The reason I ask is that Irvin Rockman was a Sea Diver and so is David Van, according to his website.
Irvin Rockman’s parents hailed from Ukraine, and I see David Van was over there last year selling weapons to Zelenskyy?

Im disappointed in the cat.
You have let me down.

Why havent these been put up before??

What is a sea diver?
Diving in the sea rather than underwater caves on land.
It’s on Irvin’s Wiki entry.
He hadn’t been in the papers for years, I didn’t know that he had died.

The heart of Christianity is faith in Jesus; good works are the fruit of that faith.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is putting the proverbial cart before the horse.

Sure, I didn’t say anything against that notion.

The Bible also says faith without works is dead.

Remind us again how the mob you support has as its only real policy agenda to slash the welfare state in favour of tax cuts for the rich.

Irvin Rockman also built the Parkroyal in Alice Street, not much of a building to look at, but quite nice inside.
His Wiki says he was mired in Drug Smuggling allegations around 1981, but I seem to recall something more serious.
Perhaps I’m mistaken?

Looks like Steiner was a no-show in Ukraine.

Open secret of groping Lib

The headline says it all.
At least Dutton avoided standing up for David Van [as advised by many ‘Liberal advisers’ here], so he’s probably not going to be
the next Bruce Lehrmann.
But, you never know.
Stranger things have happened.

she doesn’t have an “association with convicted rock spider Nicolaas Bester”

Ah but she does, Cranky. There is even an article about it on her Web site. She will forever be associated with an attempt to cover for a convicted rock spider by doing an interview with him where she talked at length about how girls are (partially) to blame for being victims of rock spiders by “exploiting their seductive power”. This is disgusting NAMBLA-level apologia for pederasty. Arndt was widely scorned for this shameful episode, and rightly so.

You, of course, continue to defend her regardless of her disgraceful support for a convicted pedophile, because you see her as an ally in your culture war – a war you are badly losing, and in which you have precious few allies, most of which are as discredited and shunned as Arndt. And you have the hide to come at me for supporting perverts! Look at your own backyard Cranky, it’s full of scuttling spiders.

This is industrial thinners sniffing, meth injecting gerbil up the arse level retarded…

Lidia Thorpe on why some victim survivors do not want to report their claims to the police

Ahead of question time, Lidia Thorpe, has thanked supporters for messages she has received in the last 48 hours, after making her allegations in the Senate, and spoke about why some survivors of violence do not wish to report their claims to police.

In a short statement to the Senate this afternoon, just before question time, Thorpe said:

Today I want to send a message of love and support to the women, girls and gender-diverse people out there – black, brown and white – who have experienced gender-based violence and harassment. I have been touched by all the messages of support that I’ve received over the past 48 hours and I thank you.

To all those still fighting against the violent colonial system,** and the conditions that allow gender-based violence to continue, may we continue to find strength and solidarity with each other. This country has the capacity to properly fund those support services, legal services and advocacy groups, who are saving lives and protecting our community against gender based violence.

* Police are the only group devoted to seeing predators charged and convicted.
But I dont want to use them.
And 87% of rapes arent reported.
So… wibble wibble my old mans a dustman bintangbintang.

** Perhaps a light ritual spearing of all involved would be better?

Monty do you support women not reporting rapes and assaults to police?
It seems to be the current thing getting a run…

Monty dismisses something which has its targeting of Trump lawyers literally in its own statement of mission.

https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/65-project/

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21398212-the-65-projects-ethics-complaint-against-trump-attorney-cleta-mitchell

You fat ridiculous mong.

Wilkinson’s lawyers also accused Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn
Interesting that Wilkinson’s producer was Angus Llewellyn.

“Night Vision goggles” are going to tip the conflict in favour of the Yookies*.

No, no. That would be the Bushmasters. The next phase of the great offensive will be the Bushies driving straight through the Russian’s main defence line and all the way to Mariupol.

I think m0nty has Jesus confused with Robin Hood.

Ah yes, Jesus, a noted friend of Big Business. Why, I remember the time he went into the temple and delivered a stirring address lauding bedrock libertarian principles to the assembled money-changers. Then he went among those brave capitalists in peace, backslapping and giving high fives.

The war against statins takes a serious turn. I wonder if Big Pharma will be quietly providing some background funding? I hope the good Doctors win convincingly.

https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2023/06/04/libel-case/

I [Dr Kendrick] have been silent and off-line for a while. I am not unwell, but thanks for asking. There is a court case coming up in the High Court in London on the 3rd of July. I am suing the Mail on Sunday, along with Zoe Harcombe. This is complex and highly time-consuming case, and there are many sensitive issues on the line.

