DECEMBER
2017
AUSTRALIA.
THE PROOF
Last month I wrote:
The Public Media
(print, TV, Radio) are giving our PM a tough
time. They are shaking negative opinion
polls at him. They are praising past PM
Abbott who was deposed by Malcolm based on
negative opinion polls. They are openly
considering other alternatives.
Public Media has
always done that sort of thing, but it's not
working so well anymore.
Trump demonstrated
it. So did Brexit.
Barnaby Joyce yesterday (1st December) had to stand
for re-election. If he had lost that seat, the
LCP (Coalition) government lost it's majority.
This election was not just a test of Barnaby. It was
a test for Malcolm.
Barnaby won with the largest swing for a mid term
election. Ever.
And so? The Media? Did they recognize the
source of that victory?
Lots of obfuscation. "He had a good lawyer to
explain to everyone it wasn't his fault." etc.
No credit to Malcolm. That just maybe even those who
voted against Barnaby at the last election did not
like the idea that Malcolm might fall. And
Shorten get in.
Hey Malcolm. Can you make huge cuts in the
ABC? I used to watch nothing else. Out
of habit I keep returning.
Most shows I just have to switch off.
I am discovering all these intelligent radio people,
like Allan Jones.
And SBS now broadcasts unbiased news in English.
CHINA.
There is some friction between the Australian and
the Chinese government.
The recent affirmation of John Alexander as a member
of government for Bennelong is significant.
President Xi has taken control of China and
instituted draconian reforms that reduce the liberty
of the people by restricting information. Most
of our western politicians don't mind that in the
slightest. (they would love to do it themselves)
However common Australians do not like it so much,
and the Dastiari resignation and Alexander win is
the proof. That is because Bennelong has a
significant Chinese population.
SEX.
The Italians are on the ball.
Back in my youth (I am 75) there used to be jokes
about girls who would detour to pass building sites
to get whistled at. It was part of their
affirmation that they were desirable.
Now the workers would not dare. A complaint
would get them sacked.
At my age I am not into making passes. But if I were
so inclined, I would make sure that I had a signed
invitation. Not that I am famous or powerful
or rich enough to warrant complaints, so I would
probably be safe.
JERUSALEM.
Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
appears to be a first step.
The Palestinians think that they hold the upper
hand. They (think that) they have a billion Muslims
on their side. That is why they will not do a
fair deal.
The UN proposed (Resolution 303(IV in 1949?) that
Jerusalem be made an international city, under the
control of the UN. The Israelis said YES. The
Palestinians said NO.
Jerusalem consists of the ancient walled city and
modern housing stretching East (Palestinian) and the
Western city (Israelis}.
So a fair division (to me) is:
- UN control of the walled city
- Palestinian control of East Jerusalem.
- Israeli control of W Jerusalem.
- And the two state solution, with no "right of
return"
- although financial compensation for provable
property loss should be offered.
I suspect Trump will continue to erode the
Palestinian position until they see the futility of
their stance.
NORTH KOREA.
With apologies to DPRK, but we in the west call your
country North Korea.
So far as I am concerned, every country has a right
to develop whatever weapons (Nuclear or Rockets or
whatever) that it desires.
So long as it does not endanger neighbours (By
developing e.g. a bug that was always fatal to
humans with an invisible incubation period of six
weeks.)
The record of those leaders (Hussein, Kaddafi) who
have "done a deal" with the US is not good.
Trouble is, the deal only lasts for one
administration, and then a Hillary cancels it.
Trump might find a way to ease tensions and the DPRK
keep it's weapons. I hope so.
HILLARY
& RUSSIA.
What is the
fuss about Russian intervention?
First. The
morality. Consider the following points.
- As a voter
I want to know true information about the
candidates on whom I will vote.
- I
am less concerned about from where that
information derives. I am concerned
that it is accurate.
- Nobody has
challenged the accuracy of the allegation
that Hillary had a personal email server and
used it to store and send Federal top secret
documents.
- So I think
that information about Hillary's emails
should have been published.
- There
is a dispute about whether secret
documents were illegally stored on her
personal web server. Having just
been hacked I concur that she did not
behave responsibly.
Second. The
story of the discovery seems to be:
- Australian
diplomat Alexander Downer was advised in a
drunken encounter by minor US presidential
associate? Papadopolus that "the Russians"
had dirt on Hillary.
- When
questioned by the FBI, Papadopolus revealed
his source to be Joseph Mifsud, an
undistinguished Maltese professor whose only
claim to fame was that he had attended the
2014 Valdai
conference at which Putin spoke.
- There is no
evidence that the Russians provided the
information to Mifsud, or that the Russian
government had any hand in hacking Hillary's
Illegal mail server.
So what
if Trump was told of an unconfirmed rumor by his
aide Papadopolus? What could he have done...
"Uh Hillary. A minor
Aide of mine heard a rumor from a third rate
professor from Malta that the Russians
knew of someone who has hacked your
emails.."
GIMME
A BREAK!!!!
mail comments to:
barvennon@hotmail.com