Loose Change Is Hard To Belive In

What really annoys me is the Democrats have lost two years they could have put to good use. Will the Democrats wake up? I’m not sure.

White Southern Democrats Nearly Extinct.
**********************************

The white Southern Democrat – endangered since the 1960s civil rights era – is sliding nearer to extinction.

After this week’s elections, the Democratic Party barely holds a presence in the region outside of majority-black urban areas such as Atlanta and Memphis. The carnage for the party was particularly brutal in the Deep South, where just one white Democrat survived across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

The Republicans’ effort to win over the South, rooted decades ago in a strategy to capitalize on white voters’ resentment of desegregation, is all but complete.

“Right now in most of Dixie it is culturally unacceptable to be a Democrat. It’s a damn shame, but that’s the way it is,” said Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, a campaign strategist for conservative Democrats such as Jim Webb of Virginia, one of the few remaining Southern Democratic senators.

The losses were particularly disappointing for the party after the baby steps it made in the South in 2006 and 2008, when it picked up a host of Republican-leaning House districts and won Senate seats in North Carolina and Virginia. Many thought the party had learned its lessons and had begun to reverse recent history by nominating conservative candidates who hit the right notes on divisive social issues such as abortion and smaller government.

None of it mattered Tuesday.

Democrats didn’t just see most of their recent gains obliterated, they lost at least 19 Southern House members and a senator, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. Even some of the most conservative Democrats such as four-term Rep. Jim Marshall of Georgia and 10-term Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi couldn’t withstand the wave. It also snared such veterans as John Spratt of South Carolina, the 14-term chairman of the House Budget Committee, and 14-term Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia.

When the new Congress convenes in January, there will be at most 16 white Southern Democratic House members out of 105 seats in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Two races in Virginia and Kentucky were still too close to call, so the total could be as low as 14.

The setback continues a four-decade decline for Democrats in the South, where they once dominated. The slide began after the civil rights movement, when Republicans under President Richard Nixon began employing a Southern strategy to retake the region by appealing to white anger over desegregation. The GOP later highlighted liberal Democratic positions on social and welfare issues.

More here
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/white-southern-democrats-_n_779345.html

It’s November, I live in Sydney’s inner west, and I’ve got my heater on. Bizarre.

Bill Maher on the Rally for Sanity. Makes some great points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTR7V8cA9OY

It follows that the Republicans will have a huge influence on Australian politics and help the Liberals into a long rule as well.

You can read the transcript of Bill Maher’s comment about The Rally for Sanity here, as well as a bit more of a discussion about the issues he raises.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-rule-dont-step-on-your-dogwhistle.html

I have just watched Hillary on the ABC and i am totally confused how she will cope with meeting our esteemed leader of the rabble even for five minutes.

It took me ages to find it again. I should have put it up in the first place. But I found it too depressing. Personally, I hope it is completely wrong.

Katielou Interesting article. I’m still not sure after they made such a mess of the last one.

Blockbuster AFL games could be headed for pay TV.
****************************************

SOME blockbuster AFL games could disappear from free-to-air television and be shown exclusively on pay TV under proposed changes to federal anti-siphoning laws.

In a move that could deliver a big financial boost to the AFL, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has flagged plans to remove at least four games a week from the anti-siphoning list – opening the way for Foxtel to bid directly for those games.

Under the current system, Foxtel has to buy all its games from the free-to-air networks.
Advertisement: Story continues below

In occasionally hostile talks with free-to-air bosses on Friday, Senator Conroy is believed to have said he had no plans to stop blockbuster games from going to pay TV – meaning fans could for the first time be forced to subscribe to Foxtel to watch some of the best matches. Fewer than one-third of Australians now have pay TV.

The Age believes that Senator Conroy clashed with Free TV chairman and former Queensland premier Wayne Goss during the talks, which also involved some furious debate over the broadcast terms for the Australian Open tennis.

Is Conroy trying to ruin the ALP?

