Notorious "Independents" faction militant aligned with the Socialist Left, Comrade Eric Dearricott appears to be in deep trouble in his bid to be re-elected to the Victorian ALP's Administrative Committee.
Dearricott whose sanctimony exceeds that of any known televangelist has suffered from a considerable decline in his previous support largely due to changes within the fractional alignments with his Socialist aligned grouping.
Traditionally directed by deposed MP Bob Sercombe to support his mouthpiece Dearricott, those votes have now been directed to support the Mammarella clan within the Socialist Left.
That and some other Lefty intrigues conspired to cost Dearricott enough support to push him down to around 13 votes, well below the quota of twenty Admin candidates require.
Well placed insiders have given the OC the word "He's a goner."
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Game on.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
HASTA LA VISTA BABY: Eric Dearricott's Bid For Admin In Crisis
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
RATTERY IN THE RANKS: Left Factions Turn Feral In Feud Over Albert Park
Tomorrow night's meeting of the Public Office Selection Committee at the ALP's Head office in West Melbourne could well be the scene of unprecedented left-on-left treachery as they try to resolve who will be the candidate for Albert Park.
So-called Non Aligned group leader Eric Dearricott has attracted much criticism from the Socialist Left faction over his apparent willingness to enter into an arrangement with anti-Left factions to support his candidate, former Port Phillip mayor Liana Thompson.
The Left are very angry that Dearricott's candidate Thompson "won't accept the local vote", code for not accepting Martin Foley who got a healthy majority of the vote.
During the course of the day, the various anti-Left components of the POSC have taken a serious look at the possibility of supporting the non-aligned candidate. Some are concerned about it not being a "good look" for the government to put up two unionists to fill two Labor vacancies. Some think Liana will be a more presentable candidate than a ministerial adviser/ union hack in a suit. Some are attracted to the argument that the factional mix in the caucus should not be disturbed, certainly not in the favour of the Socialist Left faction. Others just love the idea of Foley falling flat on his face. Whatever the reasons, there certainly appears to be a strong possibility of a last-minute stumble for the Left's candidate.
Tomorrow's Night of the Long Knives will be very long indeed for Martin Foley. We will cover the speculation in the lead up to the vote, which could go right down to the piano wire.
Game on.
THE VOTE: The Delightful ALP Candidate Selection Process
A patriot unfamiliar with internal Victorian ALP preselection method just asked the not unreasonable question how can Wade Noonan with his 48% of the local vote be a near certainty to win while Martin Foley with 59% might be in a spot of bother. A reasonably logical question so we'll answer it for all patriots.
The first thing to remember is that the local Party members' plebiscite counts for 50% in the selection process with the central component making up the rest, in theory providing a balance between the opinions of local members and the Party as a whole.
Now the "central panel" as it was once known or Public Office Selection Committee is comprised of a majority of anti-Socialist Left factions. On a good day, these can add up to over 60% of the group of one hundred. The POSC is elected from the Party's State Conference and should identically reflect the factional strengths there. The POSC will meet tomorrow evening.
So that's why Wade Noonan, who enjoys strong support from Labor Unity unions and those wanting to please Labor Unity unions, is feeling very comfortable about life today while back over the Westgate, the Socialist Left's Martin Foley knows that he could lose despite his 59% local showing if the anti Socialist Left groupings get their act together to prevent that militant tendency from expanding its state caucus representation.
Mind you there seems little enthusiasm around the traps to help Liana Thompson, a very left-leaning "non-aligned" member of the Dearricott faction who I recall had the temerity to call the OC a "pig" on one heated occasion. My response "Takes one to know one, oinker" (accompanied by loud grunted pig noise) played well with assembled comrades.
So the various components of the anti-Left will be contemplating today who is the least worst of the candidates in Albert Park and blindly choosing. The OC proposes trial by ordeal to resolve the question, a series of cruel Japanese game-show style tasks, such as drinking goat's urine or a swimming race through a vat of something icky.
In explaining this system, I'm not defending it by the way. A local vote of ALP members where dozens of people effectively choose the MP for forty thousand citizens has no more moral foundation than life appointments of property owners to the Legislative Council. Time to open up the local voting component to all Party supporters, all Party's depending on taxpayers' money should be obliged to do this. Taxpayers fund political parties, they vote for them and yet are given very little direct say in who they propose as candidates. Changing that wouldn't instantly alter the quality of candidates but it could hardly makes things worse.
Game on.
Monday, 20 August 2007
PRESELECTION FUN: A Tale of Two Seats
After a pleasant Sunday's polling in Williamstown, well informed operators seem to think that the TWU patriot Wade Noonan has polled sufficiently well against the Kirner Left backed Labor Unity member Rondah Reitvelt to defeat her. This was mainly due to Diana Asmar's supporters swinging behind Wade so strongly.
In Albert Park as well, Socialist Leftista Martin Foley has done well but will still face an uncertain preselection process as the Right contemplates whether to back him or the equally lamentable Liana Thompson, of the Non-Aligned Faction run by Comrade Eric Dearricott.
The Non-Aligned group (once quite seriously known as SNAG, the Socialist Non Aligned Group) is hoping to stitch up a deal involving everyone against the SL gifting the seat to them, mainly on the basis that their candidate is slightly less offensive than Foley.
Most in the moderate camp are believed to be with that programme, depending on how's she gone, although some this morning are saying the NUW faction in conjunction with the Health Services Union recently bruised by ministerial and ACTU disappointments might be inclined to support Foley regardless of what everyone else wants.
Game on.
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
FACTION FUNK: Tim Holding Proposes His Second Breakaway Faction in Five Years
One-time Right faction splitter Tim Holding knows all about sub-factions:
"We will be forming the 40-and-under, no-kids-yet, breakaway Labor Party subfaction — the Funky Faction."
Timmeh's remarks deserve further analysis:
■ Funky. While Taliban Tim can get into a deep funk when factional rivals, Matt Viney or public servants wrong him, the former Army Reservist is about as funky as the Naval and Military Club;
■ "No kids yet", note the use of the family values word 'yet'. We believe Tim's lucky lady is preparing for a visit to Hardy Bros as we speak. I'd be tipping they'll be engaged within the year, in time for Tim's second tilt for the Treasury or Leadership after the next election. You think I'm kidding, I'm sure. I'm not. Tim won't be letting his foundation membership of Faction Funk slow him down again is my dead serious suggestion. Others will be gravely concerned about the implications of this blatant inducement for Timmeh to reproduce, fearing that there could as many as many as eight little Holdings running around the Hotham FEA in no time with little Network issued scrutineering clipboards and the latest in vote-counting software;
■ Breakaway factions. A little piece of the OC died (admittedly quite a small piece of a whole much larger than it should be) the day Greg Sword, Timmeh Holding et al left the Labor Right and formed their own militant sect, I think briefly called the Alliance which then voted with the Socialist Left party pie connoisseur Kim Carr. So low was this grouping they even permitted the likes of Eric Dearricott membership. It was horrible. Now they seem ready to make the big step back towards patriotism, although many patriots will regard the prospect of a sub-Faction Funk operating within the mostly proudly daggy Labor Right (we exclude patriot AWU power-czar Liam "Ken" O'Brien and Carla "Barbie" de Campo and her employer the metrosexual man of style HSU legend Jeff Jackson from this sweeping generalisation) as very worrying indeed.
