There’s something for everyone when it comes to Donald Trump and our local pollies
Trump and the tariffs — a tale of two press conferences. Bill Shorten, yesterday:
Journalist: Are the Prime Minister and Julie Bishop doing enough to make sure we do get an exemption?
Shorten: I think they probably are doing everything they can. I don’t blame the Australian government for the decisions of President Trump, and I think they thought they probably had a deal and now they’re trying to make sure that is on it. I want to make it very clear that we hope that the government is successful in this. We think they are doing what they can to achieve it.
And Malcolm Turnbull:
Journalist: Would you like to see something more concrete though?
Turnbull: Well, there is a process that is going to go forward now following the announcement. We have seen what the President said about that and we will be engaging in that. We are relentless. I’m not like Bill Shorten, who would give up on Australian jobs. Bill Shorten — let’s not kid ourselves — gave up on Australian jobs.
Speaking of Trump, a surprise for the Labor fans. Brad Norington on The Australian’s website, yesterday:
Paul Keating has thrown his support behind Donald Trump, saying the three US presidents before him squandered their opportunities to fully engage with China and accept its growing influence in the Asia-Pacific.
Back to Shorten, yesterday:
Journalist: Are you concerned that Alex Turnbull’s remarks have damaged our relationship with Malaysia?
Shorten: I have made a decision that I am not going to comment about Mr Turnbull’s family. I don’t know what has gone on there; I am certainly going to respect the fact that it’s Malcolm’s family and I am not going to get involved in that.
Journalist: It is well known though that the government has been working on that relationship for a long time. Are you concerned as to any repercussions?
Shorten: I think you’re better off asking Mr Turnbull. Let me just state, as I have done in my whole time as Opposition Leader, I regard families as off limit, so I am not about to break that rule.
But some rules are allowed the odd exception. Shorten on an Abbott engagement, on November 20, 2017:
First of all congratulations to Frances and, in particular, her fellow. He sounds like a very lucky fellow. A couple of bits of life coaching: One, if you are going to have the wedding, get Albo to be the DJ and maybe get (Christopher Pyne) to help with the arrangements. And in terms of that, I just want to remind Frances that remember weddings are never about you and your beau, they are about your mum and your dad, so as long as you do what Margie and Tony say about the wedding, you’ll have a super wedding.
Staying firmly on target. Batman Labor candidate Ged Kearney during a press conference yesterday:
Kearney: I really don’t want to comment on that. I think that’s for the Greens party themselves to sort out. I’m just really focusing on what I can bring to the people of Batman and convincing the people of Batman that I will be the best candidate for them.
Journalist: Do you think the hipster-proof fence of Bell Street, is it going to hold?
Kearney: I am seeing a lot of change. People are telling me we have had a very good response on pre-polling.
Ah, an old school scandal. The Irish Independent, on Thursday:
Anglo Irish Bank officials discussed getting “a bit of drink into” a foreign banker before asking him for €5 billion ($7.9bn) and telling him to “sign the beer mat”, a court has heard. As the bank struggled during the financial crisis, senior executives talked about asking the London-based banker for a “one night stand”, in an approach a week before Anglo was bailed out.