Mood:  d'oh

Author’s general introductory note

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. 

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  Media backgrounders  

* Centrist icon Grattan backs Steve Lewis (News Corp) central to 'fake Treasury email' affair on abc RN with Doogue stand in for Fran Kelly. Lewis runs staunch largish article in prime Saturday SD Telegraph; in the protective wake of staunch editorial same pape, same day, probably written by John Hartigan who also ran his tough guy stance last Tuesday Press Club.

* Take note Australian Federal Police investigators.

What is the Karl Rove reverse smear? It involves a deliberately clumsy fake smear of a friendly/allied candidate/figure (who presumably is in on the gambit, but may not be too to preserve plausible deniability).  Think say ALP clumsy smear on Kevin Rudd, or vice versa Liberals on Malcolm Turnbull.

So already from the outset it is counter intuitive - but stay with us, this was Karl Rove's brilliance. Why would you put out a smear document on your own side? Here’s how it works …..

Intrinsic to the tactic is that the smear is fairly easily rebutted by allied candidate, after initial minor damage. It's all about harvesting the public's outrage at a demonstrably and well understood political dirty trick (often referred to by wonks as “rat f*cking” and see below at ***) as this 'expose' of  the fake or fraud or smear spreads exponentially through the electorate and beyond the beltway itself. People don’t like other people being smeared in a demonstrably unfair way. And they take revenge by punishing the side most identified with the 'fault' either in terms of votes or polling.

So the public turn on the most obvious or logical perpetrator of the smear being the direct rival of the target of the now flimsy discredited smear. Even it wasn't their fault as such, because that subtle nuance is too complex over a short time period.

Apparently Rove did this to gather centre swinging voters to the conservative GW Bush side by harvesting a backlash of anger from centre, and centre left voters over flimsy smears he himself put out against his own side. But it can be done by Left on Right which arguably appears to be happening in Australia with Rudd (nominally Left) harvesting voters against Turnbull (nominally Right) in the recent polls, and against Hamilton Smith.

And we hasten to add, this is the effect even if the Labor or ALP have no official or unofficial role in the recent 'fake Treasury email' (we decline to call it 'the Grech email')

A template in Australia was indirectly via the Lindsay electorate fake Muslim Extremist leaflet affair at the final week of the federal election in Nov 2007 (see picture above). In that case the Coalition activist (Right) were definitely promoting a false smear, and the backlash after it was demonstrated as false by Labour (Left) activists in quick time, front pager in News Corp tabloid, caused a crushing backlash against the Howard Govt.

All of the above whether intended or accidental is standard Karl Rove dirty tricks and rat f*cking. And time enough for the Labor activists to learn the method well. Take note AFP investigators.

*** About 6 months ago Fairfax Naked Eye recounted how PM Rudd was overhead referring to “rat f*ckers” in private conversation. Rudd and his team know all about Karl Rove and rat f*cking. As do their mates in the Democrats in the USA who were the prime victims at first, as of course do Rove’s home party the US Republicans.

* Crikey direct readership and circulation rival old media The Australian in tit for tat attacks on eachother’s credibility all week. Story is old versus new. More similar than different market and role? True enough that upon death of dame Elizabeth Murdoch that The Australian will go the way of the dodo, and Crikey ‘with added source’ time will come. True enough that hyperbole of The Oz exaggerates

* ex PM Keating runs open door policy for China engagement. Trouble is Keating almost certainly has business interests there? Undeclared business interests? Conflict of interest issues? Another complaint to the ACCC for breach of s.52 of the Trade Practices Act?

* Gillard’s prime ministerial grooming to the Jewish lobby, industry re Fair Work and standing up to violent unionism continues apace. A few weeks back our colleague Carol with the chronic disability had a chat to La Gilliotine at Prince of Wales Hospital apparently assuming Carol was on the level (?) – what the hell was that all about?

* SAM gets a 3 m USB extension doing wonders for our web connectivity. Woohoo. Gluten free diet seems to be doing us a lot of good too after barely 3 days. Next challenge to bake our own bread. Woolworths has bought out Macro Wholefoods, - note their gluten free and health food section, compared to Coles which has kids trolleys instead.

