GrodsCorp

Reason I hate the Liberal Party #527

Thursday 21 February 2008, 11:43 am

The Editor

Categories: Politics

Tags: AlexanderDowner, KevinRudd, LiberalParty, parliament, TaxpayerMoney, waste

The Liberals are currently engaging in the kind of sanctimonious finger pointing that oppositions of all persuasions engage in when they’re pissed about being in opposition, but the Liberals just take it all to ridiculous new levels. You know, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has the balls to employ staff to take care of The Lodge and his 14 year old son when John Howard would never have dreamed of such a thing. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has the balls to use Kirribilli House to throw a New Year’s Eve Party that he and his wife paid for — the same house that John Howard lived in for eleven years at taxpayer expense while forcing the simultaneous upkeep of the Prime Minister’s official residence in Canberra.

There are two points I’d like to raise in response.

1) Julia Gillard has been hilariously drawing attention to the phenomenal quantity of WorkChoices promotional material that is sitting in warehouses and is now completely useless. 100,000 pens here, 100,000 fridge magnets there, 100,000 mouse pads everywhere. Now, we’re all aware that John Howard desperately threw over $50 million of taxpayer coin at an ~~propaganda~~ advertising campaign for WorkChoices before it was even law, but at least that is somehow, in some way, marginally and tenuously, sort of, maybe justifiable. But millions of dollars worth of corporate promotional paraphernalia that serves no purpose other than attempting to build a brand? Disgraceful.

2) Alexander Downer was caught skipping question time yesterday to have lunch in a restaurant with a journalist. Now, we all know that Downer, Peter Costello and a few other previously senior government ministers are doing nothing more right now than warming a backbench seat long enough to let their bruised egos heal and long enough to minimise the damage to their Party when a by-election is held. But they are still being paid a salary with additional benefits and allowances to do a job and part of that job, one would think, is to attend Parliament unless they have other duties that clash. Are lunch with a journalist and an arrogant personality good enough reasons to skip question time? Disgraceful.

Again, I’m not wishing to suggest that the ALP has never wasted taxpayer cash but if the Libs want to look around for current examples they should check their own backyard first.

53 Comments

Wah (Thursday 21 February 2008, 11:51 am) #

Spot on - and we’re paying for Downer to fly up to Canberra just so he can have lunch with the Lib’s greatest media fan.

So it was OK for them to dish it out for 11 years but now he can’t handle being on the receiving end. He’s just biding his time until he can score a decent gig like Peter Reith.
Steve D (Thursday 21 February 2008, 11:54 am) #

So what are they going to do with all those pens and mouse pads? Freebies? I don’t say no to freebies, regardless of the politics behind it. I’ve even got a (free) pencil from GetUp.org.au, whom I assume sell ED medication, or possibly laxatives (”A People’s Movement”).
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 11:59 am) #

I’d take one of each to put in a box with my “alert and alarmed” fridge magnet and my Kevin07 t-shirt to show my kids one day.

Maybe they should put them on eBay to recoup some of the cost?
brokenleftleg (Thursday 21 February 2008, 12:33 pm) #

Fervetti-Wells investigating whether Rudd’s dog would be a burden on the taxpayer because it may do wees on the Lodge lawn trumps them all.
Puppygate is here folks
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 12:36 pm) #

Yeah, you’re right, BLL. Forgot about that one.
Ray Dixon (Thursday 21 February 2008, 12:54 pm) #

“SOPHIE’S YOUTH”

Some Libs are ‘planning for the future’ though. Take the MP from this seat of Indi, Sophie Mrabella (take her out and shoot her …?)

Sophie’s not dumb, she’s thinking about the next election already and she’s worked out the best way of getting back is to brainwash 15 year old school kids by visiting them in their class rooms.

“Sophie’s youth” will be eligible to vote for her from 2010 and will form the core support group as she sets out on her ‘march of destiny’ to become our first ever female fascist Prime Minister.
AV (Thursday 21 February 2008, 12:57 pm) #

How’s this for chutzpah?

“The way question time works is that 50 per cent of the questions are asked of ministers by government backbenchers, written in ministers’ offices, and they just berate the opposition,” he said.

