The ALP can’t help itself. Rather than distancing themselves from the admitted misogynist Peter Slipper, they come rushing to his defence just because it is another way to attack Tony Abbott. As I understand it, Ashby’s case is on appeal – there is no conclusion that Slipper did not sexually harass Ashby. Slipper has also admitted to sending inappropriate and harassing text messages. Does anyone really think that Slipper is a person of good standing who should be Speaker of the House?
Yet Labor will continue to defend him – after all, Slipper is Labor’s misogynist and the ALP will always defend their own.
It’s actually incredible. The entire Liars party is populated by equivalent of dead skunks on the side of the road.
JC
13 Dec 12 at 9:13 pm
I seriously can’t fathom how the ALP became so craptastic over 20 or so years.
Australia was an okay place in the 1980s.
Now they are a regressive, neo luddite party of corrupt lawyers, union spivs and bagmen.
Personally I think the rot started in 1987 with Richo’s re-electioneering, where they courted the lunatic Australian Greens.
.
13 Dec 12 at 9:16 pm
Fair point Dot…
Even though Hawke and Keating never really came up with the reform blueprint, they were courageous enough to introduce those necessary reforms. The left of their party wanted their heads on a platter.
The party is now basically a spivs grouping.
JC
13 Dec 12 at 9:19 pm
The appeal will be interesting.
Bronson
13 Dec 12 at 9:22 pm
Got it in one, dot. Richo was the agent of valuing the perks rather than the responsibilities.
Winston Smith
13 Dec 12 at 9:23 pm
There is a public policy aspect to the appeal.
The judgment is so wide ranging, that MPs could never take a course of action against each other.
What sexual harrassment or assault case doesn’t; 1. Have an element of shame for someone to be found guilty or settle, 2. doesn’t see the plaintiff trying to hurt the reputation of the offender anyway?
You cannot blame the plaintiff for ruining the reputation of the defendant, if the defendant is guilty.
Albanese, Roxon et. al., also tainted the case.
Like pedro said yesterday – champerty and maintenance have been abolished.
.
13 Dec 12 at 9:27 pm
3. Partly ruin the reputation of the accused anyway, even if they are totally exonerated and the plaintiff or victim admits it was a hoax?
Judge Rare’s decision was nonsense.
.
13 Dec 12 at 9:29 pm
My guess is p.Slipper is seen as somewhat of a joke by the public.
The best thing he ever did was leaving the Libs.
candy
13 Dec 12 at 9:29 pm
The judge’s decision is crack cocaine wacky.
He says Slipper harrassed Ashby but we should never have found out about it.
C.L.
13 Dec 12 at 9:33 pm
One of the curious things Slipper said yesterday about the sexual harassment case against him:
Given the lurid texts Slipper sent to another male with sexual overtones, I’d say his marriage was already on the rocks, if not just a sham for show.
Is that how Slipper really describes his wife’s genitalia?
Gab
13 Dec 12 at 9:39 pm
It would be piss funny if the appeal really did overturnthe judgement, and the ALP found themselves having defended a guy who wasn’t so “innocent” after all.
A few left-wing journalists are sailing pretty close to the wind too with their “this was obviously a conspiracy fix up by a bunch of liars” bullshit. Would not like to be in their shoes if the appeal up-ended things.
What Abbott should do is ask Gillard to put Slipper back as Speaker if she thinks he’s squeaky clean. What will poor old Julia do then?
MDMConnell
13 Dec 12 at 9:39 pm
LOL. Well, consenting adults in private and all that.
Daily Telegraph, April:
Extract of allegations against Peter Slipper in the application in federal court.
C.L.
13 Dec 12 at 9:43 pm
that’s the person, Steves C supports as Speaker. So does the Lying Slapper.
JC
13 Dec 12 at 9:52 pm
Saw Albanese and Emerson trotted out on 7.30 tonight. They said it was a bigger scandal than Watergate blah, blah, blah. The the ABC said Brough would’t be able to join the front bench, etc.
All sounded like utter crap. Then Brandis came on and said while the Libs respected the judgment, the case wasn’t over yet. Kind of made me wonder why they bothered with the earlier part.
Emerson’s continuing confected outrage was especially absurd after the previous night when he said Abbott was hiding in London. At that time Abbott was visiting our troops in Afghanistan. Do any of these braying donkeys posing as a government actually know what’s going on?