* Re big tax on cigarettes: At recent small social event of various Vietnam vets, and their family/friends – not one smoker. Wood heater seemed to suffice.

Stand in for compere Bonge, workmanlike talent too. Dep PM Gillard looking radiant and super groomed, how expensive are those clothes [Sarah Pallin?] after (serious) Middle East tour.

Sexism/misconduct comment re front pager Sydney SunHerald story Navy.

Utegate re AFP footage Mick Keelty re Turnbull is a witness and otherwise his role over.

Gillard runs Turnbull damned credibility. Humour out take of PM Rudd at school event singing Treasuere Swan happy birthday.

Panel is talent – Peter Hartcher, Michelle Grattan both serious people and worthy match. Gillard attacks reporter ‘errors’ in Education stimulus sloppy spends as per press today Sunday Telegraph.

Hartcher re ‘rediculous’ law in NSW re illegal to publish school league tables. [big debate about apples with apples comparisons re similar socio economic demographics].

2^nd guest is youngish wonk Van Onselen for the Liberal side of things. Wonks interviewing eachother. Shocking week, not dead, looked dead previously in Wentworth electoral fights but this is much bigger scale. ‘Twin Tonys’ idea more about machinations of shadow cabinet reshuffle. References A Crabb class 1996 reaching their end, lack ideological/intellectual capital. MT faced with dilemma of essential moderate going disingenuously more conservative or … something.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Utegate seens as traincrash for Malcolm Turnbull. MASH parallels. Awful pollie singing. Rudd sings Seekers ‘KTel’ Special.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Chris Uhlmann for Barry Cassidy (or replacing?) runs his intellectual style intro, with footage of Gillard on Fair Work,

Panel is A Crabb Fairfax, Meglo News Corp national, Bolt News Corp Melbourne.

Two Tony’s (Abbott, Smith) as conservative aspiring leadership.

Big cigarette’s tax.

Arbib palaver about ‘nit picking’ over education stimulus rollout involving a million here and there. [Like West Wing a billion here and there, what does it matter?].

Bolt lays out why we have a Govt we didn’t elect but ignores we did get a ‘mummy party’, but true not Howard Lite, and the reason is the GFC game changer no one predicted, so stupid to hypothecate 2007 and 2009, a grand non sequitur.

Unionism on the march again. Bolt talks up Gillard performance cut through in parliament etc [seems to be pushing a Melbourne torch?]. ACrabb similar wax soliloquy.

Panel talk over health issue. Pledge being made of federal takeover [ pre GFC] was driven by Howard opportunism politics, ACrabb/Bolt. Journalists were suckered. Bolt says same re climate change. “Never going to happen.”

‘Prof Paul Kelly, News Corp soliloquy on the Rudd Machine Success, Opposition only three problems Unity, Leadership and Belief. Only? Major blunder if Coalition treats climate as an ideology not a policy, if does then “finished”.

Big poll disasters history, Aug 93 Keating 20 points down, Downer late 1994, Latham April 04 31 points, the all time record down Turnbull 40 points June 2009. Discussing whether leadership is finished. ACrabb says Party is built like a Howard body suit. Lacks ideological heft says Bolt and could/should be grassroots.

Bill Leak getting up to speed in Talking Pictures.

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:16 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 5 July 2009 12:28 PM NZT

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Mood:  not sure

Author’s general introductory note

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. 

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

Media backgrounders

* Our Harry Potter/Grech reference on crikey strings takes off in all Big Media. We used Dobby the House Elf, but others prefer the Bank gnomes, or Harry himself.

Turnbull as guest lead in backgrounder on “fake” email/Grech evidence. Suffering raspy throat several times.

Senate privileges inquiry repudiated first time in a century looks bad. MT says would be a witch hunt ‘you know that’. Refers to the “fake” email. But below says “so called fake”.

Tony Burke footage re rain project $10M says favouritism is a smear. 1/5 of the UQ proposal, more than $2M desktop option.