Game on.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
WHAT'S GOING DOWN: Brumby's Word Goes
Through the hubbub of gossip, plot, counter-plot and elbowing going on yesterday, last night and furiously raging today over replacing the two most senior figures in the Victorian government and other vacancies, one thing has become very clear: John Brumby is in charge.
LET'S ALL PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS ALTHOUGH THERE'S ONE BLOKE WHO'LL DECIDE
He will ultimately be given a free hand by caucus to make the decisions necessary for him to lead Victoria into the next three years. Many names are flying around for various positions including the emergence of Bob Cameron as Deputy Premier, some say leaping over the top of morally challenged Jacinta Allan as the regional candidate, city slicker Bronwyn Pike (strongly supported by the Jennings), "let them eat cake" Lynne Kosky (supported by the edict of Kim Carr) et al for consideration from the Left. Rob Hulls, the most left-wing and rambunctious person in Labor Unity (some say the whole caucus), is firming though and enjoys the trust of the new boss despite an alleged hammer and sickle tatt on his butt. If the Attorney appoints any more pinkos to the courts, some say, there is every chance they will declare themselves soviets with fluttering red flags out front. (Interestingly someone was trying to tell me the other day that federal Attorney-General Ruddock is doing much the same with the non High Court federal courts, how can that be?)
Maxine Morand - of the same bizzarro faction as Thwaites - is looking like a strong possibility to take his ministerial vacancy if the stupid decision is made to keep alive the faction containing Evil Eric Dearicott(which it will by the sounds of it, tant pis). The argument is that they have a quota and are entitled. She's not a such a bad choice we'll grudgingly concede and has done OK holding down the seat of Mount Waverley which is hardly natural Labor territory. As previously noted, Tony Robinson is a lock for promotion to the ministry in the vacancy created by Bracks, a long overdue and much deserved promotion for the Labor moderate member for Mitcham.
Moderates are expected to take the Cabinet Secretary's position, with many names in the mix including lovable Luke Donnellan, marvellous Michael Crutchfield, terrific Telmo Languiller, tip-top Tony Lupton, fierce Fiona Richardson, ace Adem Somyurek and champion Christine Campbell. The OC believes Telmo in particular is strongly deserving of promotion and yet all seven of those would be good choices. AWU supported Luke and Geelong backed Michael at this stage are the most likely of the secret seven to get the nod.
CAMEL ENTERING EYE OF A NEEDLE?
Someone should tell the press that just as the bible tells us that it will be easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven that Evan Thornley's chances of being promoted are reasonably similar. He was given the benefit of the doubt by many in caucus who realised on first meeting that he did not have the long forked tongue, pungent odour and scaly skin ascribed to him in this forum of freedom. But yet as we confidently predicted, folk of both major factions are finding the true Evan underneath the expensive although ill-fitting suit.
One Thornley insider who if named would probably end up swimming with the fishes told the OC this morning that ET was in tears quite literally yesterday when the backlash to his stupid Paul Austin Age story became obvious. The OC will soon put up a summary of the online reaction which was utterly feral across the political spectrum. It apparently though was much more polite than the reaction from those within caucus who wondered why he was behaving so indulgently and stupidly. Everyone else has to act in a disciplined way, why not him?
In any event, the timing could not be worse. He was probably not that likely to be promoted anyway but any chance he had was snuffed out by the Paul Austin article. As a result, we have decided to be kind to Paul Austin for seven days starting today and will make no mention of his appearance on Stateline last night which would normally have attracted much mirth.
INSIDE THE JB MIND
The above is all wild speculation of course from multiple sources who are not John Brumby, because we can't see inside the mind of the JB we can't really be sure. If we could though, I reckon we'd see a man flushed with excitement, vindication, hope, a little fear and a sense that he's finally made it. Make no mistake, it was Brumby's strategy of appealing to regional Victoria through the 1990s that got Labor elected in 1999. Many say Bracks was the accidental Premier, perhaps but it was no accident as far as Brumby was concerned. He had a plan, a strategy, he implemented. He had the leadership taken from him - in circumstances he no doubt saw as rather cruel - just when it was about to bear fruit. The right call as it turned out, as Bracks did very well, but Labor's special connection with regional Victoria made the 1999 victory happen and that was all down to Brumby.
Partly as a result of this and also his formidable handling of the Treasury, the new Premier will arrive with so much goodwill, so much support from all his colleagues - of all stripes - who know that he really got to the top job the hard way.
TWO TREASURERS // WE ANALYSE BOTH UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
And also preying on his mind must be the most important call of all, probably. Who'll be Treasurer? It boils down to two good men. Tim Holding, the most likely. A ruthless, drop-dead smart, border-line savant, brutal numbers-man. He is most commonly described as a "scary mother-f*cker". The OC principally blamed Tim and the Swords (both of them) for the debacle which saw them - in front of my own eyes - vote with the Socialist Left for some time. Tim's as much as a socialist as the OC, possibly even less so, so these incidents can only be regarded as opportunist, vengeful and wrong. And the ALP can so often be a House of Grudges. But he's a talent, no doubt about it and some of his supporters say that there is a "firm understanding" that the young bloke will be Brumby's Treasurer enjoying support not only from the man himself, from the NUW group and even the departing Premier Bracks who believes Holding performs very well as a Minister and very well under pressure. Like his hero President Nixon, Tim Holding believes the strongest steel comes from the hottest fire.
Another strong possibility is upper house leader John Lenders. There's no issue with being the Treasurer from that house. And Lenders is seen as a very safe pair of hands, a nice guy who is very diligent and hard-working. He's a very likeable person who isn't afraid of tough battles as an OC legal eagle reminded me yesterday when denouncing his involvement in eliminating Workcover and tort law rorts prior to becoming Education Minister. Perhaps most tellingly, he's seen as a normal bloke. A family man, traditional values, solid member of the Labor moderate group. While Tim Holding maintains "Enemies Lists", John Lenders is inclined to forgiveness. When the OC was engaged in various battles of left-skewering, and he was Party Secretary, I was often inclined to think he was far too reasonable and too damn nice to the communists I wanted to see skinned alive and repeatedly dipped in bubbling vats of hot oil. A few years on though I could see that he accomplished everything we wanted him to do but just did so in a style that could draw little criticism. His doctrine - whether he knows it or not - seems very much that of President Reagan "There is no limit to what a man might accomplish as long as he doesn't mind who gets the credit."
So it will be very interesting to see which way the new VIC-1 occupant jumps on this. He's got the choice of two formidable candidates, an unusual luxury. Both will do well, for different reasons, although they do have very large shoes to fill...
