I think there is an element of this sort of failure to fight with the crossbench, tbh. In the desire to do politics differently and elevate civility, they forget to do politics. I've been hinting at this in recent pieces, but will write some more direct soon. There's an (apocryphal) story about FDR that captures it: 'The story related a New Deal–era encounter between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a group of activists, usually said to have been led by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the meeting, the advocates laid out a vision of bold action for change that the president could advance with his bully pulpit and his executive power. FDR listened to their position and considered the demands they presented. Then he replied, “You’ve convinced me. I agree with what you’ve said. Now go out and make me do it.”'
Trump, his goons and willing idiots in big business have pulled back the curtain and shown that we are well and truly back in a mobster world (doubtful we ever left it).
Europe just had a nasty wake-up call. Be interesting to see if there’s enough life left in ‘the old place’ to resist, but as ever it seems hopelessly divided.
If only our laughably pedestrian political elite had the courage and strategic smarts, they would have gone nowhere near AUKUS. It’s not too late to turn it around, but the sight of that dangerously incompetent clown Marles glibly writing out an $800m cheque only last week doesn’t fill one with confidence. Given the LNP/Murdoch Right are surgically attached to Trumpism and the US, Albo had better start listening to his rank and file or he’ll drag us under as well.
Sadly I think we will go down with the USS USA. I don’t think our politicians have it in them to take an alternative path and certainly not unless it’s presented to us as a complete idea. The idea they’d set off into the dark and start knocking on doors to see what could be achieved is just beyond them, they just don’t have the courage or foresight to try.
We are sadly left to drift in the international currents subject to the winds and the sea as to where we’ll end up. I’m afraid our politicians will follow the US down a very dark path
Yes. We can’t keep leaving it to the ALP old guard to do the thinking for them (Keating, Cameron, Evans, etc.). And as for the LNP, it’s obvious that their masters in WA and the Murdochracy have got them over a barrel, even if they were capable of any independent thought.
The Hegemon is in our face constantly, and our media are obsessed, it's true.
That last quote is brutal,ugh.
I think there is an element of this sort of failure to fight with the crossbench, tbh. In the desire to do politics differently and elevate civility, they forget to do politics. I've been hinting at this in recent pieces, but will write some more direct soon. There's an (apocryphal) story about FDR that captures it: 'The story related a New Deal–era encounter between Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a group of activists, usually said to have been led by A. Philip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the meeting, the advocates laid out a vision of bold action for change that the president could advance with his bully pulpit and his executive power. FDR listened to their position and considered the demands they presented. Then he replied, “You’ve convinced me. I agree with what you’ve said. Now go out and make me do it.”'
Btw, I spotted this last night, which goes to the point about reshaping military/law enforcement: https://www.citizensforethics.org/news/analysis/trumps-politicization-of-the-u-s-marshals-service-is-a-threat-to-our-democracy/
Perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised, Tim. Rachel Maddow produced a podcast about it - Ultra …
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/15/1143078657/rachel-maddow-uncovers-a-wwii-era-plot-against-america-in-ultra
Cued up for my morning walk, thanks!
Indeed, Tim.
Trump, his goons and willing idiots in big business have pulled back the curtain and shown that we are well and truly back in a mobster world (doubtful we ever left it).
Europe just had a nasty wake-up call. Be interesting to see if there’s enough life left in ‘the old place’ to resist, but as ever it seems hopelessly divided.
If only our laughably pedestrian political elite had the courage and strategic smarts, they would have gone nowhere near AUKUS. It’s not too late to turn it around, but the sight of that dangerously incompetent clown Marles glibly writing out an $800m cheque only last week doesn’t fill one with confidence. Given the LNP/Murdoch Right are surgically attached to Trumpism and the US, Albo had better start listening to his rank and file or he’ll drag us under as well.
Sadly I think we will go down with the USS USA. I don’t think our politicians have it in them to take an alternative path and certainly not unless it’s presented to us as a complete idea. The idea they’d set off into the dark and start knocking on doors to see what could be achieved is just beyond them, they just don’t have the courage or foresight to try.
We are sadly left to drift in the international currents subject to the winds and the sea as to where we’ll end up. I’m afraid our politicians will follow the US down a very dark path
We are just on the verge of a complete rethink of our geopolitics but it is hard to see who is doing the rethinking. Kind of terrifying.
Yes. We can’t keep leaving it to the ALP old guard to do the thinking for them (Keating, Cameron, Evans, etc.). And as for the LNP, it’s obvious that their masters in WA and the Murdochracy have got them over a barrel, even if they were capable of any independent thought.
I’m glad I’m coming to the end of my time, but sad that I have three daughters in their late 20s who will likely feel the impact.
When Trump dodged that bullet I was thinking at the time how lucky we were, not anymore. It was a missed opportunity.
Another “remove the blinkers” piece, Tim. Thanks!
really enjoyed that TD.