“Everybody is wrong about everything, just about all the time.” So wrote Chuck Klosterman in Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto. Right and wrong was a hot topic this week as we delved into the netherworld of politicians’ private lives in the wake of the Barnaby Joyce affair.
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Caroline Overington weighed in with an Inside Story on the secret that gave birth to turmoil, having first asked why the news that the deputy prime minister’s former staffer was pregnant with his child had taken so long to be reported. Jack the Insider, on the other hand, was sick to death of the whole thing and didn’t want to know about Barnaby’s bonks or show business for ugly people. Jonathan agreed with Jack, and earns comment of the week for capturing the mood of many:
“We, the chattering masses couldn’t give a rats’ about the private lives of politicians. We just want them to do a half decent job of running the country. Is that too much to ask?”
Kathy was disquieted, and earns comment of the week runner up:
“Looking at the bigger picture, it certainly looks like not only did the PM know, but went to great lengths to keep this all quiet.
“Not to protect Barnaby and his family, but to protect his own position as PM and his one seat majority, even to the point where some National MPs were sent to the back bench in the Cabinet reshuffle late last year.
“Those of us who have taken the time to find out the dirty deeds Turnbull did to become PM will not be one bit surprised at what deeds he has done to retain it.
“Now all this is coming out into the open it will be open slather and the final nail will be the fact that members of the media will start to realise they are being used as a protection racket to cover for others dirty deeds and they will start to report things we should know and have a right to know. Game on.”
Get Shorten, said Stuart:
“Can you do a follow up story on Shorten’s first marriage, when his relationship with Chloe began and his marriage ended and the way he ended it at the football?”
AKA Peter proffered:
“Time for an article about the Labor Party and infidelity. Where to start, the top or the bottom?”
Pam shared her pain:
“I and my family have been in exactly the same situation as Natalie Joyce and her family. The loss of trust in others never goes away even decades later. The main point to a ‘spouse’ — please separate or leave the relationship BEFORE indulging in your new ‘life’. To save a lot of bother Barnaby, at least leave your wife with all the assets accumulated. The Liberals are as sullied as Barnaby over this by being complicit in deceit it seems.”
A little leeway, urged Lee66:
“About 50pc of marriages end in divorce. There are millions of Australians in similar relationship issues. Why single out Barnaby?”
Different strokes, said David:
“One quibble: I don’t think it’s open season on politicians’ private lives.Burke, Shorten and Albanese haven’t been given the same treatment.”
Boring, said Brad:
“This is none of anyone’s business. Why don’t the media stick to their knitting instead of invading peoples’ privacy?”
Stuart snickered:
“A man leaves his family for another woman is wrong. A man leaves his family to become a woman is 2017 Australian of the Year nominee-worthy.”
MaxT mused:
“It’s a very sad personal story, but is it anyone’s business but the Joyces’s? Publishing an unflattering photo of the pregnant woman takes it out of contention as a serious story. It’s typical tabloid fodder — blatant voyeurism.”
No joy for John:
“I find the double standards on this whole thing appalling. There we have Christine Forster on ‘Australian Story’ last Monday night talking about the ‘tsunami’ of family dysfunction which occurred when she abandoned her husband and teenage children to live with her same-sex partner.
“Not a word about that family and what it did to them; it was ALL about Christine. And, to add insult to injury, she paraded her homosexual relationship on national TV as an activist for SSM - completely disregarding her childrens’ feelings.
“Not a word of censure for Christine and how her actions hurt her family but plenty for Barnaby. It’s straight misogyny here, not to mention sheer hypocrisy. Christine a saint; Barnaby Joyce a bad man.”
Ted only had eyes for Tony:
“Morality, decency and honesty? Not very high on the Turnbull First agenda. But if we want that Tony Abbott is required at the helm.”
Marilyn was unamused:
“Would Ms Campion have an affair if Barnaby Joyce was not the Deputy PM and just an accountant in Tamworth? Unlikely. To some women, the perception of power is an aphrodisiac.”
Raw power, raged Rosalind:
“An ‘illicit affair’? What is this? 1952? Far out. The only reason that this private matter is a news story is because the media is now pushing it along. If this is to become a new thing, prying into the private lives of politicians, then I am going to cancel my subscription to every online news service and watch Days of our Lives instead.
“How about putting as much effort into reporting on the things that actually matter to Australians? I got my power bill yesterday. I have used less electricity than last quarter and my bill is 23pc higher. Report on that.”