It was reported in the BMJ last year:

The controversy over the benefits of statins is set to be aired in the High Court in London, in what the senior libel judge has described as the “most significant piece of defamation litigation that I have seen in a very long time.”

Mr Justice Nicklin made the comment in a preliminary ruling in a libel action by Malcolm Kendrick, a GP, and Zoe Harcombe, a researcher, author, and blogger with a PhD in public health nutrition, against Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online, over articles that labelled them “statin deniers” whose “deadly propaganda” had endangered lives.

In the judgment Nicklin ordered that the case should be heard in two tranches: a preliminary trial of certain issues, followed by a main trial. “It is no exaggeration to say that the parameters of this litigation are very substantial,” he said.

Kendrick and Harcombe are suing over articles published in the print edition of the Mail on Sunday and in Mail Online in March 2019. A news story in the paper was headlined “Statin deniers are putting patients at risk says Minister.”

Then he went among those brave capitalists in peace, backslapping and giving high fives.

He did?
This Jesus sounds like a stand up guy.
Any idea why the Libertarians nailed him to a tree a week later?

Ed Casesays:
June 16, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Just lookin’ at today’s paper, there’s a pic of David Van with partner Nerilee Rockman.
Would Nerilee be a daughter of former Melbourne Lord Mayor Irvin Rockman, by any chance?

What does it matter, other than to those addicted to social gossip?

Ed Casesays:
June 16, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Eddles, I would have thought you’d be pointing out she’s clearly an extra terrestrial lizard person.

Take it easy, Rabz.
I’m seeing a story on p.4 saying that nobody thought David Van would score the #3 slot on the Vic. 2019 Senate Ticket.
Then on the next page he’s married to Nerilee Rockman.
Now, perhaps Nerilee isn’t Irvin Rockman’s daughter, he had 6 kids from 3 wives, but perhaps she is and that helped him into the Senate?

Many years ago, Paul Sheehan did a column in the SMH about the personal links between senior Liars Party politicians and staffers. He tracked who had been married to/shagging whom, who was currently married to/shagging whom, and what might happen next.

If you want to follow political bed hopping gossip, perhaps the Liars will be a more productive source of fascination?

Here’s Dr Mercola on Cholesterol and Statins:

https://twitter.com/willscharf/status/1669333178962571264

Will Scharf
@willscharf
·
16h
I am a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, worked on two Supreme Court confirmations, and clerked for two federal appellate judges.
The indictment and case against President Trump is outrageous and shocking.

But let’s get into the details.

Here are my 6 key points on the case:

all 6 points are worth a read.. but check out Jack Smith.

Will Scharf
@willscharf
(6) Jack Smith: Why him?

If you could pick any lawyer in the country to handle a controversial case against a former president, a case involving an aggressive, unprecedented use of the Espionage Act, a controversial law in and of itself, what lawyer would you pick?

You’d probably want just a consummate professional, right? Career prosecutor with no political profile at all? White knight in shining armor who’s never lost a case?

Or you could pick Jack Smith.

I follow law stuff pretty closely. I’m a huge nerd. I knew who Jack Smith was before this, and the specific case he is most closely associated with in the public eye was the prosecution of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.

Remember that one? Using a very aggressive interpretation of the scope of federal bribery and honest services fraud statutes, Smith nuked the career and life of a popular Republican politician, before having all his convictions overturned by the Supreme Court in a 9-0 opinion.

You read that right, all nine Supreme Court justices smacked Jack Smith down for an overzealous, legally defective prosecution of a Republican politician. SCOTUS gutted him so badly that DOJ didn’t even try to re-try the case. They just dropped it.

And his wife is a leftist filmmaker who produced a hagiography of Michelle Obama.

And he currently lives in the Netherlands. Didn’t they have anyone else good on this side of the Atlantic?

Fat Fascist Fool

precious few allies, most of which are as discredited

Back to school you semi-literate nong. That should be “most of whom …”

Many years ago, Paul Sheehan did a column in the SMH about the personal links between senior Liars Party politicians and staffers.

here’s some snippets I saved – I think most of it is the work of Paul Sheehan.

GOOD evening ladies and gentlemen, or comrades, as we say in the Labor Party. Welcome to Melbourne. It’s a strange honour to be among you, resplendent in your blue scarfs and ties, which remind me of the hat bands worn at my old school Loreto Mandeville Hall in Toorak.