And Another Thing
13 Dec 12 at 9:54 pm
Emo walked out on his family for a two year fling with the Vuvazula.
And now he sits in her Cabinet.
I am not sure I would describe him as a model of stability and logical thought.
Myrddin Seren
13 Dec 12 at 10:04 pm
Emo still has a thing for her. It eats him up she is with the hairdresser.
Rousie
13 Dec 12 at 10:10 pm
Members of Parliament find time to trade comments with their staffers on the merits of bathroom privacy? And they get paid how much? JHC.
Lloyd
13 Dec 12 at 10:10 pm
I agree Dot, all hail Whatever it takes Richo – The Greens is an arm of Labor thanks to Richo what a coup.
So true Winston I still remember seeing Richo on, I think it was a 60 Minutes program, he was in an aboriginal community out in West Banywallop somewhere in the Northern Territory:
There he was, Health Minister, in all his white, doughy pasty-ness showing the viewers a 44-gallon drum “this is their water supply’ – incredulous he was, as if it was someone else’s fault -and they’d been in power for a dozen years. Richo the milk-maid.
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 10:12 pm
The rot started with Gough, actually.
Louis Hissink
13 Dec 12 at 10:19 pm
Louis has got a point.
Exhibit A – Al Grassby. See recent series of ‘Underbelly’ for a clear explanation.
Myrddin Seren
13 Dec 12 at 10:23 pm
Emerson appears to have had a breakdown of some sort.
C.L.
13 Dec 12 at 10:26 pm
It’s contact lens poisoning.
Cold-Hands
13 Dec 12 at 10:30 pm
Al Grassby – prime example lascivious Underbelly Labor in full orgiastic power.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/monuments-to-honesty-and-deceit-20090215-881s.html#ixzz2EvkzTf2U
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 10:31 pm
But does it do help with hindsight?
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 10:33 pm
Grassby was a criminal paid by the mafia. He was scum.
He once accused Donald Mackay’s widow of being involved in his murder – under parliamentary privilege.
C.L.
13 Dec 12 at 10:34 pm
He caught something from a succubus.
Infidel Tiger
13 Dec 12 at 10:34 pm
Whitlam started the rot, Grassby forever polluted this country with his multi culti BS. but don’t forget Lionel Murphy and his snivelling PR man, George Negus got a foot in the door in both the courts and the media and then commenced to white ant both institutions.
A long, long line of rent seekers, crooks, spivs and urgers took over a once proud and honourable Labor Party.
That incompetent rabble in Canberra is the result of forty years of political opportunism, cronyism, and the famous Richo tactic of “whatever it takes”.
Election now.
Pedro the Ignorant
13 Dec 12 at 10:36 pm
You very smart man Pedro
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 10:39 pm
It’s a bit early for tertiary syphilis…
Cold-Hands
13 Dec 12 at 10:40 pm
Well the lying slapper accused a country couple of screwing over their employees at a rural motel and we subsequently found out it wasn’t true. They got all sorts of grief.
Of course the low life never made the comments out of parliament because she’s a coward.
JC
13 Dec 12 at 10:41 pm
I once went to a fancy dress ‘election’ party as Al Grassby, I had a lurid suit and a yellow stickit on my lapel that said
You’ve got my
VDOTPE.No one ‘got it’. I guess you had to be there.
Helen Armstrong
13 Dec 12 at 10:52 pm
Noice Helen, any piccies?
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 10:55 pm
No piccies, but I was young – and hot – as only the young can be. Even dressed as Al.
Early bed. Night.
Helen Armstrong
13 Dec 12 at 11:03 pm
Night
Tintarella di Luna
13 Dec 12 at 11:04 pm
With all deference to Dot’s
I prefer Pedro the Ignorant’s
I was 22 when the crème de la crème of Australian TV land sang at Blacktown lustily, successfully, “It’s time” and if I put my mind to it I could name most of Gough’s Cabinet and what each one of the dills did to skewer us now. Several of ‘em should have ended up in the slammer, including the chief law bloke.
That period spawned the camp followers, the highly paid public servants serving their own left agendas, who then moved from Whitlam’s failed government to Wran’s to Cain’s and on to Goss’.
