Change we can’t quite believe in as we encounter Summers of discontent

Anne Summers in The Sydney Morning Heraldyesterday:

Et tu, Barack? That was my reaction when I heard the news that former US president Barack Obama has agreed to a speaking gig on Wall Street for which he will be paid $US400,000 ($535,000) … This man does not need the money. But what he does need is for us to continue to believe in him, to learn from him and, above all, to ­continue to respect him. And more than ever, we need him. We need him to stand above the chaotic fray of Trumpian politics and help us see clearly what is in jeopardy, what must be preserved, how we can save our ideals and our polity. This one seemingly greedy act has put all that in jeopardy.

Summers continues:

He’s no different from all the others. Just another money-grubbing politician. I can scarcely believe it. I certainly don’t want to.

It was so different back then. Summers in the Herald on June 15, 2012:

This morning, Australian time, the US president, Barack Obama, is due to attend a fundraising dinner party at the New York home of movie stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick. Co-hosted by the editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, the price of a ticket was a reported $40,000 a head. Not a good look for the president in the week the US ­Federal Reserve reported that average American wealth had plummeted to $77,300 in 2010 — down from $126,400 in 2007 … So we will be seeing a lot more of Obama with movie stars and the super-rich in coming months. The only question is whether the money raised will be at the ­expense of his political credibility — and his electoral prospects.

Surely there was a time Anne wasn’t disappointed? Summers on December 26, 2009:

The past 11 months have been marked by Obama’s seeming timidity, his vacillation (particularly the very public attenuated policy review process about whether to send more troops to Afghanistan) and his failure to stand up and tell people what it is he wants. (He has never articulated a precise ­description of the bottom-line ­requirements of the healthcare plan he wants). In other words, he has ­failed to lead.

Back in the Herald yesterday, something for everyone:

Why Obama should be praised for giving paid Wall Street speeches;

‘Hypocritical’: Obama under fire for reported $530,000 speech fee.

Speaking in tongues. 9News.com.au on Thursday:

Disgraced former politician Mark Latham has confronted pedestrians in a western Sydney suburb to quiz them on their English skills in a video ­deploring “ethnic enclaves” in Australia. The recently sacked Sky News commentator claims his video stunt is an attempt to investigate if “genuine multiculturalism” exists in the suburb of Fairfield, where residents represent 170 nationalities … Most of those Latham speaks to politely reply they speak no or little English. It’s not shown how long the former Labor leader spoke to those he confronted or whether he asked where they live.

Former Gillard-Rudd adviser ­Eamonn Fitzpatrick floating a theory on Twitter yesterday:

They’re just savvy pedestrians. If Mark Latham approached me on a street anywhere I’d also pretend I couldn’t speak English.

Demetri Sevastopulo in the Financial Times on Thursday:

Sitting across from Donald Trump in the Oval Office, my eyes are drawn to a little red button on a box that sits on his desk. “This isn’t the nuclear button, is it?” I joke, pointing. “No, no, everyone thinks it is,” Trump says on cue, before leaning over and pressing it to order some Cokes. “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button.”