tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post6249752785942696031..comments2023-11-05T23:07:01.842+11:00Comments on Grog's Gamut: Leadership is a wonderful thing to beholdGreg Jerichohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-47919632472766162132012-03-31T18:23:56.248+11:002012-03-31T18:23:56.248+11:00Nice blog to see this information....
find a job t...Nice blog to see this information....<br /><a href="http://www.myrecruita.com.au/" rel="nofollow">find a job toowoomba</a>Adam Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10032097371248121545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-16672611882883739752011-01-17T17:44:07.707+11:002011-01-17T17:44:07.707+11:00Great time to look at leaders both here and in Ame...Great time to look at leaders both here and in America. And both set's of leaders came out tops. <br />Anna Bligh has been great and I cannot understand what everyone's problem is with Julia Gillard. Did they want here to stay away? Dear me, what drivel we get that passes for news and comment. (present company excepted).<br />Every time i hear Obama speak, i scratch my head about Americans. How could they ever elected a President like Bush? Well done Grog - by far the best commentary on current events anywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-9256673180564425732011-01-16T18:15:12.561+11:002011-01-16T18:15:12.561+11:00Either get in and help or get out. Bligh, Gillard...Either get in and help or get out. Bligh, Gillard and Bryce are all helping financially or practically (Bryce was serving meals in Ipswich this afternoon). The best Abbott and crowd could do is get Bishop to hold an umbrella for a reporter.<br /><br />I'm glad Abbott didn't walk down my semi-flooded street - I would have happily thrown him in the River!2353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-7831366625477726142011-01-15T22:58:05.242+11:002011-01-15T22:58:05.242+11:00Kin - I have never said I'm not biased. You wa...Kin - I have never said I'm not biased. You want to read Gillard being criticised, go read The Oz.Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-68695423178719888122011-01-15T21:08:47.911+11:002011-01-15T21:08:47.911+11:00To those wondering where Springborg is, he's i...To those wondering where Springborg is, he's in his home town, defending his and his neighbours property, and helping with the cleanup there. He's been on local radio.<br /><br />I must admit I thought I was a wee bit lost reading a balance analysis and forgot where I was, but finally you mentioned Abbott and then I remembered.<br /><br />You're correct, in that Anna Bligh has redeemed herself in the eyes of many voters in the last 3 weeks. Assuming the rebuilding process goes well, I think she can carry it to the next election.<br /><br />Take for example, the school I teach at: Damaged on Tuesday at the height of floods there, assessed on Thursday, most likely ready for school to start back on the 24th. I know for a fact my building was under 2ft of water, so if the government can get a school back up and running in that short a time (and 25 others as well), I'm sure they'll carry through.<br /><br />As for your comments about Abbott, you're right, he's not really relevant here, so I don't know why you bothered mentioning him? I could find several dozen stupid things Gillard says in a week. I don't see those being analysed to death here....Kinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10658401683329180606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-53642341151399916492011-01-15T13:05:58.272+11:002011-01-15T13:05:58.272+11:00Rick, it is not Grog reading things into what Abbo...Rick, it is not Grog reading things into what Abbott says. The man exudes offensiveness. He is seriously disliked by many who are naturally Liberal voters, no small achievement. <br /><br />There is a difference between a Liberal supporter and an Abbott supporter. What Abbott supporters won't acknowledge, and most Liberal supporters have only dimly realised, is that he didn't nearly win the election for Liberal, he lost it for them. If the Liberal leader had been almost anyone else, I believe the Libs would have strolled into government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-5286467221074714632011-01-15T09:33:34.659+11:002011-01-15T09:33:34.659+11:00One imagines, when you think about why Tony Abbott...One imagines, when you think about why Tony Abbott isn't mucking in with the rest of the pollies, like Andrew Fraser and Kevin Rudd, that he might be afraid of losing control of his carefully cultivated image with the electorate. As he seems to get into the most trouble when he freeforms, could it be the case that his handlers have instructed him to just stay in his bubble and stick to the script?Hillbilly Skeletonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-30435890586101581512011-01-14T21:54:16.608+11:002011-01-14T21:54:16.608+11:00I saw people not known to the home owner moving in...I saw people not known to the home owner moving in to help clean the house. No praise, no blame - just pitching in. It's a bit like KR with the Korean kid's bag. You do what you can. it may not be much but it all helps.