KEVIN Rudd, under growing pressure for bypassing Tokyo during his tour of the world's major capitals, is trying to arrange an early, one-off summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

Australian officials have intensified efforts to organise a special Tokyo visit before the Prime Minister is due in Japan for the G8 summit in Hokkaido, starting July 7.

Australian and Japanese officials had tried since January to organise a bilateral summit but had not been able to find a mutually suitable date that fitted the itinerary of Mr Rudd's current 17-day tour of world capitals.

However, efforts to organise a special Tokyo visit have redoubled in the past fortnight, as Mr Rudd has come under political pressure at home and concern has grown in Tokyo that he was being seen to snub Australia's most important Asian ally and trade partner in favour of China.

Japanese diplomatic sources told The Australian yesterday that Mr Rudd's prioritising of relations with China was "well understood, though not necessarily welcomed" in Tokyo.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23464160-601,00.html

Lib MP accused of spoiling for fight
A STATE Liberal MP has been accused of challenging a branch president in his 60s to a fight after a local meeting and of subjecting him to a tirade of expletives.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mp-accused-of-spoiling-for-fight/2008/03/31/1206850812079.html

How bad are the Maggots going to look when Kev shows up in Japan? To an hero’s welcome. Why would it be otherwise?

Much to lose.

What are the Japanese likely to do, as our ‘most important trading partner’? As the commentators like to say.

What, tightly wrap their kimonos? I don’t know if the have a term for ’shove it’ but why would they?

I do know they have a term for self destruct, but again, why would they?

The Maggs have got this entirely wrong.

Gordon Reynolds, a former One Nation and Australians Against Further Immigration member, was last Thursday appointed president of the local government conference in Baulkham Hills.

They should ask him if he still has that view then ask him about the skills crisis and if he thinks immigrants might be useful.

However I think for Rudd Labor what the are shown doing on TV/radio has the greater effect on public understanding.

I got out of the share market a few weeks before the 1987 crash, by pure luck, and haven’t been back since except for one renewable energy venture, Geodynamics. I was in banking back then so saw the consequences of all that up close.

Gordon Reynolds, a former One Nation and Australians Against Further Immigration member, was last Thursday appointed president of the local government conference in Baulkham Hills.

The move has angered some party moderates who fear the hard right is doing untold damage.

“Everyone was just stunned,” a senior Liberal member said. “It is absolutely ridiculous in a election year to be taking the advice of a former One Nation official.”
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23463889-5006009,00.html

Unfortunately the (gutless) senior Liberal member is in the powerless minority of his party. I’ll tip that the MSM won’t be interested in this issue.

They have apparently no idea of the cultural faux-pas they have committed that has forced a public statement from the Japanese Prime Minister

Fine point, well made.

Only had to listen today, to the reassurance that one’s earnings as regards super will recover, miraculously, over the course of time.

Despite the present plummet and gloomy forecast on super returns. This has happened to me. Negative positives. Or is it the reverse. Thanks so much. Despite the fact that the stock market, in which I have no faith, nor desire to be involved, is where I am forced, repeat, forced to invest my money. Worse, that the holders of my money get to reap a profit from me.

I, for one, am not much interested in holding off for 36 years, apparently the trajectory in which I should stake my faith.

Not, I suspect, I have that much time up my sleeve.