I gather this is only a bad thing when Downer’s party is in opposition.
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 12:58 pm) #

Downer is just a petulant school kid that wasn’t re-elected class captain this year.
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:01 pm) #

I still can’t get the exaggerated image of Downer in stockings and corset and heels out of my head whenever I read of him.

Thanks a lot, “KEATING! The Musical” and Eddie Perfect!

Oh, and Downer’s bum. I seen it.
Ant Rogenous (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:03 pm) #

Downer couldn’t even hold it in for 24 hours after the election. His dummy-spit on Insiders the next morning was awesome.
Damian (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:14 pm) #

I only wish I had been sipping my Wednesday latte at a trendy li’l place in Manuka when Lexie strolled in, looking around for Sheridan. I have been waiting years for a chance to lay the nut on that fuckwit.
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:18 pm) #

Easy on Downer, folks. He learnt French in TWO MONTHS! Whereas it took Kevin Rudd TWO YEARS to learn Mandarin!

Wow. Whatta guy.
Ant Rogenous (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:20 pm) #

He’s tres awesome.
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:24 pm) #

Putain de merde! That’s our Down-dawg.
Damian (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:30 pm) #

Lexie sucé beaucoup de cock d’obtenir où il est.

Err, I think. Gimme a couple of months and I’ll be right.
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:32 pm) #

Vous êtes une pomme de terre avec le visage d’un cochon d’inde.

If you can translate that, I’d like to apologise in advance. I didn’t reeeeeally mean it!
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:33 pm) #

Oui.
Wah (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:37 pm) #

Jesus wept! I actually read a comment on the Herald Sun web site that I liked - about Downer of course.

“What a pompous hypocrite! The most childish, plummy-voiced, private-school, born-to-rule, bully-boy who ever bestrode the Federal Parliament complaining about party polliticking! If Gillard is getting up his bloated nose she is doing something right. I hope he choked on his hors-douvres.”

Posted by: Daryl of Sommers 11:07am today
Comment 9 of 21
Damian (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:43 pm) #

Alright! Daryl Sommers is back!

Bron, Babelfish is my friend. Why on earth did you say that? And to whom?
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 1:53 pm) #

Moi, Damian?

Je regrette énormément d’avoir dit ça.
Bron (Thursday 21 February 2008, 2:14 pm) #

OK, back to Ingleeeesh.
Bridgit Gread (Thursday 21 February 2008, 4:39 pm) #

Listen to the Idiot Son of the Establishment work himself to a frenzy here - he almost bursts into tears.
krypto (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:05 pm) #

oh poor little Zander, those ungrateful oiks expecting him to actually turn up to parliament.

They’re just not even trying anymore are they?
Bloody man-child that he is.
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:05 pm) #

BORING…….

This shit is too easy, you are kidding yourself if you believe this kind of article/comments gets anyone anywhere. You are also kidding yourself if believe no Labor ministers cried us rivers after the 96 election (the guy that was sleeping with the bird from the decorates comes to mind, although both of their names escape me)

LIFT!!
Chuck A. Spear (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:06 pm) #

Is it me or does the audio for the link not work?

Anyway, I wonder what Mark Steyn is going to do now his “favourite foreign minister” is no longer?
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:10 pm) #

slash democrats
Damian (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:14 pm) #

Danoz, I’m lost. What are you saying, exactly?
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:19 pm) #

Damian, I’m not sure if you are serious, but I’ll answer your question anyway.

I come to these kind of sites to read things that are interesting, funny, cutting edge, controversial etc. This is none of the above….
Chuck A. Spear (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:24 pm) #

I thought you were just into home shopping channels Danoz.
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:31 pm) #

you are kidding yourself if you believe this kind of article/comments gets anyone anywhere. — Danoz

Trust me, Danoz, I don’t. It’s a fucking blog for fuck’s sake. Only people like Andrew Bolt think they can influence things. Have you ever had a bitch with a mate over a beer in a pub? Fix anything?
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:38 pm) #

Point taken, but discussing why David Hussey went for more than his brother in the IPL is not interesting than this…..
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 5:42 pm) #

I give up, I can’t fucken write. “more interest than this”
Bridgit Gread (Thursday 21 February 2008, 6:14 pm) #

I give up, I can’t fucken write.

