grodscorp@grods.comIt’s time to go, Kim
 | Posted by The Editor on Tuesday 12 September 2006, 3:05 pm Categories: Politics Tags: citizenship, immigration, IR, JohnHoward, KimBeazley, Labor, MarkLatham, values, vision, xenophobia |
Sorry, Kim Beazley, I’ve had enough. You’ve been opposition leader for the better part of a decade and I thought you’d have got your act together by now. Fair enough, you still feel bitter about having the win snatched from your waiting paws in 2001 but isn’t it time to move on? You’ve been leader this time around for over 18 months and we still don’t know what you stand for. John Howard’s advice on the weekend to state Liberal opposition leaders was this: “You’ve got to develop, over a longer period of time, an alternative policy, an alternative story as to how you want the state governed.” Good advice, Kim.
I’m a fairly keen political observer and all that comes to my mind when I try to think of your policies is: abolish AWAs, set up some sort of ISP porn filter, and boost politician superannuation to pre-Latham levels. Oh, and of course your latest split-second brainwave: put an Australian values checkbox on immigration forms.
That has got to be the lowest of the low, Kim. Instead of developing proper, considered and grown-up national security policy you put on your racist hat and populist pants and try to out-Howard John Howard.
You’re an embarrassment, Kim. Almost every single one of your policy announcements seems, at best, ill-considered and, at worst, totally reactive. It’s hard to think of anything you’ve said of any substance that wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the Government, the unions, or somebody within your own party. And worse is the distinct impression that I get of you being somewhat disinterested and lacking passion in the job. I know you started shouting more in Question Time earlier this year but it’s quite obvious that your increased volume is nothing more than an attempt to prove that you are in possession of “ticker”.
You see, Kim, I really want to vote for Labor. I desperately want to vote for Labor. It would take something very, very big to make me vote Liberal. But, Kim, you’re doing everything you can to make me cross to the dark side.
It’s time to go, Kim, before it’s too late. Quit now so that your successor has half a chance to establish themselves before the ‘07 election.
Say what you like about Mark Latham, but at least he had a vision for the nation and the entire electorate knew exactly what he stood for. And we knew he believed in it himself.
UPDATE (6.55pm): SBS News has just reported that about 3.5 million tourists arrive each year on electronic visas and don’t fill out any visa paperwork on the plane or upon arrival. So, Kim, did your homework then?
GrodsThink Ep.31 (16/9/08)
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 3:22 pm #Alex Spalck
Couldn’t agree more…That pompous nincompop of Beazley is too embarassing for words…Mark Latham come back, all is forgiven!…
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 3:30 pm #Della
Compliments first - great blog!
And yes, the sad thing is that I think most Aussies wouldn’t mind voting for someone other than the Liberals, but voting Labor does equal voting Kim Beazley and he probably couldn’t be taken any less seriously even if he turned up to parliament in a clown suit with a cat on his head.
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 3:53 pm #The Editor
Thanks, Della.
Although, I can’t help wondering if I’d respect Bomber just that little bit more if he did show up to Question Time in a clown suit and a cat hat. Just to see the look on The Man Of Steel’s face.
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 4:03 pm #Della
Can almost imagine the look, and I’m hoping there’s a trick water-squirting flower on Beazley’s lapel to accompany it.
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 4:09 pm #Sarah
Good advice, but don’t hold your breath… you’ll be waiting until 2010 (or 2011 if 4 year terms are introduced).
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 4:12 pm #billybob
‘[P]ut an Australian values checkbox on immigration forms’, you got that idea from me didn’t you ED..? you are FOS.
Got to agree with Della though, Good blog! He makes me want to vote, (if I could), for Family First… how bad must he be????
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 4:16 pm #The Editor
Just to clear up something Billybob just said, readers:
He makes me want to vote, (if I could), for Family First
The reason Billybob can’t vote is he is not of sound mind. Nothing to do with being a dirty Brit.
Tuesday 12 September 2006, 10:49 pm #James Paterson
I’ll look forward to your election day post in 2007, where you’ll reveal how you voted.
Wednesday 13 September 2006, 9:56 am #billybob
The Ed, regardless of this blog, will die streaming ‘Labour’. That is unless Dave Mac becomes head of those dirty Libs.
Wednesday 13 September 2006, 3:58 pm #Goobertronic
Kim needs a myspace page to reconnect with the “youf” ….
“Mr MySpace, through you, I say this to the families of middle Australia.
Tonight I seek a binding agreement between us: between you and the government I’ll lead. Tonight I announce my Pact with Middle Australia.
Add me to your friends list, bitches …”
Thursday 14 September 2006, 2:35 pm #Goobertronic
彼は脂肪質である
Thursday 14 September 2006, 3:11 pm #billybob
why?
Thursday 14 September 2006, 3:15 pm #Goobertronic
Just reaching out to the GrodsCorp Japanese readership….
Thursday 14 September 2006, 3:23 pm #billybob
I’ll let Mrs Takahashi know!
Wednesday 20 September 2006, 4:16 pm #Jesse
Couldn’t agree more - about once every four or five years Howard says something that resonates with truth - Beazley doesn’t have any ticker being one of those rare occassions. The most perfectly indicative moment was during Gillard’s Australian Story when she went into Beazley’s office and gave him something - he got flustered and didn’t know quite what to do - Gillard took the initiative and was decisive, Kim then went about doing what she said. She’s a smart girl though - she may have had a shot if she’d had the numbers last time round, but is a much better move to wait till after the next election. WorkChoices, interest rates and other issues will actually start to bite soon.
With all labor state and territory govts, it’s not like voters have any ideological fancy - they’ll vote for whoever’s in office if things are going well, and kick them out as soon as there’s economic downturn. Having said that, if anyone’s got the ticker in the labor party to lead them to victory, she does. Shorten’s at least got some charisma, but too union orientated - Rudd is possibly the only person in the party weaker than Beazley - Deity of your fancy help us all if he replaces Beazley - John Howard would have to be caught having gay sex with animals for him to win - even then, i doubt it…
Wednesday 20 September 2006, 4:19 pm #The Editor
Rudd is possibly the only person in the party weaker than Beazley - Deity of your fancy help us all if he replaces Beazley - John Howard would have to be caught having gay sex with animals for him to win - even then, i doubt it…
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Jesse.