Humour out take Albanese re Latham/Turnbull jibe.

Panel reptiles Hewitt News Corp (national), Steve Lewis News Corp (national).

Time wasting non scandal? Says been attacked viciously with smears himself by the ALP.

Lewis runs reverse attack after running big on Grech email that MT leadership is diminished. MT says Opposition very unified.

On climate change – aiming for August timeline and extra elements.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Riley Diary – Harry Potter theme. Choice movie grabs. Does the chronology. Hockey as Hagrid resonates. Exploding cigar visual metaphor on Turnbull.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Grech Riley style package with Bourne theme music.

51 club in Brisbane press links PM Rudd with used car and developer business social club.

Footage of Tanner on Ch9, BC calls it Today show.

Panel is KWalsh Fairfax, Atkins News Corp Bris, TBlair News Corp Sydney.

Obvious point about dumping Grocery Watch leveraging press coverage of Michael Jackson death. Deeply cynical.

Tony Abbott guest - ferocious spin is the lesson, BC challenges on coaching of Grech evidence, denied. Some strong points about Swan in hiding and then embarrassing AM interview. Claims “real” ruthless PM Rudd revealed this week.

Circus players vox pop, very good comics too.

Panel general chat nothing new.

Talking pictures – our Harry Potter Dobby reference is picked up clearly as spreading on the web (SAM’s fault probably).

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Acciona and Pacific Hydro discussed regarding so called sustainable business in renewable energies.

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 1:03 PM NZT

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Mood:  incredulous

Author’s general introductory note

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. 

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

  Media backgrounders  

* PM Rudd’s voice in parliament last week was loud and full of righteous indignation, too loud and too full one feels, of outrage over the Turnbull “politics of fear” and “politics of smear” over the Grant ute GFC finance affair. As we write Laurie Oakes is grilling Swan and it’s a fierce debate over ministerial favouritism for Mr Grant.  

Then Rudd’s voice on 8.30 pm ABC TV footage last Friday of late that day  press conference shows him quavering, nervous, in shock, long pauses and stumbles. Yet the abc radio news bulletins next morning, and from memory AM show have an edited version of smooth confident rejection of the allegations by PM Rudd.   Yet just as Godwin Gretch tone and manner is striking probative of honesty, so is Rudd’s quaver and stumble indicative of the opposite. Yet the ABC either had different audio from late evening to early morning or they edited Rudd’s audio in a case of political bias??? 

 Certainly whoever survives or dies politically this next few days, the beltway have seen Rudd’s political mortality starkly revealed. Rudd seems to be as much shocked at his natural human limitations to control all things and every detail including in the backyard of his own electorate.  

* PM looks to be relying on procedural rules to prevent his staffer Andrew Charlton from attending and answering estimate committee questions or even general media questions. So even if he did email Godwin Gretch or contact him in another way he will never have to answer questions directly. But Gretch will.  

* Turnbull revealed as very effectively setting the scene with admissions about Kerry Packer death threat and protection of public interest regarding Fairfax from political interfering Packer ownership. And using that to contrast allegations of favouritism to ALP political donor Mr Grant.  

* Annabel Crabb in Saturday column well off the pace with this greatly ironic comment: “ Andrew Charlton, an unnervingly brilliant young pup who is marked for greatness in Labor circles”. Charlton being the alleged emailer from the PMO’s office contrary, it’s claimed, to PM’s statement to parliament of no such contact.  One thing is for sure Charlton will never have to front the big press or an estimates committee as he is a staffer of the PM Rudd and Rudd will enforce that cone of silence.

* Similarly Lenore Taylor this weekend Oz newspaper refers in a soft piece on the scandal to post Costello period as being “Turnbull unplugged” trying to say unrestrained/louder/stronger/clear air which is a different metaphor given unplugged is less not more electrical amplification. Is she also losing perspective about federal ALP politics. Too soft?  

* Deputy Prime Minister Gillard talking Middle East role for Australia in peace negotiations with VP Biden?