JOHN CAIN PAIN
And they all know the model they must avoid. He reared his ugly head in the Herald Sun this morning by saying the new Premier didn't have a mandate and various other unpleasantries. Yes, it's statist John Cain, the bitter and twisted fu*k. If it was lawful to urinate on his front lawn, we would drive with great haste to his residence and do so. Sadly this option is not available to us. His ghost should haunt all those in government as they enter this new phase, don't forget him for a second, his big-spending Keynesianism, his stupid pettiness, his absence of vision, his neglect of regional Victoria, his inability to respect his caucus and draw the best from them, his indulgence of the left-wing faction. The sad superannuant is a useful reminder of how very wrong things can go.
Contrary to Cain's assertions, the new Premier will enjoy tremendous goodwill, not just from his Party but from the state. And curiously it's also good news for Ted Baillieu as he'll almost certainly now be given another chance at an election against the new bloke rather than face what once seemed an inevitable challenge from the infinitely better Terry Mulder with a year to go. Lib insiders say this morning they're much more confident about tackling Brumby than Bracks but I suspect the truth is that by reason of Baillieu sticking around, they'll be giving the government a sizable head start in the 2010 election race.
Game on.
Monday, 2 July 2007
RESULTS: ALP Victorian POSC Count Concludes with Moderates Firmly In Charge
The recent elections of the Victorian ALP Public Office Selection Committee have confirmed the dominance of moderate aligned forces.
Labor Unity has 43 delegates, the NUW grouping has 7 (down 1), the Union and Community Alliance has six (down 1), Ferguson Left 4 (down 1) "Independents" (SL sub-faction run by branch-stacking apologist Eric Dearricott) 5 (up 1 - including 3 from the Pledge group), Socialist Left 35 (up 2).
The POSC is unlikely to have that much business over its two year term, as there are no preselections although it is an indicator of support for the different factions among the absurdly large number of State Conference delegates.
Game on.
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
SICKO: The Angry Ravings of Eric Dearricott
Grumpy leftist Eric Dearricott has caused a stir in the Victorian ALP with his recent hate-filled, Alzheimerish spray at party officials. Dearricott is the leader of a group laughably called the "Non-Aligned" despite the fact it is in strict alignment with the Socialist Left faction, which once ruled the Victorian branch prior to it having more splits than a pair of Alex White trousers.
The OC occasionally re-publishes Dearricott's email rants when they become available but on this occasion we are unable to do so for legal reasons. We understand that a number of the people attacked in Dearricott's rant are urgently seeking legal advice about defamation proceedings against the curmudgeonly comrade. It is uncertain whether the old bloke was genuinely confused about the events he described or whether it was part of a propaganda initiative taken after recent embarrassments involving membership irregularities within groups he supports.
His email claimed remarkable abilities for himself, including mind-reading of his factional rivals and yet offered innovative forms of spelling including "anonamous", "bizzare", "overode" to name a few. If it was possible to convey frothing at the mouth in email form, verily it would overflow.
Dearricott is very pious about the claimed actions of others yet remains silent about the branch-stacking, forgery and corruption of a state backbencher whose first name rhymes with "Hillbilly". It will be very interesting to see whether he continues to defend her blatant rorting. He apparently turned a particularly glowing shade of crimson when the full extent of what amounts to criminal conduct in terms of the preparation of false documents, forgery and so on.
The whole incident certainly undermines his sanctimonious act. The old bloke apparently confided to a fellow old-timer that after his recent serious illness that he would be scaling back his involvement. He also expressed enough disrespect for the leadership of Kim Il Carr that would have once seen him banished to a gulag or Neil O'Keefe's office.
Game on.
Monday, 21 May 2007
MONDAY MADNESS: Senior Barrister ALP Poser Behind Proposed Bid To Send Kevin Rudd To Space // Can We Send John Thwaites Instead?
Michael Pearce, a left-wing barrister who was recently appointed by matey Attorney-General Rob Hulls to the well-paid ranks of "senior counsel", surprised many ALP National Conference Delegates last month with a motion that proposed the federal leader, Kevin Rudd, be directed to make some kind of personal space mission.
While the motion has formally in the name of "Avis Meddings" (surely an alias), a factional comrade of Pearce's Socialist Left aligned weird group of multiply named independents, the OC was informed by a well lubricated source that the barrister was behind the space plot.
It is remarkable that the legal eagle who charges as much as $6000 a day for his services is kind enough to bestow such bizarre ideas on the ALP for free. They should be far more grateful, sources close to the space cadet say.
The motion was the source of much chuckling although was deferred, perhaps to a conference in a galaxy far, far away.
Pearce was visibly saddened when the proposal was laughed off. Have years hangin' with John Thwaites-Eagle and Melanie Eagle-Thwaites caused him to lose all sense of reality? Michael Pearce, whose non inter-galactic ambitions include replacing John Thwaites-Eagle in the state seat of Albert Park, has been a lefty operative in the Melbourne Ports FEA for many years. Clearly, it's not been without cost.
Others have darkly speculated, with little by way of evidence to support their claims (much like Eric "Madam De Farge" Dearricott), that in light of recent revelations about drug abuse at the Victorian Bar, the space proposal which caused snorts of laughter may well have been prompted by snorts of cocaine.
Game on.
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
CHATFUN: Meebo Dialogues With Patriots And Others
I've been really enjoying some of the Meebo dialogues and tips that have come in. Many are confidential but here's some from today that amused. I'll put them up on occasion if they shed light on the enemies of freedom or may be of general interest.
[23:24] meeboguest352398: Hey Andy, heard this one?
[23:24] meeboguest352398: Q:What's Ralph Fiennes definition of safe sex?
[23:25] andrewlanderyou: what?
[23:25] meeboguest352398: A: Locking the toilet door.
[23:25] andrewlanderyou: could also apply to Stephen Mayne...
[20:33] meeboguest388637: How ya doin' you fat, bankrupt, gutter-dwelling piece of shi*?
[20:33] andrewlanderyou: very well thanks
[20:34] meeboguest388637: How was work today? Oh, sorry. I forgot that you don't work.
[20:34] andrewlanderyou: I don't?
[20:35] meeboguest388637: Cramming a blogspot blog full of internet adverts and chucking in a bit of fantasy content doesn't count.
[20:35] andrewlanderyou: fantasy you say?
[20:36] andrewlanderyou: I'd certainly concede the site is fantastic
[20:36] meeboguest388637: Am I talking to one of those "intelligent" computer programs that keep chucking questions back at me based on the words I type in?
[20:36] andrewlanderyou: what makes you feel that way?
[20:37] meeboguest388637: It's like I'm playing "Space Quest" again. >>Walk forward. >>Get gun. >>Get ammo. >>Talk person.
[20:37] andrewlanderyou: Aim carefully
[20:37] meeboguest388637: Better let you get back to it. Whatever "it" is.
[20:38] andrewlanderyou: will do
[20:38] andrewlanderyou: have a nice day
[20:38] Meebo Message: meeboguest388637 has left your page
[17:30] meeboguest286073: great post about the left andrew
[15:55] meeboguest847492: what's your view about Ashley Gardiner's haircut?
[14:40] meeboguest444440: andrew, are you able to help...just doing some research and need to know who are Tim Holding's friends...can you help?
[14:41] andrewlanderyou: yes, some might say that a research project on Tim Holding's friends could be very short I'm kidding of course, what do you need to know?