You are members of a society the great Bob Hawke once referred to as “economic lunatics and political troglodytes”. In fact, the Health Services Union directed me not to attend this gala, warning me off the “deathly embrace of the union-busters”. Therefore I am here as a private citizen.

My HSU colleagues also accused your society of becoming “a participant in internal union issues”. Friends, with respect, even with gung-ho soldiers like Peter Reith and Nick Minchin, I doubt any of you are equipped for one of our blood feuds.

It was once said there was an “industrial relations club” in Australia, made up of unions, employer bodies, advocates and the arbitration commission. Today, our movement is like a dysfunctional family, more like the Sopranos than the Sullivans.

So, as a person who has played the factional game as hard as anyone for two decades, I feel a sense of duty to tell you about our family. I’ll mention lovers, friends and foes, not because I’m a vindictive person but to be faithful to the story.

Yet, if there is an anti-union hate group, I believe its most insidious members are in our own ranks. Anyone who has been following the sorry saga involving Craig Thomson and the corrupt racket of his sugar daddy Michael Williamson will know exactly what I mean. Sadly, we are all tainted. A long time ago, the “Wobblies” wanted One Big Union. Well, we now have one, with sex, lies and credit cards.

To begin, the original story of Thomson’s alleged misdeeds was broken by The Sydney Morning Herald’s Mark Davis. He now works for Greg Combet, who was ACTU secretary before he entered politics. Awkward. Combet’s right-hand man during the campaign against Work Choices was George Wright, who then worked for Lindsay Tanner and Kevin Rudd before going corporate at National Australia Bank. Wright is now ALP national secretary and previously worked out of HSU offices in Sydney.

Wright replaced Karl Bitar, who now spruiks for James Packer. Bitar was the soulmate of Mark Arbib at Sussex Street, when he was running the NSW branch. As a senator in Canberra, Arbib shared a house for two years with a woman who works for Julia Gillard. That woman is Alexandra Williamson, daughter of Michael, HSU emperor, former ALP national president. On leave, delegates, last seen helping police with their inquiries.

Like your good friend Tony Abbott, who addressed you many years ago, I am no saint. I have deceived people and behaved ruthlessly. I have manoeuvred in a calculating fashion. By giving you a glimpse into Kathy’s World, I hope you will remain outside observers, rather than consorting with the enemy.

I am a child of Greek migrants who met and married here. They worked long hours in blue-collar jobs. Even though the family is Orthodox, my parents sent me to Catholic schools, where I got my strong sense of social justice from the nuns.

I was involved in Young Labor at university and became good friends with David Feeney, who is now a senator and parliamentary secretary. He is married to Liberty Sanger, my best friend, a board member of State Super and principal of law firm Maurice Blackburn. Nicola Roxon worked there. Another of its principals is Josh Bornstein, whose father David was a Labor MP in Victoria.

Josh was part of the legal team in the waterfront dispute and is now representing Peter Slipper in the sexual harassment case against the Speaker and the commonwealth brought by James Ashby. Disclosure: Ashby is being represented by Harmers Workplace Lawyers, which is helping me pro bono in my matters.

I can’t find a firm that’s not conflicted. Thomson is using Holding Redlich, the outfit founded by Clyde Holding, former Victorian opposition leader and Hawke government minister. Holding beat Simon Crean in a preselection for his father Frank’s old seat of Melbourne Ports in 1977.

That firm is representing the national office before Justice Geoffrey Flick in the federal court, a case Bill Shorten instigated to put the union into administration. Shorten is no friend of mine. Along with his cabinet and power-broking pal Stephen Conroy, he runs a right-wing grouping called the “ShortCons”. I love that name. Shorten and Conroy have got into bed in a stability alliance with the Left, which is headed by Kim “Il” Carr.

They used to shout at each other at ALP state conferences, now they make and break prime ministers. Feeney’s breakaway conservative group is called the “Taliban” by opponents or the “Right rump” and is aligned with the Shoppies and the National Union of Workers, which was previously the Storemen and Packers Union.

I knew Shorten and Evan Thornley, the former Victorian MP and tech entrepreneur, at uni. After graduation I got a job as an HSU organiser. We look after anyone who works at a hospital, particularly the low-paid. I am not a hero. If I have any ambition it is to help these people who recently won a minimum wage rise. Sadly, I see your organisation was opposed to that.