At least we can find agreement on something.
The audio link works fine for me, Chuck, and I’m not a Crikey subscriber.
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 6:24 pm) #

Bridgit Gread, you are assuming I disagree with you. Not the case. I think this topic is boring and if you look back to what liberal voters were writing 11 years ago you will read the same shit reversed. More interesting topics have not fetched 33 comments.
Bridgit Gread (Thursday 21 February 2008, 6:46 pm) #

Such is the way of the blog world, Danoz. Sometimes turds attract the most flies while honey remains untouched. There’s no justice, is there?

Not sure why you’d post to say something is “boring” though - if you did that to every boring blog post then you’d never be off the PC.
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 6:50 pm) #

Sometimes turds attract the most flies while honey remains untouched.

I’m not sure if I should stop laughing my arse off and start feeling insulted…
Bridgit Gread (Thursday 21 February 2008, 7:05 pm) #

I’ve always thought of Grods as a honey-coated turd, Ed. It’s the best of both worlds.
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 7:06 pm) #

haha spot on. Paris Hilton a non blog example.
I posted to say this shit is too easy, lift.

Have I come to expect too much?
Bridgit Gread (Thursday 21 February 2008, 7:09 pm) #

Yes.
Danoz (Thursday 21 February 2008, 7:12 pm) #

my bad
Damian (Thursday 21 February 2008, 9:44 pm) #

Okay, come on, own up. Who’s been fucking around at Technorati and adding “interesting”, “funny”, “cutting edge”, and “controversial” tags to this internet dump?
The Editor (Thursday 21 February 2008, 9:56 pm) #

Tim Blair?
Wah (Thursday 21 February 2008, 11:08 pm) #

David Hussey got more than his brother because Victoria has won three Twenty20 comps and he has starred in the lot. Also his 100 of 65 balls in the domestic one day series while the auction was on would have helped - a truly valubale innings.
Hussey’s Twenty20 record is modest compared to his brillianxce in Tests.
Sorry, just trying to please Danoz.
Ray Dixon (Friday 22 February 2008, 1:52 am) #

“I come to these kind of sites to read things that are interesting, funny, cutting edge, controversial etc. This is none of the above….”

Danoz is right. You have an obligation to entertain, inform and shock him … and you’re under-performing. I’ll try to help out:

Interesting: Sophie Mirabella is pregnant
Funny: Sophie Mirabella is pregnant
Cutting edge: Sophie Mirabella is the first woman with balls to conceive
Controversial: Sophie Mirabella
Etc: Sophie Mirabella won’t shut up
The Editor (Friday 22 February 2008, 7:45 am) #

We should start the Victorian Sophie Appreciation Club.
THR (Friday 22 February 2008, 7:53 am) #

We should start the Victorian Sophie Appreciation Club.

Somebody already has.
THR (Friday 22 February 2008, 7:58 am) #

Whoops, the link is here .
Damian (Friday 22 February 2008, 8:10 am) #

Coupla good Lexie headlines today. “Hold the Mayo” says the SMH, while the Terrorgraph reckons Lexie is saying, “Let me eat cake.” Good to hear some Libs on the radio this morning criticising his behaviour, too.
Damian (Friday 22 February 2008, 8:11 am) #

Ah, fuck, THR. I followed that link and it burned my retina. Cold turkey time.
THR (Friday 22 February 2008, 8:17 am) #

Yep, the guy has 122 posts tagged ‘Sophie Mirabella’:

http://andrewlanderyou.blogspot.com/search/label/sophie%20mirabella

I think that counts as a full-blown paraphilia.
The Editor (Friday 22 February 2008, 8:43 am) #

Prodos is a bit of a Sophie fan too.
Ray Dixon (Friday 22 February 2008, 4:32 pm) #

Prodos makes Iain Hall look compassionate.
Bridgit Gread (Friday 22 February 2008, 4:40 pm) #

Stop swearing, Ray.