  * Albanese as Left faction infrastructure minister supports doubling of aircraft movements over the next 20 years despite home seat Marrickville area copping it badly in terms of noise but also air pollution. Albanese says a 2^nd airport is critical. Richmond RAAF base is now under control of Albanese’s factional ally inner westie Defence Minister John Faulkner. But look at this picture from the Hawkesbury taken this morning. The RAAF base is on higher ground 10 km from Windsor/Hawkesbury River true but still very fog affected??? 

 * Last month as a political blogger I had a computer security problem, which caused me to confront a possible suspect, with copy to well known media analyst Margarent Simons as an honest broker.  What happened was that a very selective 3 months of email correspondence, and one email file archive called "SAMtech" was deleted. SAM is an acronym.  So my point is - emails can be deleted – as per the Godwin Gretch testimony.  

Secondly, a well known programme called TracksEraserPro can be used to delete hard drive copies of anything off a computer. You can download it for free off a trustworthy site called MajorGeeks.  SAM’s editor uses it every day to keep clutter off my hard drive.  Having said all this - emails sent via an Internet Service Provider will probably have a record of the IP no. of the computer source (DNA of the machine) and receiver - speaking as a non geek amateur. Also I suspect the geeks can insert false IP numbers or proxies to avoid detection.  Welcome to the cyber wild west..  

* Senator Brown didn't say he would be bankrupt, he said he was threatened with bankrupty by Forestry Tasmania doing the dirty work of the ALP and Coalition.  So Abetz is being deceptive and cynical. Also another false trail is that Brown already had $600K in legal funds so he was rich. Actually what he said was that he'd already paid that amount in legal costs.  What scares the majors is that Brown has such massive social capital just like Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, only this is real life, not a movie.  

*  Nasty misogyny, and blind prejudice, including sisterhood in ugly condescension and patronizing critique, implicit in attacks on Greens Party Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Some of it in official commentary from political rivals and censorious older women (‘Deb’ Cameron, Pru Goward) jealous (?) of both her political reach into mainstream press and her superior success at a much younger age? Some other nastiness in redneck letters pages.

Fact is HY had the whole thing under control in the senate chamber, and it was old boy Senate Speaker who claimed he had no discretion to allow “strangers” in the house during a tedious mechanical vote on a division. Since when did experienced mothers not know how to do 2 things at once? This issue has revealed the critics as moral frauds and bullies infused with blind prejudice against The Greens.  

*  Fallout from NSW State budget was unusually mild criticism except on free trade purity which the Left wing govt won’t worry too much about. Interesting that Penberthy managed to sideline literally both Simon Benson and Piers Akerman in their Sydney Daily Telegraph comment pieces, Penbo picking up the cudgels for free trade, many will see as an arid line of debate after the GFC has blown the credibility of orthodox economics out the window. Ironically the AAA rating in NSW was consolidated and seen as smart politics when Standard & Poors helped cause the GFC in the first place with faulty ratings. Talk about flawed paradigm.  

* Peter Costello quoted “you have to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em” is quite clear evidence that the timing of his effective resignation from future leadership role(s) in politics was highly calculated and probably self interested. The polls had turned for Turnbull, the coalition were about to split using Costello as a focus for the redneck conservatives and Nats on climate etc. And there were green shoots in the economy suggesting Rudd’s stimulus strategy may well work.

 Costello is thus revealed as a supreme chancer. We always suspected counsel for Woodside, Lisa Hamilton, was the brains behind his IR Dollar Sweets IR legal victories. A student politician by definition doesn’t have time to do the real hard legal research work.   

* Amazing synchrony of SAM feature headline and or picture this last 2 Sunday talkies and real politik following: A fortnight ago we used a title about ‘props and pollie crunch’ only to see Defence Minister Fitzgibbon walk the plank unexpectedly later that week. Then last week we used a picture of car crash in the local area into the trees to symbolise ETS hitting the wall of the Green Party/Coalition opposition. Nicholson grabbed the same visual metaphor here in the The Australian this weekend (as per image above)

  * Mark Arbib is under constant attack in the Senate these last several days. Most interesting is Arbib’s shrill, teenager style voice protesting his certainty of fact and purpose over massive education fund cash splash. Arbib is starting to realize (?) that the arrogance of NSW Right ALP doesn’t play on the national stage of federal parliament. Comes across as a spiv out of his moral depth.  