[14:44] meeboguest779497: who on the left is in the Labor Alliance?
[14:45] meeboguest779497: Why is Tim known as The Networker? Apart from the obvious
[14:47] andrewlanderyou: Labor Alliance no longer includes Tim and the NUW of course
[14:47] andrewlanderyou: the only people left in it are basically the remnants of the Pledge Left (OC: And Eric Dearicott of course)
[14:47] meeboguest779497: aha...
[14:47] andrewlanderyou: people associated with the Vehicle Builders Union
[14:48] andrewlanderyou: like Ian Jones, his wife newly elected MP Gayle Tierney
[14:48] meeboguest779497: so it's back to unity?
[14:48] andrewlanderyou: no they're not
[14:48] andrewlanderyou: still seem to be voting with the Left
[14:48] andrewlanderyou: for now anyway
[14:48] andrewlanderyou: Tim is known as a Networker because he was a member of this thing called Young Labor Network
[14:49] meeboguest779497: a sub faction of Unity?
[14:49] andrewlanderyou: it was yes, actually no, it was meant to be all of young people in Labor Unity or Labor Unity in Young Labor if you know what I mean
[14:49] meeboguest779497: aha
[14:50] andrewlanderyou: then a fellow called David Feeney started this thing called Centre Forum which kind of competed with Network and supplanted it
[14:50] meeboguest779497: I thought Feeney and Tim were mates?
[14:51] andrewlanderyou: not particularly close, at least not then, now I think not unfriendly, in the manner of old warriors
[14:51] meeboguest779497: is it or was it ever the case that to be a Labor party branch office bearer one needs to have 3 years experience in a communtiy committee?
[14:52] andrewlanderyou: not that I'm aware of, what sort of community committee?
[14:52] meeboguest779497: any
[14:52] andrewlanderyou: in some parts of the ALP, it might be seen as a disqualification to have outside interests
[14:52] meeboguest779497: really?
[14:53] andrewlanderyou: (kidding again, although behind many jokes is an essential truth)
[14:53] meeboguest779497: I thought it was something that Labor encouraged?
[14:53] andrewlanderyou: to answer your original question, basically Tim Holding is a member of the NUW aligned faction (not sure it has a name as such) which was part of the RIght then split and voted with the SOcialist Left but last year voted with the Right and will probably stay doing that
[14:53] meeboguest779497: and who is the head of that?
[14:53] andrewlanderyou: it's head is debatable Charlie Donnelly is the head of the union so that probably means it's him but Tim is its most senior Parliamentarian
[14:54] meeboguest779497: really?
[14:55] andrewlanderyou: I doubt they have a formally elected leader
[14:55] andrewlanderyou: yeah he is, not in years but in clout
[14:55] meeboguest779497: and Brumby? different union?
[14:55] andrewlanderyou: Brumby isn't really from a union
[14:55] meeboguest779497: no?
[14:55] andrewlanderyou: is generally supported by the Right
[14:55] meeboguest779497: OK...
[14:55] andrewlanderyou: no it's not a requirement
[14:56] meeboguest779497: thank you very much for the tid bits
[14:56] meeboguest779497: so where does Ferguson sit?
[14:56] andrewlanderyou: Ferguson is in his own group
[14:56] andrewlanderyou: which is called the Ferguson Left
[14:56] meeboguest779497: really?
[14:56] meeboguest779497: does not really sound very left
[14:56] andrewlanderyou: which basically depends on the votes of timber workers part of the CFMEU
[14:56] meeboguest779497: aha
[14:56] andrewlanderyou: no, he's my kind of lefty
[14:56] meeboguest779497: you a lefty?
[14:56] andrewlanderyou: loves uranium mining, cutting down trees, etc, a real patriot
[14:57] andrewlanderyou: some would say I'm not much of a lefty
[14:57] meeboguest779497: so tell me why does Evan Thornley get you bristling?
[14:57] andrewlanderyou: 1) he's a complete fraud
[14:57] meeboguest779497: though not very charistmatic at all
[14:57] andrewlanderyou: True, 2) he's a pompous windbag and 3) he's defrauded a number of friends of mine but butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, quite horrible
[14:58] meeboguest779497: yes...I can see that
[14:58] meeboguest779497: is he wealthy or is he broke?
[14:58] andrewlanderyou: I understand Evan is very wealthy from selling shares in a company called Looksmart which ironically never made much money itself
[14:58] meeboguest779497: some say $50 Mill
[14:58] meeboguest779497: so he is not in a union?
[14:58] andrewlanderyou: not and indeed banned them from Looksmart
[14:58] meeboguest779497: really?
[14:59] andrewlanderyou: yes, referenced in their annual reports, he's a shocker that bloke, possibly the greatest crook elected to public office in Victoria since Thomas Bent the Victorian Premier who used to shift railway plans to include his own land
[15:00] meeboguest779497: yes I know of Bent ( by name and nature)
[15:00] meeboguest779497: Is he intellectually able?
[15:01] andrewlanderyou: I think at one level he is
[15:01] meeboguest779497: yes?
[15:01] andrewlanderyou: at another level he is a fraud with that too, he reads and quotes but does not understand. A dumber version of Barry Jones.
[15:01] meeboguest779497: is he going to rise to the top?
[15:02] andrewlanderyou: doubt it
***CENSORED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT***
[15:03] meeboguest779497: yep...so factional shifts are no longer seen as ratting? Now it's noble to go with the strength?
[15:04] andrewlanderyou: no, I think it's not generally regarded that favourably but depends
[15:04] meeboguest779497: How does Carr keep his power in the left?
[15:04] andrewlanderyou: persistence, he wields his numbers recording clipboard like a broadsword
[15:04] meeboguest779497: and assassinations? metaphorically speaking of course
[15:05] andrewlanderyou: lol, not that I'm aware of, he enjoys the support of most of their union base which includes dumb-fu*k union secretaries like Brian Daley of the LHMU who are easily played
[15:05] andrewlanderyou: but is largely disrespected by the smarter people like Tanner, Griffin and many of the state MPs, they often seem to plan each other's demise but it basically goes no where
[15:06] meeboguest779497: so what is your view of Emily's list...does it get females elected to parl or not?
[15:06] andrewlanderyou: not much and no, Emily's list makes sense in the US, early money is like yeast I suppose in a primaries system
[15:07] meeboguest779497: aha...
[15:07] andrewlanderyou: in ALP preselections money is not a big issue, it doesn't cost much to communicate with those voting in a plebiscite, so many think that emily's list is basically there as a cheer squad set up by Joan Kirner for Socialist Left women MPs
[15:08] meeboguest779497: Well, that's the case... very interesting chatting Andrew...Anthony Byrne...is he independent? If so how did he keep his pre-selection
[15:08] andrewlanderyou: Anthony is in the Right
[15:08] andrewlanderyou: very highly regarded chap
[15:09] meeboguest779497: Right? Nice guy
[15:09] andrewlanderyou: yes I hear he is
[15:09] meeboguest779497: Alan Griffin is Unity?
[15:09] andrewlanderyou: nope
[15:09] meeboguest779497: left?
