|
Issue No. 208 | 13 February 2004 |
All The Way With FTA?
Interview: Trading in Principle Unions: While We Were Away Politics: Follow the Leader Bad Boss: Safety Recidivist Fingered Economics: Casualisation Shrouded In Myths History: Worker Control Harco Style Review: Other Side Of The Harbour
Ban "Ruthless" Operators - Judge Taskforce Ignores Million Dollar Rorts Musos Tune-Up for Election Rock Chubby Fingers in Timorese Pockets Aussie Sites Doing the Business TAFE Stands Over Poor Students
The Soapbox Postcard Sport Parliament
TAFE Support State Of Confusion Scambuster History Lesson Generation Angst Give Them A Medal
Labor Council of NSW |
DEAD TOOL WALKING
***** The year of the monkey doesn't look like being a high water mark in the career of our lame-duck Prime Minister, John Howard. The National Embarrassment is an increasingly desperate man, forced to play catch up as his nemesis, Mark Latham, sets the Federal political agenda. Last week he tried to portray Latham as Mr Flip Flop, only for that epithet to blow up in his face as he did a 180-degree turnaround on parliamentary superannuation. The self-styled man of steel is actually a jellybacked man of rubber. His misplaced sense of his own importance didn't allow him to bite the bullet and impose his new rigorous standards on himself of course; he'll be desperately clinging to his own golden parachute, and the way things are going he'll be using it sooner rather than later. This intellectual pimple is a classic do-as-I say-not-as-do leader. Who can forget the lavish Italian hotel room; his record spending on plonk; Or his need for two houses - ironically while many of his fellow Australians are struggling to hang onto one. This from someone who portrays himself as some kind of suburban everyman! Yeah, right. Australia's worst Prime Minister in living memory is more than likely headed for the high jump the way things are going. He is a thoroughly discredited figure who for years has made a living out of lying. In his desperation the Godfather of Gormlessness has stooped to some pretty gutless opportunism in his time. We've had the map of Australia on the 7.30 report showing the aboriginal takeover; the 'never ever' GST; non-core promises; the Tampa garbage; his appropriation of One Nation's agenda; the complete rubbish that formed the basis for taking the country to war in Iraq; beating up on public schools; and on and on ad nauseam. Unfortunately being loose with the truth has a way of catching up with people, as it is now with Mr I-Wasn't-Told. Not since Alan Bond's trial have we come across someone who was so lacking in knowledge as to what was going on. His notion of what laughably passes as leadership is entirely devoid of accountability. And this man is running the country? God help us all. He has never led a government of much substance. The end result is that his government's policies from health to education to the workplace are a shambles as he scrambles to make decisions on the run. He'll be rolling out the pork-barrel in election year, but will anybody seriously be buying? The fact that Abbott and Costello are the next in line in the talent gives readers some appreciation of how bare the government's stocks are. This is a man who has truly demeaned us all. If Mark Latham is offering the 'ladder of opportunity', then little Johnny offers us the 'ladder of opportunism'. Just how much of a joke this pathetic little man has become became clear over the summer when he accused Latham of being "loose with the truth". This was met with sniggers and bemusement rather than anger or dismay. The man is losing his grip. Now that he's under pressure we start to see him out and about with pre-school kiddies, which is a truly scary thought. In thirty years of public life Howard has managed to move from kissing babies to photo opportunities with four year olds. At this rate he would have to live to be 300 before we could get him to address issues to adults. He has obviously managed to assume the mantle of Head of State, with his beloved Governor-General all but invisible. Fair dinkum, Photo-op Howard would attend the opening of a wound! His megalomaniacal fantasies may suffer a reality check if his increasingly rattled and erratic behaviour continues. The way things are going our Tool Of The Week may well step down prior to the next election, something he should have done thirty years ago. This Gimp for the Big End Of Town won't be missed - let's just hope he doesn't hit himself on the door on the way out.
View our Gallery of Tools Nominate a Tool!
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|