florida 27
South Carolina 8
North Carolina 15
Tennessee 11
Kentucky 8
Indiana 11
Ohio 20
West Virginia 5
Virginia 13
New Hampshire 4
Maine 4
for a total electoral college of 298.

So, my final prediction is Republican 298, Democrat 240.

Don't say you weren't told, now!

The Hutch endorses John McCain

It will come as no surprise to readers of The Hutch that this blog endorses John McCain to become the 44th President of the United States of America.

What groundswell of support there is for Senator Barack Obama to become the next President, appears to be based on three main tenets: 1) he is a fresh face; 2) he is charismatic; and 3) he is not George Bush. Correct though these points may be, they are by no means sufficient reason to entrust Senator Obama with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Indeed, should the American people appreciate these aforementioned attributes to such an extent that they are unable to see beyond them come the first Tuesday in November, then I truly fear for the future of that great country, and the consequences for the rest of the world. America, it is not too late to wake up!

Now, more than ever, the United States needs a President with a proven track record; an experienced and gutsy politician; a leader who will prove a master-mentor to his second-in-command.

John McCain is a safe pair of hands - a steady, knowledgable rock in these times of economic uncertainty. Oh, sure, I have no doubt he and Gov Palin will shake up the establishment where it's needed. I know Washington won't be looking forward to that, but I certainly am.

Elections are serious business. Contrary to what cynics might think, elections are not popularity contests. They are not American Idol for politicians. This is not the time for the most powerful country in the world to choose as its leader someone with zero executive experience - a populist politician, yet whose resume is thinner than rice paper.

Senator Obama's extreme left-wing, anti-capitalist, Marxist ideologies will, if supported by Congress, do incalculable harm to the USA, let alone the rest of the world.

Senator Obama wants to spread the wealth around. Yet the only way to spread the wealth around is to employ people - not what Senator Obama's tax policy will achieve, indeed, under the best traditions of socialism, rather than stimulating job growth, Obama's is a tax and spend welfare scheme. A scheme that will have the 30 to 40 percent of Americans who pay no tax rubbing their hands together while wondering where to put their second Plasma TV.

John McCain is a man of substance and ability. His opponent is a man of unproven potential. John McCain is a man of principle and courage. His opponent is a man of questionable associations, both in the US and abroad.

Senator John McCain is the man for the times. Governor Sarah Palin will one day be the future.

From this great south island nation, this humble blogger respectfully implores his friends 'across the pond' to endorse John McCain on November 4.

The United States of America, and rest of the free world, are not ready for the type of presidency Barack Hussein Obama would bring; and may it always be ever thus.

NSW By-election results

I managed to pick the result of three out of four by-elections. Which ain't bad. Lakemba and Cabramatta will be held by Labor but with swings against it of 12 and 23% respectively. Ryde has a new member - a Liberal - the first time in 20 years a Liberal has won a seat off the Labor party in NSW.

Unfortunately, I underestimated how un-politically savvy the voters of Port Macquarie are, where they exercised their democratic right and voted in an Independent. That result could have been mitigated if the NSW Liberals had the balls to pre-select a candidate, instead of cow-towing to the National Party - a party who are fast becoming irrelevant, both statewide and nationally.

With the exception of local government, where they can actually do some good by putting party politics to one side, I have absolutely no time for Independents and their obscurantist agendas.

ACT Election result

The pundits seem to think that the outcome of the ACT election held yesterday will be 7 Labor members, 7 Liberal and 3 Greens (compared to the old Assembly of 9 Labor, 6 Liberals, 1 Green and 1 Independent). I personally think that scenario is too neat, and, in the final wash-up, is more likely to be either one fewer Green plus one Independent, or one fewer Liberal and one extra Green. In other words, 7,7,2,1 or 7,6,4. Much will depend, of course, on the distribution of preferences as to who gets the final couple of spots.

UPDATE

Sunday 26 October, 2008

The final result of the ACT election is 7 Labor, 6 Liberal and 4 Greens, vindicating my thoughts that 7,7,3 was too glib a prediction. The leaders of the ALP and the Liberals parties are still in talks with the Greens as to which of the major parties will (with The Greens' support) form government.

I had the misfortune of listening to Jon Stanhope's election night speech on the radio. Stanhope's pitiful attempt at self-mockery during his speech in relation to what he thinks is his so-called "perceived arrogance" by some voters, achieved nothing; except to confirm to me, and I suspect many others, that, on this issue, what he thinks some voters perceive and what actually is, are one and the same.

John Howard once famously said "Canberrans live like Double Bay, but vote like Cessnock." As evidenced by the outcome yesterday, Howard was spot on - again.

The fact that the ALP in Canberra received a swing against them of more than 9 percent is encouraging. That most of this vote spillage went to The Greens, is not.

I think Zed Seselja is a shining light in the ACT Liberal Party, and I have no doubt he will be Chief Minister one day. That the Liberals couldn't garner more votes is no fault of his.

The ALP produced some of the most inaccurate, vicious, carping and bilious advertisements during this campaign that I have ever heard. The Liberals were totally outspent in this regard. Where they could not respond in volume, the Liberals should have made up for in content. Specifically, marketing themselves better, and attacking the ALP more strategically, especially in relation to Stanhope's arrogance (real, not perceived), lack of community consultation, school and medical centre closures, to name a mere few.

