Peter Dutton was edging towards possibly winning the forthcoming election. But lately he has been moving further and further away from that. It’s possible he might still win but it looks increasingly unlikely.

The problems are manifold.  In between a Trumpian brainfart about holding a referendum which would allow governments to deport some citizens he also claimed that interest rates are always lower under the Coalition because it manages the economy better than Labor. The first claim was hastily walked back by some colleagues but who knows what its status is now? read more

There is nothing more boring than long retired former soldiers holding forth on issues military. But there is one rule which does apply – the further they were away from the sharp end the more vociferous they are.

Some years ago, on a barge going up the Mekong (holiday not during the war), a rather obnoxious passenger was holding forth on Anzac Day as it was actually that date on the day. He was full of stories about rum at dawn and this and that. read more

This year marks 500 years since the end of the Peasants War in Germany (1524–25).

Inspired by Reformation belief the peasants claimed that divine rights provided them with agrarian rights and freedom from oppression by nobles and landlords. Sadly, the war was lost with some 100,000 peasants slaughtered. Survivors met with reprisals and restrictions and even more oppressive conditions. read more

Political junkies and the media are obsessed with opinion polls on the relative standings of the political parties. Movements within standard statistical margins of error are treated with great respect.

In between elections it’s probably all irrelevant but a significant turning point may have been reached in the forthcoming Australian election which – until very recently – looked like the election Peter Dutton couldn’t lose – or at least come very close to a majority within a couple of seats. read more

Europeans are doing it, the great bruiser Doug Ford is doing it, Mark Carney is gearing up to do it – even Keir Starmer is doing it.

But it’s a dance our very own Prime Minister isn’t doing.

Whatever reputation as a factional bruiser Albo might once have had it has been diminished along with his Prime Ministerial performance. read more

Despite being overwhelmed by the idiocy emanating from Trump and his acolytes it is encouraging to note some push back from many; some timeless commentary from others; a reality check on the rare earths situation; and, some blatant Russian acknowledgment of Trump’s useful idiot status.

Lech Walesa

 First, the view of genuine tough guy who stood against massive threats – the former political prisoner and Polish President, Lech Walesa. Walesa sent the following to Trump. “Your Excellency, Mr. President, We watched the report of your conversation with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, with fear and distaste. We find it insulting that you expect Ukraine to show respect and gratitude for the material assistance provided by the United States in its fight against Russia. Gratitude is owed to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in defense of the values of the free world. They have been dying on the front lines for more than 11 years in the name of these values and the independence of their homeland, which was attacked by Putin’s Russia. read more

Many, many years ago the then Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett was over the moon about poaching the Grand Prix from Adelaide.

Today, after costing Victorian $1 billion dollars with another $2 billion in losses pending by the end of the contract in 2037, it has never shown value for money.

The indefatigable Save Albert Park group, led by Peter Logan, has been campaigning for years to expose the massive rorts involved. Sadly, as when Peter and the blog confronted a then Labor Deputy Premier about the Grand Prix, he confessed they couldn’t cancel it for fear of petrol head backlashes. read more

The priestly pundit caste in the media is well into their election coverage rituals while the political parties are busy adjusting their strategies to tailor their offerings to these ritual needs.

For a start the pundits have already looked intensely at the runes on when the election will be held although the little matter of a cyclone has had unexpected impacts on that. read more

In any company which had a history of illegality; incurring massive costs for those illegal actions; polluted public discourse; and, made massive false claims about companies and institutions, the directors and managers would be facing summary sacking at an AGM. But in the case of News Limited all the evidence is that the company never learns from such lessons. read more

For a self-promoted tough guy – particularly if it involves refugee women and children – Peter Dutton’s career has been marked by many instances of being missing in action.

Abdul Rizvi (P&I 6/2/20) wrote that: “For years now Peter Dutton has boasted of his border protection achievements. But a brief examination of the detail of his boasts shows that while he has excelled in gratuitous cruelty, dog-whistling and eating taxpayers money, his actual border protection record is weak.” read more