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Issue No. 205 | 28 November 2003 |
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Australia Deserves Better
Interview: Union for the Dispossessed Unions: Joel's Law National Focus: Spring Carnival Bad Boss: Fina and Fiends Industrial: The Price of War Economics: Who's Got What History: Containing Discontent Review: An Honourable Wally Poetry: The Colours of Discontent
The Soapbox Sport Politics Postcard
 Mad Monk�s Medicare MinusA Tale Of Three Cities
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Tool Shed TRACKSUIT DIPLOMACY
***** He may like to think of himself as a statesman, but our truth-challenged Prime Minister is increasingly appearing to be Napoleon in a tracksuit. It now appears Howard's opposition to an Australian president is based on his belief that the job of supreme executive leader should fall to himself. Whether it is racing up the steps of an aeroplane so he can be seen with the slack jawed yokel that's running the US, or ignoring war widows so he can bask in the reflected glory of someone else's sacrifice, the Prime Minister believes he can assume the mantle of head-of-state to suit his own fantasies. Of course this little tactic might work for a short term gain in the polls, especially if he uses his opportunities to invoke the mantra of mateship like some ocker dalek. But it only works if he believes our constitution (that quaint little British Act of Parliament) is taken as a general set of suggestions. Mind you, it makes sense if he places the credibility of our constitution alongside the Ministerial Code of Conduct, non-core election promises or having to practice real mateship rather than using it as a meaningless platitude. It's a cunning stunt, but of course it will backfire if it is merely used as a vehicle to get good seats at a sporting contest. Especially if this little coup is carried out by someone as mean, vindictive, shallow and gormless as our incumbent Prime Minister. Given that Rugby Union is the Liberal party with a football tucked under its arm it should come as no surprise that this wannabe member of the North Shore should cloak himself as the Vodaphone Prime Minister and get his ugly dial alongside as many Wallabies as he possibly can. It's the sort of thing that goes down well at the bar of the Gordon Rugby Club. But the downside is that we have to put up with this complete non-entity strolling around the world stage like a demented loon, carrying on like a dorky pork chop, and generally making the rest of us cringe. The man is an embarrassment to himself, his nation and humanity. Exactly what sort of a non-leader Howard is was shown during the Rugby World Cup presentations when he greeted the victorious English players as if they'd just pissed in his beer. It is about time this bozo had a good hard look at himself. Is this how he wants Australians to carry on, being bad losers as well as bad winners? At the end of the day it is only a game. Then again, this man led us into a war on something even less substantial. Still, he is a man who is proud to promote another country's corporations and bend over forwards for the US at every opportunity. One could wonder if Howard would show the same petulance he displayed at the Rugby World Cup presentation if the Free Trade negotiations go badly. Our Tool Of The Week may act like a Head of State, but there's plenty of Australians that think he's a completely different sort of head.
Nominate a Tool!
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