Piers Watch

Piers Loses His Edge

Something is happening to our hero. Two weeks back from Amsterdam and it's all been tame, predictable. Little niggles? Sure. But none of the bile we've come to rely on to make this column work.

Was the trip abroad so mood altering that the life has gone out of the old dog? Or is just that our constant scrutiny is starting to take its toll.

Of course we have a vested interest here. Having built a profile for Workers Online around Piers' excesses, we will soon become irrelevant if he mellows into just another comfortable lifestyle columnist.

Take this week's offerings. Tuesday's predictable attack on Republicans did not once mention the terms "Chardonnay set", "chattering classes" or "Paul Keating".

And his attempt to put the boot into junkies was equally as half-hearted. Sure he parroted the Premier's lines about "selfish" addicts, but where was the vitriol? Compared to his normal rantings, it was a considered piece.

Thursday was even more woeful. Bland mutterings about how cold it is in the morning when he walks the dog -- this could just as easily be the work of Adele Horin!

Or rabbiting on about how a kid who's crazy enough to be a round the world yachtsman is a role model for youth - this is the sort of stuff you'd expect from Sandra Lee, maybe even Miranda Divine. But you Piers? Please say it isn't so.

And the silly screed about over-servicing in medicine seemed more satire than comment - the thesis that bomb raids will stop people going to the doctor is good enough sport. But who is there to hate?

Like a footy legend nearing the end of his career, he's lost his impact. Where once he went for the big hits, he now appears content to brush his foes with a feather duster.

And with no-one to hate, he just ends up reading like a Mike Carleton Saturday column without the condescending sneer. For a right-wing commentator who loses his edge is nothing more than another bar-room jibberer.

Faced with the great Piers bland-out Workers Online make this public call - BRING BACK THE OLD PIERS. bring back the prejudice, bring back the hate.

Bring back the gratuitous attacks on trade unions. Bring back the prejudice against the yogi. Bring back the attacks on homosexual high Court judges. Bring back regurgitation of Howard press releases. Even lay into Frank Sartor if you have to. Just get angry.

Until you do, Pierswatch resolves to take a holiday. And if you don't change your colours quickly, we might head off for Amsterdam too. And if we go there, we will not be returning.

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  Issue 25 contents

»	Unions Embrace Open Shop
»	Council Sets Benchmarks for Vizard Deal
»	Steggles Treats Workers Like Chooks
»	Rail Workers on Collision Course with Carr
»	Reith Shamed Into Talk On Entitlement Fund
»	Unionists Asked to Defer NRMA Vote
»	Fire Fighters Use Net
»	Crew of Convenience Behind Sydney Oil Spill?
»	Sixty Junkets Join Currawong Hit Squad
»	Workers Table Petition for Gay Reform
»	Indonesian Trade Union Leaders to Visit Australia
»	International And Community Groups Oppose Reith�s Bill

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Country Labor Asks Question
»	The Ombudsman Replies
»	Confessions of a German Call Centre Agent
»	WorkCover Off the Track

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