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/blockbuster-afl-games-could-be-headed-for-pay-tv-20101108-17ki3.html#poll

Here is a site that is hoping to boost blogging;

There is an overdue need for bloggers to share a sense of unity. Blog sites advance the opportunity for bloggers to challenge mainstream media and point out the bias by those who do not provide such opportunity for his/her readership to give voice to alternate opinions.

http://australianblogsites.com/
It lists 52 other Australian blogsites.

We do not rate a mention but i am sure that the Lovely Catrina, guardian of our site, may somehow get us a guernsey.

The site also has 6 ten minute videos reading Roos horoscope.

For those who haven’t seen it, here’s the Bill Maher clip from a couple of days ago.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-disses-the-daily-show-rally-its-better-to-have-a-rally-thats-about-something/

Quite funny.

123 HusseinStWorm It may have been far more effectgive for Obama if it was run Bill Mahers way.

121 Gaffhook Catrina is not running this site to be a high profile site. Its not even listed in Google.

Jon Stewart Responds To The ‘False Equivalency’ Critique Of The Rally To Restore Sanity (VIDEO) Very funny!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/09/jon-stewart-responds-to-t_n_780792.html

What the fuck has Obama done so far?

http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com

Greens oppose pay-TV sport moves.
*****************************

BOB Brown says the Greens will oppose any push to reduce free-to-air television coverage of AFL blockbuster matches, Australian Open tennis and Olympic events because it is not in the public interest.

Senator Brown’s comments follow a report in yesterday’s Age that federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is planning to remove at least four AFL matches a week from the anti-siphoning list, which would give pay television unprecedented power in up-coming football broadcast rights dealings.

The Greens said they would block any move to remove major events from the anti-siphoning list that ensures select competition is screened first on free-to-air television.
Advertisement: Story continues below

The revised list is expected to be tabled by Senator Conroy in Parliament next week, and the Greens are advocating that Twenty20 cricket and the European Cup be added to it.

I didn’t realise it had to be approved by parliament. Good!

More here…
http://www.theage.com.au/national/greens-oppose-paytv-sport-moves-20101109-17m4w.html

Any fellow fans of The Wire, check this out.
http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/entries/1887459-bunk.html

Keith Olbermann Returns From Suspension (VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/09/keith-olbermann-returns-from-suspension_n_781311.html

I’m starting to think this is all a plot between Stewart, Colbert, Maddow, Olbermann and Maher to get us watching their shows.
😀

the definition of Fickle is that I, who wanted to slap Christopher Hitchens with a resounding whack for his ridiculous adherence to supporting FGWB’s Iraq invasion now find myself once again melting at his every line …
curse you Katielou 😉

and totally OT, but whatTF… Our esteemed Sophie (who is no longer a candidate, being an elected representative of the good people of Indi and all) has seen fit to distribute a brochure quoting the state-election Greens candidate (ahem.. guess who) as saying that Greens “wants to legalise illicit recreational drug use. ” (yawn – but they never give up do they?? 🙄 )
So, afore-mentioned Greens Candidate had to kick up a big stink with the local journos who appear to be also puzzled as to why Our Sophe wants to stick her bib into state election…and the questions are being asked – Why TF would she bother in such a safe seat?? and why is local liberal candidate not man enough to take on Greens candidate himself ??, etc etc.
All shall be revealed at the polling booth no doubt.
😆

btw Katielou-
Stage 4 oesophogael cancer with metastaces really does not sound like a good thing…
I suspect Mr Hitchens is telling us he is not long for this earth. 🙁

Jen
That old addage is fight fire with fire.

I am sure you can go about your daily stuff and just quietly drop the hint that you feel really sorry for Sophie, that in Canberra circles she is known as the “Moll”, ie Most odious lieberal lady.

I am sure it would catch on and get back to her.

Of course you could do a late evening letterbox drop as well.

Worldwide support for Australia’s ‘Constance McMillen’.
*******************************************

A Melbourne private girls’ school that prevented a lesbian student from attending the school formal with her girlfriend is being inundated with messages from irate readers around the world accusing the school of discrimination.