Whilst Canberrans have registered a protest vote against the most left-wing government and Labor leader in the country, instead of using their protest vote wisely to vote for a fresh, vibrant alternative in the Liberals, they voted for The Greens - a loopy outfit - no doubt disciples of Al Gore and his Marxist-environmental cult. Will these over-educated, guilt-ridden, eco-fascist voters ever see the light? Is there any hope for the world?

Meanwhile however, if you are an aspiring Labor politician, there is no easier place in the country to get elected to government than in the ACT.

They say you get the government you deserve. Election after election, Canberrans prove that adage, beautifully.

SHOCK: Someone in the media reckons McCain won the 3rd debate!!

For those of you, like boring old me, who watched the final Presidential debate today (my time), you would also, no doubt, have taken an interest in who the media said won it. I'm not implying that you would have taken any notice of what the media said of course, merely that you took a passing interest!

It should come as no surprise to any of us that 95% of the fourth estate gave victory to Senator Government Obama. Reading some comments on the net today I have come to the conclusion that the MSM and the rest of the neanderthal left would have given the debate to Obama had he not even turned up!

Regarding the outcome of the debate, one surprising dissenting voice comes from Mark Halperin. I say surprising, because he is writing for Time magazine, no less.

Here is the article.

3rd and final Presidential Debate

Hofstra University, New York: John McCain finally found his mojo, came alive, and kicked serious arse tonight in the third and final Presidential Debate. About time. Will it be too little too late? I hope not.

Some great lines from McCain:

any mention of "Joe the Plumber"

"Senator Government" - a wonderful slip of the tongue when referring to Senator Obama.

"I'm not President Bush. If you wanted to run against Bush you should have run four years ago."

The blogosphere is telling me that the MSM (mainstream media) in America is calling Obama the winner. That is complete, unadulterated heifer dust, as my old GP used to say. McCain wiped the floor with Obama. It was McCain's best debate performance by far. He was punchy, aggressive, spoke TO the American people, and didn't take any of Obama's BS.

US writer, Paul Goodman - although a 60s lefty - got it correct when he said:

The organisation of American society is an ...snip... electorate notoriously unenlightened, misled by a mass media notoriously phoney.

It gives me shivers just thinking about what the hysterical mass media will do when McCain wins on November 4.

Elections in Canberra and NSW this weekend

Several elections are being held this Saturday across NSW and the ACT.

In the state of New South Wales, there are four by-elections being held concurrently in the electorates of Lakemba, Cabramatta, Ryde and Port Macquarie; and the Australian Capital Territory are holding elections on the same day. A veritable psephological smorgasbord.

In New South Wales the ruling Labor (ALP) government (left wing) has suffered a string of stuff-ups so long it would stretch from Sydney to Hawaii. Nevertheless, the ALP remains favourite to hold the seat of Lakemba, (which it currently holds with a 34% margin), and Cabramatta (29%). I am expecting the Liberal (right wing) party to do better in Cabramatta than Lakemba, but it would take a boilover bigger than you would find at the Southern Portugal Seafood Hotpot Festival for the Libs to take either seat. Kudos to the Liberal party for even fielding candidates in Lakemba and Cabramatta - the two safest ALP electorates in the state.

In Port Macquarie, the contest is between the Nationals (the Liberals' coalition partner) and Independents. Labor is not standing a candidate. Anything could happen here, but I expect the National candidate to scrape home, thanks mainly to the fact they are not (to be the best of my knowledge) exchanging preferences. Port Macquarie has an Independent-heavy field, and one candidate in particular has attracted support of some disaffected Liberal Party supporters, apparently because the Libs chose not to field a candidate of their own. I can understand why that would have pissed off some Liberals, but I can't quite fathom the logic of supporting an Independent over the Nationals for that reason alone. They need to ask themselves whose side they are actually on.

In the northwestern Sydney electorate of Ryde, currently held by Labor with a 10% margin, the government is in a worse position than New Orleans, with the tide of public opinion looking set to deluge the seat and deliver it quite comfortably to the Liberal party. I expect a swing to the Liberals of between 15 and 20 percent.

The election to be held in the ACT is a different kettle of fish entirely - different issues, different parties and a very different voting system to NSW - and too complicated for me to expatiate about here, besides, it's getting late! Suffice to say, the contest in the ACT is between Labor, the Liberals (the Nationals are a non-entity in the ACT, hence the Liberals are a stand-alone party) and The Greens. The ALP are the governing party in the ACT, led by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, aka Jon Hopeless or (my favourite) Stan NoHope. The Liberals are led by Zed Seselja and I don't think The Greens have a leader, although a bloke called Rattenbury seems to be its chief spokesman. Living within an hour's drive of the ACT, I get all of Canberra's TV and radio stations, hence I am bombarded with the most trite and nauseating political advertising you will ever likely see or hear. Those of you who have not experienced these commercials and the incessant, vacuous bleating of overpaid clerks masquerading as political candidates, do not realise how blessed you are. I don't care who wins, as long as Stan NoHope does not. For those of you unfamiliar with him, he makes George W Bush look like the world president of Toastmasters. A man (Stanhope) for whom the saying '...whose whole purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others', seems very appropriate.

