GrodsCorp

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:25 pm

Bron

Categories: Alcohol, Politics, Weird shit

Tags: LiberalParty, TroyBuswell, WA

From the Wild West comes this:

West Australian Opposition Leader Troy Buswell has broken down at a press conference and admitted he sniffed the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference at Mandurah, south of Perth, Mr Buswell confirmed details of the woman’s account of a 2005 incident, reported in The West Australian newspaper today.

Oh dear. The only question that remains is: WHY?

The woman, who does not want to be named, said Mr Buswell started sniffing the chair she had been sitting on at his Parliament House office in December 2005.

The incident took place in front of other staff members.

She said he had done it to get a laugh.

That’s why he did it? To get a laugh?

Piss weak.

Mr Buswell has previously admitted to snapping a Labor staffer’s bra as a drunken party trick and has been accused by retiring Liberal MP Katie Hodson-Thomas of making sexist remarks to her.

Was that for a giggle as well?

He said it had been a difficult time for him “on a personal level”.

“These are difficult issues for me to deal with and they are very difficult issues for my family to deal with,” he said.

“It’s hard dealing with these matters and having to face up to your responsibilities behaviourally, publicly, and it’s harder to do it privately.”

Of course it’s been difficult for the family. No one else found it funny; why should the family?

Deputy Liberal leader Kim Hames was today standing by Mr Buswell, describing him as a “rough diamond with a robust sense of humour”.

“Robust”? How about just “iffy”?

And “rough diamond”? How about “undeveloped mineral deposit”?

Dr Hames said his leader needed to change his behaviour, but also acknowledged there was no one to replace him.

Right. Just like the Libs can’t replace Doctor Brendan Nelson. Hey, did you know he’s a doctor?

46 Comments

Chade (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:44 pm) #

He’s a doctor?! Why isn’t he Prime Minister?!!

It’s weird how all the politicians break down at press conferences after these things, though. You almost get the feeling that they get told to produce the waterworks by some media advisor…
Dave from Albury (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:45 pm) #

Bron, you make it all sound so sordid and dirty.
cosmicjester (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:46 pm) #

is he going to drag his wife out at the next press conference? like spitzor and the bathroom gay sex republican
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:48 pm) #

Bron, you make it all sound so sordid and dirty.

So, I hid my utter disgust and prudishness very well, then?
The Editor (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:52 pm) #

Oh, for fuck’s sake, Bron! We are discussing this at the GrodsThink record tonight and you just stole all the good jokes.
Bridgit Gread (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:52 pm) #

He’s a sleazy misogynist fuckwit.

I have no more to say.
Bridgit Gread (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:53 pm) #

I was talking about Buswell of course, not Ed, though he may have sniffed a few chairs in Cairns.
The Editor (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 4:57 pm) #

“Sleazy” and “misogynist” are a bit harsh. I’ll accept “fuckwit” though.
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:00 pm) #

Oh, for fuck’s sake, Bron! We are discussing this at the GrodsThink record tonight and you just stole all the good jokes.

Oh GOSH, I am SOOOOOOOO sorry! Please don’t hate me!

————————————————

sar·casm [sahr-kaz-uhm]
–noun

1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark: a review full of sarcasms.

————————————————
[Origin: 1570–80; < LL sarcasmus < Gk sarkasmós, deriv. of sarkázein to rend (flesh), sneer; see sarco-]

—Synonyms 1. sardonicism, bitterness, ridicule. See irony1. 2. jeer.
The Editor (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:02 pm) #

First warning, Bron.
– The Editor, Administrator
cosmicjester (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:02 pm) #

the last WA liberal leader shot his son

this bloke has a history of sexual harrasment

how is the next leader going to top that? should they start recruiting from prison?
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:04 pm) #

Sleazy misogynist fuckwit.
- Bron, Stalinist.
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:05 pm) #

“the last WA liberal leader shot his son”

