We love having you comment here at Pure Poison but it’s a little bit difficult for discussion to continue uninterrupted on specific posts when off-topic comments land in the middle of them. So each day we’ll launch an open thread where you can leave comments that don’t quite fit on one of the other posts. Remember that tip-offs can be made here.
Have at it!
43 Comments
The Punch is turning out to be less than a gripping read. Most of the efforts seem to be attempts at humour, none of them leaving one at risk of having to wipe tears of mirth from one’s face. This laughter-free effort by David Penberthy is fairly typical, but it also highlights his ignorance on the obesity crisis.
monkeywrench: a stunningly ignorant article! Penberthy seems to be taking it a bit too personally while at the same time trying to paint legitimate attempts to get people thinking about their lifestyle as some kind of stalinist mind control.
Like so much of the MSM when it comes to health policy he applauds efforts to deal with obesity once people are already obese (gastric banding eg), but can’t get his head around the genuine health and economic gains that come from targetting people who are not obese. a FAIL from me.
Well well, what a surprise, the Press Council dismisses a complaint against Miranda Devine’s article of 12th February (the one on the Victorian bushfires where Devine railed that greenies should be hung from lamp posts):
http://www.smh.com.au/national/complaint-against-devine-dismissed-20090625-cy9s.html
So by this yardstick, illiberal polemicism is preferred over reasoned debate, while preserving “freedom of the press” apparently means falsehoods, misrepresentations and cherry-picking of facts to suit a predetermined agenda are to be approved.
So, why don’t we all save ourselves the $$$millions that the Victorian bushfires inquiry will cost, and just leave it to right-wing columnists to discover the truth for us? You know it makes sense…
Penberthy focusing on the demographic.
The health issue is a big part of the problem that GP’s face in the country. Most patients want the local Doc to tell them that it’s all right to keep smokin’ and drinkin’ in vast quantities. If he/she won’t tell them that they’ll either avoid seeing a Doc or find one that will.
Surely News Ltd, it’s possible to mix gentle encouragement to better health with real humour and relevant information.
Mind you. You wouldn’t read Ralph to find out where you should place the desert wine glass.
Michael Jackson RIP – took the focus of the fake email – Damn!!!!
@fractious: ain’t self-regulation grand?
Yeah RobJ. Have Turnbull’s movements since leaving Canberra been accounted for yet?
Exactly Josh! At least the World Today hasn’t forgotten, they did lead with Jackson’s demise though!!
Ben @5 – absolutely. It gives me such a warm glow to know that in the Press Council we have an organ determined to defend the rights of Devine to write whatever she wants without putting her through unnecessary restrictions, such as checking facts, or bothering with ensuring that quotes or statements are given in their full context, or caring enough to tone down her language at a time when the number of dead had still not been counted.
By their deeds shall ye know them and all that.
This is an interesting conundrum, the question now is does Obama apologise, thus giving Ahmadinejad a huge image boost, or does he refuse, thus giving Ahmadinejad even more anti-USA propaganda to work with ?
I wonder what Bush would’ve done in the same circumstances ?
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5681436/irans-ahmadinejad-compares-obama-to-bush/
interesting post from John Quiggin about probity and various governments in the wake of utegate:
I agree with him about the Howard and Bush II governments but not so sure about Thatcher or Hawke governments.
confessions – Watched an interesting show about property boom’s and busts on the ABC last night. In particular how the Reagan adminsitration deregulated the savings and loans organisations that resulted in monumental frauds.
Hello confessions — although I wasn’t in Australia during the term of the Hawke-Keating government, I think I can recall hearing something about Keating having some possibly dodgy dealings in regards to a piggery…Don’t know the details though and never heard of any other improper behaviour, perhaps someone else here may recall them.
I’ve never heard of any accusations of corruption against the Thatcher government — perhaps RobJ could help us out on that one…
RobJ: “Michael Jackson RIP – took the focus of the fake email – Damn!!!!”
Yes, but on the plus side for you lot, the powderkeg that is Iran can now be considered yesterday’s news. That’s gotta bring a collective sigh of relief, no?.