US Election - Prediction?

If you are wondering if I will be making a prediction re the US election, the answer is 'you betcha!' But you will have to wait a little while. Although I have a pretty fair idea in my own mind of what the outcome will be, some tweaking of the electoral map will be necessary up until early November. There are a couple of states that are not exactly on everyone's radar, and which I will be looking at rather closely.

I will not be basing my prediction on polls, as they are notoriously inaccurate and skewed on a variety of fronts. When you have a country as big and as disparate as America, and with the vote in many states being pretty evenly split between Democrat and Republican, relying on polling data is a nightmare.

This is why I - along with tens of thousands of others - will be basing my prediction on nothing more than a combination of gut instinct and past voting patterns, especially where those patterns appear to be cyclical.

Psephology is an inaccurate science. Psephologists might disagree with me on that, but show me one who is right 100% of the time. In any case, it is not a subject that someone as partisan as I can do much with, other than have a bit of fun.

So stay tuned for my prediction in the dying days of this campaign!

My friends, I don't know who won the 2nd Presidential debate

Unfortunately I didn't see the debate, as I was in the car. But thankfully (probably not the most apt choice of words) ABC News Radio took it live off the dish from Nashville.

I don't know who won, and I don't care - because I don't think it's relevant. I mean, no one (at least, no one with a brain) will be voting on November 4, and asking themselves prior to voting, 'now gosh darn it, who won the second debate, 'cos that's who I'm gonna vote for.' It just doesn't happen like that.

But I will say this: John McCain's people need to have a very loud word in whichever ear he hears best out of, and tell him to can the expression 'my friends'. The first couple of times during the debate it was endearing and folksy, but, by the twenty-eighth time he used it, it just got grating, condescending, and left me thinking that he couldn't think of anything else to say.

At this point that's all I have to say!

Yes, take the gloves off - and where Palin should go next

Gov. Sarah Palin wants to take the gloves off. She wants John McCain to take the gloves off.

Good idea!

But, with such a left-wing, inexperienced, rhetorical opponent, with extremely questionable past associations, why were the gloves ever on in the first place?

McCain has withdrawn campaign resources from Michigan, i.e. he's conceded the state to BHO. Big mistake! But Palin wants to go there with her first dude and talk to the people in the factories.

She should do just that.

And after Michigan, Palin should do rallies in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota & North Carolina. And throw in some left-fielders (pun intended) like Washington (state), Maine, Massachusets and New Mexico. I have always been a firm believer in candidates putting in appearances in (what appears to be) their opponents' territory. The benefits are twofold: It keeps your opponents guessing, and helps firm up your own support base in that state. It can also, believe it or not, sway some swinging voters. That's why I think Palin's appearance in California this week was a good thing. I actually hope she gets back there before the election.

In short, Palin needs to visit as many teetering states as possible before November 4. Memo to her campaign managers: if she wants to, let her!!

Palin clinches debate

I watched the debate. At the end, for me (and I know we're a tad biased here - but rightly so!) it was 60/40 Palin.

She was sensational. Poised, calm, folksy and, more importantly, made sure Biden didn't hit any homers.

Poor old Joe looked like he aged ten years in 90 minutes!

Many commentators have said that Palin is the new Reagan.

On April 13, 1998, Time magazine ran a special edition entitled: 'Leaders and Revolutionaries'. Reagan, appropriately, was featured in the 20 profiles in that edition.

Peggy Noonan, Reagan's special assistant and speechwriter, wrote the article, including the following:

Reagan didn't become President to preach some
ego-centric sense of personal destiny...he wanted the presidency so that he could do big things.

John McCain, in deciding to 'tap' Sarah Palin, clearly thought the Alaskan Governor was destined to do big things too. From tonight's debate performance, we should all be glad for McCain's genius and foresight.

The McCain team now must use Sarah a whole lot more on the campaign.

The fight is not over yet, folks.

Ronny is smiling down, I'm sure. Let's hope and pray he can celebrate with the angels - and the rest of us - on November 4.

First-year uni students to be taught basic grammar

This story from news.com.au made me weep.

Australia's Monash University is about to begin teaching its first-year students basic grammar - grammar they should have been taught in school, but weren't. How could they have learnt it in school, when their teachers were just as clueless on the difference between a noun and a verb?

Monash lecturer Caron Dann said the majority of her 500 students in communication were strangers to English grammar.

Marking essays, I discovered the majority had no
idea how to use apostrophes, or any other punctuation for that matter; that
random spelling was in and sentence construction out.

Argh!!!! I could see this coming.......

About half thought plurals were formed
by adding an apostrophe-s, as in apple's and banana's.

Canberra Airport - Up, up and aw......wait a minute!

I am a big fan of Canberra Airport - and airports generally (long story.)

The Canberra Times reports that plans for the AUD$250M airport terminal redevelopment at Canberra are on hold indefinitely (I hate the word 'indefinitely'.)