International news organisations have highlighted the case of Former Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar student Hannah Williams, 16, who was barred from attending the formal with her girlfriend Savannah Supski, 15.

News outlets, including the US-based Huffington Post and The Daily Telegraph in London, have compared it to a similar case in the US earlier this year, in which a school called off the annual senior dance after lesbian student Constance McMillen demanded she be allowed to bring her girlfriend.

Make sure you vote on this.
More here..
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/worldwide-support-for-australias-constance-mcmillen-20101111-17o2v.html

KL and Jen, despite taking the king’s schilling over Iraq, Hitchens is one helluva writer alright! His debunking and DEMOLISHING of muvver Theresa of Albania was the deft touch of a master of letters.

Nice work, Jen. The more you goad Sophs into public histrionics and bellowing hyperole, the more her cred erodes. Maybe slip something in when next on live radio ( ie. your message can’t be doctored/edited/censored) maybe try a throwaway line like:

“Unfortunately for Sophie, she still very much a captive of 1950s rhetorical bunting. Wouldn’t surprise if the ever-vigilant Ms Mirabella checks under the bed for Reds before retiring each evening. Perhaps Sophie was also an award-winning “Duck and Cover” champion as a youngster.

The take home message for Sophie Mirabella is that the rest of Australia has moved on….”

—————————————oOo———————————-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBA2REoRD98&feature=related

Things went terribly wrong too for a few million young men in the trenches and fields of the Great War. You remember the one doncha? The war to end all wars?

Musna worked, eh.

In the middle of summer nineteen fourteen

The young men of europe all in their prime

Ahead lay the horrors of a world insane

It haunts me now to think about that time

One assassination leads to a clash of nations

Everybody talkin’ war, a country worth fighting for

But how was anyone to know that hell was in store

Sign a dotted line and give a man a gun

Don’t worry boys, you’ll all be home by christmas

But little by little the lights were going out

And heading for the front line the men were listless

Wondering in the rain will they ever see home again

Slaughter is about to start. best friends are blown apart

Never been a bloodier war in memory before

Shelling day and night driving men insane

Screams of the dyng in no man’s land

Nowhere to run from the gas attacks

And everywhere you turn there’s another blind man

Losing life and limb. gangrene and rot set in

Weapons out to kill and maim. the boys are cryn’ out in pain

Never be the same again. never see an end

If you ever get to france see the poppies in the fields

Just think about the red of the blood of heroes

Who died in the fury of battle day and night

The carnage of war all around when the sun rose

All the mud and rain. machine gun fire again

Never gonna leave that trench. wallow in the mud ad stench

Dyin’ on a stretcher bench. time to say goodbye

A generation lost, four deadly years

Families left behind to a life of grieving

Ten million graves to be left untended

Nothing anymore left to believe in

Bodies ripped and torn long before i was born

But all those fine young men. never see their like again

I can vividly recall the pain down through the years

(echo) down through the years………..

~John Mayall, “Trenches” from Blues For The Lost Days.

“thank christ there was no-one waiting for me
when we docked at Circular Quay….
And the band played………..”

Remember William James “Billy” Schwarer who, with a kraut name, fought alongside his comrades in the trenches of Poziers for the honour of France and the AIF. As one of his eight grandchildren I’m eternally grateful for the loathing he instilled in me for the vainglory and ultimate stupidity of fighting somebody elses wars.

First World War Embarkation Roll – William James Schwarer
William James Schwarer
Service number: 1473

Rank: Artificer

Roll title: 301 MT [Mechanical Transport] ASC 17 Divisional Ammunition Park (Dec 1914)

Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918

Date of embarkation: 22 December 1914

Place of embarkation: Melbourne

Ship embarked on: HMAT Ceramic

Ship number: A40

(National Archives)

Of one thing be re-assured; if our nation ever really needs major Sep assistance, if it doesn’t suit ‘em, they’ll wipe us like a dirty arse.

