Albanese confronted by an angry mob:

http://www.skynews.com.au/video/?vId=2674020&cId=Programs&play=true

DAFSFFS

Sorry can't link

The carbon tax is predominantly a tax on big businesses yeah? So why are people acting like it is pinching from the workers? I'm confused...

Liberal Senator Mary Jo Fisher in court on a shopplifting charge:

http://m.theage.com.au/national/mp-goes-on-trial-for-theft-20110901-1jnrh.html

LOOOOOL

So why are people acting like it is pinching from the workers? I'm confused...

Misinformed and/or they just want their team to win at politics.

I just think it's ridiculous how people refer to this govt as 'socialist' when they are in fact one of the most right wing Labor governments that we've had.

I think it's ridiculous that 'socialist' is perceived to be a derogatory term these days.

BEWARE THE RED SCARE.

Shit Political Soundbite #486 - 'Break the business model of people smuggling'

Abbott is in, Jules is fuuuuucked. Im outta here

Interesting Guardian article

depressing Guardian article!

This spells the end of Julia's reinga of terror.

Kevin 11!!!!!!!!

It's destiny.

They have to bring Rudd in don't they. As Richardson said it gets worse by the day for Gillard and now anyone associated with her is tarred which rules out most of the cabinet in becoming leader. He's the only one will decent poll numbers so by the Labor parties reckoning Gillard should be deposed. What a fucking shit storm the past 18-months has been. If only Rudd had called the double-dissolution election like he said he would instead of doing book signings with fucking Rhys Muldoon.

numbers don't support him, but Combet . the only one left with integrity in tact - would be a difficult prospect for Abbot & Murdoch

I wonder if Rudd would actually want that job back.

it's a shit sandwich

I'm loving this shit!

eyeroll

Hey, don't eyeroll me! OK, I was loose with my language there, and the left/right binary is lazy. I guess I meant that the Libs would not follow them to the full extent of their libertarian dreams.

I think their principles and ideas come from whoever pays the bills.

Well, ''whoever'' would need to be on the same page as them. ''Thinktank'' (a ridiculous word, isn't it?) seems to imply some sort of open-mindedness but they're always founded on some belief or other.

Were I in charge of a multi-national company, I'd probably throw money at people I thought were advocating for my interests too.

Ultimately, it shouldn't matter who funds them. If you disagree with them, focus on the failings of their arguments - not whoever might allegedly pay their salary.

I'm not funded by Exxon-Mobil or Gina Rinehart (though will gladly accept donations if they're reading) yet I still advocate free market solutions where I feel they're warranted.

''Thinktank'' (a ridiculous word, isn't it?) seems to imply some sort of open-mindedness but they're always founded on some belief or other.

Oh, I agree, they have a set ideological approach: but so do Get Up! et al

Ultimately, it shouldn't matter who funds them. If you disagree with them, focus on the failings of their arguments - not whoever might allegedly pay their salary.

I could do that if they didn't try to represent themselves as an independent thinkwank. If they just came out and said ''we are a right-wing lobby group'' I'd respect them more. They remind me of Scientologists.

Oh, I agree, they have a set ideological approach: but so do Get Up! et al

But Get Up is democratic in their approach. You cant compare the two.

speaking of horrible think-tanks who misrepresent themselves as 'independent' - the Lowy Institute for International Policy

I could do that if they didn't try to represent themselves as an independent thinkwank.

Do they, though?

This is on their website:

*The IPA supports the free market of ideas, the free flow of capital, a limited and efficient government, evidence-based public policy, the rule of law, and representative democracy. *

I don't think they do anything to hide their position.

This is funny to watch, poor birds, just have fun with the seagulls. They're... Special!

to say the IPA is not right-wing is ridiculously nonsensical attempted hair-splitting even by mess and noise discussion standards. ever hear of the term ''right-wing libertarian'' ?

to say the IPA is not right-wing is ridiculously nonsensical attempted hair-splitting even by mess and noise discussion standards. ever hear of the term ''right-wing libertarian'' ?

I guess it depends on what you think the hallmarks of being ''right-wing'' are, I tend to associate it pretty closely with conservatism.

The IPA are vocally in favour of gay marriage. That's not very right-wing.

'independent' is just a buzzword that institutions use in their 100 word biographies. Everyone knows it's not actually true.

Other buzzwords include:

non-partisan
apolitical
democratic
progressive
participatory
grass-roots

I know it's a simple model, but the political compass is not a bad thing for getting beyond left-right.

The IPA are vocally in favour of gay marriage. That's not very right-wing.

ie. purple quadrant

I'm Chaotic Good:

A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society.

Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit.

Chaotic good can be a dangerous alignment when it disrupts the order of society and punishes those who do well for themselves.

-D&D 5th Edition

the Lowy Institute for International Policy

Err? They're hardly on the level of the IPA or the equivalent left wing think tank, other than Australian foreign affairs and from what I've read of their publications, they're fairly even handed. I implore you to read their great daily round up of international relations commentary - The Interpreter.

In terms of foreign policy they are far more influential imho, the interpreter is fairly even handed, but when it comes to their policy briefs i don't think that they're even handed.

However, having said that, you will see op ed pieces in newspapers from Lowy institute members speaking against our involvement in Iraq etc, but not in terms of their actual policy briefs.

seahunt said 38 minutes ago:

''other than Australian foreign affairs and from what I've read of their publications, they're fairly even handed.''

sorry dude, i didn't read that properly at all, agreed with that sentimony

i am failing so hard at internetz today

carry on

In terms of foreign policy they are far more influential imho, the interpreter is fairly even handed, but when it comes to their policy briefs i don't think that they're even handed

I'm curious to know what agenda you think they pushing domestically? I don't find that personally, but you know - that's the way the cookie crumbles.

NSW Greens courted holocaust denier.

As much as this could be a News Ltd beatup, is there something fucked up with the NSW Greens?

seahunt said 1 hour ago:

In terms of foreign policy they are far more influential imho, the interpreter is fairly even handed, but when it comes to their policy briefs i don't think that they're even handed

I'm curious to know what agenda you think they pushing domestically? I don't find that personally, but you know - that's the way the cookie crumbles.

domestically, like i said before i agree with your sentiment that they're fairly even handed when it comes to affairs within Australia, but i definitely think with concern to foreign policy and the middle east there is an agenda. Probably something to do with the benefactor's world view.

NSW Greens courted holocaust denier.

The ''conspiracy or stuffup?'' theory suggests the person responsible for maintaining email contact lists is getting a bollocking right now.

seahunt said 1 hour ago:

NSW Greens courted holocaust denier.

As much as this could be a News Ltd beatup, is there something fucked up with the NSW Greens?

why would they invite that fuckwit, they just help to delegitimise the Palestinian cause with inviting fkn nutters like that and give creedence to stupid notion of Palestinian activists that they're all intrinsically anti-semitic

so dumb, so so so dumb