A nice bit o' spin

Kudos to the ALP for finally coming up with a good line on Howards recent fruity economics:

"Labor's treasury spokesman, Wayne Swan, said it was the underlying, or core, inflation figure of 3 per cent that would force the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates when it met tomorrow.

The bank is almost certain to increase rates by at least 0.25 of a percentage point, and that has nothing to do with bananas, Mr Swan said. "It's certainly an attempt to straighten out his banana alibi," he said of Mr Howard's trip"

A banana alibi?

"Sorry the economy went to hell, i was too busy browsing pictures of the newly forbidden fruit on the internet..." Enjoy.

SMH Letter

I would be pleased to help Peter Costello in his quest for more little nippers in this country and, aged 25, now would be a wonderful time for me to start were it not for: a large HECS debt, job insecurity, the likelihood that it will take at least another 10 years before property in Sydney starts to look vaguely affordable, the extra 10 years needed to save for the child's education and so forth ("Costello hatches census-time challenge: procreate and cherish", July 25).

Sorry, Pete, could be a bit of a wait.

Claudia Marckx, Chippendale

After this stunning moment




it was only going to be a matter of time before once more Russians provided the "lighter" articles in the paper. Although the wonderful polka dancing of Yeltsin has still never been replicated Putin is doing his level best:

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday stopped on a walk through the Kremlin to speak to a young boy before lifting up the boy's shirt and kissing the astonished youth on his stomach.

He stopped and spoke to a young boy who appeared to be aged four or five and turned away shyly when asked his name.

"What is your name?" Putin asked, kneeling down in front of the fair-haired boy and holding him by the waist.

"Nikita," the clearly shocked boy answered, looking from side to side.

Putin then lifted the boy's shirt and kissed him on his stomach.

When questioned later Putin explains: "I tell you honestly, I just wanted to touch him like a kitten and that desire of mine ended in that act."

The Izvestia daily, which tracked down Nikita, discovered that he had refused to wash after that kiss.

"I just liked him and he liked me very much. I want to be president myself," the five-year-old told the paper. (Reuters)





Now, call me a freak but i kinda appreaciate a politician whimsical enough to pull off that line.. After the Clinton hugging Lewinsky photo that simply wouldn't stay out of the press rubbing the flesh with the plebs has been rather fraught. I like that Putin throws caution to the wind, that'll show the G8 that Russia really is ready for the world stage..

Hmmm, maybe not.

(The boy was called Nikita which is also the name of my savings account.. it's a sign perhaps?)

Lil' John being mean to Uncle Pete?

Short version:

A workmate summed this up rather well today, when reading the paper he deadpanned: "John Howard lying? I find that very hard to believe"

Long version:

cvm: Does anybody actually care if it's Howard or Costello? I know it's agreat way to split voters etc away from the Libs but really, a stinkbug byany other name is just as malodourous.

eurovladd: Well, your line was a little more poetic than my "same shit different outfits" but yes, ultimately I agree with you. Altho don't understand how all of this suddenly means Costello should be the one toresign. But yes, frankly, j'don't care. The only thing more annoying thatCostello vs. Howard is the Labor Party trying to look relevant by jumping upand down saying that the Liberal Party can no longer be trusted. Yeah, costhis is the thing that makes the "never-ever" Libs look untrustworthy. Please.

cvm: i think it was Costello's reference to something which happened in the "Past" that disqualified him as a potential front bencher.. i believe theparty line is still to deny existence of said.

History is: Adam and Eve, then James Cook, then yesterday/this morning.

Perhaps the ALP will realise that the public of Australia *know* that none of the political parties are to be trusted.. this is something we became(relaxed and) comfortable with quite a while ago

eurovladd: Yes, good point. Everyone bleats on about trust when we all KNOW that politicans can't be trusted. And for some reason this doesn't actually seem to bother Mr & Mrs Average Suburbanite. Der.

cvm: Trust in mistrust perhaps? And Monsieur Howard says that Postmodernismis irrelevant.. how else can one explain the attitude that elects peopleprecisely because they know exactly how they will mess up the country?

eurovladd: And then there is that moment where you hope that Howard staysleader of the Libs because I think a Liberal party lead by Costello is less likely to lose the next election. Oooh too many negatives. Dizzy.

cvm: I'm still in the "hope they all fall in a well" stage. But yes, agree Howard and another election may fall to voter fatigue. Although Costello does have that awful smirk...

Compulsory BB Commentary

I think it's amazing (especially with reality television) that the outcry is over the fact that this was televised rather than that it happens in the world full stop. If a sexual assault occurs and it's not on a television can anyone still hear it?

Jonestown

In Today's SMH: A fellow broadcaster and longstanding Jones critic, Mike Carlton, speculated on radio that the board might have pulled the book because of the details about Jones's private life.

"… is it that Jonestown alleges that Alan Jones is gay or has had gay relationships? As I understand it, and I've not read the book, I believe it details a number of gay sexual encounters Jones was allegedly involved in."

Oh hell no. Hasn't the gay community suffered enough? Surely it wouldn't be too much to ask Middle Australia to take him back..

On a slightly more serious note, why is it such a scurrilous allegation that Keith Windschuttle may have had something to do with this? Surely he's on the ABC board to do *something* and this action would be consistent with previous sentiments he has expressed. Are we really supposed to believe that his previous politics combined with a position of some power will have zero practical output? If i was the Right i'd be asking for a refund.

Comodogenic at 1:26 pm

ev: Sick on a Friday? What are the odds?

cvm: I think you need a slightly straighter face to say that one. I'd try Bert Newtons.

ev: Is the man even capable of facial movement anymore? Sorry Bert, the hitin the face with a frying pan look went out years ago

cvm: It's the Australian Botox. No creams over 'ere mate, just a whack in theface with mum's best pan.

ev: Love it. Oztox.

cvm: We could totally market Oztox, it could be made of the Liberal party; all blank stares and no flexibility.