In his NSW state election post-mortem comments, Peter Manbed is right about only one thing- this is Labor’s last chance.

Voters returned Labor to NSW government despite a conga line of cockups, mainly because Peter Manbed was viewed to be an out-of-touch fatcat from the big end of town with no concept of life in the real world, but the electorate’s ire with Howard was a big factor as well. (more…)

Costello squeals about funding broadband infrastructure with ‘future fund‘ money… as though that money would never have been invested and there’s no equity to be obtained by building such a network… and as though there’d be no economic gain with new infrastructure…

C’mon, Pete, a lot of us were born at night- just not last night.

-weez

Labor commits to $4.5b high-speed Internet network

The Federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd has pledged more than $4.5 billion to build a nationwide Internet broadband network.

Mr Rudd says the network will deliver high-speed Internet access to 98 per cent of Australians within five years.

The money will come from the existing Communications Fund and the Telstra Future Fund.

[…]

Mr Rudd says the new network would be done in partnership with the private sector and would run at speeds up to 40 times faster than most current broadband.

[…]

“Nation building in the 19th century was about building a new national railway network for Australia, nation building for the 21st century lies in building a new national broadband network.”

I say right on, righteous Br’er Rudd!

Can I get an AYYYY-men? I say, can I get an AYYYYY-men?

The Season of Pork is commenced!

Top that, Johnny.

-weez

‘Junior woodchuck’ will whitewash Santoro: ALP

[…] Labor says an investigation into Senator Santoro will be a “whitewash” if it is conducted by his replacement, South Australian MP Christopher Pyne.

Labor’s treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said: “I don’t regard Christopher Pyne, (Santoro’s) successor in the ministry, a new junior minister, a junior woodchuck if you like, as the appropriate person to conduct a serious investigation.

Soon as Pyne was announced as the junior woodchuck in charge of investigating Senator Santoro, the Junior Wood Chucks Union (JWCU) announced industrial action, downed all whitewashing tools and stopped work.

JWCU spokeswoodchuck Ro Dentia said, “Pyne? PYNE?! My own unemployed boy eats pyne for breakfast. And we’re not happy about Senator Pyne’s damn fake teeth, either. No scab woodchucks!”

-weez

MORE: Santoro to resign from Parliament. About damn time.

Junior woodchucks reported to be back on the job.

You don’t have to be a drug user to advocate drug legalisation or decriminalisation- all you have to be is a truly conservative, free-market, small government capitalist.

Prohibition didn’t work in the USA in the 1920s- it created Al Capone. Jail still doesn’t cure addiction, 80 odd years later.

Banning drugs does absolutely nothing to stop people from using them, but free-market forces could go a long way to reducing drug abuse and treating addicts. I’m in favour of legalisation of most street drugs along with a taxation regime to get some sort of a handle on recreational drug markets.
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Christian Democratic Party leader MLC Rev Fred Nile has accused Greens MPs of being drug users.

Nile has challenged NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon to take a drug test. Nile will also take a drug test. Nile is also questioning the need for sharps disposal containers in Parliamentary toilet facilities. Rhiannon is going to take Nile’s test, despite her comment that she thinks Nile is ‘blatantly politicking.’

Rhiannon, however, gave one of my least favourite rationalisations for being forced to take a drug test:

“I’m happy to be drug and alcohol tested,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“I don’t take drugs or alcohol.“

(more…)

Santoro’s been doing portfolio-conflicting stock trades in his sleep. But it’s cool, he paid his penance– to charity. some of his political mates. It’s OK to screw up if you say you’re sorry… right?

Right?

So, will the PM sacrifice another minister on the altar of “ethics,” or is he a one-sacrifice pony?

-weez

Kevin Rudd’s popularity has not only not been hurt by HoWARd’s carefully crafted, theatrical smears– but has been driven up to unprecedented levels. (more…)

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The US meeeeja is flogging the suggestion that ‘pressure is mounting for Bush to pardon Scooter Libby.’ Make no mistake- the only real pressure for a Libby pardon is coming from Dick Cheney and Karl bloody Rove– because they know they are next in line for conviction.

From the illegal Iraq war and the associated ‘Plamegate’ affair to warrantless NSA wiretapping of innocent US residents and citizens, no greater crimes of abuses of power and lying to Congress have been committed in the entire 231 year history of the United States than those perpetrated by King George and his court.

If Congress have one hair on their collective asses, they’ll table articles of impeachment on Bush and Cheney- NOW.

-weez (more…)