In 1995 I met Jeff Jackson, a fun bloke going places in the ALP. We married and people said we were the “Jackson faction”. Some claimed we ran the HSU as a fiefdom. That’s a joke, especially the way Thomson had run the show when he was national secretary from 2002 until he won the seat of Dobell in the Ruddslide.

As Fair Work Australia’s three-year investigation by Terry Nassios found, Thomson used union credit cards to splurge $500,000 on prostitutes, travel and fine dining. Full disclosure: my partner Michael Lawler, a former barrister, is vice-president of FWA, but he does not have control over investigative processes. Another declaration: Michael’s sons have done casual work for the HSU.

One of your speakers today, Doug Williams, was the industrial registrar who launched the investigation into the national office. He was succeeded at FWA by Tim Lee, who was assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union and a factional player in the Victorian ALP. When Lee became an FWA commissioner, Bernadette O’Neill, former joint assistant national secretary of the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (or the Missos), was dropped into the FWA hot seat as general manager. Don’t stop me if you’re not following all of this. Few people can join the dots, and one of them lives in the Lodge.

But as the FWA report found, Thomson employed without authorisation his half-brother Struan Robertson, while HSU funds were used to employ Criselee Stevens, daughter of a local councillor, and Matthew Burke, in roles to pump up Thomson’s profile in Dobell. At the time Burke was also working for NSW senator Steve Hutchins, the one-time Transport Workers Union boss. His wife Natalie Sykes won the Victorian seat of Keilor in 2010, succeeding George Seitz, who was very handy when it came to Shorten’s preselection, I recall.

According to the FWA report, without board approval Thomson set the wages and conditions of HSU national industrial officer Mark McLeay, son of former federal Speaker “Leaping Leo” and brother of one-time NSW MP Paul, who resigned from the ministry after being busted viewing pornography on a work computer. The report also said Thomson used HSU funds to pay Katie Hall to work on Labor’s marginal seat campaign in the Victorian seat of La Trobe in 2007.

Nassios found Thomson spent HSU money on travel for his former wife Christa. His current wife Zoe Arnold, who defended his behaviour in the papers, was a former NSW government adviser and media adviser to the TWU. Her union boss Tony Sheldon was elected as ALP national vice-president last year, while his wife Sarah Kaine was vice-president of the NSW branch.

The FWA report found Williamson did not keep his protege Thomson on a tight leash. He should have brought numerous issues to the attention of the national executive. As well, unauthorised payments were made to a charity associated with Williamson’s wife, Julie.

Michael, of course, was busy running his company United Edge, which provided IT and other services to the HSU, and employing his family and friends. His son Chris worked in the media unit and made music; his brother Darren was the recruitment and marketing manager; sister-in-law Monique Irvine was lead organiser; and close friend Cheryl McMillan was procurement manager.

Not all the HSU action was in Sydney. As I said, I was a tough player in bitter factional battles. I had a close ally in Marco Bolano, deputy general secretary of HSU East, who the delusional Thomson said in his cowardly parliamentary rant had threatened to “set him up with hookers”.

When I took over from Thomson in 2007, the union’s finances were a mess. I called in auditors, took action by bringing in Slater & Gordon, the mob Julia once worked for. By trying to clean up the HSU and in keeping my enemies at bay, there were further divisions. My long-time rival Pauline Fegan, state HSU president in 2009, once put me in a headlock. A grown woman! Fegan still denies it. Her forces were backed by Conroy and his TWU factional mates. Marco and I prevailed.

Today, the HSU faces a mortal threat, on the ground and in the courts. I am trying to bring the antiseptic of public scrutiny to bear on the disgraceful behaviour of HSU officials who are trying to protect Williamson.

I have no confidence in the national executive, some of whom are ALP operatives. Acting national president Chris Brown is a big-wig in Tasmania. One of our state secretaries, Lloyd Williams, is part of Gillard’s own sub-faction. Another HSU executive, Peter Mylan, is a Williamson lieutenant.

The claim that I took my allegations to the NSW Police to gain control of the union is ludicrous. I did so reluctantly, knowing it would bring down a world of attack and smear on me.

Disclosure: my partner wrote to Strike Force Carnarvon in a private capacity to draw attention to alleged misconduct by HSU officials Carol Glen and Gerard Hayes.

So that’s the family tree. It’s as much as my memory can muster. I apologise if I spoke too quickly or dropped a stray F-bomb. I know we will forever be opposed in the battle between capital and labour. But the truth is I have always engaged in politics seeking to protect and advance the interests of my real family, the hard-working members of the HSU. Thank you.