* Back to sleaze of NSW ALP politics and their “junkyard dogs”, in the agri politics bible here in NSW: The images are MPs for the Shooters Party gun nuts and right wing religous nut Fred Nile MP propping up the NSW ALP Govt in the upper house here.

1. embarrasses NSW Govt after fairly successful state budget including grudgingly by SMH itself earlier in the week. Content of story shows water supply not at threat at all, but Cox's river tributary certainly is at risk and damaged by heavy metals due to leaching via arsenic. 

2. reinforces the agenda for sell off of the public energy assets, a long running crusade of both major newspapers in Sydney 

3. Story is important but normally would have run at page 3, 4 or 5. The placement indicated the big media real politik malice. 

Golf, no broadcast.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

LO grills Treasuer Wayne Swan on the intricacies of the $500M line to Ford Credit to sustain car dealership industry during the intensity of the GFC. And Mr Grant was to be looked after within that umbrella.

LO: ‘enormous pressure’ to look after Grant. ‘Emails show Swan was being kept up to date at home fax.]

[Calls up the whole ALP Qld political culture of Mike Kaiser cooking the electoral paperwork years ago forced to resign ministerial position, here again cooking the paperwork.]

Auditor General inquiry doesn’t include Wayne Swan in the narrow terms of reference only PMO, implying a fix. ‘Won’t resign.’

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

 Great opening line from compere Cassidy about a lot more than mere “car trouble” with footage of Rudd strenuous denials about the ‘politics of smear’.

Footage of Swan denials.  Gretch package in Riley Diary style.

Estimates committee David Martine cover for Gretch, profound footage of honest evidence. “Put in a position a public servant should never be put in”.

Panel is Schubert of The Age, Meglo The Oz, Toohey AFR/Fairfax.

Cross to New York for Deputy Prime Minister Gillard [talking Middle East role for Australia in peace negotiations with VP Biden?]. Email smokescreen to Godwin Gretch evidence of favouritism to car dealer Mr Grant, defending Govt reputation.

Your shout about Costello retiring.

Panel much discussion about Godwin Gretch with much footage of questioning by ALP senator Doug Cameron including journo Lewis contact with Godwin Gretch and special attention for Mr Grant but not Kay Hulls electorate related car dealership.

Talking Pictures with Peter Costello: ‘I’ve enjoyed the banter with the press over the years’ but that’s not what he said attacking the glasses of Michelle Grattan, or grump over answering questions post election defeat intentions.

Profound footage of Obama swatting fly by his own hand in front of the cameras during an interview.

Toohey sledges Costello 11 years – bloated middle class welfare and structural deficit in a boom. Hard talk indeed.

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Inside Business with Alan Kohler

Chief at Morgan Stanly discusses over leveraging causing GFC.

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 12:30 PM NZT

Updated: Sunday, 21 June 2009 12:48 PM NZT

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Mood:  chatty

Author’s general introductory note

This is not a well packaged story. It’s a contemporaneous traverse of the Sunday television free to air political talkies indicating the agenda of Establishment interests: Better to know ones rivals and allies  in Big Politics and Big Media. 

For actual transcripts and/or video feeds go to the programme web sites quoted including Riley Diary on 7. And note transcripts don’t really give you the image content value.

Other sources of pollie talkies on Sunday include SkyNews paytv Sunday Agenda, Radio National Monica Attard Sunday Profile show. And of course Sunday night shows SBS Dateline, Sixty Minutes and now Sunday Tonight on 7.  

