The week in Australian federal politics was headlined by the triumphant return of ‘Bad’ Malcolm Turnbull.
Australians had become accustomed to the pinkie-extended punctilios of Pleasant Malcolm and it has become clear they don’t much care for them.
So with nothing left to lose, Bad Malcolm got a run and delivered a withering character assessment of the Opposition leader. It was a terrific spray, no doubt, so full of harsh burns Bill Shorten may well still be plastering himself in aloe vera.
Bad Malcolm left his best line to last: “This sycophant, blowing hard in the House of Representatives, sucking hard in the living rooms of Melbourne — what a hypocrite.”
Understandably, lovers of the pugilistic arts weren’t about to get too excited. Should the People’s House ever become the House of Stoush with ‘Truffles’ Turnbull and ‘Wee Billy’ Shorten coming to blows, it would make last week’s Danny Green-Anthony Mundine fight look like the Thriller in Manilla.
Full column here.
Apologies if I missed it but this would have been a wonderfully opportunity for you to employ the phrase “in high dudgeon”, Jack. They shouldn’t be missed, nor the people who happen to be in one.
Personally, I would have thought Malcolm would have employed wider pickings from his vocabulary as he tended to get stuck on the word sycophant. Certainly there was no shortage of passion as he looked fit to burst. As I mentioned earlier I can only imagine what he’d be like when viewed as a fly on the wall.
As Wraith observed he’d be better served sticking with his day job, whatever that is? Oh how about the economy and other mundane stuff like that.
Turnbull has now 7 negative Newspolls in a row Milton, fast catching one T. Abbott who peaked at 30 before being forcibly ejected from the PMship by one M. Turnbull who now says he takes no notice of Newspolls. I say to Mr Trumble “the Polls toll for thee”. Cheers P.S. I say this hot weather will most likely tempt the astute Mr Baptiste out to educate us all on Climate Change!
I don’t think he will make it to 30.
They will send a headkicker like Abbott in to bat. But it won’t be Tones. he is finished.
The best headkicker they have is Dutts, Whenever he utters a sentence he always prefaces it with a BIG hit on Labor which is good politics. He is a heavyweight and could easily beat Shorten in 2019.
Labor has no heavyweight in that division.
Geez, you think so Bassy? Are you serious or taking the piss?
I dunno Bassman, IMO Dutton is a bit too Voldemort for the average punter.
Dutton is a reflection of the Queensland Police. We need to keep those backwards pig hunters away from all positions.
But the hard right in the Looters love him and they will put up the best Rottweiler they have…Dutts. Of course the average punter won’t wear him as the Looters will soon find out. The Hard Right don’t care as long as their voice is out front. Turnbull has all Abbott’s policies but it seems even that is not hard right enough for that lot.
You say at the end of your Column, Mr Insider, and I quote again “It’s not just the major parties that are on the nose. They all are. Every single one of them.” Yes indeed it is, what a sad bunch we have in our Parliament right now. The Senate is a dogs breakfast with Hanson strutting round like she knows something we don’t, but she doesn’t! But I do suggest Australia’s current problems are even more pronounced when hear of the massive salaries some get in the Business world e.g. Australia Post CEO $5.6 million FGS! Health Fund CEO’s massive salaries as Contributions go up again. We need a TRUMP to step in and clean up Australia! Are you out there Australia’s Donald?
HB, I’m never sure how serious you are, but I don’t know where you get the idea that a Trump-like figure would have any interest in reducing corporate salaries. Apart from the xenopohic-nationalist posturing, Mr T holds the standard neoliberal view that richer the rich are, the better.
IMO we’ve already had our more jovial but equally clownish version of Trump. His name was Clive Palmer. Fortunately, the Australian electorate had more sense than their US cousins.
Never 100% serious John but you got my drift, we do seek a “messiah”, a Hawke, a Keating, a Howard. Of course being all human, they like me, and all have their faults, but those 3 chaps, all ex PM’s, governed from the Centre and often under tough circumstances proved themselves to be the “right stuff” imho, something lacking for a long time in Aussie politics. Who knows John wether Trump will turn out any good but by jingo he is different isn’t he! Cheers. P.S. I voted for Whitlam too I did mmmm true
Well they didn’t – because he got elected!! They had to endure him until the next election came around.
I meant that as a whole they had more sense, apart from the 5% who briefly thought he was a good idea. My point was, he didn’t become PM.
That said, I’m probably being harsh on US voters. Only 27% of them voted for Trump, and its likely most of those were habitual Republican voters rather than Trump fans.
Politicians in this country share the same level of respect by the people of this country to three other virulent pests, Lawyers, Journalists and of course cane toads.
When they realise how despised they are then we may have reform.
Finally back the the Friday arvo funnies! Thanks mate!
I saw a shot of the Senate when old Ian was making his pitch. To say you could have fired a shotgun and not hit anyone is an understatement!
I’m very surprised at Warren Entsch. I’ve met him a few times on a social basis and I thought he was more attuned to the electorate than he has shown this week.
They get narky when their ”entitlements” are threatened TG
I liked this line in your column Mr Insider re the foolish Bernardi and I quote “Welcome to obscurity, Senator. Next stop oblivion.” Spot on there FGS does this goose really think he’s another Trump? He’s not even well known among the general populace!
Twas indeed a week of “puff and wind” Mr Insider and Bernardi qualifies on both counts.
Pauline and Putin on the Judo mat? eeuww………I’m going to have nightmares about that.
Could be worse I suppose Pauline and Christensen, do we have to act surprised when he switches allegiance?
I’m not sure he will do that Tracey. He will certainly wait until after the Qld state election so he can watch how things an out for ON.
Damn fat fingers that’s ‘pan out’
On second thoughts, Jack, ‘Thriller in Manilla’ sounds far more apposite for Shorten and President Trumble. A bit of confected biffo on the streets of Manilla in New England in NSW – https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Manilla+NSW+2346/@-30.856,150.4636284,9.43z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ba065b129e3802d:0x40609b49043c180!8m2!3d-30.7314993!4d150.7250673?hl=en. Got the party and the Press Gallery back onside after a tough time since the election and particularly since Orange Kaiser Wilhelm seems to have humiliated him over the dog and bone.
Very happy to see Corgi Bernardi bugger off finally as well. I only wish he could take a few more with him if the numbers weren’t so tight in the House of Unrepresentatives.
The love affair for Vladimir Putin from the far-Left and far-Right is sure to end in tears one day, I would think.
“Favourite conviction politician” – that’s a goodun and a keeper.
On the plus side of this negative state of affairs, Leak would be spoiled for choice.
We should convict more of them, pour encourager les autres.
”Beginning any sentence with the words “Parliamentarians are entitled…” is the political equivalent of scratching your fingernails down a blackboard.
Great article Jack! Very funny. Did you write Mal’s speech for him then?
Your sentence, above, nails it………………………………