UPDATE

I have just seen the local Canberra news on TV, and apparently the story isn't as doomsday-ish as reported in the Canberra Times (now, why doesn't that surprise me?)

It seems that the airport's plan is to delay the start of the new terminal building - for the time being - but hope to commence building before Christmas. Excellent news! Canberra desperately needs a new airport terminal.

In the same news report, airport general manager, Stephen Byron, clarifies the reason for the delay:

...now is not the time to be starting a project
when you're not sure that the debt market is going to let you finish it.

The Costello Memoirs: A Reader's Lament

I purchased a copy of 'The Costello Memoirs' last week - a couple of days after the book was launched by Peter Costello and the book's co-author, Peter Coleman.

Almost as soon as the book hit the stores it was discounted dramatically from its RRP of $55.00. In fact, the day I bought mine, I checked out Borders, Big W and Angus & Robertson, and all of those chains had it on discount. Big W, where I got mine, being the cheapest at $32.00.

Peter Costello was the longest serving Australian federal treasurer in this country's history.

He was deputy leader of the Liberal (Conservative) Party from 1996 to 2007 and treasurer for the same period.

Costello was one of only three politicians to serve in the same position for the entire eleven-year reign of the Howard government - the other two being John Howard as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, and Alexander Downer as Foreign Affairs minister.

Not many politicians write their memoirs whilst still in parliament, even fewer can do so with the experience of eleven years in the same position in the second-most important role in government.

So it was with anticipation that I started reading 'The Costello Memoirs.'

The book is full of interesting anecdotes and enlightening behind-the-scenes machinations, but it is let down by errors of chronology and rushed editing. The book jumps around all over the shop in places, and at times left me wondering if someone had moved my bookmark.

Mike Steketee in his review in 'The Australian', rather kindly referred to the editing as 'inadequate'.

Considering Costello's humour and gift for entertaining speeches, I found the book disappointingly dry, and a bit of a tedious read (not exactly what I would call a 'page-turner'.)

A work such as this by one of the most prominent Conservative politicians of the last 20 years should have been deserving of much tighter - and less rushed - editing. Editing that allowed for the author's wit and engaging personality to shine through, whilst ensuring the integrity of the chronology of events.

I hope these things are addressed in Volume 2!

I give the book 6/10 - for political afficionados and aspiring treasurers only.

What caused the subprime crisis

A fascinating look at the financial crisis in the US and the real reasons behind it. Great video! I hope my American friends watch!

Corny but amazing

If I'd not seen this I wouldn't have believed it - the things you can do with a GPS and a John Deere tractor...!

Rudd sends UN to sleep

Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister and minister for bewildering neology, made his debut speech to the United Nations yesterday.

Here is a sample of why most of the UN's members will be hoping Rudd doesn't deliver an encore:

The global financial crisis of today presents us
afresh with a critical opportunity to act comprehensively and collectively for
the long term - rather than selectively and separately for the short.

I'm serious - he actually said that. (I don't know what being vertically challenged has to do with international finance, though!)

It gets better (I mean worse):

What we have seen in financial markets should
bring home to us all that the central organising principle of this 21st century
is interdependence.

For the century just past, interdependence may
have been one option among many.

For the century that is to come, there is no
longer an alternative.

Interdependence is not the expression of
sentimental idealism.

Instead it is a recognition of the new realism of
our current time.

snip

For what all these things tell us is this: that
interdependence is the new realism of this 21st century.

What this buffoon means is anyone's guess.

Kevin Rudd has once again embarrassed himself and Australia on the world stage by his highfalutin gobbledygook.

It is time someone in DFAT took away this jetsetting fool's diplomatic passport, once and for all!

The Palin Effect

I found this article by Noemie Emery whilst trawling the net earlier this week. I saved the link, but the link didn't work, so the story took a bit of finding as I couldn't remember its original source or author.

It is long, but well worth reading. A shrewd analysis focusing on the effect of Palin's nomination on the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.

TIME story on David Cameron, UK Conservative leader

I was browsing through the magazines in my dentist's waiting room today (refreshing to visit a waiting room to find current magazines, let me tell you!) and I came across an article on David Cameron in TIME, entitled: "David Cameron: UK's Next Leader?"

Personally, I don't think the question mark was necessary!

It was a good article. On the' general interest' scale, I'd give it 8 out of ten. For 'balance', I'd give it a 6 - but for the MSM (mainstream media) that's not bad going.

Kevin Rudd: Doing his bit for greenhouse gasses

The globe-trotting penchant of Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is starting to test the patience of the media, the voters and his own backbench.

His trip to the USA this week means that he has been out of the country for 50 days since becoming Prime Minister last November. In other words, he has spent one in six days overseas since the Australian people made the mistake of electing him.

Naturally the PM needs to travel overseas. But either Rudd doesn't trust his Ministers or senior bureaucrats to do some of this travel on his behalf, or Rudd just wants to get in as much travel as he can, knowing that at the back of his mind there is a possibility he could be a 'oncer' (one-term PM).

If, god spare us, Rudd and his cronies get re-elected in 2010, I predict a dramatic reduction in the amount of overseas travel he does, for he will have done it all during his first term!