Susan sneered:
“Barnaby — nothing but an old fool who should have known better. He has treated his wife and family appallingly for what? A young lonely careerist out to better herself at any cost. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts. By the time he realises what a mistake he has made it will be too late.
“If Barnaby can deceive and use those closest to him, his wife, family for so long, how are voters who he cares nothing for supposed to trust him.”
Lu too:
“There’s no fool like an old fool.”
Phil wouldn’t be fooled:
“He represented himself to the electorate as one thing (‘Joyce, a Jesuit-educated Catholic, has long proclaimed the sanctity of traditional marriage. He has often spoken of his conservative family values’) and then behaves completely at odds with that representation. His voters has been deceived and he should step down.
“How can it not be in the public interest to expose the deceit?”
Georged jested:
“The movie is out soon: Private Lives & Perks of Pollies & Press. No doubt a good story to be told on a tit4tat basis ... Claims of a cover up are far reaching. If Barnaby had covered up we wouldn’t be hearing about Barnababy!”
Tut-tut, said Ted:
“Apparently when Joyce walks into the Parliament he miraculously becomes honorable. Away from that joint everything goes.
“Respect for traditional family, morality, decency and honesty apply only when needed for election.”
Catherine got cross:
“It beggars belief that so many people could write this off as a ‘private matter’. Tax-payers and voters are at least entitled to know:
“1. Is there evidence that the government suppressed a potentially damaging story before a critical by-election, regardless of the outcome?
“2. Is there evidence that political appointments — as well as demotions — occurred in the context of a personal relationship between the Deputy PM and a staffer (and opposition to that relationship in the case of demotions).”
Erasmus got jiggy with it:
“Oh come on. Journalists don’t report on it because many of them are in the same boat. And they know it’s common in both parties — call it the Canberra syndrome; stuck in Australia’s most boring city, away from home for weeks at a time, things are going to happen. And do.
“Were the Australian people told about Tony Burke leaving his wife and kids for a staffer? (After taking her for a world tour at taxpayers’ expense.) And Julia Gillard relationships with married parliamentarians was also kept very quiet. Should more fuss be made over Barnaby because he’s politically conservative? I can’t see why.
“Bob Hawke was clearly on with Blanche behind Hazel’s back throughout his time as PM, and shacked up with her the second he lost his job. But he was an excellent PM, as was Keating, another Labor PM who dumped his wife as soon as he moved out of the Lodge. Howard was and is clearly a good husband and was also an excellent PM. Gillard had multiple relationships with married men and was a terrible PM, as was Rudd, though he seems to have been a loyal husband and father.
“What does that tell us? That personal relationships and what many of us would call decent behavior have no influence on whether a politician will do his job well or badly for us. And given the choice between an amoral MP who is competent and does good things and a moral MP who is incompetent, i’ll go for the competent MP every time.”
Gwen backed Jack:
“Jack, oh so true. Worked in P House over both administrations and, gossip aside, it is just a slice of Australia. Parliament is a hot-house of intrigue and salacious comment ... even this now-ageing lady was propositioned by several journos who wanted the lowdown on some pollies without said journos admitting they were straying wide of the commitments that had made to partners and family. The breakdown is sad for sure but any pushing this story have no regard for the affect on those involved. Life is messy.”
John, too, liked Jack:
“The single voice of reason I’ve seen in a swamp of seething, self-serving vitriol. Thanks for having the courage and conviction, that seems to have eluded many of your colleagues, including their editors, to put this matter into its rightful perspective.”
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Niki Savva was back with a bang, suggesting the key for the PM is to keep Shorten on the ropes without landing the knockout blow, as squaring off against Albo at the next election would be even harder. Mandy had a memo:
“Turnbull started 2018 as he finished the previous year — with the dubious distinction of having led the Coalition for its longest, lowest period of primary vote support in Newspoll history.
“Indeed, of the Turnbull Team’s start to 2018, Paul Kelly said it well the other day with this: This week the Turnbull government perfected the art of the great silence in response to Shorten’s speech, which warranted a swift and high-profile response.
“Whatever game the Turnbull government is playing, it is not Australian politics as it has been conducted for the past 50 years — the government is devoid of political organisation, fast media responses, sharp tactical politics or the ability to exploit the vulnerability of a vulnerable Opposition Leader. Unless this changes, it is doomed at the election.”
Down to earth, said dexxter:
“Thing is Labor is still in an election winning position over Turnbull’s Coalition according to the polls. When that position is reversed you may sing his praises, but until that occurs he is still a dud.”