<br />It is no more than you do to others as you want them to do to you.<br />But it is without thinking about why. You just get off your arse and do it.samnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-88582492809748289602011-01-14T18:57:14.609+11:002011-01-14T18:57:14.609+11:00thanks gianni, not sure how that one got..err thro...thanks gianni, not sure how that one got..err through. :-)<br /><br />Tim and anon - I have to agree - all Julie Bishop did well in the time she was acting-leaderGreg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-84014251321255471442011-01-14T18:01:22.467+11:002011-01-14T18:01:22.467+11:00If Abbott's so concerned about the federal Bud...If Abbott's so concerned about the federal Budget Deficit, why is he proposing that the Gillard government fund a ton of useless dams?<br /> But then logical consistency is not a strong suit of the Conservatives/Regressives.Hillbilly Skeletonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-83171156381067439492011-01-14T17:39:45.563+11:002011-01-14T17:39:45.563+11:00Rich my apologies if I am wrong, but was Tony read...Rich my apologies if I am wrong, but was Tony reading from a piece of paper because if he wasn't then everything he says could be porky pies as he has admitted himself.<br />biguncAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-61381254882910110642011-01-14T16:45:20.296+11:002011-01-14T16:45:20.296+11:00Greg, a suggested edit: I think you meant in para ...Greg, a suggested edit: I think you meant in para 5 that Winston Churchill led Britain <b>through</b> the darkness of the blitz and WWII...gianninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-55311332636731100142011-01-14T16:32:28.836+11:002011-01-14T16:32:28.836+11:00Thanks for this Greg. Both Bligh and Obama illustr...Thanks for this Greg. Both Bligh and Obama illustrate something very important about the personal reality underlying politics. I suspect that Obama's words about the real meaning of achievement in life (~23min) will one day rank up there with Kennedy & King - and I understand from the US blogs that they really are his words.rhwombatnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-629505477298548652011-01-14T16:08:42.641+11:002011-01-14T16:08:42.641+11:00Julie Bishop looked a good sport when she held the...Julie Bishop looked a good sport when she held the brolly for the TV reporter, even when the reporter was talking direct to camera. By contrast Tony Abbott could barely refrain from sniping and yes if Rudd can wade through flood waters helping people move then action man can too. Or would that effect his triathlon training?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-55552863827346065762011-01-14T12:16:10.790+11:002011-01-14T12:16:10.790+11:00Abbott's comment reminded me of a bit of dogge...Abbott's comment reminded me of a bit of doggerel from my childhood:<br />The rain it raineth on the just<br />And also on the unjust fella;<br />But chiefly on the just, because<br />The unjust steals the just’s umbrella.<br /><br />I thought it was Hilaire Belloc but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bowen,_Baron_Bowen" rel="nofollow">Mr Google tells me otherwise.</a>M-Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409916623998907121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-15539586813691668462011-01-14T11:11:32.949+11:002011-01-14T11:11:32.949+11:00Grog
"Yep, real statesmen like. He is the dr...Grog<br /><br />"Yep, real statesmen like. He is the drunk uncle at the wedding who gets up and mentions that ex-boyfriend who everyone liked more than they do the groom."<br /><br />In my case, it wasn't my drunk uncle, but my drunk mum!<br /><br />But seriously, Julie Bishop has played the role of oppn leader this week in a wonderful fashion.Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-25779485920397615592011-01-14T00:46:51.044+11:002011-01-14T00:46:51.044+11:00I think Abbott missed a photo opportunity by not a...I think Abbott missed a photo opportunity by not appearing in the flood waters in his trademark red Speedos. The local bull shark population missed the same photo opportunity.<br /><br />By the way, has anyone heard from Lawrence Springborg since the flood crisis began? Perhaps he's up at Wivenhoe Dam shouting "Stop the flows..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-68702201978458971622011-01-14T00:22:09.574+11:002011-01-14T00:22:09.574+11:00Whilst there is the obvious parallel between Brumb...Whilst there is the obvious parallel between Brumby and Bligh (natural disaster at a time when they are at the helm) there are significant differences too.