136
Chris.

After having a good browse around that site i came across this 78 min movie of the fucking slimy little delaware digger and all of his visions of wrecking everything that does not fit in with his ideological ideas. I had not heard of it before but it really drives home what a slimeball he is and it should be compulsory viewing for year 10 students every year. Just to give them an idea of how he controls the media message here. I watched it last night.

It is clear that the lieberals are following his modus operandi in the hope Aussies are dumbed down enough to vote for them.

It is getting close though.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428#

don’t hold back Jen. Tell everyone she is The MOLL Jen.

By the look on her face i would say she has gravel rashed knees.

BENAMBRA’S Greens candidate wants a public apology from Sophie Mirabella over claims she and her party want to legalise illicit drugs.
Jenny O’Connor said their policies were directly opposed to illegal drugs.

http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/oconnor-slams-mirabella-drug-jibe/1994287.aspx?storypage=1

Bipartisanship at Last
The Onion: “A CNN/Gallup Poll released Monday revealed that a vast majority of registered male voters would have strongly supported a naked woman in the 2010 midterm elections.”
http://politicalwire.com

153 I heard she was a D cup and needed plenty of support.

I sat across the aisle from Paul Howes on a plane yesterday. I did say hi and wished him well on the book. Geez, he’s young.

Harry, thanks for your poignant rememberings and for sharing them.
As for johnny the grub, our High Court has just undone his bastardry on “Immigration”, booksales of “Magic Lazarus” are flat-lining, The Imbecile’s book brushed El Rodente to little more than three footnotes (rather appropriate for a toe rag), and the ICC shafted him something sweet. 🙂

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/92755

————————————–oOo————————————

What then should the Greens do?

First, they should hold their nerve. The biggest threat to a party establishing itself as a progressive alternative to the status quo is the temptation to start playing the game. For instance, in traditional electoral politics, negotiating a high price for your preference distributions makes sense. But for a party surfing a wave of progressive discontent about the political system, pussyfooting around with Liberal preferences is suicidal. In Britain, for instance, Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats used their new popularity to negotiate a coalition with the Conservatives — a decision that’s transformed a supposedly kinder, gentler party into enforcers of Tory cuts.

Secondly, the Greens should make a fuss about bias and misrepresentation. Public cynicism about the media is at an all-time high: the general disillusionment about how the ALP and Liberals campaigned during the federal election also manifested itself as a general disillusionment of the coverage during that election. There would be widespread support for a sustained Green pushback against the more egregious smears.

Thirdly, they should exploit new and alternative media. No, you can’t simply ignore the mainstream, since far more people still get their news from TV and the papers than anywhere else. Nonetheless, these are no longer the only shows in town. The Greens — as a party with disproportionate support from young people — have a tremendous advantage when it comes to social networking and new media. They should exploit it.

Fourthly, they need to develop an ongoing and deep relationship with their supporters, a relationship that insulates those supporters from whatever scandals or distractions the media whips up. That was, of course, the traditional Labor strategy (back in the days when the papers still saw the ALP as a threat): the party branches and conferences, the trade unions and the Labor press allowed members to participate, and thus forged a cadre capable of standing up against establishment hostility. In the Greens’ case, that would mean a transition from a largely electoral party, into something much more like a mass campaign.

http://newmatilda.com/2010/11/12/first-they-ignore-you

I just have to have a quiet chuckle when these morons come out with statements that they would really be stretching the imagination to prove. I mean who knows how powerful a one in 10,000 cyclone is. Would it be worse than a humungus one in 100000tsunami. Who has been there to measure the power of a one in 10,000 cyclone.

Stories like that remind me of when they built a new high level bridge across the Burdekin River near charters towers and some tosser politician stood there and cut the ribbon with the proclamation that the road to Charters Towers would never be blocked again. Two weeks later it was under 5 meters of flood water.

A couple of years later when some tosser politician cut the ribbon to open the Burdekin dam he said it will take three years to fill. Two months later it was running 8 meters over the dam wall.