I don't mind Rudd spending time out of the country. The problem is he keeps returning to Australia.

More assistants who wouldn't know customer service if they tripped over it

Just got back from Woolworths.

I was in the grog section buying a six pack. (I've been trying to get a six pack for years, but that's a different blog entirely!)

I digress.

The tattooed, identity-challenged sprig behind the counter had just finished serving the lady in front of me.

He then grabbed my six pack, scanned it, took my $20 note without asking for it and give me the docket - all whilst having a conversation with the lady in front of me!!

He finally interrupted himself and asked me if I wanted a bag. How thoughtful of him. As Woolworths doesn't (yet) charge for plastic bags, I said yes.

As I said in my previous post - I have some sympathy for sales assistants, but not much!

Any wonder.

No, thanks - I don't need a hand!

I was in the AV section of a well-known, large chain store yesterday, admiring the pictures coming from a bank of plasmas.

Then this young geek came up to me - typical of sales assistants in stores like this - asks all the standard (dumb) questions, but can't respond to the answer.

Him: "Do you need a hand there?"

This question was as superfluous as they come, inferring that I was having difficulty in operating something; when, in reality, I was standing dead still with both hands in my pockets, looking at a Plasma TV!

Me: "No, I'm just looking, thanks."

As self-evident a statement, if ever there was one.

I am never rude to sales assistants, no matter how tempting - I used to be one. I have some sympathy for them. Some, not much.

My answer elicited a look from this dude that could only come from someone who had just been told their souped-up Mitsubishi Lancer had just been broken into.

He didn't say anything. Just gave me this inane look.

He then walked away. As did I.

Why is it that when you want to ask a question you can never find a sales assistant, yet when you only want to browse, they are all over you like a rash?

If anyone can answer that and offer a solution, then they surely deserve the Nobel Prize!

When all is said and done

I was in my local ABC Shop yesterday enquiring as to whether 'Time Team' was available on DVD (no - damn!), and you know how when you are just browsing and in a world of your own, suddenly the Muzak playing in the store can infiltrate your consciousness. And you think to yourself 'what on earth is that song?'

This happened to me. So I waddled over to the counter to look at the 'CD Now Playing' display.

Turns out I was listening to track 15 of the Mamma Mia Movie Soundtrack.

The song in question - "When All Is Said and Done" - is sung by Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep.

I thought the song was quite melodic in a strangely non-musical way, and I liked some of Mr Brosnan's phrasing. His singing voice has a rough edge to it. I know he is not known (or famous) for his singing voice, and it mightn't have the velvety smoothness of some well-known tenors, but I liked it enough to seriously consider buying the song from iTunes.

Actually, I think I will. Let me put it this way, I would rather listen to a whole CD of Pierce Brosnan than one track of Andrea Bocelli!

Here is the song in question - judge for yourself.

Post-council election gaffe-fest

It didn't take long.

Hutchville's local rag today lists our new-look council, complete with the three new faces.

In the same story, comes a gem of a quote from a successfully re-elected councillor - a person known to me and whom I quite like, but who really should have taken a look in the mirror before dropping this clanger:

It is a well-balanced council that represents a good
blend...snip

'Well-balanced' my middle ear!

Three (that I know of, could be more) out of the nine councillors are members of the Australian Labor Party (including the councillor who gave the above quote!!), and another is a member of The Greens - an outfit even more left of the ALP. I call that bordering on 'stacked', not 'balanced'.

Now, I know...people will say that party politics should be put to one side in local councils - and I totally agree - but, notwithstanding, to call this council 'well-balanced' is like calling John McCain 'middle-aged'.

NSW Council Elections - Results

The counting and final distribution of preferences in my LGA (local government area) were finalised today.

Out of 9 vacancies on council, the voters of this LGA have elected three new faces. Personally, that is a disappointingly modest number. I was hoping for at least four.

Of the three new faces, two of them got my vote.

But, out of the six re-elected councillors, only two got the nod from me.

The mood out there last Saturday was decidedly tense. But was it a mood for change? Council had become complacent in many areas, especially in regards to planning, and had made some very strange decisions that were seemingly at odds with council's own previous rulings.

I have spoken to several people since the voting took place, and I know many of these folk shared my concerns, and were also hoping for four or five new faces on council.

We will have to make do with three.

But, with one of the three newbies being a member of The Greens, I think there will be some very interesting debates in council over the next four years.

More praise for Palin

This time from Greg Craven in The Australian (full article).

snip...the US presidential race suddenly has gone from being a substitute for strong sedatives to the political equivalent of cocaine with an adrenalin
chaser.

Has it ever!

Her appeal is straightforward. Palin is just like the millions of Americans who are going to vote for her. She is cleverer than them, tougher than them, prettier than them, more ruthless than them and at the same time identical to them. Voting for her is like voting for yourself, but after you've died and gone to heaven.

Great article.

Palin revives Republican campaign (7.30 Report)

Surprisingly balanced story from aunty here (video & transcript at link).

Labor attacks Turnbull for being successful

Since Malcolm Turnbull's elevation to the Federal Liberal leadership, the predictable character assassinations have begun.