<br /><br />As bad as the bushfires were in Victoria, they directly affected only a relatively small part of Victoria. In contrast the floods in Queensland have covered a much greater area, and have directly impacted on a much larger percentage of the State population. This will have an effect on how the whole state judge(s) their leader.<br /><br />There are other issues, as well, that (in current circumstances) show Bligh in a better light than Brumby, when thinking about elections.<br /><br />Remember the Royal Commission and how it highlighted several Government failings, especially about how matters were conducted on the night of the fires themselves. Remember the poor handling by Brumby of his misjudged support of those at the centre of those criticisms (Nixon, Esplin, et al) when it was clear that strong decisions were required to remove them from their posts. Also the reconstruction efforts have been slow and layered in masses of red tape. This is probably not well known outside the bushfire zones, but definitely had an impact on how a lot of the locals voted.<br /><br />There are other things as well. Brumby never came across as an emotional sort of person. Maybe it's his background. Maybe it's because he's a man (it had to be said). His ability to empathise with the victims of the bushfires just didn't come across in the same way that Bligh has over the past few days. I think even Rudd provided better emotional support in the days after the fire than Brumby ever did.<br /><br />Now things might go pear shaped for Bligh between now and the election. Bad decisions might be made as part of the recovery and reconstruction. Faults might be found with the way certain sections of the government dealt with the lead up to the floods. But I’m betting that, politically, the conduct of the premier in the last few weeks will not lose her any votes, and might just gain her enough to allow her government to see through another election.Steve Szeteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00725215810687541617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-58220201355709617492011-01-13T23:28:32.367+11:002011-01-13T23:28:32.367+11:00Good to see Rick you didn't go overboard in yo...Good to see Rick you didn't go overboard in your stereotype of how "lefties" view Abbott. My strategy is to keep judging him by his words and actions. He generally comes up with material for me on a weekly basis.Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-9941482303804552602011-01-13T23:17:37.141+11:002011-01-13T23:17:37.141+11:00Tony didn't need to help with the sandbagging....Tony didn't need to help with the sandbagging. Julie Bishop sandbagged at Rosalie on Wednesday. So she said in an ABC interview last night. I wish I could look so spic n span after a day's flood relief work.Miss Bailey Herselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321575068833117228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-40854999847194858862011-01-13T23:14:06.838+11:002011-01-13T23:14:06.838+11:00Mr. Jericho, you just can't help but hate the ...Mr. Jericho, you just can't help but hate the Liberal leader, can you? You're quite right, there is no role for him to play in this saga at all, (although that didn't stop a few Abbott haters from criticising him on thepunch today for staying quiet about the floods). He seemed very sincere to me when he praised Bligh today, I think you read your own prejudice into his comments. And the bible is a book of mythology that is very deeply rooted in our Western culture, and which does have appropriate symbols and archetypes available for communication in times of crisis.<br /><br />But nevertheless, Abbott as opposition leader does have a role to play in proposing constructive policies (like the dam-building projects he proposed) and he does a job to do in pressuring the government to be accountable over its (you must admit) fairly loose spending habits. And I think he has been doing these jobs well.<br /><br />The Australian mainsteam is waking up to the fact that Abbott is not infact the child-raping, pensioner-strangling, dole-bludger bludgeoning bastard that the left has been depicting him as for so long. Pretty soon Greg, you lefties are going to have to come up with a better strategy than just vilifying Tony Abbott purely because he happens to be Tony Abbott.