Who was that, comicjester? I’d google but… I’m lazy.
cosmicjester (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:08 pm) #

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Omodei

had a habit of talking about himself in the 3rd person, and threatened a right hook to whoever would
dare challenge the leadership. to his credit he didnt shoot his son intentionally.
Almost Always Wrong (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:10 pm) #

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1493290.htmpaul omodei. they got some odd folk out west.
cosmicjester (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:10 pm) #

Paul Omodei

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Omodei

total crackup, talked in the 3rd person and threatened physical violence to party colleagues who were undermining him. dressed like a 1940’s gangster
Zombie Mao (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:20 pm) #

GROUPTHINK!

Sif stray on to my patch.

:P
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:20 pm) #

Omodei should go hunting with Cheney sometime.
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:22 pm) #

Damn, you got some good pictures on your Sniffle Snuffle story there, Zombie Mao.
Bridgit Gread (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:23 pm) #

the last WA liberal leader shot his son… this bloke has a history of sexual harrasment… how is the next leader going to top that? should they start recruiting from prison?

Nope, the Federal Liberal Party.
Zombie Mao (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:24 pm) #

any way ‘The Sniff’ is now the butt of morning radio DJ jokes.

eg.

DJ1:

DAvid Bowie has revealed he had a $3000 a day coke habit and it nealy killed him.

DJ2

Wow that makes him nearly as big a sniffer as Troy Buswell.

boom.boom.tish.

lame morning radio jokes = death
Bridgit Gread (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:27 pm) #

Some of Australia’s funniest comedians didn’t begin on morning radio.
albi (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 5:50 pm) #

Usually when people start waxing about ‘deep regret’ it’s usually code for deep regret at being caught

for so long behaviour like Buswell’s has been dismissed as being an acceptable part of male culture. When groups of blokes get together and start talking about women, often the conversation degenerates so rapidly, women cease to be described as human.

At least he wasn’t sniffing the seats of male colleagues. Then he’d really be ostracised by his mates.
Mikey (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 6:00 pm) #

I don’t get how sniffing a chair is in any way socially amusing. Don’t get me wrong I frequently step over the line. But this … well … it’s weird.
Wah (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 6:03 pm) #

I wonder if John Howard sniffed his desk after he tapped Pru Goward on it.
Bridgit Gread (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 6:16 pm) #

for so long behaviour like Buswell’s has been dismissed as being an acceptable part of male culture. When groups of blokes get together and start talking about women, often the conversation degenerates so rapidly, women cease to be described as human.

What do you expect, albi? This is a world where chauvinistic dinosaurs like ‘Sam’ Newman can ridicule a female journalist by sticking a picture of her face on a mannequin, dressing it up and fonding its crotch. Buswell’s behaviour is vile and reprehensible but nor is it completely surprising. I wonder what Julie Bishop thinks of it.
magic bellybutton (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 6:30 pm) #

I wonder if John Howard sniffed his desk after he tapped Pru Goward on it.

I expect he also kept her underpants. Not sure if it was to give them to Lexy or to imagine that he was the one to wear the pants in the John & Jeanette coupling.
Wah (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 6:35 pm) #

“I wonder what Julie Bishop thinks of it.”

I’d sni … a fuck it, it’s too easy.
albi (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 8:03 pm) #

Yeah, Newman is a real ‘man’s man’ ain’t he bridgit? *vomits*

His (and many other male’s) behaviour, normalises sexual assault and harassment. It’s not funny, it’s not ‘harmless’, it’s fucking abhorrent….What’s wrong with these jerks?
Jack Dorf (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 8:13 pm) #

Julie, being an educated lady from the western suburbs of Perth, would of course be wondering about her next dinner party. Should she seat him next to the Forniphiliacs or with Olfactophiliacs?
Ray Dixon (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 8:31 pm) #

the last WA liberal leader (Omodei) shot his son

The wikipedia ebtry is a bit misleading (poorly written) but I think you’ll find it’s trying to say it was his Omodei’s predecessor, Birney, who shot the kid:

…Colin Barnett resigned as leader of the party, and Matt Birney was elected in Barnett’s stead, with Omodei elected deputy leader. He was forced to resign in October 2005 after he was convicted of unlawfully shooting his son during a rabbit cull

WA politics is such riveting stuff.
Ray Dixon (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 8:31 pm) #

Entry
brokenleftleg (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 9:50 pm) #

Troy should have used the groundskeeper willie excuse.