This is now the most insidious and powerful group for they have built impregnable citadels which will endure throughout any interim occupation of parliaments by the conservatives.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
13 Dec 12 at 11:05 pm
I once saw a very drunk Al Grasby walk into the womens’ toilet. It was at least 10 minutes before he re-emerged. His wide and colourful tie had some additional colour.
Samuel J
13 Dec 12 at 11:21 pm
Al Grasby the Riverina Rainbow dressed like a pox doctor’s clerk.
Splatacrobat
13 Dec 12 at 11:22 pm
The rot started underneath that bloody gumtree in 1891.
Infidel Tiger
13 Dec 12 at 11:23 pm
Classic fishing techniques. Throw some burley and see if you get a nibble. If Ashby had answered even one of those questions in a positive way the next stage would have been double entendre’s and jokes about soap on his rope.
Splatacrobat
13 Dec 12 at 11:37 pm
Took a photo of it about 15 years ago Infidel Tiger and I hear it has since died of shame (or has been assassinated … which is approximately how I enquire of Mrs Mick about the prime minister’s welfare whenever I come inside after the evening news has started).
Mick Gold Coast QLD
13 Dec 12 at 11:42 pm
So, once again, with the LNP caught up to their grubby armpits in stench and dung, Catallaxy thinks its Labor’s problem. You guys are such a joke.
William Bragg
14 Dec 12 at 12:05 am
Hopefully that stench and dung permeating the office of prime minister will be kicked out of office next year and land with an almighty thud! on her ample buttocks.
Gab
14 Dec 12 at 12:11 am
This.
I mean started with Gough? This would be, as CL mentioned last night, after they got rid of the Soviet spy as leader?
Or what about in the ’40′s when they were actively courting and running around with full blown soviet commies, where members of the soviet loyal ACP rubbed elbows with the party faithful and were treated just wonderfully?
Or what about the anti-federalist drunk commie scumbag Curtin who while the nations fighting men were overseas used the war as an excuse to nationalise the states income taxes, tax offices, employees and furniture thus killing the Australian Federalism experiment dead just forty years after it began?
Or its origins: burning down shearing sheds and attacking and brutalising farmers and local farming lads because the farmers wanted to operate their farms free from their violent mob and collectivist tyranny?
The ALP has been a goddamned cesspit since day one.
twostix
14 Dec 12 at 12:12 am
Peter Slipper is Labors problem.
Which is most funny, because he was well and truly the Liberals problem until the stupidest politician in the history of the nation “cleverly” elevated the grub to speaker for her own gain.
twostix
14 Dec 12 at 12:17 am
William Bragg – you make me feel like, well, such a joke. You’re right you know, I’m a misery to myself and a burden unto others, a mere joke.
Now, was there anything else we can help Sir with today?
Mick Gold Coast QLD
14 Dec 12 at 12:21 am
No, Ashby has said they will appeal, but they have yet to seek leave to do so or provide any justification as to why they should be granted leave to do so. It is most definitively not “on appeal”.
Maybe, but what was concluded?
Fairly serious, actual judgement against Ashby and his backers this.
Catamon
14 Dec 12 at 12:22 am
Greetings,
The grubbiness continues, if he’s ok reinstate him, I dare you. I thought so, didn’t have the guts or conviction.
That’s the ?LP way, cowards and frauds
RussR
RedneckRuss
14 Dec 12 at 1:04 am
I don’t mean to pick nits, but I’m not happy to accede to such a standard.
Especially in sexual harassment and rape cases, there are a frightening number of false accusations made – sometimes against people we like and believe to be Good People; sometimes towards people we think are probably creeps. That shouldn’t affect how we see the presumption of innocence.
I’m not at all implying that’s the case with Ashby/Slipper because in that case none of the evidence has even been heard, but speaking generally, throwing out the presumption of innocence because it has not yet been proven that Person X did not do what Person Y has accused him of is a dangerous precedent to set.
On a related note, “Until Proven Innocent” is the title of a book KC Johnson & Stu Taylor wrote about the Duke lacrosse “rape” case. It’s a fascinating – and scary – read. It was having observed that case (from the sidelines) from wo to go that cautioned me into reserving judgment on the DSK “rape” case, and now on this one.