[15:09] andrewlanderyou: he's in the Socialist Left
[15:09] meeboguest779497: are Byrne and Holding mates then?
[15:09] andrewlanderyou: he and a fellow called Gavin Jennings are probably the most prominent anti Kim Carr people
[15:10] meeboguest779497: Gavin is smart?
[15:10] andrewlanderyou: Byrne and Holding not factional mates no, but may well be friendly at a personal level, not too sure, yes Gavin is seen as very, very sneaky
[15:10] meeboguest779497: but in the same faction?
[15:10] andrewlanderyou: perhaps the most prized trait in factional games
[15:10] meeboguest779497: sneaky? really?
[15:10] andrewlanderyou: same faction as Carr yes
[15:11] meeboguest779497: aha..
[15:11] andrewlanderyou: that is an unrealised truth of factional life I suppose: your real competitors come from within your own faction
[15:11] andrewlanderyou: Gavin is seen as very sneaky yes, or at least is labelled that way by his foes
[15:12] meeboguest779497: so you obviously have excellent contacts on the other side as well...or is it that they just leak?
[15:12] andrewlanderyou: lots of leaks, drips and occasional gushing taps in all corners
[15:12] meeboguest779497: yes, that's clear
[15:12] andrewlanderyou: on both sides of politics too
[15:13] meeboguest779497: really?
[15:13] andrewlanderyou: unlike most journalistes, I suppose what you see is what you get, I don't pretend to be a neutral, impartial oracle of righteousness.
[15:13] andrewlanderyou: yes we've had some good Liberal stories of late
[15:13] meeboguest779497: are you a journo by profession?
[15:13] andrewlanderyou: they're ripping strips off each other
[15:13] meeboguest779497: yes...read those
[15:13] andrewlanderyou: am now yes
[15:13] andrewlanderyou: although some at The Age would dispute that definition
[15:14] meeboguest779497: well jealousy I suppose!
[15:14] andrewlanderyou: yes they hate it when I break the stories they should be getting
[15:14] meeboguest779497: I bet
[15:14] andrewlanderyou: no one trusts The Age really, even chunks of the SL hate them
[15:14] meeboguest779497: a lot of it seems to be coming from the East...or is that just the perception?
[15:14] andrewlanderyou: the Eastern suburbs?
[15:15] andrewlanderyou: we have ALP stories out of the west on occasion and northern burbs too I spose, the Libs barely have a pulse in the west, except for Bernie Finn
[15:15] meeboguest779497: so Bruce Atkinson...and Dalla-Riva ...are they behind it or is it their supporters?
[15:16] meeboguest779497: Yes, Bernie has been know to let the odd cat out of the bag, no doubt
[15:16] andrewlanderyou: no one seems to know definitively (who leaked)
[15:16] meeboguest779497: no of course not
[15:16] andrewlanderyou: the Olexander theory made some sense but who knows
[15:16] meeboguest779497: the experts are resident at 104 exhibition street and 101 collins street
[15:17] andrewlanderyou: some thought it was done by Bruce himself but I don't really buy that
[15:17] meeboguest779497: Ollie...do you thnk that they will give him a payout?
[15:17] andrewlanderyou: if anyone will miss out it will be him but it depends on the doctors I think
[15:17] andrewlanderyou: the theory that the Kroger ppl did it? why would they? I thought they liked Bruce or at the very least adopted him to smite Dalla-Riva
[15:19] meeboguest779497: true...now the comment was one general one that the intitaive begins from 101 and 104 and then there is retaliation... so on it goes
[15:19] meeboguest779497: explain your adoration of Panopolous, Andrew... are you serious? or s it tongue in cheek
[15:20] andrewlanderyou: some might consider a little bit facetious I couldn't possibly comment
[15:20] meeboguest779497: can you make it more obvious, please...
[15:21] andrewlanderyou: are you suggesting Sophie does not deserve the praise of a loving community ?
[15:21] meeboguest779497: here you go again
[15:21] meeboguest779497: are you infatuated?
[15:21] andrewlanderyou: I'm not sure what you mean
[15:21] andrewlanderyou: infatuated?
[15:22] meeboguest779497: with Sophie?
[15:22] andrewlanderyou: defined as: to inspire or possess with a foolish or unreasoning passion, as of love?
[15:22] meeboguest779497: are you ex Melbourne Universiyt ?
[15:22] andrewlanderyou: yes
[15:22] meeboguest779497: just trying to understand...
[15:23] meeboguest779497: are you of the same vintage?
[15:23] andrewlanderyou: she's a bit older than me (while being ageless)
[15:23] andrewlanderyou: but yes our paths did cross
[15:23] andrewlanderyou: at the House of Pain (Union House)
[15:23] meeboguest779497: who was screaming? You or Sophie?
[15:23] meeboguest779497: you didn't XXXX her did you...no that is personal ...ignore that question!
[15:23] andrewlanderyou: even then she was much adored
[15:24] andrewlanderyou: Me? No, I did but see her passing by and yet I love her til I die
[15:24] meeboguest779497: Browning?
[15:24] andrewlanderyou: very good
[15:24] meeboguest779497: To her Coy Mistress
[15:25] andrewlanderyou: was it? OK
[15:26] andrewlanderyou: you have a good memory
[15:26] andrewlanderyou: was famously quoted by Sir Robert Menzies about the Queen
[15:26] meeboguest779497: of course, he was an English teacher, me thinks
[15:27] andrewlanderyou: barrister I thought but mainly a career politician
[15:27] andrewlanderyou: I hope that all helps your research
[15:27] meeboguest779497: nice chatting...yes some bits clarified...
[15:27] meeboguest779497: yes...thanks much...catch you next time
[15:27] andrewlanderyou: yeah any time
Game on.
Monday, 23 October 2006
ELECTION EVE: Taking Out The Grinch's Trash
In between nervous nattering about the imminent state poll where free spending Red Ted Baillieu's policies may well buy him into serious election contention, word around the Comrade's Bar is that the pompous creep Victorian Socialist Left running dog Eric "Grinch" Dearricott got the mother of all hidings at a recent internal ALP Disputes Tribunal hearing last week.
Nothing if not idiotically persistent and annoyingly consistent, the Complaining Comrade had brought one of his infamous "it's the vibe of the thing" Disputes against Labor western suburbs titan George Seitz on the basis that he was over sixty-five years old.
TROGS LIKE LILY
Surely a similar ageist complaint Socialist Left trog-hound Lily D'Ambrosio on the basis of her extremely low mental age would have brought howls of complaint from the comrades. Seitz is a former member of the Left who has been the focus of full-frontal attacks ever since changing factional allegiances, these have included full-moon inspired attacks in the Sunday Age and The Age that are so regular that Socialist faction leader Kim Il Carr has considered adopting them as part of the DPRK Juche ideological calendar.
Comrade Les Tarczon, knowingly concerned in many of the "on the slim-down" Bob Mammarella and Jeff "Gentle Giant" O'Donnell's abundant and prosperous corrupt schemes, officially brought the dispute but all concerned knew it was Dearricott pulling the strings.
The Tribunal threw out the Dispute, regarded as so vexatious that the Tribunal member patriot Jim Maher ordered that no refund be made of the fee payable to bring a dispute.