I don't think there is any currency (no pun intended) in the bovver children of the ALP attacking Turnbull for being a very successful, self-made man.

Yes, Turnbull is very wealthy. Money, incidentally, he has made himself - not born into.

But Kevin Rudd is not exactly down to his last twenty bucks either; but you don't hear the coalition criticise Rudd for having more money than the "workers" he and the ALP represent will probably ever have.

Thus, it is disingenuous of the Labor party to attack Turnbull as being unrepresentative of the Australian people because he happens to have made something of himself. It also smacks of double standards.

Both parties should leave the character point-scoring and focus on policy.

Local council election gets passionate

I was astounded to read in my local newspaper today of a verbal altercation between Hutchville's mayor (standing again for council) and our local state member of parliament (a member of the National Party), as to our local member's right to hand out how-to-vote cards for an Independent candidate for council, who is also a member of the National Party.

I really don't think this is a matter people need to get on their high horse about.

Our MP should be fully entitled to hand out how-to-votes for anyone they like, considering, as my MP said - and it is an important point: there was no National Party ticket line. OK, perhaps our MP should have removed their ID badge. In my view, though, our MP was, for all intents and purposes, assisting at the polling station as a private citizen. They just happen to be our local member.

Our mayor needs to take a cold shower.

As a very interested political observer, I was staggered (not necessarily in a good way) by some of the results of this election. Nevertheless, my hope is that all councillors work together in an unprejudiced manner for the betterment of this wonderful part of the world.

Post Script: I am not a member of the National Party.

Welcome back to Alan Jones on 2GB

Australia's pre-eminent breakfast broadcaster, Alan Jones, returned to the microphone today after recovering from his prostate cancer operation about two months ago.

I warmly welcome Alan back to the airwaves, and I look forward to his continued righting of the ills of society, political and otherwise.

Turnbull the new leader of the Liberal Party

Malcolm Turnbull has won the federal Liberal Party leadership from Brendan Nelson by 45 votes to 41. Julie Bishop remains the deputy leader.

I thought Nelson had the numbers. I certainly thought he should have been given a bit longer to prove himself.

If you had asked me three months ago who should be leader of the Libs I probably would have said Turnbull, but, ironically, I have changed my mind.

Regrettably, the person who is, head and shoulders above all others, the best to lead the party, decided not to stand: Peter Costello.

Sister Act

The Hutch was possibly one of the first blogs to draw the similarities between Sarah Palin and Tina Fey.

Tina Fey's appearance on the weekend on Saturday Night Live, in a skit with 'Hilary Clinton', has gone viral. It confirms my view that Fey is a comic genius.

Watch it here.

Pronouncing Nevada

A nice little piece on Sarah Palin's visit to Carson City, Nevada, from the Las Vegas Review Journal.

But this excerpt left me scratching my head:

And Palin passed one test that many out-of-state
politicians have failed: correctly pronouncing Nevada.

I was wondering how anyone, let alone Americans, could possibly mispronounce 'Nevada'.

I turns out that many non-Nevadan natives pronounce it with a long first 'a', as in 'nev-AH-da'. The resulting sound is apparently offensive to Nevadans. The first 'a' should actually be short, like in "glad".

Which all strikes me as very odd, because I thought Americans always had an inclination towards the short 'a', such as 'path', compared to our 'pAH-th'; 'bath', 'math', etc. So I just assumed the silver state would be 'nev-adda'.

Turns out I was right.

Here's proof.

The Boring Broadsheet lives up to its name

This gem in the SMH on Barry Obama. To wit:

Barack Obama seems finally to have hit on a strategy to fight the Sarah Palin phenomenon: sidestep the feisty Republican vice-presidential pick and turn full fire on an "out of touch" John McCain.

I'm not sure which is worse: the SMH for running this article, or the Obamessiah campaign for dreaming it up. Honestly, if this is the best that BHO's disciples can come up with then they might as well start writing their concession speeches now.

I have no intention of giving the Democrats free advice, but it seems obvious that they should be telling voters what they will do if they get elected. Attacking the opposition only makes the public see them as angry and divisive. The fact that they are angry and divisive owes more to history than to this campaign specifically.

From the same article:

But the Democrat is now firing back - branding 72-year-old McCain as an economic illiterate stuck in the pre-internet era...

Appalling, stereotyped and wrong.

McCain is no luddite. He cannot use computers himself because of the torture dished out to him as a POW. From all reports he is a voracious user of the internet, it's just that he needs to get his staff and family to do the searching and typing for him.

Local Council elections

I wasn't going to write about this, but I've started now, so I may as well continue!

Tomorrow, I, like thousands of others across this pitiful excuse for a state, have to vote in local council elections.

My LGA is boasting a record field of candidates this year, including three Green candidates - the first time ever party politics has encroached into my LGA elections.

I admit to having a somewhat perfunctory view of current council - many councillors have been there too long, and the rest haven't really done very much.

But I wish some of the (new) candidates standing for election had made it clearer to residents of certain barrows they are inclined to push.

One candidate is against a proposed development in the town close to where he lives - a matter he has seen fit to write to the local paper about, but conveniently fails to mention his geographical proximity to said development.

