At the end of the day, it's a hell of a lot easier to get /order the mil to do something quickly than any civvy charter flight, even with all the plans and procedures in place (for emergency civvy charter flights).

Only if the military has been sufficiently funded to maintain the capability. :ugh:

And Gillard and Rudd aren't ? - You surprise me Worrals, I thought the launch went well and using his kids to show millions of voters that he is just a family man and not in any way misogynist was a clever stroke.

Still, each to his/her own!:)

My memory may be fading, but IIRC Qantas coughed up a couple of charter jets to get uninjured Aussies out, and honoured tickets from other airlines.:ok:

Parabellum, exactly. :) I know both sides use their families as political tools these days (not just the Libs) but personally I find it very distasteful. Maybe it's just me.

Correct, Qantas did and always do, I think it is an agreement they
have with the Aussie Gov't. They get paid for it.

+1

Not keen about the nepotism in getting family members paid political positions either.

It's still sounding like a popularity contest...there is only one federal politician I know and he is my local bloke who is very approachable and if you have a problem he helps you sort it out. And after Albanese and Smith ordered FA18s to display a show of force to my 100% compliant-with-ADIZ procedures warrior during CHOGM to stoke thier egos and try and justify the massive waste of taxpayers money on "security" there was a LOT of sorting out to do.

He's not particularly likeable, a rather grumpy old thing but he does his job representing his electorate very well indeed whether in government or opposition. I'm not looking for a buddy, I'm looking for someone who can represent my interests in the house of reps.

I wish all this personality politics would just STOP. Yes the Abbott thing was absolutely cringeworthy, but so is every time Rudd opens his mouth and puts on the fake "everything is fine" sing song patronising tone of voice.

Who cares how "nice" they are? It's only a problem when their mugs are on TV every five minutes, so I don't watch TV.

Re Gillard / AWU investigation.

Did anyone see the article where the courts have determined that
the Police can't look at the documents seized in the raid on the
law offices and the documents have to be handed back ?

It looks like Gillard might have got away with it.

"It's only a problem when their mugs are on TV every five minutes,
so I don't watch TV."

I have quite enjoyed this campaign, mainly because I haven't watched much TV because of it and
so I have got quite a few other things done :ok:

I don't even have a set top box, apparently the telly wont work without one? our old CRT telly is used for watching DVDs of spoof movies. Do listen to the radio in the car though.

Kevin & Albo's latest thought bubble, High Speed Rail on the East Coast does not seem to be going down to well with the punters.

Best comment so far is: `Mr Albanese tweeted earlier this morning: "Releasing High Speed Rail Advisory Group Report today shows a return of $2-10 for every $1 invested on Sydney-Melbourne."

Why bother when you can get $10 for every $1 invested in a Labor election win at the bookies and there is more chance of that than high speed rail."

That reminds me of a time when Swannie was on telly (7.30 report?) made up with alarmingly rosy cheeks and a bit of lippy. He looked like a clown. I guessed then he had perhaps been a little unkind to the make up person :E

Not that again! :ugh::ugh:
How about fixing the existing infrastructure before building unprofitable, impractical new stuff? Anyone who thinks this is a goer (Albanese/Rudd, here's looking at you, kids) should be forced to run a business on the Gold Coast light rail construction route. Multiply that 10kms of chaos, expense and roadworks by 300 and it doesn't look so attractive. :uhoh:

Even better, chock up some quality time on the Bruce Highway dodging potholes and oncoming semis (rather than flying over it in the government jet) and the real federal transport needs may become more apparent. :rolleyes:
Oh, that's right. The Bruce Highway doesn't go to Sydney or Melbourne. :zzz:

Ovation, that picture is rather disturbing. :ooh:

Love The Age's online banner...it proudly proclaims "Independant. Always" and immediately below it is "Why we shouldn't trust Tony" and next to that "Abbotts Internet goes global"

http://foolstown.com/sm/jok.gif

Just had a thought bubble of my own when reading the "Rudd Pushes For Action on Syria" headline in the Australian.

it is not uncommon for governments in trouble domestically to whip up a local war to distract the voters and generate nationalistic support for their actions.

An example was the Argentinian Generals and the Falklands conflict.

You don't think it possible that Kevni............................? Nah, couldn't be.

Cooda

"You don't think it possible that Kevni............................? Nah, couldn't be."


YES, it could be :O

He's done the domestic part, now he is going for the tried and tested
Statesmen part.

Kev got caught out this morning with some paid stooges pretending to have their kids in the local pre-school.

Whichever bunch of daggy politicians gets elected, I hope they have the moral courage NOT to get involved in Syria. Just another arab civil war, killing the other version of their own religion, as they have done for centuries. Stay out of it, all it will do is make another bunch of people from both sides hate us.:ouch:

The people on both sides hate us already. Witness Libya. Whoever eventually comes out on top is going to be gunning for "The Great Satan" and western infidels in general. It's a medieval mindset that they cannot escape from. Best to let them fight it out amongst themselves and live in the sandy flea pit that such conflicts engender.