On the Antipodean front, Alan Ramsey has always something worthwhile to say. He is a walking political almanac A name to look out for rather than recall
On the global front, David J. Rothkopf is the man to capture the most important figures and committees in the world. September 11, 2001, was a catalytic event that revealed the core character of the Bush administration’s national security team. As rival factions fought for the president’s ear, the transformative ideals espoused by the neocons gained ascendancy—triggering a rift that has split the Republican foreign-policy establishment to its foundations Inside the Committee that Runs the World
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: The sum of all fears? No Christian Love Lost
When Channel Ten axed Queer Eye for the Straight Guy they blamed poor ratings. But the leader of the Christian Democrats, the Reverend Fred Nile, knows the real reason. "It's a reflection of the will of God," he told Spike yesterday. Wonder why He put it on in the first place? Or if He can bring back the West Wing? Spike asked the NSW MP what he thought was wrong with the show
On Wednesday Spike asked the Reverend Fred Nile, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, what he thought of the axing of the Australian version of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. "The homosexual lobby is so powerful in America, they now have the same influence as the Negroes," Nile said.
The NSW MP's comments prompted a massive response yesterday. Andrew Dobson, of East Sydney, offered some Cambridge Dictionary definitions of the words "Christian" and "democrat", concluding that "once again, he is promoting goodness, kindness, helpfulness, freedom and equality for all - except for pesky homosexuals and Negroes who are plotting to take over the world".
Rory Delaney wrote that the comment "says it all about the Nile lobby. Tell me, though, did he really say this?" Yes, Rory, he did.
Spike took one call from an angry African-American woman, who asked for Nile's details so she could take it up with him directly.
We told her his email is F.Nile@parliament.nsw.gov.au and his office number is 9230 2132. If you contact Nile, Spike would love to hear how you go
• It Takes a Christian Family? Divine intervention: Divine intervention Taking offence [Riots at Macquarie Fields Remove the sense of social isolation ; Don Weatherburn: There's a lack of consensus on the best way to deal with troubled communities Government action needed to help crime-prone areas ; But paradise is an illusion in Fortress Australia. Almost 20 years after Australia's first gated community opened at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast, research here and abroad is challenging the rationale for homeowners to hide behind high walls ; "Be nice to the security guard" has replaced "beware of the dog" on the front gate Behind the urban curtains ]
• · Peter van Onselen and Wayne Errington: Think tanks get too much credit for influencing political policy. The former speech writer for Mark Latham (yes, he had one), Dennis Glover, has complained that policy ideas are conceived in think tanks such as the Institute for Public Affairs and the Centre for Independent Studies, taken up by ideas-hungry conservative politicians, and barracked for by strategically placed newspaper columnists. Unfortunately, Glover didn't give any examples of this seamless process in action Like minds don't make ideas work ; Tough line on crime fills jails
• · · Williams, of Avalon, is the husband of Judy Grant, the ABC's procurement manager for the northern region, including NSW. His appointment in 2002 caused disquiet among staff, and the ABC's managing director, Russell Balding, faced Senate questions about Williams being hired while his wife was in a senior role. ABC man accused of gouging $701,000 ; Terry Television on the money with ABC fraud - Crikey.com
• · · · The appearance of whistleblowing former NSW detective Deborah Locke as People Power's candidate in the Werriwa by-election has aroused the interest of some media and the major parties Can People Power emulate Family First? ; American Politics In The Networking Era ; Historically, the term left originated with the French Jacobins (they sat on the left in the Assemblies of the French Revolution) and the Stalinists who gave a 20th century gift of Jacobinism to about 20 million victims That's what the term leftist meant for about 200 years: a bloodthirsty fiend who seized your property and chopped off your head
• · · · · As noted on several occasions on the Dragon, the issue of the police pursuits has been around for a long time. Yet very little strategic thinking has cameralised. I keep reiterating that next time it might be your son of mother or other close relative ... Let us think outside the square and stop the senseless carnage. Are terrorists paying our governments to eliminate us? Big thieves run down the little thieves? (hard irony intended) Police pursuit death toll rises: 61 killed in 10 years ; In a personal appeal yesterday, the NSW Police Commissioner, Ken Moroney, urged Jesse Kelly to contact him on 9265 4407 at any time and said he was prepared to meet him at a location of his choosing Prison inmates donate to help pay for crash youth's funeral ; Teammates from a local rugby league football team formed a guard of honour at Mr Rayward's service
• · · · · · More than 100,000 workers in Cuba's tourism industry have been ordered to restrict their contact with foreigners to an absolute minimum Cubans told to shun foreigners ; All the Way with the USA: Australia, the US and Free Trade and How to Kill a Country: Australia’s Devastating Trade Deal with the United States ... A review of books on Australia’s trade deal with the US One deal, two fatalities? The AUSFTA ; Homegrown Terror: Loose nukes, nanobots, smallpox, oh my! In this age of endless imagining, and some very real risks, which terrorist threats should be taken most seriously? "The Dew of Death," Rethinking doomsday