Another candidate is a recidivist left-leaning letter writer to my local paper on matters of utter irrelevance to 95% of the paper's readership. If this particular BOF (boring old fart) gets elected, rather than congratulate him, I will be sending him the bill for the blood pressure medication that I know I will be needing!

I am in a quandary: I'm not sure who I am going to vote for (but I certainly know whose box I won't be numbering.)

I normally look forward to Saturdays. Might have to do a rain check on this one, though!

UPDATE - 14/9/08

At the end of the 1st preference counting, it looks certian that my local council will have its first party-political representative - a Green candidate. Words fail me.

Counting of votes in proportional representational elections is full of complex equations and the final make up of council will not be known until the middle of next week; but it looks certain that my council will have four new faces. That is a good thing. Party politics rearing its ugly head in local council elections is not.

B plus performance from Palin

I have just seen the first interview by Sarah Palin.

I thought she answered some tough and very wordy questions well, and even managed to throw in the names of the leaders of Iran and Georgia in giving her answers.

She is one impressive lady.

Her no-nonsense approach to Russia and Iran will scare the left witless, as they realise even more that she is no pushover. Those who have compared her to Margaret Thatcher aren't too far off the mark.

Some in the blogosphere said Palin looked nervous. She probably was, but I think a large part of her demeanour and how she came across is due to her chatty and informal persona - something which viewers are only getting a proper look at now.

Many have crticised Charlie Gibson for his questions and the manner and tone in which some of them were asked. To be fair, I cannot comment, as, being from another country, I have little to no experience of Mr Gibson. I will let others pass judgement on him.

A solid, rather than earth-shattering performance from Sarah Palin.

I look forward to the next round.

UPDATE

Having just seen a segment of Palin's interview on the evening news tonight, and with the benefit of a much larger and wider screen, clearer picture and no lip sync delay, I have to say I was even more impressed with her. I still give her a B+ though!

Will he or won't he?

Peter Costello has, apparently, stated today that he will not be contesting the leadership of the federal Liberal Party, nor will he accept it if it is offered to him.

Um, sorry - but isn't that exactly what he said the day after the election last November?

So, after all the columns of newsprint since then; after all the carpal tunnel claims from frazzled journos are submitted; after all the talk shows are over....I might be a bit thick, but what's new here??? The man said last November that he wouldn't be seeking the leadership of the party! Why in God's name has everyone and anyone been going on in the meantime with all this speculation, when Costello comes out today and has essentially repeated exactly what he said last November?!!

I'm utterly nonplussed.

Having said that, whether he stays in parliament or not, I think it is only reasonable to assume that the speculation as to whether Peter Costello will take the reins of the Liberal leadership will always have oxygen, whilst ever Costello himself is breathing it in.

Greg Sheridan thinks the US election will be close

An interesting and thorough article here from Greg Sheridan from The Australian, on the vicissitudes of the US electoral process, and the contest between character and celebrity. Well worth a read.

Mr Sheridan boasts of his success in predicting the outcomes of US presidential elections, and believes the red and blue states will remain pretty much as they were for both the 2000 and 2004 elections, and predicting a close, but, nevertheless, BHO victory.

God help the world.

Mr Sheridan's well-reasoned (though frightening) prediction notwithstanding, being an interested observer in elections myself, I would have a little wager on the final result being actually surprisingly clear cut, and some blue states turning a distinct shade of crimson.

Draw your own conclusion on who you think will be sworn in next January.

Do they get any moose in Washington?

How to use the Apostrophe

Away from politics for a moment now, but no less an important matter, and something very dear to my heart (dear to my heart, because it causes my blood pressure to skyrocket every time I see it done incorrectly - which is frequently), that is, how to use the humble little apostrophe.

This is an indictment on the educational system in this country, but I see the poor apostrophe abused time and time again. It's left out when it shouldn't be, and (worse) included, and used wrongly.

A few examples of incorrect use:

An ad on an employment website asked that CV's be sent....

Walking past a book store last week: non-fiction book's on sale this week

And, one of my favourites in another job ad, this time in a newspaper: Chef's wanted

In each of the three examples above, the apostrophe must be OMITTED. You do not form the plural of a noun by adding an apostrophe and an 's'. Leave the apostrophe out!

The apostrophe has many other uses, some of which I will go into in a later post, but I just want to touch on one final example:

The apostrophe is used in contractions.

A contraction occurs when two words are combined to make one word, and an apostrophe is inserted to take the place of the missing letter or letters, eg, the contraction for we are is we're; you are = you're; it is = it's. A contraction can also refer to the shortening of a word, such as number being contracted to no. But, as no apostrophe is used here we'll (a contraction for we will) move on!

Finally, two words which are often confused are your and you're. Although they are pronounced exactly the same way, they are not alternative spellings of the same word!! Your means belonging to you, and you're is, as I've said, the contraction of you are.

I once received an invitation to a work function which began: your welcome to attend...

Needless to say, I didn't!

Boring headline of the year award

She's the most talked-about woman in the world at the moment.

She's on the cover this week of half a dozen magazines, including the US, Asia, and South Pacific editions of 'Time'.

