“We meet aliens every day who have something to give us. They come in the form of people with different opinions,” said William Shatner. Welcome to the Readers’ Comments column, where we boldly go where no column has gone before. Beam me up, Scotty. Engage at warp speed ...
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It was a torrid week for the Prime Minister, as the citizenship crisis threatened to suck more MPs into its black hole. The redoubtable Richo was resolved as the veteran headkicker concluded the time was up for our dud PM. Re-Joyce, wrote Michael, for the saviour is at hand:
“On Dec 3rd Barnaby will be re-elected as the member for New England. He should then immediately challenge MT for the PM’s job. It’s about time we had a PM from the Nationals’ side of the coalition anyway.”
David was dismissive:
“Thing is, Richo, outside your little gang, I think not many people consider being ‘good at politics’ to be a virtue.”
Neal was nicer:
“I actually feel sorry for Turnbull. He so wanted to be PM and has not ever really grasped the job. Gillard was disliked almost immediately for how she got the job and I feel Turnbull at least was liked even though he got the job the same way, but both were/are woeful.”
The gospel according to Matthew:
“The only answer is for the PM to resign, and an alternative leader acceptable to Conservatives and Moderates chosen and Abbott returned to the cabinet. Easy — problem solved!”
Rosalind was ready to wear Porter:
“Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Step up, Christian Porter. We need a circuit breaker.”
Better the dud you know, said Joel:
“I agree Turnbull is a dud. Unfortunately there is no alternative that is not also a dud.”
“Jobs and growth”, Roger?
“Three word slogans work, particularly in the Twitter age we now live in. Sporting games are becoming shorter to meet our new short attention span. Politicians have to cut through in 10 or 15 seconds or the remote will do it for them.”
David differed:
“Three word slogans are for dumb bogans.”
Lucas went the shirtfront:
“Win, lose or draw the next election, the answer for the Libs to save the party is Abbott. No-one else can do it.”
No so, said Obeyno1:
“A Tony-led liberal party may appease some conservatives but not the majority of Australians.
“Tried him. Didn’t like him as PM, his policies, his broken promises and hypocrisy. Credit for stopping boats though.”
It’s time, said Raymond N:
“Time is up for this dud ... but I don’t think it’s time for yet another one of your recent Labor duds.”
Well may we say God Save the Queen, said Hugh:
“The GG should dismiss the parliament and have an election.”
Heed thyself, Greg urged the PM:
“Turnbull should listen to one of his own media interviews, and count the number of times he says ‘but let me finish’, or ‘but allow me to continue’. The fact that interviewers, even the more courteous ones, frequently interrupt him should indicate to him that he is a waffler and that people switch off from him.”
Conrad is a Winner heard a broken record:
“You seem to be going over old ground with this constant refrain Mr Richardson. I have a suggestion; next article why don’t you try something a little harder and make a case for a replacement and give reasons as to why he or she would be better than the incumbent?”
Sydney split the difference:
“Shorten would be a horror too terrible to contemplate but Turnbull is a disaster who cannot be allowed to continue.”
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While Bill Shorten pounced on Turnbull’s Today television “tantrum” as evidence of a man losing his head, the PM declared: “I’m a good man in a crisis”. Pure Monty Python, said Paul:
“Yes, he is a good man in a crisis, and he should know: he’s created a few!”
Swee smouldered:
“Oh dear Malcolm. First you are having so much fun when the nation is in pain. Now you say that you are a ‘good man in a crisis’ while the nation despairs. You must be smoking some powerful stuff because you see things that no one else does.”
Wafflers gonna waffle, said Greg:
“ ‘Karl, you have got a job. If you are looking for a job and you need a job and you have got one because of the strong economic leadership we provided, you may think it is waffling but if you have been unemployed and you are getting a chance to get ahead, you would say (Stefanovic is) being very patronising saying young people getting jobs is waffle, ’Mr Turnbull said (on Today). If this isn’t waffle then what is?”
Betty wanted better:
“My mother always told me that ‘self praise is no recommendation’.”
Barbara was brutal:
“I work in an environment where we regularly face crisis situations. Someone who is ‘good in a crisis’ is not afraid to confront ugly and unpleasant realities, takes charge and accepts responsibility, thinks clearly under pressure, quickly formulates a coherent plan for responding and communicates it effectively to others. That is hardly a description of the PM.”
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Peta Credlin piled on, berating the PM for a fatal lack of political nous. Just so, said Sanchia:
“Turnbull is a classic example of an incompetent opportunist. Not for him the detailed boring day-to-day business of government ... but the sharp uncompromising eye for the main chance, the opportunity, the situation to exploit for his own benefit and advantage.
“He has gone for a toss on every political banana skin that lay in his way because his head is in the clouds of his ambition ... he is doing the people of Australia a great disservice and it is time he got the push.”
John joined in:
“Simple, accurate and incisive.”
Peta for PM, pleaded Phil:
“Peta sounds like someone I could vote for and who could run a country.”