Anyway, Tanya was close to Anthony Albanese, the federal minister for trucks and hard hats. Albo’s married to Carmel Tebbutt. Can you believe the Deputy Premier is about to be ditched in the People’s Republic of Marrickville? She’s down to earth and has worked her guts out in health.

Carmel followed John Della Bosca in that hospital-pass portfolio. He came after Reba Meagher, who was once Joe Tripodi’s fiancee. They were in Young Labor when I was still at school.

I wonder what Joe’s going to do next. He’s only 43. Reba’s a single mum now. She was married to Tim Gleason, who did media for Bob Carr, Nathan Rees and Kevin Rudd. He deserves an AO.

Guess what? Carmel went to the same De La Salle School in Cronulla as Della, the alma mater of Michael Lee, NSW ALP president who was a minister when Paul Keating was PM. Anyway, his brother John Lee, the key man at the Tourism and Transport Forum, was director-general of the premier’s department when Rees became premier in 2008.

They were bloody hard days. I should write a book about it. Confessions of a Party Girl!

DLS Cronulla is a Labor factory, even though it’s in The Shire. Tony Sheldon, national secretary of the Transport Workers Union (who’s married to NSW ALP vice-president Sarah Kaine), went there, as did Steve Hutchins, who didn’t get up from the No.3 Senate spot last August. Gone. He was once married to Diane Beamer, the retiring member for Mulgoa, but Hutch is now hitched to Natalie Sykes, who won the Victorian seat of Keilor last year.

Another Cronulla old boy is Michael Forshaw, who is retiring in June after he got demoted on the Senate ticket to make way in Canberra for former NSW party boss Matt Thistlethwaite. Matt’s successor is Sam Dastyari, the guy running the campaign, not much older than you, actually.

KK called him a fool after he said Bazza O’Fazza was going to win this thing big. Hello. Read the memo. Like backroom Sam’s ever going to speak without getting the green light? He’s married to Helen, the daughter of Peter Barron, who worked for Bob Hawke when he was PM and he is a close mate of Graham Richardson.

You know Richo, from Sky? Everyone knows Richo. He took Della under his wing at Sussex Street. Della is married to Belinda Neal, who lost preselection for Robertson after that meltdown at Iguanas night spot a few years ago. Then Kevin747, of all people, made her take anger-management lessons. I love those ironies, it keeps me centred.

When Della left the upper house, his spot was taken by Sophie Cotsis, who used to work for Michael Costa. Did you see that piece he wrote in the Oz last year? What a rat. Are you following all this? Stop me if I ramble.

Costa used to write some out-there stuff when he was at the Labor Council with Mark Duffy, who also worked for Egan. Bonsai economy. The HR Nicholls crowd loved it. We used to denounce them at Young Labor, pass all these motions of condemnation.

Duffy married Seija Wolk, who worked for Costa, and is now deputy DG of minerals and energy. Pretty much a pointy-head bureaucrat these days. Costa is just mad. I reckon by Monday Costa and Morris Iemma will be taking the nuclear option.

Cassandra Wilkinson also worked for Costa and is one of Kristina’s senior advisers. You know Paul McLeay who resigned from the ministry last year after an audit found he’d been visiting porn sites on his work computer, that’s Cassandra’s husband. Paul’s father was the federal speaker in the house of reps, they used to call him “Leaping Leo”.

Costa’s office, like Egan’s in his day, was like a transit lounge for all sorts of people. I was only a junior staffer when he was transport minister. Later on Kelli Field, married to Mark Arbib, was Costa’s chief of staff when he was treasurer. So was John Whelan, who also worked for Carr and Kim Beazley and ended up as a policy guru for both the Ruddster and Julia Gillard.

There’s another John Whelan as well, the two are cousins. I pashed one once but can’t remember which one. That stays in the cone of gossip, okay? The second one worked for Egan and Grant McBride and is the son of the former police minister Paul Whelan. He was also a bureaucrat in the office of booze, pokies and punts and is now the guy in charge of responsible gambling at the Australian Hotels Association.

Speaking of gambling, have you seen the latest odds? I’m with Richo. I’ll bet you a bottle of Veuve we get fewer than 15 seats. If he wants it, John Robertson will be opposition leader. I saw Robbo in his cossies at the pool once. A sparky. Looks and sounds like a Labor man from the 60s. A lot of people can’t stand him, especially after he killed off the power sale that ended the careers of Iemma and Costa.

