GrodsCorp

The Secret Diary of Brendan Nelson: Melbourne

Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:05 pm

The Editor

Categories: Health, Politics

Tags: BrendanNelson, LiberalParty, ListeningTour, Melbourne

Next stop on Bren-doc Nelson’s Magical Listening Tour bus!

It is not often that you have the opportunity to sit with a group of Australians that are prepared to open up and explain the hardships that they and their families face.

Except for every day of your Magical Listening Tour, according to your diary.

I had such an opportunity at the Frankston Private Day Surgery today with families from different circumstances but who all have at least one child with insulin dependent diabetes.

I hope you said, “Do you know I’m a doctor? Can I help?”

Sandy – a sole parent – has two insulin dependent children and became quite emotional when she was explaining that she could not afford the $16,000 necessary to provide an insulin pump for her children.

Insulin pumps have been an outstanding breakthrough in the management of insulin dependent diabetes, keeping blood glucose levels at a stable level and therefore reducing the crippling long-term consequences of uncontrolled diabetes and reducing also life expectancy.

I bet you know that because you’re a doctor.

These families – in some cases with three children suffering from insulin dependent diabetes – have found life extraordinarily difficult. The constant attention to diet, exercise and weight, interaction with the medical profession and battling to balance jobs with family commitments is nothing short of inspirational.

It will require $35 million over three years to provide 5,000 insulin pumps for Australia’s insulin dependent children. We should put our kids first and make this funding available to them.

John Howard had eleven years to do it. And he would’ve if that $35 million secured him more than just 5,000 measly votes.

I will be focused on the Government’s Budget to see whether they deliver for these children and their families.

Australia breathes a sigh of relief knowing that you’ll focus on that one small aspect of the government’s budget, Brendan.

Brendan Nelson at school

Hi, I’m Brendan Nelson. Do you know I’m a doctor? I’m here to help with your colouring in.

44 Comments

Bron (Saturday 12 April 2008, 12:43 pm) #

It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than a bloody “listening” tour for the Liberals to get through to the punters that they’re no longer the Liberals of old — that is, everyone knows the Liberal Party of the Howard years; as that dude Stone said, “mean and tricky”.

And Howard’s Liberals never listened to the people (Iraq War to name one eg), so for the latest Liberal leader to go on a “listening” tour is just too ridiculous and so far removed from the deaf days of Howard to be true.
cosmicjester (Saturday 12 April 2008, 1:06 pm) #

Wow Nelson, looks like you have got the preschoolers vote
Damian (Saturday 12 April 2008, 2:15 pm) #

There’s still a bit of mean and tricky stuff going on. While poor bloody Brendan is out there on his tour the gang are getting the knives out. How can the poor prick keep going when he surely knows that Turnbull is ready to turf him? I can still have a laugh at all of this, but on some level I really feel sorry for Nelson. If they want him out then cut him loose now. Let the poor bastard get out of it and retire with his fucken guitars or whatever.
Jayne (Saturday 12 April 2008, 2:22 pm) #

Pfft! He can’t colour in with the kiddies coz he can’t recognise any colour except white and he keeps crossing the line(s). :P
brerrabbit (Saturday 12 April 2008, 3:17 pm) #

I’m very upset.
Half Nelson visited Wodonga and we don’t get a mention.
Obviously we’re not important…or he doesn’t like our sitting member, Mrs Mirabella.
I’m surprised though, cos he could have talked - as a doctor - about Mrs Mirabella’s pregnancy and tell us how she’s going.
brerrabbit (Saturday 12 April 2008, 3:20 pm) #

…I notice that he says here that insulin pumps reduce life expectancy.
He’s a doctor, so I expect he knows what he’s saying.
Is it wise, then, to lobby for them to be paid for by the government?
Almost Always Wrong (Saturday 12 April 2008, 4:19 pm) #

Flying foxes, monkey bars and crayons oh my. Can this man sink any lower? I know that turnbull is chuckling to himself every time the good doctor opens his mouth, confident in the knowledge(crystalball, 8ball answer) he’s going to lead the slack jawed poor people to even greater depths of poverty one day, but doctor dud is really starting to iritate me, so i can only wonder how people in his own party feel. the wider public sure doesnt like him.