Tony too:
“Credlin must run for parliament. She’s a future PM.”
Diogenis disagreed:
“Reading the Delcon erotomania sleep-talk one can only conclude that ‘Dear Peta’ letters are a resurrection of Heart Balm from the Truth weekly of the Menzies era.”
Guy’s gut-punch gets comment of the week:
“When chased up for paperwork for the registrar, some ‘honestly felt compliance was intrusive’. There, in a nutshell, you have it. Too many politicians don’t think they are accountable, and regard pecuniary interests and donations as their business, not the public’s.
“The same scandalous disregard for probity is reflected in the citizenship scandal. The denial, the deception, the stonewalling, the refusal to come clean, and above all the refusal to resign makes Turnbull’s audit that’s not an audit a complete joke.
“Turnbull is just running a protection racket, and he is already refusing to accept the evidence, witnessed by his backing of dual citizens like John Alexander. Any sympathy the public had for the plight of dual citizens has evaporated along with trust and respect because, as usual, Turnbull took forever to act, and then delivered too little too late.”
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In the wake of yet another US gun massacre, Cameron Stewart took aim at the Second Amendment. David did not disagree:
“The Second Amendment was clearly designed to allow for armed and organised militias — not to give every nutcase roaming the streets the right to bear high-powered weaponry.”
Jeff shot back:
“Americans want firearms for self-defence. Simple as that.”
Bassam blamed the Big Screen:
“The problem is a mental problem — the mindset or hardwiring of the American people. For example, everything gets sorted out in their movies with a gun.
“The constitution’s authors would never have dreamt of the events that have just occurred in the last two months ... until the mindset changes, then nothing will change. And the NRA is there to make sure it doesn’t.”
John focused on the home front:
“Restricting the ownership of guns works in Australia. Let’s put our efforts in ensuring that John Howard’s legacy is maintained. America is a lost cause.”
Anthony was apathetic:
“My thoughts, the horse has well and truly bolted, the guns in the US are out there to stay, nothing will change that. The only massacre that I thought may be a catalyst for change was Sandy Hook, 26 young children slaughtered, nothing changed. Here’s Tom with the weather.”
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When Sam Dastyari got dissed by some grubs in the pub, he blamed the “racist rant” on the pernicious influence of Pauline Hanson, who in turn called Dasher a “pipsqueak”. Man up, said Ramdas:
“This is what you get when you play identity politics, Mr. Dastyari.”
GetUp! said David:
“If it’s good enough for your GetUp!, just suck it up.”
Spread the risk, said Robert:
“Sam, get the Chinese government to pay for a bodyguard.”
Keith concurred:
“Dastyari with his disloyal and irregular secret deals with China tries to use pub banter to his own publicity advantage. What a surprise.”
What goes around, said Pamela:
“I am delighted that Dastaryi is getting ‘stick’ — he gives enough out, and IMO is not a fit person to be in parliament at all.”
No big deal, said David:
“A storm in a teacup. Sam plays provocative politics so things won’t always go smoothly.”
Janelle pointed to the perils of Pauline:
“I was watching a show at an RSL club one night when Pauline Hanson slipped in with a man to watch the show. You should have heard the abuse hurled at her. To her credit she stayed and watched the show and she did not go to the press about it.
“I am sure she encounters abuse wherever she goes but cops it on the chin. Grow a set Sam!”
Marco Polo thought the fix was in:
“Considering the stream of rubbish that Dastardly produces on Facebook and social media, this sounds like a set up to slowdown the momentum of One Nation in the Queensland election.”
Patrick postured:
“Part and parcel of living in a big city. Harden up, buttercup.”
Steve had some sympathy:
“I don’t agree with this three or four against one confrontational approach from either side however Sammy cannot really complain. His side had been orchestrating similar tactics towards the right for years.
“Hanson seems to be unable to go anywhere without some unwashed lefties hurling abuse at her from every direction. Abbot got headbutted in the street by another lefty idiot. Sam if you lay down with dogs you’re going to get fleas.”
As did David:
“Not that I care much for Shanghai Sam but this abuse of him is nothing short of disgraceful and anyone that attempts to play this through the left vs right of politics thing is a bigot.
“If they had called him a union stooge, good, a Chinese communist plant, fine. But to go after his background and religion is ugly racism.”
John’s rejoinder:
“Sam ain’t much of a politician ... but I thought he did well, gave as good as he got and the blokes hounding him were made to look even more stupid than they actually are.”
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Robert Gottliebsen’s analysis of the strange case of the shelf stacker was a down-down for Coles. Robert the reader replied:
“Given this sort of arrangement between big business and the unions, I have always found it strange when the ALP accuses the Coalition of being in bed with big business to the detriment of workers.”
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Each Friday the cream of your views on the news rises and we honour the voices that made the debate great. To boost your chances of being featured, please be pertinent, pithy and preferably make a point. Solid arguments, original ideas, sparkling prose, rapier wit and rhetorical flourishes may count in your favour. Civility is essential. Comments may be edited for length.
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