Game on.
Friday, 6 October 2006
NORTHCOTE: The Fight for the Right
Herald Sun theory: Labor Unity Secretary Fiona Richardson will run for Northcote, to be challenged only by Colin Brooks. (OC: Colin is the popular former Councillor from Banyule who was bumped out of the way in Bundoora by Sports Minister Justin Madden. Some say that Brooksy was promised the next vacancy that came along, others claim he was promised Bundoora after Madden's retirement. It does seem unlikely to the OC that Brooks would oppose his close ally Richardson, he works for John Lenders who is considered very supportive of Richardson.)
The Australian theory: Fiona Richardson will run for Northcote, opposed by Health Professionals Union boss and rising star Kathy Jackson. OC: Rick Wallace is right about the Jackson v Richardson contest. A complicated arrangement is also sketched out in the Oz where Justin Madden would give up Bundoora, take Fiona's upper house place, Colin Brooks would take Bundoora and Fiona would get Northcote. Those advocating this arrangement say that it would satisfy promises made to Brooks earlier this year to obtain his withdrawal in Bundoora, and that the "gender balance" issues don't arise because Labor is well above its "affirmative action" quota. Those who oppose it say that Justin Madden was given a lower house seat and painted a vision splendid for his future, which he is unlikely to want to give up even before he gets there. Whether the big guy's agreement is relevant or necessary remains to be seen.
The Age theory: Fiona Richardson will run for Northcote and Colin Brooks will take her upper house spot. The Age continues to be left out of the loop, by reason of their loopiness.
The OC font of wisdom: The highly regarded union leader Kathy Jackson has been offered more seats than a pregnant lady on a tram, so her expression of interest in a seat is considered to be very significant and got a good response yesterday as the mobile phones buzzed and beeped. Some say that Kathy's sense of drama and style rivals that of Nicole Kidman, so a last minute and flamboyant entrance to the stage seems perfectly appropriate. Jackson is a graduate of Harvard's trade union leadership programme. Equally, Fiona Richardson was a formidable operator protecting the Right from oblivion a couple of years ago against a Taliban regime that ran the ALP in Victoria comprising Greg Sword, the Socialist Left and Lord Eric Rorter of Dearricott. She earned much respect for her work throughout the Labor moderate world. So some are suggesting that a neat compromise would have Delahunty replaced by Richardson and Richardson's upper house spot given to Jackson. This would ensure that the representation of women does not decrease with Delahunty's retirement, considered important by the Premier and other Labor decision makers and would minimise the risk of an unseemly intra-factional dispute with the very little time remaining before the next state election. At one exciting stage yesterday one-time billionaire anono-blogger and ALP candidate Evan Thornley was rumoured to be suggesting himself for Northcote and his charming wife Tracey Ellery to take over his upper house spot so they could form a heavyweight Labor tag team. He's still waiting for his friend and mentor Tim Pallas to return his three calls and five SMS to discuss the idea.
Game on.
Friday, 22 September 2006
THE FREAKS WITHIN: We Name and Shame Labor Daleks
Crossing Senator Robert Ray is not much fun it seems.
His colourful references to Senators Kim Carr and Steven Conroy captured enormous media attention yesterday with wall-to-wall net, newspaper, television and radio coverage. There's nothing like pop culture references to grab the attention of those with short attention spans (like the OC).
Robert Ray made reference to Victorian factional leaders so it's worth reviewing their form to assess whether they qualify as "Daleks."
WHAT IS A DALEK?
Unlike Steve Conroy who shamefully admitted to being a fan of the Doctor Who series, my knowledge of Daleks is limited to what I find in Wikipedia, that revolting source of left-wing propaganda which defines them as a:
"ruthless race bent on universal conquest and domination. They are devoid of any emotion save hate; without pity, compassion or remorse."
Further relevant extracts:
Daleks have little to no individual personalities, ostensibly no emotions outside hatred, and a strict command structure, conditioned to obey superior orders without question. Ultimately, the most fundamental feature of Dalek culture and psychology is an unquestioned belief in the superiority of the Dalek race. Other species are either to be exterminated immediately, or enslaved and then exterminated later once they are no longer necessary. The default directive of a Dalek is to destroy all non-Dalek lifeforms.
Daleks even have sub-factions, reminiscent of the vicious split within the Victorian Left with nasty conflicts between Gavin Jennings and Kim Carr spilling over recently:
The schism between the Renegade and Imperial Daleks seen in Remembrance of the Daleks is a prime example of this, with each faction considering the other to be a perversion despite the relatively minor differences between them. It also means, however, that Daleks are intolerant of such "contamination" even within themselves, as also shown in Dalek, The Evil of the Daleks and in the Big Finish Productions audio play The Mutant Phase.
The accepted definition of Daleks really does ring alarm bells of recognition:
Another offshoot of this superiority complex is their complete ruthlessness and lack of compassion. It is because of this that it is nearly impossible to negotiate or reason with a Dalek and it is this single-mindedness that makes them so dangerous and not to be underestimated. However, their reliance on logic and machinery is also a weakness that they recognise. As a result, they also make use of non-Dalek species to compensate for these shortcomings (see Dalek agents).
Dalek agent could well describe the travelling minstrels known as the National Union of Workers who under the leadership of definite Dalek Greg Sword formed a foul alliance with the Socialist Left.
Some of the more elaborate Dalek battlecries have an almost poetic quality about them (for example, "Advance and Attack! Attack and Destroy! Destroy and Rejoice!" from the televised story The Chase). 
SENATOR KIM CARR
Carr is guilty on all elements of the definition of a Dalek. A good hater, with the personality of a brick, a high-pitched staccato voice, a dedication to good record-keeping, he once slavishly obeyed the orders of Meat Workers Meat Head Wally Curran, he is now in charge of all the Junior Daleks of the dreaded Socialist Left tendency, such as the self-styled "General Rommel" Kosmos Samaras whose war-gaming prowess make him a likely future Dalek Leader.
Carr believes in his moral superiority (while rorting ballots and running slush funds) and seeks out "difference" or "contamination" with a ruthless intolerance. Carr is responsible for many Stalinist purges within the Left which led to the expulsions of Theo Theophanous, Telmo Languiller, George Seitz, a goodly chunk of Left aligned unions, Dean Mighell, the O'Connors, Julia Gillard and the exclusion of Martin Ferguson and many others. Carr's own Dalek Socialist Left faction has shrunk to a size he can ruthlessly control. This is just how he wants it.
He is often seen as beyond reason and incapable of negotiating with desperately trying to seize power in sleazy and corrupt factional deals with people like the NUW, who ultimately saw the light and decided to stop returning his calls.
DALEK FINDING: GUILTYERIC DEARRICOTT
Eric Dearricott is a fanatical Dalek ally of Head Dalek Kim Carr. The little known former electorate officer to Neil O'Keefe who once infamously ran a government joint venture reviewing consortia to buy the Showgrounds site and then was found to have set up or had a business involvement in several of the bidders.
