Yes, SOPS, it's a real pity those photographs can't be seen by everyone on the ALPBC and commercial networks' evening news.

The only certainty is that they won't be. Listening to ALPBC radio today, it's almost as if they and their rusted-on listeners are in a parallel universe.

I can't help but feel that the Left Wing protests against Rudd were organised by the Rudd team to further convince disaffected Labor voters that he's their new hard man - Tony Abbott lite - who'll kick arse and fix the border protection issue.

It doesn't matter how many Lefties don't give their first preference to Labor - Labor will get their second preference, for no Leftie is going to give his second preference to the Right. The important thing is to suck back as many as possible to the Labor ranks, and the only way he can do that is to pretend to be Tony Abbott, (which is exactly what Bruce Hawker has had him do over the last week), so make him seem too far to the Right and he'll suck in even more.

The sad fact is, with an all too large section of Australian voters, it will work.

It's almost like, nay, it could well be, a covert insertion by special forces preparatory to a military action.

Nah, they're genuine. A lot of lefties are pretty angry about Rudd's new Howard style approach. However, as you say; they won't vote Liberal, so it all still works for him. If they vote Green then the preferences trickle back to the ALP, even if it's via an Independent. The other day a devoted Green friend tried to tell me that the Greens allocate their preferences on individual seats; when I rolled around laughing and said 'so they'll go to the Libs, is that what you're saying?' she got a bit pouty. :E
Then what aren't the Libs saying? What aren't they offering :confused:? Like it or not, an election is a numbers game, and if they can't get the numbers then they're second in a two horse race. Blame Kevvy and/or the ALP all you like for that, but as my school hockey coach used to say; you won't win a game on defence. Sooner or later, you've got to score a goal.

Many Libs are falling back on the 'people are idiots' line. That ignores the fact that the same 'idiots' overwhelmingly voted for Howard's government for three terms. In recent times the Libs were highly marketable in the federal sphere. What's missing now? I know what I think's the answer, but other people may have different theories.

Either way, despite a series of Labor cluster:mad:s and despite Kevvy being...well, Kevvy :ooh:. the polls are sitting at the too close to call mark. What's that say about the Libs?
Goodo. The boys could use a bit of practice. Can't have them sitting around Perth and Townsville getting bored; it annoys the locals...:E:suspect:

Sisemen, I was worried about those photos before, now you have me really, really worried. On the surface you could say 'good conspiracy theory' but the word must be out that whatever happens the Australian Government backs down in the name of PC and pressure from Sarah Two Dads and her mates. So stick in a few special forces, and have them wait for the appropriate time........

Still think they are Iranian Republican Guard here to report on their fellow man. Either way Security will be on to them, if they can get amongst them and have them turn against the other they could destroy themselves like the Melbourne crime families did, that would be great!

Looking at the quantities of steroids they all seem to have taken (except for the twerp with the tasteless T-shirt, who's a bit of a worry), I think our womenfolk are pretty safe, at least from sexual assault.

I used to go to a gym in Dubai where virtually every male of Middle Eastern extraction using the gym, including the bloke who ran it, was roided to the gunnels. (Alongside them, I was like the 99 lb weakling in the old Charles Atlas ads. on the back of comic books.) I spoke with the owner about it once and he assured me that they had it in hand - using only brands that had no side effects.

I wasn't then - and remain - unconvinced.

Their dicks might be shrivelled to almost nothingness, but 'roid rage over that very fact might be another matter.

I suspect the only way those photographs are going to get out there is by individuals posting emails to friends. The MSM won't touch them, even with the faces pixelatted, because it doesn't fit in with the (or THEIR) Kevin "narrative".

Michael Smith news reporting 3 boats arrived today, doesn't seem like the PNG 'threat' has slowed the flow yet.

SOPS

They probably left before the announcement.

I noticed Customs were looking for another boat today
that they think is lost.

Re these "lost" boats, I think the media has down played when
a boat has been lost except for the odd one or two.

Looks like the maggot is going for mid Oct. Knew he couldn't resist the chance at grandstanding at the G20.

sisemen

I reckon you have got that right.

I doubt he will pass up the chance.

I can't help but suspect that some of the crews or pax on these boats might not start the 'in distress' process when they see the P3 rather than waiting for the surface ship to appear and things might proceed a bit faster than anticipated - or the surface ships take a bit longer to appear than the people smugglers assure their clients they will when they say they're in distress. (I think it's pretty clear that they're told everything will progress like a well-oiled machine from the moment they step on the boat, so some might have a slightly unrealistic idea of how 'well-oiled' the rescue (aka taxi) service will be.)

This morning on AM, a number of teenage Afghan and Pakistani (I'd be guessing 99% Pakistani) teenagers in Java were interviewed and said they would cop the PNG threat and still take the first boat to Christmas Island that they could, as they'd been told (presumably by the people smugglers) that no one had been sent to PNG and that the vast majority of Australian people were against Kevin Rudd's new policy.

These young men will have to continue to try to make it here, no matter how long it takes them. They're the scouts for their whole families (and despite what they say, very few of whom, I suspect, are actually from Afghanistan). Their families, almost certainly Pakistani, would have borrowed heavily, possibly sold the family farm, to get them to Australia, and if they go back, the debt will still have to be repaid or the farm will remain sold.

It will be interesting to see if the MSM report the continued arrival of boats after Rudd's grand announcement. I suspect not. (Reports online say three boats arrived yesterday.)

Another sting in the tail in the small print of the two page PNG arrangement was announced on the ALPBC this morning: The PNG PM announced that the half billion dollars a year of Australian aid would now go directly to him, to be distributed as his department sees fit.

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of PNG and PNG politics would know what a recipe for disaster, graft and corruption that would be.

7x7

This boat was seen by a P3 but when the boat got there
they couldn't find it.

I haven't looked at the papers today to see if any updated info.

But you are correct.


I also heard on ABC 774 last night re the aid, the PNG PM
was almost gloating over his "win" at getting it directly to
him / his department.

So, can anyone explain why this is any different to the AWB 'scandal' a few years back?

Apart from UN, sanctions in at the time, none as far as I can tell.

Yep, fair point. Principle's the same though, isn't it?

Absolutely.

I thought you were spot on with your comment / comparison.

PNG's as bent as any country.

"100% ipad/laptops..."

Oh boy... via Michael Smith news there are some good Christmas Island photos of Oz Navy and Customs baggage handlers. Nice luggage too..:rolleyes:









.

Hopefully the cracks will widen as people open their eyes.

Laptops? Gold chains? Wondrous that the vicissitudes of disaster at sea can save such items while, at the same time, all documentation is lost forever.