Keith concurred:
“Niki, Turnwaffle is a dud despite your unrepentant and blinkered support for him.”
Ian asked:
“So you are admitting that should Labor replace the hopeless Shorten with Albo then Turnbull is toast? We have known this fact for the last 2 years but you kept saying how wonderful your mate Mal is.
“Welcome to reality NS as it appears you know deep down that Turnbull is as shallow as Shorten is.”
This jibed with John:
“ ‘It would not be in the government’s interests if Shorten goes so badly that Labor switches to Albanese before the election’. You got that right. Albanese will lead Labor to a walkover win over a Turnbull led Coalition at the next election.”
Show pony, said Tony:
“Whatever the press says, there is nothing edifying in Albanese. He is still a product of the Labor conga line of politicians, doing and saying whatever it takes to get into power.”
No mystery, said Enigmatix:
“Lucy Gichuhi has proven herself to be a typical politician, sold herself to the highest bidder. So much for the false claims of integrity.”
GreenConservative added colour:
“Malcolm’s best achievement is his self made wealth. The problem is that he’s blue on the outside and pink on the inside — whatever kind of fruit that is.”
Ken considered:
“ ‘The trick for the Coalition this year is to grievously wound Bill Shorten without killing him.’ Well Turnbull has had plenty of practice at grievously wounding those in the way of his ambition.”
ianm liked Albo:
“Anyone but Shorten, Plibersek, Turnbull or Bishop is fine by me. In fact, if Albo rolls wee Billy I’ll vote ALP.”
Peter drew his pistol:
“At least Albo is a straight shooter.”
Paul heeded Richo:
“In the real world as Graham Richardson has commented (that) the punters are being screwed by low wage growth and higher government mandated charges for energy, medical insurance etc while the fat cats get 4pc increases.
“It is always the economy stupid and the great boom in jobs and the share market is not translating into higher living standards. The Howard battlers who will decide the election are fed up to their back teeth with the political class.
“Listen to talkback radio and it shrieks at you. Albo for all his faults cuts through and is seen to be likeable. Turnbull and Shorten lack the common touch of John Howard or Bob Hawke. We saw it with Bill Hayden who was Bob Hawke’s drover’s dog.
“Don’t be surprised if the hard heads in Labor punt Shorten. Then Mr Harbourside Mansion will really have a fight on his hands.”
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Elon Musk blasted back into the news with the successful launch of his Falcon Heavy rocket, and the bizarre sight of a Tesla car complete with Major Tom at the wheel being released to drift across the galaxy. A lark, said Mark:
“Just imagine the emissions from that rocket — Jay must be furious!”
No flies on Philip:
“Lotsa snake oil being sold by Musk here.”
Ross was at a loss:
“Are you trying to tell me this is bigger then the Saturn V or has The Australian drunk the Musk Kool Aid?”
Mars attacks, said marcus:
“Ah the left at it again spreading renewable energy dogma into space. Looking to corrupt the martians. It’s Turnbulls fault and his not so hidden agenda to make space a socialist state. Bring back Abbot and make space great again.”
Paul’s position:
“Must need a very long extension cord!”
Applause from Arthur:
“A fantastic result for Space X and the visionary Elon Musk. The Falcon Heavy now lays claim to having the greatest capacity in payload of any operational launch vehicle since the Apollo missions.
“This highlights the state of manned space exploration since those heady days. Since the last Apollo mission in 1972 man kind has not left low earth orbit. Today, the United States does not have the means to achieve manned flight and relies on the Russian Soyuz rocket. Even the space shuttle could not reach the orbits of our geostationary satellites.
“On every measure, the Falcon remains a shadow of the Saturn V. Its payload is 63 tons compared to 140 tons on the Saturn V, it is smaller and half the weight of the Saturn V. The Saturn V remains the only launch vehicle never to have lost a payload.
“This is not to downplay the successful launch and its significance but we still have such a long way to go to catch up to the 60s space program. The launch is a credit to the vision of Elon Musk.”
Peter pondered:
“@Arthur I stood underneath a Saturn V 2 weeks ago where it was made in Huntsville Alabama. The guides at the museum who were retired engineers that built the thing told me 16 were made, they all flew without fault. Still the biggest and most powerful single piece of equipment ever made by a human.”
Robert was rapt:
“The simultaneous landing back at the Kennedy Space Centre of the two booster rockets, side by side, is the most spectacular technical achievement I’ve seen in years. Congrats to Musk’s impressive team.”
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