They are not the first times i have heard the never to happen and i suppose the Titanic springs to mind, as well as BP oil rig in the Mexican gulf.

Any how we are about to embark on something that has never been done but be assured there is nothing on this planet that can affect a floating LNG ship type plant that could be loaded with anything uf to half a million tons of LNG at any one time.

No doubt the no smoking signs will be up.

And no doubt that since Labor has OK’d it then Tone and JoHo and their pals will be trying to block it.

The plant will be towed to each spot and temporarily anchored to the seabed. Reports said it would be designed to withstand extreme weather such as a one-in-10,000-year cyclone.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5goRN8pdDpT0n5ShH9EZ_vQgGfQww?docId=CNG.0cad9edeabece4f1745ef542e698bea7.a51

163
GWV

Jen will be the first 100 year old newly elected MP.

166
EC
My thoughts exactly.

Meanwhile the wheels turn slowly in the hope that something may come of it, though i won’t hold my breath.

A file containing new evidence on the News of the World phone-hacking scandal has been submitted to prosecutors a week after the paper’s former editor Andy Coulson was interviewed by police.

Scotland Yard said today that detectives have passed the dossier to specialist lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service.

The submission of the dossier seems to have come as a surprise – with neither News International, the UK parent company of the News of the World, or journalists on the red-top tabloid aware that the police had prepared a file until the news was announced late today.

Coulson, who is now David Cameron’s communications director, voluntarily attended a meeting with the Metropolitan police at a solicitor’s office last Thursday, 4 November. Other former employees of the title were interviewed, but insiders at the newspaper believe that their evidence cannot be taken very seriously.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/12/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking

Pictures Of Karima Keyek, Berlusconi’s Alleged Party Partner.
***********************************************

Embattled Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, after weeks of sex scandals and political embarrassments, is facing a possible early election and even a no-confidence vote, reports the AP. One of the premier’s strongest rivals, Gianfranco Fini, has refused to agree to a compromise that could have averted an early election. Said Fini’s lieutenant Italo Bocchino, “Fini has demanded Berlusconi’s resignation, or else we will pull out of the government.”

The prime minister’s troubles were highlighted early last month, when a then-minor nicknamed “Ruby” accused him of participating in “bunga bunga parties” and giving her lavish gifts. Pictures of Ruby out and about have now surfaced (scroll down for pictures). Berlusconi defended himself by saying “I love life, I love women,” and said that he had only “helped” Ruby when she was arrested for theft and subsequently released by police. The prime minister’s office had called the police station and asked that they release Ruby because she was Egyptian President Hosni Mubarack’s relative. The two are not related. Berlusconi also added that, “It’s better to be passionate about a beautiful girl than a gay,” setting off another round of outrage.

Are Silvio Berlusconi days numbered at last?

More here..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/12/ruby-photos-pictures-karima-keyek_n_782923.html#s181658

Oh, KatieLou, you are SUCH a political groupie!
Truly enjoy reports of your ongoing brushes with fame. 🙂

KL, MLK had a dream. Is yours playing minimalist attire poker with Greggie Combet, Billy Shorten, Paul Howes and, in the interests of balnce, Joey Le Shreck?

Rachel Maddow chats with Jon Stewart:

Two of our favourite people pow-wow without cuts. Wonderful exchange about the similarity and differences of their shticks. Stewart’s thoughts on the perpetual polarity of Sep politics are worth the listen. His argument on water-boarding being the moral equivalent of internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2 is easily countered although Rachel wisely didn’t pursue it because she’d already opened Jonny Boy up like a cluster of Chesapeake Bay oysters. Rachel could sense Jon was about to display a couple more pearls of self-insight.

Good call as things transpired.

http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/maddow_and_stewart_talk_satire_sanity_20101112/

Wow. 50 minutes and hardly a snicker. If Jon’s speech at the Rally showed who he really is, this is an expansion of that dialogue – you get to see Jon being real. What a fascinating interview. He’s way too kind to GWB in my opinion, but it doesn’t come from blindness.