Media backgrounders

* Rudd language style change to quasi 50ies labour working class seems to suggest identity confusion in the man, as does the 25kg diet of his wealthy spouse. Reminds of West Wing script of Jed Bartlett insomnia and nostalgia of the child future president and cold hearted even cruel father. These things seems to relate to increased pressure forcing out flaws in the ego/id in a PM – like his climate Bill hitting the wall of Green Party no compromise. But if he is in electoral mode he will want the blue collar vote no doubt.

* Tough commentary in Fairfax back business section last week condemning The Australian News Corp rival over sellout editorial choices about global warming skepticism/denialism. Same writer again this weekend Paddy Manning in Sustainable Investing column at top banner spot on the page too. Related to Peter Manning senior journalist?

* Sixty Minutes lead story last week (7 days back) was shocking and powerful of the fatal damage to those people cruelly killed in the Victorian Central Highland bushfires. God have mercy. The subtext was unsaid but a hammer blow really – the Royal Commission must take no prisoners and go to the brazen truth of the disaster. (And the landlord here reckons a dam rather than a bushfire bunker is safe enough. Noooo, noooo, noooo. I don’t think so.)

* Reportage of Gunns Ltd moving to both annexe assets of Timbercorp and Great Southern agricultural ‘managed’ investment schemes at least as far as timber wood(chip?) products, and of a willing financier from Sweden The Oz June 11 p7, ‘Gunns set for mill deal with Swedes’

* Andrew Clennall at Fairfax may know of NSW Right agitation against faction Left premiership of Nathan Rees but the stories written so far have been flimsy and unconvincing. He knows all the players but he’s not got any probative leaks or change in the power relations: Sartor has always been a pragmatic egomaniacal grasper for more power. But does he have anything more than tyre tracks of ALP head office fundraising machine over his reputation? Damaged goods was the innuendo behind the SMH banner front pager about ‘illegal’ billion dollar land developments requiring retrospective legislation. Sartor is relying on the corporate greed of the ALP machine but would appear even less electable especially with the Coalition under OFarrell promising to rollback the developer friendly Part 3A junking of the 1979 planning regime.

OFarrell was staunch on opposing a fire sale of the public energy assets.

* Stephanie Peatling SMH runs a story about the grasping for power in the NSW Greens Party. From slippery tactics pioneered by Ian Cohen MLC, to effective branch stacking of the Eastern Suburbs Group by Lee Rhiannon MP with her office volunteers and the like (conflict of interest a la Victorian scandal recently?). A big obituary for Lee’s mother Freda Brown in the SMH a few weeks ago (memorial to be held today at the Bondi Pavillion same day as 150^th anniversary of Waverley Council woohoo, Sunday Too Far Away). Freda Brown pictured with Gorby appears to have been an avowed cold war warrior – for the other side until at least 1972 when she resigned from the Australian Communist Party. If only Stalin’s 20 million victims could speak.

Hard hats lead in, employment thrust featuring Arbib, Rudd.

Minister Macklin, Social Security. Unemployment question.

Background story on Alice Springs town camp ‘special report’ by police reporter re “smell” of poverty (Ester Lindstrom).

Panel is Mark Kenny Adelaide News Corp, Macklin “I have a responsibility to act [compulsory acquire town camps with $125M package.] “I have a lot of money to spend [for sick and elderly] and I want to get on with it.” Sounding actually emotional and idealistic with it over the nasal drone.

Panel also Natasha Robinson, News Corp national. Macklin praises Julia Gillard as potential PM successor.

Tom Calma re underlying racism in society and ethnic conflict over Indian students etc.

Meet The Press - Watch Political Video Online - Channel TEN.

Riley Diary 7, from 8.30am

Use of language theme, with Mandarin, and strine. Great imagery from Barry McKenzie [time one caught a view of it], implies it’s a potentially contrived political strategy. [But we have another psychobabble explanation leveraging the West Wing episodes on Jed Bartlett’s insomnia and a disapproving dad, as above in backgrounders.]

http://www.seven.com.au/sunrise/weekend

Various IR serious questions about timetable and content relations with the unions, then on PM, living up to the trust gracious response, loving deputy PM position. Elephant reference of the comperes meaning Peter Costello.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/oakes

Insiders 2: 9- 10am

Intro about PM Ruddish language and style.