How’s the US telling Israel that there’s no point in Mitchell meeting Netenyahu in Paris because Israel still needs to do it’s homework regarding settlements
(Israel claims that Netenyahu cancelled the meeting even though he was in Paris – riiiiiiight)
Thing is Israel will ignore the US and everybody unless of course the US (or EU for that matter) made sure there are consequences for Israel continuing to build illegal settlements.
Gillard today has expressed concerns about humanitarian conditions for Palestinians, thing is you don’t have to go there to be concerned, it’s pretty obvious that Israel are keeping an entire people locked up in a prison and bombing them with impunity!
I will never forget that Gillard laid the entire blame of Israel’s recent bombing of Gaza at the feet of Hamas, of course she changed her tune when she realised that public opinion (that’s votes in Gillard’s language) disagreed! I had heaps of respect for Gillard before she demonstrated that she’s just another poodle of the US. Politicians consistently disappoint me.
“es, but on the plus side for you lot, the powderkeg that is Iran can now be considered yesterday’s news. That’s gotta bring a collective sigh of relief, no?.”
? WTF are you on about ? – I’m thinking that it would be Turnbull and Hockey who are sighing with relief. Are you a bit confused, is the fact that Iran is a powderkeg the fault of posters at Pure poison?
The governments of Thatcher and Major had several scandals relating to individual members. There was one who had a Michael Hutchence-type demise, where he was found in some crazy outfit (was it a scuba-diving suit and ladies underwear?) and garroted and they concluded he had accidentally choked himself while playing a sex game. There were several others like that as well, but I can’t remember anything else from that time.
Yes, but on the plus side for you lot, the powderkeg that is Iran can now be considered yesterday’s news. That’s gotta bring a collective sigh of relief, no?.
I’ll field this one. There are a number of ‘conservatives’ who, through a synthesis of ignorance and dishonesty, believe that teh left supports the Iranian theocracy (it doesn’t), and is opposed to the protestors who apparently love the US and neoliberal economics (they don’t).
What I want to know is why are the “Right” all of a sudden backing the protestors? They didn’t when the cops were beating them to death in London recently, in fact they sided with the cops and became utterly silent when it became clear (what most of us already realise) that the violent trouble makers were in FACT the cops. Why is this pedro?
“Yes, but on the plus side for you lot, the powderkeg that is Iran can now be considered yesterday’s news. That’s gotta bring a collective sigh of relief, no?.”
Huh? The readers of a blog that exposes sloppy and dishonest writing in Australian media are, ipso-facto supporters of a vicious, anti-democratic, right-wing theocracy?
What are the (Australian) Right smoking these days?
“What I want to know is why are the “Right” all of a sudden backing the protestors?”
I imagine it depends on the cause, Rob….
My point stands Gavin, the Boltards were feral until it became clear that the cops manhandled an innocent man to death, (London) the Boltards went silent. what happened to the ’cause’ there?
S11 – Melbourne – The cops beat the shit out of a group of girls having a dance, the rightards unquetioningly supported the cops. The fact that the cops chose to settle should give an indication that they knew they fucked up, they bnew they would get hammered in court, yet the Boltards supported the cops!
Seems to me that the ‘right’ don’t actually care about the issues they side with authority, except when that authority is Iranian, but when the authority is Israeli, they back them, WITHOUT QUESTION!
As THR has pointed out these rightards will soon change their tune when they realise that the Iranian protestors don’t actually love the US and the rest of the west. I guess they’re stuck in that ‘enemy of my enemy’ bullshit mentality (the Rightards).
THR, I was amazed at the silence from the left on the Iran issue. I am amazed that this site didn’t pull the media up on that silence – brave watchers that they claim to be.
And Rob, Gavin beat me to it.
Rather than simply pointing to bad behaviour, please look at the cause of the protesting.
Pedro, I don’t know what silence you mean. Most of the lefty blogs I read have weighed into the Iran issue, many at considerable length. I’d be happy to list a few links if you don’t believe this.
The MSM has run plenty of stories and op-eds. Given the lack of journos in Iran, it’s hard for anybody to know entirely what’s going on, though a few basic facts are clear.
What specific media dishonesty has the left apparently ignored? And what exactly did you mean by your snide comment re: the left being happy for the Iran issue to be forgotten in the media?
