Monday, July 2, 2012

Murphy's Lore


QUITE a few years have passed since anyone thought a poor Bunyip worth the effort of punching, but the memory of what it is like to be on the receiving end of stinging blows remains a vivid lesson in what not to say and who not to say it to. It seems Katharine Murphy has spent too little time drunk and abusive in the company of St Kilda supporters to appreciate the dynamics of your typical assault, and this can only be viewed as a sad deficiency in the training of a quality journalist, as her column today makes clear.

Now bear in mind that the latest poll is out and shows a further shrinkage of Prime Minister Yabby’s stocks. If she had the decency to call an election, the only reminder of a parliamentary Labor party would be a handful of surviving hacks and the dissipating stench of their booted companions (plus, quite possibly, a collection of hard-centre tisues beneath Craig Thomson’s former perch). So, with the Coalition on top in two-party terms by 58 points to 42, how does Murphy’s ignorance of fisticuffs manifest itself?

The poor girl thinks it possible that, while her idol is flat on her back and being pummelled relentlessly, it remains possible for Gillard “to play with Abott’s mind.” Playing with Bruce Wilson was one thing and Mrs Emerson’s husband another, but how Gillard might go about gaining a psychological advantage over Abbott taxes the imagination. What might Gillard do to put her foe off his game, apart from hand out talking points to dutiful parrots like Murphy, who never quite explains how this punch-me-harder strategy might produce dividends? The closest she comes is this:
Whyalla is still standing folks, and so am I, she is saying. Give us a chance to prove we aren't complete, dissembling dills. The government has managed to establish a prima facie credibility test for Abbott, who has rowed his boat out very hard, and left himself not a lot of room to re-position if the debate starts to turn.
So, Abbott has rowed out from shore, metaphorically speaking, but finds no room on the open seas.

Fairfax has people who occupy editors' offices. We know this because three of them were fired last week. But do the ones who remain actually read their columnists' copy? Perhaps, like so many former readers, they find the effort of wading though such tommy-rot more trouble than it is worth.






  

20 comments:

  1. I just want to head-butt anyone who uses the term 'carbon price'. If they are an inner-urban, designer spectacle wearing leftoid type, doubly so.

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  2. The "play with Abott’s mind" comment was the first thing I saw when I opened the op-ed page this morning, which occasioned me to toss the paper back down and cook breaky sans paper.

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    1. You're actually attempting to eat food whilst reading the Age???
      That is thrill-seeking stuff Tony.

      The Irish Lion

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  3. Thank god for quality journos like Katie.

    Alas, she has unknowingly provided more objective evidence to Fairfax majority shareholders that something has to be done to introduce some tentative diversity of opinion amongst its journo collective....... on the off chance that might bring them.... kicking, screaming and praying to Noam.... into modern political reality and a return on capital.

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  4. Just what can explain her nonsense assertion that that "Voters are ... disengaged, sullen, in a dissociative state"? Voters are engaged alright - in a state of anger - distrust at best - and eager to throw out Gillard and her troupe of liars, incompetents and hacks.

    We are on the cusp of a fundamental change in Australian politics - the demise of Fairfax (unless Gina takes over), and the envisceration of Labor - and this is the best that this dingbat can do?

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  5. Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.July 2, 2012 at 4:50 PM

    But they ARE complete dissembling dills, Prof. There is absolutely no doubt about that and nothing they can do or say is going to make any difference to the situation. The sun will come up tomorrow, they are dills: there is same level of factual certainty in both statements.

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  6. If one had more time, and an appreciative audience.

    That that passage starting from "The government..." - change "debate" to "battle", and paste it as a General's subtitle in one of those ancient Chinese war epics where battle field strategy is being discussed.

    The response from his underling: "Whatch-you-talkin-bout-Wang?"

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  7. Like the map reading cliche, some women are really crap using metaphors. Open sea, not a lot of room, go figure.

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  8. Anyone writing that sort of crap about Day 2: Whyalla Still Standing has bought into a phony war, and will be burnt by later developments unless those developments are circumvented by a change in government. Add Murphy to the list of recalcitrants who can't be reformed.
    She should also get a more flattering photo done of herself like most journalists do ... oh, wait ... she has already?

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    1. I see what you mean. But maybe the Fairfax lads find the Evil Librarian look a turn-on.

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  9. It is incomprehensible that some people actually read The Age.
    Why do you subject yourselves to this drivel?

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    Replies
    1. The wise person finds enemies more useful than the fool does friends.

      Baltasar Gracián.

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    2. Thanks for that! I never what the last name of the Battlestar Galactica villain was. Cool.

      Delete
  10. The remedy for these soshalist grubs is ,deprivation of income and influence,Prime Minister Abbot should make sure they become "nonpersons" ! Imhave an idea this has been done before by people they admire ,in a very cold country near the Arctic, there is also the Psychiatric Solution , which was used to great effect by their heroesin that cold country .A clue the cold country had a lot of influence in the " untidy nashums (socialist communist fascist) a well known internashonal mob

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  11. So Whyalla is still standing. Let's see, today is 2 July. Exactly how much carbon tax has been paid thus far? Has the steelworks paid $10M? $5M? More like $0. Let's see what happens after the tax bills start rolling in.

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  12. The prize for the biggest own goal must go to Emo and his God awful impression of a singer at Whyalla

    it was supposed to be a shock dig at Tony Abbott-- instead it is now a viral UTUBE comic act that means nobody will ever take Emo seriously again!

    WHO the hell is advising this mob of clumsy thugs ?

    I reckon he or she is a secret mole out to make sure their post next election Labor Party meetings are held in a telephone booth with Gillard and Shorten and not many others.

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    1. Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.July 2, 2012 at 11:14 PM

      It's gone viral globally. Australia at last in the international news because of our wonderful carbin tax that is doubtless doing its good work impressing everybody in the world and ensuring that they now follow our courageous lead and put a humungeous price on their own breath and farting (please excuse me Prof, but even ladies say this sometimes).

      We will win top honours in the singing and dancing politicians contests too. We Aussies are really hitting the big-time with our credible and dignified Labor government.

      Hiliarious rioting has broken out on Catallaxy celebrating Craig Emo as the first casualty of this fabulous tax. Do take a look.

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  13. Rah, was it not a Union Man who spake of the demise of Whyalla? Abbott merely repeated the statement. Do Fairfugged people actually check things?

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  14. I read pieces of this article earlier today (I know, I know ... my own fault for going there but eventually the paywall will protect me).
    It was like coming across a squashed animal on the road ... stomach-churning and grotesque but you just can't help looking at it.

    The Irish Lion

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  15. PhillipGeorge(c)2012July 3, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    Professor, off topic as usual but I just thought you'd crack half a smile:......

    Dear Diary,

    I donated a unit of blood at the Red Cross Monday afternoon. The gluten free friands were really 'wicked, cool, rad, sweet, random. awesome dude'; but diary, they asked me a whole heap of questions about sexual practices.

    Don't those dudes know anything about "inclusion and tolerance"? What is the world coming to? How are condoms any of their bloody business?
    Bet this would never happen at the Red Crescent!

    lots of love Diary, because I know you care.

    Fairfax News reports ? White carefree diary pages hijacked by right wing ink stains - shame on Abbott.

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