Robbo might not even win Blacktown. Paul Gibson, the guy they shafted in that seat, says it’s going to be a bloodbath on Saturday. Gibbo used to be on with Katherine Specking, who was married to Phil Koperberg, who is retiring as well. Bad blood there.

Gibbo’s former partner was Sandra Nori and she used to be married to John Faulkner. Ever heard Captain Specs sing? Great voice, nice man.

When Robbo entered parly, Keating sent him a letter saying he was ashamed to share membership of the same party. Those old blokes hate with a passion that’s missing these days. I reckon Twitter, Facebook and blogs take the heat out. You know the lobbyist Katherine Keating, PJK’s daughter, she used to work for Craig Knowles when he was planning minister and Tony Burke, who was with the Shoppies when I first met him, appointed Knowles to be the new chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority. Here’s a tip, stay away from water. It always ends in tears.

Shhould we get another bottle? How about a Clare Shiraz? You know Jason Clare? Coming man as the great E.G. Whitlam used to say. He’s got Keating’s old seat of Blaxland and is now the Minister for Defence Materiel. Big dollars. His ex-partner is Davina Langton. I think she’s worked for every premier since Carr, been around even longer than I have. She worked for Joel Fitzgibbon in Canberra. Joel’s a laugh. My brother once had a job with him.

Davina’s dad is Brian Langton, the chair of Sydney Ferries. He was the transport minister who resigned after the Independent Commission Against Corruption found he had rorted charter flight expenses. He went to Marist Brothers Kogarah, another hatchery for Labor. Gaming Minister Kevin Greene went there and so did Richo. One day, I reckon Loreto or Santa girls will rule this town. We live in hope.

How about Karl Bitar? Gone-ski. But Karl and Arbib got Iemma home in 2007 and everyone said then they were geniuses. Karl’s wife is Joanna Woods. She’s worked for the party for years and was number four on the Senate ticket in 2004. Her father Harry Woods was a federal MP and a minister in the Carr government.

So you said you were related to the Fergusons. Who isn’t? Andrew could be a real star in the upper house but No.6 on the ticket is wicked. Paul Lynch is probably going to have four or five portfolios in opposition. Lynda Voltz has to be in the mix for the ministry. What do you call Martin and Laurie, uncle or comrade?

I haven’t got anything lined up in Canberra, but I know lots of people there. Maybe park myself at Hawker Britton. When Kevin07 was elected, he treated NSW staffers like we had the plague. But he burned advisers out and so many people have moved on after the election. Unlike Kevin! Lots of Victorians are going federal now.

This didn’t come from me, but I reckon this is a good election for us to lose. I need a rest. I’ve worked for four different ministers and I’ll get a six-figure redundancy when the Bazookas take over. Might even run in 2015 for my dad’s old seat, which the Libs will probably win because of the bloody independent. But never again, girlfriend.

So many women are leaving at this election. You know Tripodi’s sister-in-law Angela D’Amore in Drummoyne? Lost a lot of weight. She was dis-endorsed after the ICAC finding. And Tanya Gadiel in Parramatta is stepping down for family reasons. She used to be married to Michael Gadiel from Unions NSW, brother of Aaron who runs the Urban Taskforce lobby for developers.

Did I mention Beamer? Okay, Marie Andrews, Lylea McMahon and Alison Megarrity are stepping down as well. Tourism Minister Jodi McKay, best shoes in parly, looks gone for all money in Newcastle and Cherie Burton is fighting for her life in Kogarah.

Richo says we have to get used to losing and that the rot set in from week one of this term. The big losses will be Carmel and Verity Firth. She’s full of beans and good for morale, like her aunty Meredith Burgmann, who used to be president of the upper house. She’s the one who gives out the “Ernie” awards for atrocities against the sisterhood. Most of them from our side!

Verity has had a hard run. First, all that school building crap and then her husband Matthew Chesher, who worked for the Roads Minister David Borger, got arrested buying “e” in Glebe. Talk about a bitch of a year.

These jobs are like dog years. I feel 60. But, she said, taking another gulp, we make our own choishes love.

Speaking of ageing and volunteering, you know Peter Primrose’s press sec Patrick Keneally? His brother Ben was Iemma’s deputy chief of staff. They’re nephews of Thomas Keneally. He wrote Schindler’s Ark. Or was it Schindler’s List? I can never remember whish one. Major Labor famiglia. And guess who Ben’s sleeping with, my sister from another mister? KK, our fearless leader, the premier. Go girlfriend!