“amatuer video is ma hobby but ya cannie tell anyone bout it in this country coz they think yerr a pervert… but back home every Scotsman does it”.
243K (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 10:22 pm) #

Looking at the apologists for Smellin’ o’ Troy on Bolt’s blog and I see that “Billk of WA (Reply)
Tue 29 Apr 08 (01:32pm)” has stated that Bill Clinton indulged in child abuse with Monica Lewinsky.

I wonder how long Bolt will leave that up for, or is Billk some sort of lefty stooge?
The Editor (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 10:34 pm) #

Thanks, 243K!
Bron (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 10:51 pm) #

Entry

That word by itself is a bit saucy, Ray.

The Ed, give Ray a warning, will ya?
Zombie Mao (Tuesday 29 April 2008, 11:23 pm) #

Ray

Omodei accidentally shot his son. He resigned from the deputys spot to contest it in court and won. Then went on to win the leadership.

Birney ’shot’ himself
Ray Dixon (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 1:34 am) #

Oh, my misreading of the wikipedia entry then? I must brush up on my WA political history, it’s so … vital!
magic bellybutton (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 7:10 am) #

Yes. Vital like heartburn.
THR (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:16 am) #

Whilst it understandable that we immature Mexicans are amused by the whole chair-sniffing incident, I’m surprised at the interest from our northern cousins.
After all, isn’t recreational chair-sniffing fundamentally no different to Rugby League?
krypto (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 6:12 pm) #

reminds me of this thing I hadn’t thought about in years. When I was in high-school, I had this chick in my class, this Sweedish exchange student. I’m not usually one to go nuts over a girl but this chick had it all, good looks, superb style, fashion sense, well travelled, smart, sexy accent, the whole package.
WAAAAAY out of my league or anyone else at the school’s either, I mean this wasn’t the kind of girl you’d expect to see marry some rich guy, you’d more likely see her start up her own fashion label and magazine and out-earn him you know.
Short story, she was hot.

So anyway, we’re all sitting there all gooey eyed in geography class this one day, class ends, she gets up, packs her books into this very elegant black leather travel case and walks out in her tight fitting black T, wide legged linnen pants and Dr Marten’s leather sandals (I mean this has got to be the ONLY person on earth who got through the 1980’s WITHOUT a fashion hangover right!!), so there’s a few of us in the classroom, my mate walks over, picks up the chair and starts rubbing his cheek against it like you would a puppy or something, eyes closed, cooing like a kitten curled up in front of a fireplace.
We’re all falling about the place in hysterics and OF COURSE she walks back in.

I never found out what Sweedish for “fucking sick bastard” was, but I reckon I heard something pretty close that day.
krypto (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 6:19 pm) #

oh, did I mention both my mate and I were fourteen at the time? We were, and NEITHER of us held public office so, you know, there’s a pivitol differnce between the two instances.
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 6:39 pm) #

Thanks for mentioning that vital bit of info, Krypto!

Fourteen? And lusting over a hot Swede?
krypto (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 7:08 pm) #

well a much later tryst with a particularly unpleasant Norwegian chicky put well paid to any predeliction for Scandinavians I might have had.
Ray Dixon (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 7:30 pm) #

Sweedish exchange student

That says it all Krypto, there are no “bad” ones and you and your mate were totally justified in lusting after her.
krypto (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 7:56 pm) #

no Ray, there are definitely some homely Scandinavians I can assure you of that.
Where do you think trolls come from?