Panel is KAK Fairfax Canberra, Milnes News Corp, G Henderson Sydney Institute.

Kooyong preselection formerly Petro Georgiou. Hendo says Frydenberg friendly to asylum seekers.

Christine Milne gets the coverage on climate change. BC notes NP and Greens oppose Govt Bill outright for different reasons. Sound problems with BC question but recovered.

On Bob Brown potential bankruptcy debt to avoid removal from the Senate. Milne calls BC a cynical view that mere fundraising. [Ignores $600K previous legal costs perhaps.]

Senator Fielding argues no temperature increase despite increase in carbon emissions. Deliberately disingenuously dodges/ignores fossil fuel funding of Heartland Institute.

[Fielding correct there is a real question but ignores parallel Global Dimming from escalating particulate pollution from China and India over the same period, ramp up of dirty economics. Trouble is air pollution is an unreliable brake on carbon/ghg driven global warming.

The guy is an Assembly of God creationist anti science type beyond mechano sets.]

Panel notes Ruddish strine. Paul Kelly soliloquy states Rudd no real history of Labor culture explains his change of language style [after touring hard hat pic facs across the land]

http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/

Refer http://www.abc.net.au/insidebusiness/

Posted by editor at 1:13 PM NZT

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Mood:  incredulous

The editor of Sydney Alternative Media has been experiencing the northern suburbs of Sydney commute since mid April 2009. Only in our case in reverse from Marrickville of the Inner West to the Hawkesbury/Hills district. 

As a result of this relocation and clean up work of a rural block leased by a disabled colleague we haven't been as assiduous as usual in reporting readership statistics, or indeed posting much more than our regular Sunday political talkies once a week to keep our eye in.

Our understanding is we dropped  in April 09 to about 23K pageviews, and then in May back up to 32,125. On June 10 we noticed this, in quite a bounce back despite lack of new postings:

We put this bounce back in statistics to a few factors without being absolutely sure: We posted 2 links onto well read crikey.com.au recently with original material for their readership. One was our reportage of censorship attempt at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2008 following the Guy Rundle article of 2009.

The second link recently was about the martyrdom of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-wiwa (senior) which issue we have followed for a good 10 years or so now including interview with a refugee here of eye witness accounts of oil indusry disgrace in the Niger Delta there.

In addition we had a sabotage incident of our computer in May deleting some technical files and 3 months of email. Our investigations might have stirred up some interest in the SAM micro news website. We would also like to think we have some political insights that are of regular interest via Sunday Political Talkies - an acquired taste, not an easy read, given the James Joyce style free flow of (political) consciousness: The main utility is probably the synthesis into one pithy headline.

We have many more stories to post but continue to implement our relocation into the fresh air of the Sydney fringe. Until then stay tuned.

Previous monthly reader pageview figures for 2007, 2008 verified by screen shot (web host provider monthly pageview account details) posted on or about 4th day of the month found in this thread:

•  May 2009 - 32,125 (host metrics, not screenshot)
• April 2009 - 23,421 (host metrics, not screenshot)
• March 2009 - 34,255
• February 2009 - 23,208
• January 2009 - 27,462
• December 08 - 21,858
• November 08 - unavailable, host breakdown
• October 08 - 20,343
• September 08 - 20,746
• August 08 - 25,344
• July 08 - 22,855
• June 08 - 27,440
• May 08 - 25,046
• April 08 - 19,250
• March 08 - 20,803 
• February 08 - 13,109
• January 2008 -  19, 898
• December - 11,627
• November - 10,220
• October - 9, 100 
• Sept -  8,100 roughly, no screenshot
• August - 8,845
• July - 7475
• June - 9675
• May  - 9, 059
• April  - 12,087
• March  - 6,684
• February - 5,372
• January 07 -  2800 3rd Jan - 3rd Feb 07

Posted by editor at 9:03 AM NZT

Updated: Thursday, 11 June 2009 9:32 AM NZT

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