Late night chat, not political whinge

Former US president Barack Obama joined The Late Late Show with James Corden and chatted about aliens, life post-presidency and raising children who are enjoying rare privileges.

Ostensible diplomacy: Eric Abetz greets Jono Duniam.

It’s nice to see a retired politician using a media opportunity to not bag a predecessor and so it was when former US president Barack Obama joined The Late Late Show with James Corden and chatted about aliens, life post-presidency and raising children who are enjoying rare privileges. First off, Strewth is thrilled that Obama said when he came into office, he asked whether aliens specimens were being kept in a lab somewhere. “They did a little bit of research and the answer was no,” he said. Conspiracy theorists can still rejoice: “When it comes to aliens, there are some things I just can’t tell you on air.” Regarding life out of the White House: “It is pretty darn good.” The pandemic has allowed for more time with his daughters, more time to read and sleep, and “Michelle thinks I’m a little cuter now, more sexy”. So much for power being an aphrodisiac. Speaking of his kids, Obama said he was proud that not only were they smart and accomplished, but they were kind and didn’t have attitudes. “That was the thing Michelle and I worried about most … when we were talking about running: are we going to end up with weird kids? Because there are like butlers in the White House — who has butlers?” he said. “I think one time … they were acting out and my mother-in-law looked at them and said: ‘You guys realise — you haven’t done anything, right? … Like your parents have done some things, you guys have done nothing so straighten up.’ Which was a pretty good corrective.” Ahem Alex Turnbull.

Stirring the pot

One privilege Obama admitted he had enjoyed at the White House was having a chef, with the former first couple now relegating most of their cooking to an “amazing young man”. “People ask ‘Do you cook?’ ” Obama said. “I say ‘Oh yeah, I make this great chilli and (Michelle) points out I have literally not made this chilli in 20 years.” Obama may want to swap recipes with Scott Morrison, who waxed lyrical about masala to the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Melbourne on Wednesday. “When I talk about multiculturalism in Australia, I often talk about it … as if in the context of masala,” he said.

“And you’ll think about a masala, a wonderful masala and how it brings together all the different spices and the smells and the colours. And they all come together, the different tastes, the bitter and the sweet, and then it makes something as you taste it, and you smell, and the aroma is something wonderful. And then you mix it in with your onions, and chillies and garlic, and I’m looking forward to the cooking. And it creates something absolutely magnificent.” Two thoughts: what time is dinner, and what community is onion?

No lockup woes

Continuing with the food theme, Strewth’s Wednesday’s reference to previous Victorian budget lockup fare of pastries did not do justice to this year’s gastronomical delights. Lunch selection two included a main of mustard and herb-marinated Victorian coastal eye fillet with kale and pea slaw, mustard seed mayonnaise and a salad of northern Victorian grilled corn, beans, tomato and Gippsland lime. The fresh component was lightly poached pear and apple, Beechworth honey, ginger, cinnamon, Jalna yoghurt and caramel crumble. To finish: lemon tea cake with blueberries and coconut. No wine list but a barista instead of the usual percolated brew. Did we mention the state is in increasing debt?

Bold rhetoric

Oratorical prowess is a key skill for a politician or their speechwriter and this week has seen some neat turns of phrase from federal representatives.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers had a measured tone when he spoke of relations with China: “This is obviously an incredibly complex, difficult, evolving relationship. And what it requires is calm, considered, purposeful, thoughtful leadership.” However, Penny Wong didn’t try to hide her feelings on Wednesday’s ABC Afternoon Briefing with Patricia Karvelas when discussing the vaccine rollout: “I am deeply worried about the shambolic state of the vaccine rollout here in Australia. I am deeply worried by the federal government’s failure to roll out the vaccine well, to have in place proper plans. I am deeply worried about the mixed message we are getting from the government. I am deeply worried as a consequence of those that we are seeing so much vaccine hesitancy and I am deeply worried about the effect on the Australian economy as well as the potential risk to health of Australians of the failure to get the vaccine rollout right. So, yes, I am worried.” I think we get the picture. And while the federal government still appears to be trying to create one effective message around the vaccination campaign, they should feel flattered by New Zealand’s imitation on budget slogans. Australia 2021: “Securing Australia’s Recovery.” New Zealand 2021: “Securing Our Recovery.” We claimed Russell Crowe and the pavlova — they’re welcome to the 2021-22 budget.

Back story

The first photo was taken on Thursday of Tasmanian senators Eric Abetz and Jono Duniam since the latter toppled Tassie’s king of the conservatives from the No 1 ticket spot, pushing him to the losable No 3 spot. Possible caption: Burying the hatchet: Turn around Eric and show us your back.

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