Sometimes, even people we don’t like and think are total creeps are falsely accused of sex-related crimes. Gloating that they might be guilty because they haven’t been proven not to have done what they’ve been accused of is a bad look.
IMHO.
sdog
14 Dec 12 at 1:09 am
I haven’t heard that Ashby is to appeal. Costs will be a deterrent. I think he’s got 28 days within which to lodge an appeal.
val majkus
14 Dec 12 at 5:54 am
Great quotes from Abbott this morning:
Tom
14 Dec 12 at 6:31 am
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-13/slipper-ashby-affair-has-a-way-to-go-yet-brandis/4426110
Mr Brandis under fire by ABC
val majkus
14 Dec 12 at 6:40 am
Brandis handled that brilliantly.
ABC is making the point that the texts would never have come to light had there been no court case. That’s the ALP’s position.
Begs the question, are the ALP and the ABC in the business of covering things up these days?
Seems the ABC has discovered a new clause in it’s charter.
And Another Thing
14 Dec 12 at 7:15 am
Notice that Fairfax hasn’t used the first available comments on the Ashby case ruling by Abbott, which were made in London this morning Australian time, as they don’t fit the Fairfax narrative in today’s government press release.
Tom
14 Dec 12 at 7:38 am
The one consistent thread is that the ALP is infested with individuals out for themselves, there is no public duty at all. Every media opportunity shows this.
Honesty
14 Dec 12 at 7:59 am
Last off the rank and hours behind its competition, Fairfax has now picked up Abbott’s comments in London.
Tom
14 Dec 12 at 8:06 am
Splat, that texting from Slipper is sleazy beyond belief. I am starting to feel very sorry for Ashby. No young man should have to put up with this from an employer. It is prime harrassment.
No matter what any judge says, if Labor go on about Slipper’s ‘innocence’ this text should be the response.
Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.
14 Dec 12 at 8:12 am
‘When the Chief Minister of the ACT, John Stanhope, successfully championed this statue’
I’m no particular fan of Stanhope – when I worked as a consultant in the ACT Public Service, he seemed to be always either enraged or sulking – but my strong recollection is that he distanced himself from the statue. Rather it was the initiative of one John Hargreaves, ACT Labor minister and reportedly a close Labor factional ally of Ellnor Grassby.
Des Deskperson
14 Dec 12 at 8:14 am
Labor can’t have this both ways. They can’t say this rivals Watergate in scope and then back off when asked whether they’ll be making a complaint or establishing an inquiry.
Albanese has backed off. Emerson backed off in an interview on 7.30 this week. Do they really think Australians are such dills that they can mention Watergate in one breath and then backpedal on doing anything about it?
It’s time for them to put up or shut up. Bring it on
And Another Thing
14 Dec 12 at 8:17 am
I don’t think this was possible. Donald Mackay disappeared in 1977. Grassby was defeated in the 1974 election after which he was appointed as the Commissioner for Community Relations or some such sinecure.
Amortiser
14 Dec 12 at 8:18 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Grassby#Legal_action
Legal action
In 1980 Grassby was charged with criminal defamation when it was alleged that he had asked a New South Wales state politician, Michael Maher, to read in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly a document that imputed that Barbara Mackay and her family solicitor were responsible for the disappearance (and probable murder) of her husband Donald Mackay, a prominent Riverina businessman who had been a Liberal candidate against Grassby in 1974.[6] Maher, when asked why Grassby had made the request, replied that it was a matter of his own Sydney electorate’s demographics: “I had the biggest concentration of Italians in Haberfield, Five Dock, Concord and Drummoyne. He [Grassby] thought I could play the Italian vote.”[7] Grassby maintained his innocence and fought a twelve-year battle in the courts before he was eventually acquitted on appeal in August 1992. He was awarded $180,000 in costs.[2][8] Grassby had already lost a civil suit filed by Barbara Mackay, forcing him to unconditionally apologize.[9]
.
14 Dec 12 at 8:26 am
What Grassby did was to ask a NSW Labor MP to read out in the NSW parliament a statement alleging the widow’s involvement. Strangely, he asked a rare decent Labor MP, who revealed what Grassby was up to.