Brilliant even without satire.

Hmmmm!

Neilson scan top ten non fiction best sellers.

Top 10 – Non-Fiction

Pos ISBN Title Author Publisher Price

1 9781408809365 Eat, Pray, Love (Film tie-in) Elizabeth Gilbert Bloomsbury $24.99
2 9780747585664 Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert Bloomsbury $24.95
3 9781904994572 Guinness World Records 2011 Guinness World Records $49.99
4 9781742372389 The Happiest Refugee Anh Do Allen & Unwin $32.99
5 9780718154837 The Fry Chronicles Stephen Fry Michael Joseph $39.95
6 9780007320400 Booky Wook 2 Russell Brand HarperCollins $35.00
7 9781926428222 How to Make Gravy Paul Kelly Hamish Hamilton $49.95
8 9781864711585 Guantanamo:My Journey David Hicks Random House $49.95
9 9780732289959 Lazarus Rising John Howard HarperCollins $59.99
10 9781921382437 Your Place or Mine? Gary Mehigan & George Calombaris Lantern $49.95

Wonder how many more copies he would have sold if he had a free week at their ABC and the Press club etc etc. Rodent jetsetting all over the country promoting his and he is coming second.
Top stuff eh.

186
EC
I feel for the lady, she has been set free so many times only to have a day in the sun and then the bastards lock her up again.
What an incredibly strong willed person she is.
Such a good person locked away for twenty years and we have arseholes like Abbort running free, spouting hate and fear everywhere.
I hope she has a real good stretch of freedom this time but as soon as she calls the witchdoctor an arsehole again she will be back in the bin, sadly.

184 Enemy Combatant Not wrong there EC. But boy would it liven up an election.

Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house arrest.
*********************************

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from her house arrest.

Authorities in Burma have reportedly read out a release form to Ms Suu Kyi, and a large crowd has gathered to greet her.

Eyewitnesses report increased activity around Aung San Suu Kyi’s home on University Avenue in Rangoon.

Guards appear to be removing barricades and a large excited crowd is present.

Rumours about the Nobel laureate’s release have been swirling since security officers visited Ms Suu Kyi’s home yesterday.

Lawyers say her house arrest expires tonight at 7:00pm (11:30pm AEDT) and could not be legally extended beyond that time.

More here….
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/13/3065677.htm

Go Sarah for President!
******************

The number of Americans viewing Sarah Palin unfavorably has hit the highest point since she burst onto the national stage over two years ago, according to a poll out Friday.

The Gallup survey conducted in the days after the Nov. 2 election found more than half of Americans — 52 percent — hold a negative opinion of the former Alaska governor. Only 40 percent viewed her favorably, which ties her lowest score from about a year ago.

Palin, the GOP’s vice presidential candidate in 2008, is among Republican names being floated as a possible presidential pick in two years time. The poll found she might have a good chance of capturing the nomination: fully 80 percent of Republicans have a positive opinion of her.

More here…
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/12/sarah-palins-unfavorability-numbers-hit-new-high-survey-finds/

Obama would try and negotiate with them.

November 13, 2010

The Limits of Redistricting
Though some pundits have predicted the GOP’s redistricting advantage will translate into a net House pickup of 20 to 30 seats in 2012, the Wall Street Journal notes that researchers “say the real number probably will be far lower, even though Republicans will dominate the process.”

“The reasons are both mathematical and political. Mathematicians have demonstrated that there is a limit to how many seats a party can put in its safe column. Aim to redraw lines in a way that exchanges a few near-certain seats for more seats won by narrower margins, and a political shift might reverse a lot of those gains in the next election.”

“Also, the way Democrats are spread throughout the country — centered in certain areas, especially cities — can play a far bigger role than intentional gerrymandering. And other political priorities, such as protecting incumbents, can compete with the goal of picking up as many seats as possible.”
http://politicalwire.com

Go and vote in the Wonkley awards here.
http://notionfactory.net/wonkleysvoting/