Like a good Dalek, Dearricott is utterly convinced of his moral superiority in all respects. Every other member of the ALP is suspected of being "a stack." If they are of Asian descent, Eric believes that is prima facie evidence of their involvement in stacking.
His ruthlessness and desire to destroy enemies was painfully evident when he had the numbers on the ALP Admin Committee. All Dalek associated Left members were rubber-stamped and approved with light-speed, regardless of how dodgy their paperwork may have been. By contrast bona fide moderate membership applications were automatically rejected without serious consideration to corruptly obtain Dalek factional advantage. Adding insult to injury, Dearricott and fellow Dalek disgraced former Premier John Cain conducted an inquiry later revealed to have used falsified "evidence" that was like the former Premier later discredited and thrown out.
DALEK FINDING: GUILTY
STEPHEN CONROY
Steve automatically disqualified himself for Dalek status by offering no comment but laughing off his former chum Robert Ray's criticism saying "he was a big fan of Doctor Who." Another example of his legendary grace under pressure.
Conroy has his limitations, there's no doubt about it. He barracks for Collingwood for a start and seems much too inclined to defend the ABC in public for my taste. At his best, he's a charming and witty guy. In dark moments, and I've certainly never seen this, his foes say he is inclined to bully and may be intolerant of opposing views. Unlike all of us, of course. We're all saints.
But unlike a Dalek he has a passionate interest in public policy. Senator Steve is a loud and proud advocate of globalisation in a Party that is all too inclined to protectionism.
He's not into Dalek style command economies either. Check out his first speech where he gave socialism a good kicking:
I have always been committed to providing equality of opportunity. I reject the notion of equality of outcome. To me, this is the critical divide between a social democrat and a socialist.
Later in that speech he thanks only three people specifically for helping him, "first of all Robert Ray, my long-time friend and now my colleague."
That's the saddest thing, that the two brothers in arms have had a falling out. But a personality clash doesn't change the fact that Conroy does not - critics would say isn't permitted to - conduct the Labor Right's business in the mindlessly intolerant way exemplified by Daleks like Kim Carr.
DALEK FINDING: NOT GUILTY
TIM HOLDING
Tim Holding is the Grand Wizard of the NUW Clan, the Bracks Government's Police Minister, Victoria's most prolific user of hair "product" and leadership aspirant.
The former long-time employee of Senator Robert Ray appears to have many Dalek attributes. Blind ambition for the Premiership, a deep intolerance of dissent within his sub-grouping, fanatical eye for detail, an inclination to regard enemies as morally inferior to his pure ways and a record of holding grudges for a long time. One NUW observer said at one stage Holding's list was moved from an Excel file to an Access database.
He was also unquestioningly loyal to former NUW Leader and drunken Dalek Greg Sword who while not on the grog with John Elliott plotted and schemed with Kim Carr in a series of sleazy arrangements that made the AWB look honest.
However, while Holding is in personality terms strongly Dalek inclined, many see that he is leaving his past ways of keeping "enemies lists" and other forms of Dalek record keeping behind him as he matures. He's just turned thirty four so we'll reserve judgment at this stage.
DALEK FINDING: FURTHER INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Game on.
Wednesday, 24 May 2006
BIGGER THAN JESUS: Simon & Carole Share The Good News of Their Humble Glory
The failed former Labor leader Simon "Crawled Up Our Sol Lew's Butt Crack" Crean is like John Lennon "bigger than Jesus now." His outsize ego grew to outrageous proportions when the Hotham preselection farce descended into tragedy with the re-preselection of the miserable old goat for three more boring years of blandness.
So immense is Crean's Messiah complex that he is routinely ringing up Joe Gutnick with tips about where to locate those diamonds the last Moshiach couldn't quite locate. (Joe's last Moshiach did find an almighty reserve of gold for him though, it must be said)
He's also terrorising long suffering ALP branch members with a televangelist style series of gatherings across suburban Melbourne, encouraging worshippers to hear his message of pain, redemption, faith-healing, self-abuse, vote-buying, employment creation, adultery, dodgy fund-raising and the path to the Glory of His Kingdom. It could well be a travelling circus as he wanders in search of filthy lowlife ALP branch members to heal and raise up to his magnificent standards of exaltation.
An OC correspondent, "Branch P. Stacker" has filed this report of the big event on Sunday. She takes it from here:
That old reprobate Simon Crean is continuing his war in the south-east against Labour Unity in general and Hong Lim in particular, using tactics identical to those used by those other Crean-sponsored reprobates, the Networkers.
Creanie has sent out a letter to all Branch Secretaries inviting them to come along to a meeting on 28 May (incorrectly given as 18 may in the letter itself) where fundamental ideas about returning Labor to the "rank and file" membership will be addressed.
Crean is billed as an "invited speaker", but most of those who have put their names to this despicable and misleading invitation are well-known losers and Crean accolytes.
-----------------
Dramatis Personnae:
■ Amy Duncan - lunatic racist South African communist, secretary of Clayton South Branch, which meets in Crean's office. Famous for rejecting three Vietnamese aspiring members of her branch on the grounds that their English was not good enough.
■ Ann Corcoran - Member for Isaacs, now dis-endorsed through her own stupidity, very bitter and angry
■ Eric Dearricott - embittered leader of the so-called Independents group, which was decimated in the recent round of preselections
■ Nick Staikos - I'd call him a young Turk, except he'd probably bite my hand off considering that he's a Greek. Young, hot-headed and stupid, Amy's lapdog
■ Stephen Dimopoulos - a political low-life! A former Mayor of Monash and root-rat who is romantically linked with current Monash Mayor and mother-of-3 Joy Banerji. Their romance brought about the bitter rift with former lover Councillor Jeanne Solity - a rift that has court appearances yet to come!
An ex-Crean staffer and ex-Ann Barker staffer, this rat (Dimopoulos) placed bets on Crean both winning and losing, to ensure that he kept allies no matter what the result of the last Hotham pre-selection. You have to be amazed at the level of treachery of this shady character. He’s an NUW-networker who has numerous times shouted his support for Ann Barker and ‘the cause’, but has now gone back to Crean with the aim of taking Oakleigh away from Barker with his ‘mate’ and boss, George Lekakis (Chairman - VMC). How far will this wannabe ethnic warlord and Greek branch-stacker stoop?
■ John Lannan - Deakin academic, NTEU delegate and Mount Martha branch-member. A True Believer who has been set up as a patsie by Crean and his cronies
Look forward to extended OC coverage of this blessed event.
Game on.
To get your own personal invite from Simon "I Don't Have A God Complex, I am God" Crean, read below:
Monday, 8 May 2006
WEEKEND: ALP State Conference Yawn
With the exception of Eric "Last Gasp" Dearricott, everyone was on their best behaviour at the weekend's VIctorian ALP State Conference (hence the OC's absence). Evan Thornley's slithering presence was noted, as was the Premier's tub-thumpingly strong speech. Not much else went down except for a nuisance motion about public private partnerships that like most Eric's misadventures will go nowhere.