Stanhope was unhappy about the statue, but he did not prevent its erection.
rafiki
14 Dec 12 at 8:26 am
It gets worse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Grassby#Death_and_subsequent_media_reports
After Grassby’s death, a number of revelations were made in the media, particularly in relation to his alleged links with the Calabrian Mafia (known as the ‘Ndrangheta) in Griffith and to the events surrounding the disappearance and probable murder of Donald Mackay. Beginning on 9 May 2005, the Melbourne Herald Sun ran a series of articles alleging that Grassby used his influence to thwart a National Crime Authority investigation into the Mafia, and to “let mafia criminals into Australia”, and that he was “paid to do the mafia’s bidding”, including receiving a $40,000 payment from the Griffith Mafia to smear Barbara Mackay.[7]
Giafranco Tizzoni, a Mafia supergrass, identified Grassby as being at the “beck and call” of the Calabrian Mafia for at least 40 years and according to the National Crime Authority the Mafia funded Grassby’s election campaigns. One of Al Grassby’s closest associates was Toni Sergi, the man identified in court and in Parliament as the Mafia leader who ordered the execution of Donald Mackay.[11]
A decision, in 2009, by the Australian Capital Territory’s Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope to erect a statue of Al Grassby in Canberra has been the subject of some controversy…
.
14 Dec 12 at 8:40 am
“Thursday, January 5: Ashby was getting ready for work, when Slipper says: “You’re a strange one”. The following conversation then took place in words to the effect of:
Slipper: “You’re a weird because you shower with the door shut”.
Ashby: “What’s weird about that?”
Slipper: “You’re a prude”.
Ashby: “You can call me what you like, I’m happy to war the tag of prude. I don’t know what you private schoolboys got up to in your day, but I’ve never found it normal to shower with the door open. My dad’s never done it, I’ve never done it, my mates don’t do it, that’s not weird”.
Slipper: “But you even go to the toilet with the door shut”.”
Creeeeeeepy……
The Beer Whisperer
14 Dec 12 at 9:15 am
Gunna be a straight forward election. Are you for corruption or against it?
Chirac presented a similar platform, although his pitch against lePen was, i maybe corrupt, but at least i’m not racist.
Maybe that scenario will play itself out here 2013
Dan
14 Dec 12 at 9:15 am
If I said that to a woman, I would be tarred and feathered, and have “misogynist” tattooed on my forehead.
The Beer Whisperer
14 Dec 12 at 9:16 am
Grassby ….. Bent like a banana.
Leigh Lowe
14 Dec 12 at 9:43 am
Rares J’s judgement is here.
Basically Ashby’s case was kicked out for being an abuse of process of the court, to wit Ashby, his associate Done, soicitor Harmer and Brough were found to have concocted the sexual harrassment and particulary cab-charge accusations merely to politically attack Slipper.
Rares J. did find that the sexual harrassment claim was not made out because Ashby was assertive enough to resist such harrassment and therefore the continuation of what presumably would have been harrassment was merely byplay.
An Appeal is needed because as it stands this is an indictment not only of Ashby and Doane, the complainants, but also Brough, Harmer and by inference some other people as well.
cohenite
14 Dec 12 at 9:54 am
Outrageous. Libellous.
This violates rule of law. Let’s see a judge apply this to a case of a similar matter regarding a female complainant.
.
14 Dec 12 at 9:57 am
It took about 60 seconds to google up an example of a sexual harassment case involving a woman which was dismissed. (Forgive the length, but I assume people will find it interesting):
steve from brisbane
14 Dec 12 at 10:04 am
Do you have a point steve; all such cases are determined on their facts; I can’t see any similarity between the Tuck and Shepherd facts and the facts to do with Ashby and Slipper.
In respect of the Ashby case Rares J. has said what would have been sexual harrassment was not because in effect Ashby was resilient enough to put up with it.
That finding is appealable.
However, the primary reason for dismissing the case was Rares J’s finding that the complaint was merely the front for a political conspiracy.
cohenite
14 Dec 12 at 10:13 am
The point of posting it is simply to counter the suggestion that all women who claim sexual harassment win before tribunals and courts.
The facts do have a bit of similarity – there is no doubt that some of Ashby’s communications with Slipper were what would be called flirtatious in their own right.
steve from brisbane
14 Dec 12 at 10:21 am
Example? I can only find 48, the overseas trip which could have another possible reason, namely, even though Ashby was going to pay his own travel expenses presumably the accommodation and some trickle down expenses would come his way.