So here’s the goss. Shorten wants to amend the Fair Work Act to include
two statutory Vice President positions. This was not recommended by his
friendly review panel of the Act, not even mentioned. Given the
never-ending stream of union affiliated appointments to Fair Work
Australia, it is not as though they need anymore staff.

Initially, the money was on Josh Bornstein, Labor labour lawyer who made
his name defending the MUA during the waterfront dispute of 1998. He was
even portrayed in the laughably inaccurate ABC television drama – no
surprises on this last point. And the other appointment was intended for
Jeff Lawrence, the now deposed ACTU Secretary. He was deemed to be a poor
campaigner at the ACTU, if you know what I mean.

(We now have Dave Oliver at the ACTU with his girlfriend, ex-ACTU,
appointed to FWA and head of one of the panels. All so convenient.)

Prime Minister Gillard: was a partner in Slater & Gordon, the solicitors
acting for the Australian Workers Union. Also secretly acted as the lawyer
advising Bruce Wilson, her boyfriend, on the setting up of the “Australian
Workers Union Workplace Reform Association” slush fund and on the creation
of power of attorney to buy a house with some of the fraudulent proceeds.
(She says she knew nothing of the frauds or the operation of the
association.)

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon: as a lawyer with Maurice Blackburn worked
on the AWU account after Slater & Gordon discovered the slush fund,
invited Gillard to leave and ceased having the AWU as a client. Roxon
handed over sensitive documents to an investigation into the scams.

Workplace Minister Bill Shorten: was an official of the AWU during the
scam (but not involved). He was among those warned in 1996 that a royal
commission into the scandal had to be headed off or “we are all history”.
Took over the AWU branch Wilson had recently led. Became AWU national
secretary.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig: was an employee at the time of the AWU,
whose president then and now was his father, powerful Labor identity Bill
Ludwig, a key Gillard backer. He was contacted in 1996 by a company that
had paid $29,000 into Wilson’s slush fund, thinking it was legitimate, and
had then asked by a union official if it “would be prepared to say that
the $29,000 that had been paid was a donation”.

Former Attorney-General and now backbencher Robert McClelland: As a
solicitor advised then AWU national secretary Ian Cambridge to try to
recover stolen stolen money and to call for a royal commission. Has said
the experienced convinced him of the need for tougher laws to recover
money from crooked union officials. Said an unnamed “third party” may have
benefited from Wilson’s scams.

Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson: was president of the ACTU
until 1996, in which time the Keating Government was asked by the AWU’s
Cambridge to set up a royal commission into the AWU scandal. ACTU
secretary Bill Kelty was warned by other ACTU officials the commission
proposal had to be stopped, and was reported to be “supportive”. He
mediated in the scandal. Cambridge was appointed to the NSW Industrial
Relations Tribunal that same year. (There is no suggestion at all that
Kelty was involved in that appointment or acted anything less than
honorably.)

Backbencher Chris Hayes: Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law
Enforcement. Was assistant national secretary of the AWU when he
counter-signed redundancy cheques to get rid of Wilson and bagman Ralph
Blewitt, now seeking immunity in exchange for giving evidence on Wilson’s
scams.

Senator David Feeney: Faction boss. Was a Transport Workers Union official
who in 1995 asked Gillard to explain why a builder wanted AWU payment for
work done on her house. Gillard told Slater & Gordon she spoke to Feeney
about her renovations to reassure him, and he in turn spoke to Bob Smith,
the AWU secretary who ousted Wilson over his rorts.

Russell Skelton (ABC Fact checking unit) is the husband of ABC presenter Virginia Trioli.

When they circumcised Dan Andrews, the surgeon forgot to remove the ears.

You were twisting two well known passages into political opinions.

The Bible is supposed to be relevant to everyday life, RD. Otherwise, what is the point of it? It’s not an entertainment like Harry Potter.

Even the devil quotes scripture.

Oh FFS Hugh, you pompous windbag.

Now reading up (heartily recommended!), not just Tom.

Tucker has not had 93 million people watch his latest 13 or so minutes.

I’m kinda excited by his new direction, but let us restrain ourselves.

Visiting Sydeney, staying in Edgecliff. Wondering if I’ll pass by a Çat unbeknownst… 😀

Vicki

I believe he ran foul of the Left when he published a controversial story about the rape of a woman.

It was about the Islamic pack rapes of several “Skippy”(their description) girls. The leftards never forgave either the prosecutor nor Sheehan for the resultant jail terms meted out.

