Saturday, November 02, 2002

 
Slept poorly last night. An awful dream: I'm running after Carmen for some reason and I just can't get going. I really need to catch her but my legs won't do it for me. I woke up in a sweat.

Consequently I'm feeling out of sorts today.

I phoned Martin just after lunch. He said he doesn't see what all the fuss is about the ASIO raids as the people are "un-Strayn" ["un-Australian" see deciphering Martin) anyway.

You really shouldn't judge Martin. As I've said before it's all about being a true Labor man to him.

I wrote this before, but can't get the archive to work:

In the NSW Bearpit in the early eighties, two men commanded universal respect. One was a Country Party bloke who's name escapes me. I say "Country Party" because he left the party when it became the National Party. The other was Jack Ferguson, Nifty's deputy from the Left, who died last month.

Both these people were admired for the sincerity with which they held their beliefs and the courtesy they showed others. They were seen to have Integrity with a big I.

Jack's sons are, of course, my good friend Martin and his brother Laurie. They too yearn for a golden age when Labor boasted the cream of the working class etc.

I bring all this up because it helps to explain Martin's attitude to things like immigration and Aborigines. He's often said to me that the " .. gest stake yever dwas ting dof Tstray lis" [The biggest mistake we ever made was getting rid of White Australia Policy]

You may call this racism, but to him it is just upholding the values dear to his father and "real" Labor. It also explains his fascination with Pauline Hanson. When she was an MP, and Martin from time to time said things like "Mate, 'd ke to ver blood ood ving" [Mate, I'd like to give her a bloody good serving], it was not just physical: it was a meeting of minds.

As I've said before, I love him like a brother, but he's a worry sometimes.

Don't judge him too harshly, though.

posted by Simon 6:35 pm

Thursday, October 31, 2002

 
Dennis ("oh yes, yes, yes Prime Minister!") Shanahan is at it again.

Let me quote:

The popularity of John Howard means more people are now prepared to see him as the man who acts out the national story, the leader prepared to say what is the national spirit – "tough as tungsten" – and the man who can put an arm around a grieving relative or be bear-hugged by one. It is a side of Howard that has not been appreciated, although it has been present for years.

.... Howard has been publicly hugging for a long time – there was the doctor who lead the treatment of the victims of the Port Arthur massacre, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the US ambassador to Australia on September 11, Tom Schieffer and, of course, the families of the Bali bombing victims

Someone's got a little crushy-wushy and wants a huggy-wuggy.

posted by Simon 4:39 pm

 
Alan's been quiet lately. Perhaps Mark told him to hold his fire for a while. Or maybe he's preparing the mother of all assaults.

Just between us, dear Diary, I hope Bracksie comes a cropper this November/December. That clown Doyle would make a hopeless Premier, and come the next election a hopeless Liberal Premier would be nice to have around. If we can nobble Bob Carr next March that would be even better.

My mate Martin, who I'm sure I've told you about, is a very good mate indeed. He and his brother Laurie don't look anything alike at all. This is something that you never ever mention when around the Ferguson family.

Martin would never knife me. I think Mark might one day. And Carmen, although never mentioned in those lists of leaders in waiting so favoured by journalists, is just itching to do it. I'm watching you Carmen.

posted by Simon 2:34 pm

Sunday, October 27, 2002

 
KONFRONTASI II



This fell off the back of a truck:



LIBERAL PARTY MEMO

Date: October 28 2002

Priority: Medium

TO: All Coalition parliamentarians

CC: Lynton Crosby

FROM: John Howard, Prime Minister and Parliamentary Leader

SUBJECT:Indonesia and the next election.

MESSAGE:

Colleagues, let me begin by congratulating you all on the government's continued dominance in parliament, the community and opinion polls. It is a team effort and the contributions of each and every one of you is always appreciated.

I would now like to turn to the next election. Whilst in all probability still two years away, we must always be planning.

The Bali bombings, though tragic, open up new opportunities. You may have noticed my strong language against President Megawati Sukarnoputri over the weekend in Mexico. It is to this point that I now turn.

Our current plan for the next election is an extension of that which worked so well last year: this time a "crisis" in relations with Indonesia. The crisis need not be overly damaging in the long term, but should be short, sharp and scary.

The advantages of this approach are obvious. For a start it can be easily manufactured.

Pressure points I could then insert into the heated atmosphere might be "our way of life", "values", "civilised society" and of course "East Timor". Voters can join the dots, but for those who can't, Peter Slipper and Bill Heffernan will ram the point home - reference perhaps to "200 million invading Muslims", "Australia is not Asian", "Crean prefers darkies" and so on.

Once again we'll peel real Australians off the elites, and to this end we can happily expect strong denounciation from Dick Woolcott, Malcolm Fraser et al.

The Labor Party can also reliably be expected to tie itself in knots.

Main journalistic channels will be Piers Akerman, Andrew Bolt, Alan Ramsey, Dennis Shanahan and Brian Toohey.

Your input is always appreciated. We remain open and flexible. Senator Heffernan, Foreign Minister Downer and I are in charge of detail; first point of contact should be Senator Heffernan.

In the meantime, continue your good work and enjoy the ride.

Many thanks

Ends
posted by Simon 9:45 pm

 
As I've said before, I don't expect Glenn Milne to do anything other than write what's in the interests of the Coalition.

But I still don't enjoy seeing stuff like this.

Catchyas. I'll post further later.

posted by Simon 6:52 pm

 
No swims on Sunday. Had a pleasant one. Very pleasant.

Night night.

posted by Simon 3:59 am