GavinM, surely the “Right” always is in favour of the “Establishment”. then one day someone of the “Right” realizes the voters are questioning the wisdom/morality of goons clubbing and butchering people. I would think this is the answer to your comment. Also they love Israel helping themselves to other peoples land. Why? You ask. It’s because the zionists and fundamentalists have pulled off the biggest scam in history. They say, IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE! If you can solve this unique piece of reasoning you are a better man than I am Gunja Din.
I think like all of us, Right-wingers will back protestors against coppers if its a cause they support — as we are seeing in Iran, however, I suspect protests like S11, G20 etc aren’t causes that most of those on the Right would agree with.
There’s no question that police over-react at times – but lets not pretend that some protestors don’t go to these rallies for the express purpose of committing violence and causing as much damage as they can either – I guess we can only hope that when they do they are suitably punished — what happened with the coppers involved in that case in London, I never heard ?
Pedro, why do you think the Iranian protesters would get any benefit from us raising a ruckus on here, all the way away in little Australia?
I’m conversely amazed at the NOISE that comes from Bolt about Obama. I mean, we know Bolt is an egomaniac, but does he and his acolytes REALLY think anybody in the US pays any attention to Bolt’s blog in a Melbourne paper?
RobJ @ 16: obviously the Right suddenly having to support goat-shagging, terrorism-oriented mooooslems has left some of them a little shell-shocked.
:rolls:
Cheers for the rightwing talking points, Pedro. Who comprises “the left” that has been silent on Iran? Please be specific. What should they have been saying, and what the hell difference would it have made in any way?
“took the focus of the fake email – Damn!!!!”
You don’t really care if you appear partisan do you RobJ?
“There’s no question that police over-react at times”
There is no question that the police are spoiling for a fight – all the time!
” but lets not pretend that some protestors don’t go to these rallies for the express purpose of committing violence and causing as much damage as they can either ”
Regardless of whether there are trouble makers or not the police like beating people up, lets look at London, some idiots smashed a window, that’s the most damning footage I saw on the side of the protestors, the cops on the other hand, you see that cop club a woman?
“what happened with the coppers involved in that case in London, I never heard ?”
I think the investigations are ongoing, I’m pretty sure they will be punished appropriatley in this instance, but only because they were caught on film.
“You don’t really care if you appear partisan do you RobJ?”
Ha ha, Partisan I’m not Baldrick, I don’t like politicians, I’m way left of Labor, I would be happy to see both Turnbull and Swan lose their heads over this! I was rnjoying the discomfort the fake email was causing politicians, admitedly I dislike Liberals more than I dislike Labor but I dislike them both (I’m sure I’ve had a go at Gillard in this very thread)
#23 is “amazed that this site didn’t pull the media up on that silence”…
I’ve been reading this thread with saucer-eyed, slack-jawed amazement.
What exactly is this site supposed to do? Demand that Andrew show the Greens are responsible for the crisis in Iran? Insist that Piers expose the links between Heiner and Ahmajinedad ? Exhort Timmy to produce a few snappy one-liners about the mad mullahs?
I just cannot fathom what this accusation is about and why, somehow, the participants of this blog would be relieved if Iran were to become less newsworthy.
#23 is “amazed that this site didn’t pull the media up on that silence”…
shorter pedro: I will decide what is posted on this blog, and the circumstances in which it is posted!
Pedro’s usual Blair meme.
Throw out a single ridiculous ideological thought bubble and sit back. Don’t defend it or debate the point raised, just cast the troll and then move onto the next one.
“There is no question that the police are spoiling for a fight – all the time! ”
I don’t see any evidence to support this at all — certainly not here in Victoria at any rate and certainly not all police.
“Regardless of whether there are trouble makers or not the police like beating people up, lets look at London, some idiots smashed a window,…”
So what possible good for their cause would they be doing by committing wanton acts of vandalism ?
I heard about the woman being clubbed, as I said the cops over-react at times and that was unacceptable, I think I read that the copper involved was facing disciplinary action and she was taking some legal action over that incident — never heard the outcome though.
“I don’t see any evidence to support this at all — certainly not here in Victoria at any rate and certainly not all police.”
Admitedly, my experience is anecdotal, I don’t have figures, just an understanderble mistrust of the police, especially Vic Police, I even know some of the racist thugs personally!
“So what possible good for their cause would they be doing by committing wanton acts of vandalism ?”
The guy the beat to death wasn’t even involved with the protest!