The issue Dearricott raised is an important one. As ever his method of raising it is more designed to grandstand than to solve the problem. There is a continuing phenomenon of Macquarie Bank and MacBank Wannabee's gouging more than they should from the fact that public sector debt was forever discredited by Dearricott's chums disgraced former Premier John Cain and failed former Premier Joan Kirner who borrowed billions and then sprayed them against the wall. As the infrastructure finance market has matured this has become less of a problem with the reward associated with providing the finance now much more aligned with the risk (usually very little risk) but there are still a few quirks.
Interestingly, the Southern Cross station photograph included in the Age story is an indication of some of the benefits to taxpayers of palming off risk on to private sector players. The major sub-contractor Leightons - not known for making mistakes that often - have dropped a fortune - approximately $122 million in losses on the magnificent looking station. Leightons have sought to get the state to pay for a relatively small proportion of it, as you would.
The delay in the project's completion is annoying but as any home renovator can tell you is almost impossible to avoid, it's the nature of construction projects, particularly one on a site as complicated and constantly moving as a train station.
More competition on the supply side of the infrastructure finance market, getting more players involved in public-private partnerships, these things are happening. They were slow to start and Macquarie made a killing while they could. The simple fact is that for all of Eric's complaints, getting private money into the financing of public infrastructure is happening everywhere from tollroads in China to hospitals in Britain. It's the outcomes that matter (getting stuff built) not the process (how it's paid for). When the Left finally gets over its addiction to process and point scoring they might have something to contribute.
Game on.
Friday, 17 March 2006
SHOCK HORROR: The OC Agrees With Eric Dearricott // Oh The Shame
Eric Dearricott is a very annoying old windbag. And that's what he's friends say. The stories of his nasty little network of "Independents, "Non-Aligned" and now outrageously called "Centre faction" are legend in the ALP. When in a ruling coalition with the NUW grouping and the SL, they ran the Victorian branch with all the competence of Joan Kirner, sipping Kool-Aid while hatching plans to make it nearly impossible to join the party. One infamous Dearricott proposal which never formally saw the light of day had each ALP member required to place a $5000 bond with Head Office which would only be refunded after five years of regular branch meeting attendance. That would certainly have kept the workers out, which we presume is Eric's main motivation as he sets about creating a decidedly less fashionable version of the Greens.
But he has expressed concerns about a whole bunch of city slickers getting preselected for country upper house seats in the Victorian Legislative Council and he has a point.
Those candidates who are from the city better do what Sophie Panopoulos did and move out from the inner city to their intended electorates quick smart. There are lots of families moving to the bush, good internet connections mean that many can work from there just as well as from Melbourne and enjoy a much better lifestyle. So they'll be welcomed with open arms. But heaven help those who do not. The new requirement is that the suburb name of the residence of candidates will be printed on the ballot paper in those elections. If I was Johan Emiel Scheffer (pictured above right) , the Socialist Lefty from St Kilda, I'd be moving out east very quickly indeed, dropping the inner city leftoid social worker inflection and swapping the taxpayer funded luxo barge car for a campaign ute. If you don't, little Johnny, you're going to be roadkill.
Candidates not willing to move to their electorates without a pretty compelling excuse should be disendorsed. They are huge areas and to fail to do so provides such an easy kill for their political opponents. So don't say you weren't warned.
Also we hear that Robert Mitchell won't be a candidate in the upper house Northern regional province.
Game on.
Wednesday, 15 March 2006
PROPAGANDISTE: Liar Eric Dearricott's Lying Lies
Eric Dearricott's outrageously titled Non Aligned enews newsletter containing few more than a thousand words took over 8 hours to write and was subjected to 19 revisions before being sent out to "Non Aligned" (in fact Socialist Left aligned) faction members.
It takes a lot longer to write a pack of lies than to just tell the truth as best you recall it. That's certainly the case with Eric's propaganda. Note that his wife's name Marg listed as the author according to the OC's technical analysis.
Judge for yourself.
Non Aligned enews Tuesday March 14 2006
National Executive finalises Victorian Upper House Ticket
Today the ALP National Executive approved the slates submitted by the Right and the Left for the Tickets for each of the new multi-member Legislative Council Seats. The slate for the Right was always likely to change after the plebiscites and POSC. What is now clear is that the Right will drop Sang Nguyen (LU) from the winnable 3rd position in Western Metro Province and plan to replace him with failed Hotham challenger Martin Pakula (NUW).
OC: See how Sang's propaganda machine is getting the line out there, even as far as Kyneton. Insiders are well aware of Sang's retirement plans.
Pakula was not a nominee for any Upper House Seat at the close of nominations but today a late nomination has been accepted from him. The tickets are outlined below. Winnable positions are marked with W.
West Vic: 1 Jaala Pulford(NUW) W, 2 Gayle Tierney(LL) W, 3 Elaine Carbines(LU)
East Vic: 1 Matt Viney (NUW) W, 2 Johan Scheffer (L) W, 3 Glenyys Romannes (L)
North Vic: 1 Candy Broad(Ferg) W, 2 Kaye Darveniza(LU) W, 3 Marg Lewis (L), 4 Rob Mitchell (LU)
SE Metro: 1 Gavin Jennings(L) W, 2 Adem Somyurek(LU) W, 3 Bob Smith(LU) W
South Met:1 John Lenders(LU)W, 2Evan Thornley(non- fac)W,
East Metro: 1 Shaun Leane(UCA)W, 2 Brian Tee(L)W,3 Helen Buckingham(LU)
Nor Met:1Theo Theophanous(LU)W, 2Jenny Mikakos(L)W,3Nazih Elasmar(LU)W
West Met:1Fiona Richardson(LU)W 2Khalil Eideh(L)W, 3**W, 4 Henry Barlow LU
** The National Executive kept this position open. The Right will almost certainly fill it with Martin Pakula NUW.
These are Upper House positions for which every eligible ALP member in Victoria should have voted but the LU/NUW/UCA/Ferg majority on the Administrative Committee removed their voting rights and gave them to the National Executive. The introduction of Martin Pakula onto the ticket without even having nominated is further evidence of the abandonment of proper process by those with the numbers.
OC: Is Eric just being cheeky here or is he a bald-faced liar? The motion at National Executive to takeover the Legislative Council preselections and deprive local members of their voting rights was in fact moved by Senator Kim Carr, the Socialist Left faction leader with whom Eric Dearricott of the Non-Aligned is in fact firmly aligned.
Okay for POSC to ignore local support of less than 60% - Leader.
I think that most members who watched the 7.30 Report on Monday night would have been, like me, gob-smacked when it was stated (OC: by Premier Steve Bracks) that "The result of that was we had a situation where whenever a candidate got about 60% of the rank and file. (It is a two-stage process. There's other judgments apart from just that in relation to the rank and file), they survived. There was, as any pre-selection invariably involves, a degree of messiness about that. But the outcome of it was a good outcome as far as the rank and file of the party was concerned."
Try telling that to (OC: Dearricott's faction member) Ann Corcoran and her rank and file supporters in Isaacs. Ann achieved 56% of the local rank and file vote despite the strong turnout of the stacks (OC: ie, anyone opposed to Eric's candidates) from 2 inactive branches for her opponent from the Right. One of those branches (with 15% of eligible voters) did not have a quorate meeting for the past year and t