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17163850536238834104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-33548660366814844892011-01-13T23:01:13.387+11:002011-01-13T23:01:13.387+11:00Grog, very well described. I happen to disagree wi...Grog, very well described. I happen to disagree with you over your "drunk Uncle" analogy though. I think Abbott's more like the priest who sits at the end of the top table. Protocol says he has to be there, he needs to be acknowledged in the speeches. But everyone can't wait for him to piss off so the real work of a wedding can get underway. So one doesn't have to look over ones shoulders to make sure you aren't being marked for 400 Hail Mary's and an Our Father at the next Confession while you chat up your neighbours daughter or the get a bit close to the married bridesmaid on the dancefloor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-19146755103893791162011-01-13T21:29:06.505+11:002011-01-13T21:29:06.505+11:00Anon Tony ain't talking about QLD - he's t...Anon Tony ain't talking about QLD - he's talking about the Federal budget, and is targeting the move to surplus in 2012-13. <br /><br />His play will be that the Govt needs to stay in deficit to pay for the costs, but they wouldn't have if they hadn't wasted it on school halls, the NBN etc etc . <br /><br />It is purely a political move. He will either criticise the Govt for having to stay in deficit or imply that if they stay on course for the surplus that they are not spending as much as they should/could on the QLD rebuilding. <br /><br />Spending money on rebuilding QLD is hardly going to be inflationary, so in reality staying in deficit because of the floods should be of little concern on a macroeconmic level. <br /><br />Abbott just wants to be able to score cheap points by keeping up the myth that being in a deficit means the govt can't manage the economy.Greg Jerichohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956402439870441083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-78983206805241581892011-01-13T21:11:17.309+11:002011-01-13T21:11:17.309+11:00The effect of leadership is best judged by its imp...The effect of leadership is best judged by its impact upon the led. The emergency services personnel, the people of the region, are getting on with it. They are not feeling sorry for themselves, they are not whingeing about what the government has or hasn't done - their best qualities are coming out of themselves, generosity and hard work, and it will yield real results. <br /><br />The people of the United States have undergone civil tragedy and are wondering what a decent society looks like. It looks like <i>this</i>, it looks like Brisbane and Grantham and Rockhampton. <br /><br />As for Abbott, it's always a disgrace when a man cloaks his own pettiness in the Bible. The proper context for those remarks is not the Gospel according to Matthew, but Abbott's dismissal of lobbying from the late Bernie Banton over the availability of a certain drug. Abbott (then Health Minister) had the power to increase availability but had not done so. Abbott dismissed Banton for not being "pure" in his motives.<br /><br />What Abbott is doing is snarling at the people of Queensland for rallying behind the Federal President of the ALP. It's a backhanded compliment of sorts, but testament to Abbott's fundamental pettiness that any such compliment must be backhanded.<br /><br />What he should be doing is bringing his presence to bear on one small thing, in contrast with Gillard's generalities - sandbagging a school, helping evacuate an aged care facility, some demonstration that all that cycling and surfing can be put to some good, decent use. He does this with the Forestville bushfire brigade in his electorate. Even Kevin Rudd is out there doing practical, constructive and physical work of a type Abbott thought he had a lock on. It is a mystery why he's not doing anything other than sulk and snarl. <br /><br />Leaders of government can be forgiven for letting the spin slip at such a time, leaders of opposition have no such excuse. Abbott's staff have failed to make a positive case for their man, as Latham's did during the 2005 tsunami. Abbott's staff have failed to show their man as greater than he really is, and in doing so they have failed him, and their party, utterly.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8434369190746987531.post-10624732421843215932011-01-13T21:08:00.996+11:002011-01-13T21:08:00.996+11:00Anna has done a stellar performance in front of th...Anna has done a stellar performance in front of the cameras during this crisis. A lot of people really needed that, they needed to see someone strong and need some hope. Awesome stuff.<br /><br />But. Chance favors the prepared. And as a Queenslander I don't feel like we are prepared to foot the bill for the years to come.<br /><br />PRIOR to these floods we have some ridiculous amount of debt - during last budget it was something in the realm of $51,000,000,000 aka 51 BILLION.<br /><br />Not only did we NOT 'save for a rainy day'. We borrowed during Queenslands sunniest years and are currently panic selling our assets to reduce the debt a bit.<br /><br />So. Is tony 'really' a wanker for saying governments need to be 'fiscally prudent' ?<br /><br />Its a bit like the drunken uncle getting on the mic to point out that the groom has been shagging the bridesmaid. Bad news. But the bride needs to know it now before its too late.... but you know what ? Its the wedding. It kinda already is too late.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com