“I heard about the woman being clubbed, as I said the cops over-react at times ”
IME they over react regularly,.
” never heard the outcome though.”
I’d say that’s because it’s ongoing.
“Admitedly, my experience is anecdotal, I don’t have figures, just an understanderble mistrust of the police, especially Vic Police, I even know some of the racist thugs personally!”
I know some too, one’s even a member of my family and none of them come even close to what you describe them as…
““So what possible good for their cause would they be doing by committing wanton acts of vandalism ?”
The guy the beat to death wasn’t even involved with the protest!
I was referring to the ferals who think its ok to smash things up and assault people in the name of whatever cause they’ve latched onto this week…
“I know some too, one’s even a member of my family and none of them come even close to what you describe them as…”
My Neighbour, a Police Officer (a law unto her fucking self,) describing the apprehension by a police dog of a Vietnamese man in Melbourne, in the last couple of years:
“The rotti got the fucking gook by the leg”
I know what I heard Gavin, I know my own experiences, obviously they differ to yours, I suggest that you have been more fortunate in your dealings with the police.
“I was referring to the ferals who think its ok to smash things up and assault people in the name of whatever cause they’ve latched onto this week…”
None of this excuses police violence! The police are there to enforce the law, not mete out rough justice!!! (like those people (girls) they beat up at S11, chose to settle out of court, I wonder why?????)
“None of this excuses police violence! The police are there to enforce the law, not mete out rough justice!!! (like those people (girls) they beat up at S11, chose to settle out of court, I wonder why?????)”
You keep latching onto this, I’ve already acknowledged that its unacceptable and should be dealt with accordingly, (which I’m sure it will be) — time to move on.
You don’t seem willing to address the fact that many protestors go to these rallies to cause as much damage as they can and to deliberately provoke a police response — why is that ?
Undoubtedly there are racists and thugs in the police force, unfortuneately they’re everywhere in our society but that doesn’t mean the entire force is racist or thuggish and its not appropriate to accuse all, or the majority of police of being the same.
“You don’t seem willing to address the fact that many protestors go to these rallies to cause as much damage as they can and to deliberately provoke a police response — why is that ?”
Many, you got data to back that up? I’d suggest that it’s a tiny minority…
“Undoubtedly there are racists and thugs in the police force, unfortuneately they’re everywhere in our society but that doesn’t mean the entire force is racist or thuggish and its not appropriate to accuse all, or the majority of police of being the same.
”
Many of us are very suspicious of Vic police, not only do I know some of the coppers I also know a former OPI investigator. I wont spout details because I can’t and this person does not want to be identified! My impression of the police is not plucked out of thin air, it’s based on real experience and what I’ve been told by people I trust.
Never the twain will meet Gavin, I’m gonna have a look at the ‘end of childhood’ thread, see if I can agree with you there
“Many, you got data to back that up? I’d suggest that it’s a tiny minority… ”
Well I don’t have a head count, but I’d suggest that when I see news footage of numbers of protestors wearing balaclavas or bandanas covering their face that they are doing so for only one reason…I guess it depends on your definition of “many”, but lets say its enough to be a significant issue.
“Many of us are very suspicious of Vic police..”
Who are “us” ?… I know the Vic police are by no means perfect, and there is certainly a level of corruption amongst some members, (unfortuneately – and contrary to opinion – they are only human ), but I’d say all in all as a force they do a reasonably good job in what are at times very difficult circumstances.
Happy to agree to disagree with you on this one Rob, although perhaps we aren’t as far apart on it as you may think
Well I don’t have a head count, but I’d suggest that when I see news footage of numbers of protestors wearing balaclavas or bandanas covering their face that they are doing so for only one reason…I
Yeah and the cops remove their badges with their numbers for honest reasons?
” I’d say all in all as a force they do a reasonably good job in what are at times very difficult circumstances.”
I can only speak from my experience and the things I’ve heard from the ex -OPI investigator I know.
“but I’d say all in all as a force they do a reasonably good job in what are at times very difficult circumstances.”
I suppose we aren’t beset by anarchy and chaos and by world standards they’re probably excellent but I still got to go on my experiences, my interactions. FTR – I’m a law abiding citizen who’s never ever been in trouble with the police, and I still don’t trust them.