I only hope it can continue :)
Bron (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:07 pm) #

OT: Hey The Ed, I watched your (rejected) TropFest entry 06 last night, and I LOVED the background music. Haven’t been able to get it out of my head all day. Is it available anywhere to purchase or download? (If there are no objections to downloading, that is)
The Editor (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:12 pm) #

Let me see if I can dig out the file and I’ll put it online and send you a link.
Lang (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:34 pm) #

Next time you go to the Doctors,have a long look at him/her and think ‘passed the same exams as Nelson eh,’.
steve (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:40 pm) #

Nelson appears to have lost the support of his own party as well as the good folk of Grodscorp, but is going to battle on regardless.

“Federal Liberal leader Brendan Nelson says he’s staying in the job, despite claims he has lost the support of his party.

A report in The Australian newspaper today said Dr Nelson’s approval rating among voters is around nine per cent according to recent opinion polling and party figures who have previously supported him have switched their allegiance to Malcolm Turnbull.”

August 7th is the date Nelson has to pass to go past Downer. (251 days from Nov 29th). I don’t like his chances of being in the job longer than Downer was somehow.
steve (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:58 pm) #

“I will be focused on the Government’s Budget to see whether they deliver for these children and their families.’

From the backbench where I can say or do nothing about it whatsoever apparently.
magic bellybutton (Saturday 12 April 2008, 5:59 pm) #

In my house, I had such an opportunity at the Frankston Private Day Surgery today with families from different circumstances was initially read as with families from different circumcisions. It did cause a few seconds of wonder.
steve (Saturday 12 April 2008, 6:05 pm) #

“The constant attention to diet, exercise and weight, interaction with the medical profession and battling to balance jobs with family commitments is nothing short of inspirational.”

Another view is that far from being inspirational, the fact that families are put in these ludicrous circumstances because of the incompetence of consecutive Tory budgets is criminal.
steve (Saturday 12 April 2008, 8:07 pm) #

I assure you I’m going nowhere,” he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/12/2215072.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHLjYBsl2zA
Dave from Albury (Saturday 12 April 2008, 9:33 pm) #

And Howard’s Liberals never listened to the people (Iraq War to name one eg)

I believe that his comment on the overwhelming opposition to the Iraq war was “Well the mob have had their say.”

Cunt. I have no doubt that I will not be the only one to dance on that fucker’s grave in years to come.
brokenleftleg (Saturday 12 April 2008, 9:50 pm) #

This listening tour is merely a PR stunt designed to take the rough edge off neo-conservatism.
For PR purposes, it should be labled the “nelson cares tour”.

But after years of doing virtually nothing for socially disadvantaged people while in govt, the Libs will struggle trying to sell this fluff to the general public.
steve (Saturday 12 April 2008, 10:51 pm) #

“it should be labled the “nelson cares tour”.”

Or more correctly,”the Nelson, who cares? tour”
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 8:40 am) #

The poll of the Year. A tough fight between Iron Bar Tuckey and Donald Duck. Nelson doesn’t really get a look in.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 9:03 am) #

Although the duck himself has been portrayed in some weird political clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZiRiIpZVF4
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 9:22 am) #

Brendan Nelson is loosing his Masculine Virtue by pretending to care. He’s have 50% more approval if he pushed people around, because half the population (womyn) are genetically predisposed to take orders.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 9:28 am) #

Angus 50% more of nothing is still bugger all. How could he even dream of pushing anyone around when he is politically dead with no supporters left?
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 10:35 am) #

He doesn’t need supporters, he has masculine virtue. He’s a Nelson.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 10:40 am) #

And 50% of the Australian public isn’t nothing. You reveal your misogyny, don’t you leftist?
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 10:57 am) #

“You reveal your misogyny, don’t you leftist?”