Remember a sexual harrassment case does not fail because of character flaws in the complainant.
cohenite
14 Dec 12 at 10:27 am
The Slapper,being interviewed on AM by Sabra Lane,while spewing her usual vile bile stated unequivocally that Slipper will not be returning to the Speakers Chair.I wonder what bribe he will now be offered to continue to vote with the corrupt Government or more to the point,what bribe he will be prepared to accept.He doesn’t come cheap.
Lew
14 Dec 12 at 10:42 am
A person sexually harassed by employer probably goes along with things for a while, not believing or confused about what’s happening, perhaps trying to make a joke of it.
So what may seem flirtatious response, could easily be just humour/trying to deflect something too awkward to deal with at the time.
candy
14 Dec 12 at 10:50 am
I don’t remember agreeing with most of what you post, but I do agree with this. And I’d add that sometimes people we really admire or who have done really good things are also guilty of quite appalling behaviour. I hope that eventually as a society we will be capable of recognising someone for their genuine achievements and condemning them for criminal or immoral behaviour at the same time. Most people out there are not just simplistic “good” or “evil”.
Chris
14 Dec 12 at 10:53 am
Given the way the LNP went after him I doubt he needs to bribed at all to oppose what the LNP wants.
Chris
14 Dec 12 at 10:54 am
I think, because of their low standing in the polls, that the Guv will repeatedly try to bash Abbott and the Libs over the head with this, because they have nothing else left.
Nuke Gray
14 Dec 12 at 10:55 am
Lew, he’ll continue to support this corrupt government to stay on the gravy train. He knows that he’ll be out on his ear come the next election. This regime is prepared to rubber stamp his expense claims and travel rorts. For the first half of this year, he’s already enjoyed the tax payer’s largess…
Plus Gillard shafted McClelland by replacing him on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade committee with Slipper. who will enjoy the travel and accommodation perks associated with the new role.
Cold-Hands
14 Dec 12 at 11:08 am
I have no doubt, by the way, that Al Grassby knew very well what happened to Donald Mackay. He was, after all, being paid by the people who killed him.
C.L.
14 Dec 12 at 11:12 am
Kind of precious that Brandis refuses to criticise Judge Rare’s decision. After all, Gillard and Roxon enthusiastically trashed the justices of the High Court when they struck down Gillard’s attempt to send women and children to Malaysia to be whipped and sold to brothels.
C.L.
14 Dec 12 at 11:14 am
FFS, this entire tawdry shambles is an ongoing indictment of lardarse and her fellow circus clowns.
The musselman truly is an utterly absurd and pathetic figure.
The entire parliament has been brought into ongoing irredeemable disrepute by this disgraceful farce.
Oh, and very little mention of that greasy haired harridan roxon and her appalling role in this idiocy, I see.
I’m absolutely fucking sick of this.
When will these obnoxious, destructive, corrupt criminal morons have their snouts forcibly removed from the taxpayer funded trough?
Enough, FFS.
Rabz
14 Dec 12 at 11:14 am
1. Slipper hasn’t been accused of ‘sex crimes.’
2. That Slipper behaved like a total creep is not an accusation. It is a proven fact for which he himself has apologised.
C.L.
14 Dec 12 at 11:17 am
and for which Roxon gave Ashby $50,000 of our money, after spending $750,000 on 21 persons of legal qualification.
Gab
14 Dec 12 at 11:19 am
Concocted the Cabcharge accusations !?!
Has His Worship not seen the reportage on Slippery Pete’s epic travels between the Sydney CBD and Darlinghurst at all hours of the day and night ?
Concocoted ? If I put taxi bills like this in front of my bosses – they would have me charged while marching me out the door.
I would have thought the cab bills alone should have been the subject of in-depth scrutiny by the guardians of the public purse ?
( Okay, okay – the heirs to Al Grassby can’t see a problem here – I know, just dreaming )
Myrrdin Seren
14 Dec 12 at 11:20 am
Malfeasance is okay Merlin, as long as it’s not illegal, apparently.
.
14 Dec 12 at 11:23 am
In defence of Grassby, he didn’t get 1000+ people killed – like his contemporary ALP heirs. (Although Whitlam did eagerly greenlight the East Timor holocaust).