On Twitter, as with all web sites, my understanding is that a “view” is that you’ve seen the piece of content. Not that you’ve watched it.

I believe most of the large content providers (youtube, twitter etc) do monitor the extent of viewing as well as clicks.
It would be interesting to see what % are 100% and what % are 30 seconds and out.

RD, if you don’t think the money-changers story is a criticism of capitalism – implied or otherwise – then you are too dumb to argue with.

Sheesh. Some people.

Vikki Campion: War widows wait as political payouts rushed through

Last year, war widows told the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides they only get a case assessor to consider their claim after they went to the media.

Daily Tele

The left are stinking hypocrites.

Not to argue with you, Cassie (I’m becoming a quiet admirer of your vampire-killer attitude, and I very much hope it continues to develop), but hypocrisy is irrelevant.

If I may be tediously repetitive: It’s about gang culture. You’re either an insider, or an outsider. Nothing else.*

Insiders can do practically whatever they want to outsiders, as long as their actions do not threaten the security of the gang (i.e. bring unwanted attention that cannot be handled using standard resources and tactics), and they will be protected (and accepted, if they continue to confirm to the internal rules).

However, an insider cannot do to another insider what they did to an outsider, unless this is sanctioned by the gang (repercussions for breaking internal rules).

To cut a long story short, it isn’t what is done, but who does it.
You are either protected, or not. If it serves the interests of the gang (the cause/party), the behaviour is acceptable. The gang makes the rules. If you are a member of the gang, the gang’s rules are primary. Society’s rules (outsiders) are secondary.

*There is, of course, an internal hierarchy, but the insider-outsider categorisation is supreme.

Networks Devote ZERO Seconds to Biden Bombshell

I had an amusing call from my elderly mum this arvo. Last week my brother got her television working again, since she was curious to see if it was worth watching.

No. Hell no.

She said it was totally impossible to watch, and she’s gone back to reading books.

That was a bit more visual than expected, Zulu.

Sancho, you left out the next two verses.

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Calvanist theology is actually just Bible theology. I won’t win many friends by saying so though. 😀

Monty,

Unfortunately for you, the “Sheesh. Some people.” just comes across as a bit lame. It is obvious from your multitude of previous comments that while you may be familiar with some Bible stories, you lack knowledge and understanding of the Bible as a whole and the “sheesh” thing is a way of avoiding engaging with the substance of RD’s and Hugh’s comments.

Jesus was not critiquing the people changing money and selling offerings to the assembled faithful. He was incensed that they were doing so in a holy place reserved for the contemplation and worship of God. Hence His righteous anger.

You might also like to ponder His words in other parts of the Bible:

“Look to the ant, thou sluggard.”

And:

“He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”

Hmmmm.

RD, if you don’t think the money-changers story is a criticism of capitalism – implied or otherwise – then you are too dumb to argue with.

Lets consult the Catholics
https://catholicexchange.com/what-did-jesus-drive-out-the-moneychangers/

I always understood the “casting out of the money changers from the Temple” was one of the appropriateness of carrying on commerce in the Temple, not engaging in commercial activities per se.

No, Sancho.
Since I’m a Christian and you’re not, I forgive you.
What was happening was taxes had to be paid in Silver.
However, hicks in Judea didn’t have Silver, so they had to exchange Stock, Produce, or Goods for Silver.
That’s where the moneychangers came in.
Did they swindle the hicks?
Did they F*ck!

Are good deeds worthless without faith?
Of course not, Bespoke- but they are happenstance.
To even assess a deed as good, you need a position of faith.

Nelson, just got online here and saw your comment about staying East here. I passed by Edgecliff station on New South Head Road twice today going to dance class and back. If I’d known I could have shouted you a welcoming Sydney coffee, sweaty and all. Now I’m pretty busy with a birthday party at ours tomorrow, then we’re headed down to Bateman’s Bay to see my Big Sis for a few days. How long are you in town?

If you regularly come to Sydney then drop me or Rabz an email (via Dover) and we’ll put your email address on the list for a pub meet up sometime and if you’re around you can drop in then. Same for others likely to be in Sydney or domiciled here.

I’ve had broken bones. Opioids definitely help with pain management.

Sounds like you need more auditing.

Thorpey was crying yesterday talking about it.

Julia Banks had a bit to say after Higgins went public.
She said that she’d worked in Senior Positions with the Banks and she’d never seen anything like Parliament House.
At the time she was past 50 and blokes in their early twenties were routinely hitting her up for a root.