You make no sense at all Angus. Liberal scum defending a politically dead carcass swinging in the breeze is my definition of insanity. As for masculine virtue - you’re dreaming!
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:05 am) #

Steve, I’m not Liberal scum. I’m far more to the right of the Liberal party, I just recognise the inherent masculine virtue in a leader with a great western surname like “Nelson”.

Surely, we need a Nelson to hold back the rampaging hordes of Saladin, already at large in Europe.

Do you take your Christian heritage so lightly?
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:06 am) #

Angus, if you want some ‘masculine virtue’ then I suggest you get one of these - because you aren’t going to find it in Doctor Five-Strats Nelson.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:10 am) #

I don’t need one of those. Besides, masculine virtue is best enhanced with a vacuum device anyway.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:15 am) #

“Do you take your Christian heritage so lightly?”

I think you might be lost Angus, sure it isn’t Bolt’s blog you were looking for? Nelson will not be around long enough to be any help in defending any Christian Heritage that you might or might not value.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:44 am) #

And that is to our peril! Turnbull will turn us all into green tea drinking sissies and then the united Asian, Middle Eastern and Soviet hordes will sweep into Australia.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:47 am) #

Angus, change your medication. The hallucinogenics are doing nothing for your sanity.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:53 am) #

It is you who are on drugs. The drugs of leftist complacency. Drugs that make you blind to the barbarians on the horizon, and the housewives sneaking up behind their husbands with knife in hand.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:55 am) #

Sure you are not describing right wing paranoia, Angus?
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 11:58 am) #

It’s real I tell you! Only a man’s man, like one with a sstrong, western name like “Nelson” can protect us.

Rudd rhymes with Dudd, and besides, he’s already working for Mao.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 12:00 pm) #

Mao is dead, Nelson is politically dead - get a grip troll, You are making an ass of yourself.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 12:04 pm) #

He works for Mao, in spirit. Derr.
Angus McEarbang (Sunday 13 April 2008, 12:06 pm) #

Nelson isn’t politically dead. His leadership in only at risk as long as voting matters. Get rid of the vote, and we will have a strong leader that can keep us safe.
steve (Sunday 13 April 2008, 12:06 pm) #

It’s your spirit that I’d be worried about if I were you. It’s about as lifelike as dogshit.
brokenleftleg (Sunday 13 April 2008, 1:51 pm) #

Angus Mcearbang could be the new Hunter S Thompson. Angus just needs a sense of humour, some writing ability, and an understanding of irony.
He certainly has the weirdness and conspiracy theories of a great gonzo journalist.
Damian (Sunday 13 April 2008, 2:02 pm) #

“Drugs that make you blind to the barbarians on the horizon, and the housewives sneaking up behind their husbands with knife in hand…”

“Only a man’s man, like one with a sstrong, western name like “Nelson” can protect us…”

“Get rid of the vote, and we will have a strong leader that can keep us safe…”

Elijah, is that you?
John Surname (Sunday 13 April 2008, 4:52 pm) #

I actually think he has a pretty good sense of humour.
Rx (Monday 14 April 2008, 8:13 am) #

Like the miserable Liberals give a STUFF about ‘ordinary’ people.

This is the party that imposed - without ever giving us a “choice” - the WorkChoices that had the intended effect of transferring money from working peoples’ pockets to corporate bottom-lines.

So spare us the crocodile tears, BRENDAN. You stand for widening the divide between rich and poor in this country. Rubbing shoulders with the great unwashed only makes you look like a hypocrite.

If there is one thing worse than a rule-for-the-rich Liberal, it is a hypocritical rule-for-the-rich Liberal.
Mondo Rock (Monday 14 April 2008, 11:24 am) #

Come on guys - Angus is taking the piss. His posts are a deliberate parody of insane Rightard bullshit.

the housewives sneaking up behind their husbands with knife in hand

LOL.
Bruce (Monday 14 April 2008, 5:23 pm) #

Looks like someone got onioned. ;-)

Brendan Nelson - Strong leadership! Sounds like an onion story.