Yet, for all the power, grace, guts, determination and intrigue she offers, Time comes up with the blandest, most understated, insipid and plain boring headline I've seen in years.

They may as well have put 'Story about woman from Alaska'.

Thank God Time's sub-editors aren't writing Palin's speeches!

Let's hope for some new lines from Sarah

There is a lot to admire about Sarah Palin, and also a lot to digest about her; but each time I see a video of her speaking at rallies across America, she seems to be repeating large chunks of her speech from the GOP convention. It was a stunning speech that has earned its place in the annals of American politics, but I'm craving some new material.

I realise there will be some people at each rally who didn't hear her speech in St. Paul, however, with a TV audience of 37 million, I can't imagine it would be all that many.

Charles Gibson from ABC America will interview Palin in Alaska across two days. Apparently the McCain-Palin team has said there have been no discussions about specific interview material and, at this stage anyway, all questions are on the table.

This will give interested observers such as I, a fresh look, and hopefully some new insights, into the person who could be about to become the most powerful woman in the world.

The elites are panic-stricken

Outstanding article here on Sarah Palin and how all in the left, especially the media, can't work out what's going on. Beautiful stuff!

UPDATE

Another great article here.

Rees off to good start

The new premier of NSW, Matthew, um, sorry, (how soon we forget) Nathan Rees, has done his requisite shuffling of the deckchairs, and has banished one of the most unpopular ministers in living memory, Frank Sartor, to the backbenches (hooray!)

A chastened (read 'dumbstruck') Mr Sartor reckons he will be missed.

Not by me he won't!

The purging of those with delusional tendencies from government ministries is always a good thing; far better, however, that they never be elevated to such positions in the first place.

Labor gets a thumping in the West. Those holding the BOP shouldn't get big heads

The Western Australian government of Alan Carpenter got a thumping in the state election last night.
It looks like loosing about eight seats.

Neither the Labor party nor the Libs have enough seats to form government in their own right.

The Nationals look like they could hold the BOP (balance of power).

A while ago, due to some strange cosmic alignment, the Libs and the Nats split in the West.

Whilst in most other states the Liberal and National parties are in coalition, i.e, they vote with each other in parliament, in WA the Nationals are an independent party, and not in a coalition.

The leader of the Nats in WA, Brendan Grylls, is not saying which party his party will support in order to form government, but whichever one it is had better come to the table and meet his demands (totalling about $700 million). Grylls even suggested his party (of 4 in the lower house!) could side with the ALP to form government - which seems utterly ridiculous ... most National voters would rather eat glass than have their elected representatives vote with the Labor party.

I don't think Mr Grylls should get too cocky - or take his supporters for granted.

Interesting times in the West.

Hiking with the next VP of the USA

Interesting vid here of Sarah Palin and some off-the-cuff comments as she walks with a reporter from the governor's mansion in Juneau to the Capitol building.


Palin comes across as down-to-earth and personable. I'm looking forward to more unscripted moments from her.

Juneau looks like a lovely city with some amazing scenery. I will have to add it to my ever-growing North American "to visit" list.

Dilemma resigns

Earlier today, Friday, the premier of the state of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, resigned from his job and from parliament, making him the first Labor premier in 117 years to resign.

If only he could have persuaded the rest of his cabinet colleagues to do likewise.

A constitutional anomaly apparently prevents the governor of NSW from sacking this state's incompetent, inept, scandal-ridden government.

In the meantime, the people of NSW have to wait until 2011 before they have the chance to change government at the polls.

I know that in our system of government we have to take the good with the bad, but there really is only so much crap that voters can put up with from their elected officials.

Palin and McCain: The rocker and the crooner

John McCain's speech to the GOP Convention in St. Paul was a heartfelt call to the people.

If Palin rocked them (and she did); McCain crooned them.

It was not a grandiose speech; nor was it particularly rousing (except for the final 60 seconds).

But it showed the character of an extraordinary man.

A man who has gone through more trials and tribulations than 95 percent of those watching.

A man whose unquestionable love for his country has led him to be within sight of the final port of call of an astonishing life.

The grace with which he referred to his oponent, together with the spirit that comes from overcoming adversity, and the courage it will take to stand up to Washington, will I believe, bring new supporters to his campaign and galvanise his current support base.

With Superwoman from Alaska by his side, I think America had better hang on!

Palin Rocks 'em in St Paul

For 37 minutes on Wednesday, Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin became the most important - certainly the most looked at - woman in the world.

Her keynote address at the GOP conference in St Paul was arguably the most anticipated speech by a politician in the last ten years.

The speech had it all - it was warm, witty, shrewd, and incredibly confident.

It might have been a bit light on policy, but, to be fair, this probably wasn't the time to knock everyone sideways with ideas for domestic and international affairs.

It was Palin's job tonight - as a relatively unknown politician a week ago - to introduce herself to the world, tell her story and praise her boss.

I am sure she quelled the fears of many Republicans and swinging voters still jittery and bewildered by her meteoric ascension, who wondered whether she'd be able to handle being on the world stage.

I reckon she could handle it, alright!

Palin delivered in spades.

The delegates loved it.

So did I.