C.L.
14 Dec 12 at 11:34 am
The standards are different for those of which nothing better is expected.
DriftForge
14 Dec 12 at 11:35 am
grassby would have to be one the most notorious fashion criminals in human history.
For that reason alone, his existence on this planet should be continually mocked and reviled…
Rabz
14 Dec 12 at 12:00 pm
I’ve obviously missed this bit, but how did Slipper know Ashby always closed the shower and dunny door?
Winston Smith
14 Dec 12 at 1:14 pm
Al Grasby was just Labor’s token member for the ethnic vote at a time where Italians made up one of the largest European migrant demographics.
Colourful, Catholic, and a spiv. Having Grasby in a Caucus meeting must have been like a pimp at a tupperware party.
Splatacrobat
14 Dec 12 at 1:42 pm
I agree with Candy, what may have seemed flirtatious,could have been an attempt at humour to deflect a situation. Reading through the texts, when Slipper asked Ashby on a couple of occasions had he scored or words to that effect with his date. Ashby did take him to task and wrote back, that he, Ashby didnt think it was an appropriate question, in the same way he wouldnt ask Slipper personal questions re his matrimonial situation. In a way, I expect when Slipper invited him to the matrimonial home with the wife present, he would have thought things would settle down. In that, Slipper may not have pushed his advances, now that Ashby was more or less a family friend. Maybe that’s a naive way of thinking. Ashby hadnt been in that position for long and must have been thinking, what to do, financially could he have just left without finding another job. I guess it will be interesting to see if he does appeal. It will be costly, and he has the added burden of the public relations (?) guy’s costs. $550.00 per hour. What was that about?
delfino
14 Dec 12 at 3:11 pm
helen at 10.50pm. Went to a dinner at old PH years ago where Al was the Guest of Dishonour. He kissed me on the cheek, the blokes at the table said “dont worry G, the Ladies room is just over there you can go and wash your face…and I did.
Mother G
14 Dec 12 at 3:54 pm
Something Abbott has (kinda) in common with Slipper:
(Quote is from Abbott sympathiser Niki Savva).
steve from brisbane
14 Dec 12 at 4:37 pm
Well, well. According to Kangaroo Court of Australia, Rares is a corrupt judge. This result was predicted back in April http://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2012/04/29/peter-slipper-strikes-it-lucky-and-lands-corrupt-federal-court-judge-steven-rares-to-hear-his-sexual-harassment-case/
The Beer Whisperer
14 Dec 12 at 4:44 pm
Candy and delfino point to aspects of Rares worth consideration, in that he seems to have no actual knowledge of the nature and effects of sexual harassment, including his requirement for Ashby to meet with his harasser for mediation, very inappropriate. Then there is his Ashby did it for poltical and career purposes. I do wonder. I had a look at Tania Hubbard at linked. I was curious as to what drew these individuals to this cause other than Rares simplistic judgement, LNP.
That was interesting, I am not the only one who needs to get a life. linkedin informs that those who viewed Ms Hubbard also looked at Tim Knapp. Martin Symonds and Karen Doane.
My interest was religion. Very struck by “rewarded or condemned, who knows”, “I don’t want to use it for personal power”, “I must admit there is an understanding of what power can do to people” “I always welcome your wisdom”, “we have been chosen to take this bizarre journey” “but I have the strength to go thru with it and regardless of the outcome I know I will have done the right thing” “its going to be the biggest challenge of my life but this man needs stopping. He’s hurt too many people”
Quoting THHorne 1835 ” at the great day of judgement, and that men shall be rewarded or condemned according to their abounding in, or their neglecting of, the practice of those duties…the duty of doing good to all men”
Ros
14 Dec 12 at 4:44 pm
You’re a complete fuckwit steve.
Rudd is genuine nerd, nasty with it and carries manifest resentment from being elbowed out of the way when at school during his ‘formative’ years.
Abbott seems to have matured into a reasonable bloke, part of which is no doubt due to having the rough edges knocked off him by what are by all accounts top birds in the form of his wife and daughters.
Rudd, like every other ALP/green politician in this country is stuck at puberty.
cohenite
14 Dec 12 at 7:11 pm
It’s very funny to see those two quotes in the same post.
SteveC
14 Dec 12 at 10:59 pm