He says he wants a revolution, well, you know

January 7, 2014 7:53 PM

Hard right Conservative South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi, who in 2012 year was removed as parliamentary secretary and opposition whip to Tony Abbott as a result of arguing that same-sex marriages would lead to legalised polygamy and bestiality, is no stranger to controversy. A noted climate change sceptic, and critic of both Islam and publicly-funded broadcasting, Bernardi has just published his manifesto -- The Conservative Revolution -- calling for "a reversal back to sanity and reason". Reviews on Amazon have been less than favourable, but his book has put contentious issues such as abortion, the structure of the modern family and WorkChoices firmly at centrestage as the unpopular conservative government seeks to reconnect with voters who so comprehensively removed the Labor Party from Government in September 2013. Some argue that the danger in Bernardi's comments is that they shift the goalposts on what is considered outrageous, and re-ignite the culture wars. Or is it too late? The Prime Minister has again been forced to distance himself from Bernardi's views, and Warren Entch has criticised him for his "gay obsession". In 2012 the Global Mail called him Australia's Sarah Palin, but he also shares the Six Fs philosophy of Rick Santorum: Faith, Family, Flag, Free enterprise, Federation and Freedom.
posted by Mezentian (112 comments total)

I'm hoping this comes across as more than a "Christ, what an arsehole" post, but hard right, pro-church culture bombs like this aren't as common in our politics as they are in the US.

It's quite astounding, and he will soon be joined in the Senate by at least one other like-minded individual, and we have previously seen how much of an impact a single Senator can have.
posted by Mezentian at 7:58 PM on January 7, 2014

Ugh do we have to give this dickhead more oxygen?
posted by smoke at 8:00 PM on January 7, 2014 [6 favorites]

Ugh do we have to give this dickhead more oxygen?

Yes.
posted by an animate objects at 8:02 PM on January 7, 2014

You can't start a fire without oxygen.
posted by Mezentian at 8:03 PM on January 7, 2014 [8 favorites]

So, he's the Australian Steve Stockman?
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:08 PM on January 7, 2014

I don't believe Corgi has been accused of graft and corruption, so not quite.
posted by Mezentian at 8:14 PM on January 7, 2014

Remember when Tony Abbott was John Howard's Cory Bernardi?*


*Nicked from twitter... still chilling to me.
posted by pompomtom at 8:20 PM on January 7, 2014 [10 favorites]

Jeez, pompomtom, that's a horrible, horrible thought. Doom! Doom!
posted by andraste at 8:24 PM on January 7, 2014

at least one other like-minded individual

If you're referring to Bob Day...well he's not really a "like-minded individual". He's a disgraced SA Liberal party guy - a serial contender who became an embarrassment to the party and has in recent years been trying with Family First instead because it was easier to get preselection. And he got lucky. While it may be splitting hairs, Bob Day is more of a "send children to work in the coal mines" kinda guy, and a bit less of a "OMG dirty perverted homosexuals" kinda guy.

I guess it doesn't really make much difference, in the end. It's also interesting that the SA Liberals ended up with the family-values nutter, and Family First ended up with the anti-union nutter.
posted by Jimbob at 8:25 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

So, he's the Australian Steve Stockman?

If you have a taste for right-wing outrageousness, follow Stockman on Twitter. He's somehow the only politician who either gets social media or can be bothered to hire somebody who does.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:30 PM on January 7, 2014

"He also advocates removing Government welfare designed to assist children from families that experience a breakdown, arguing programs like the Red Cross's Good Start Breakfast Club remove parental responsibility and create a mentality that the state will provide."

Of course; better to let children go hungry in order to teach their parents 'responsibility'.

What a motherfucker.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:33 PM on January 7, 2014 [14 favorites]

'As a dachshund, I can't actually read this book, but I thank Corgi Bernardi from the bottom of my heart for stopping gay marriage.'
posted by Wolof at 8:34 PM on January 7, 2014 [3 favorites]

You know what people say about the gay-obsessed...
posted by pompomtom at 8:36 PM on January 7, 2014

The South Australian senator also calls for the traditional family model to be restored to ''prime position'' over other family arrangements such as step families, same-sex and single families.

So because I'm a single (not by choice) person with children, I deserve less rights? Or worse, a person whose spouse (possibly even 'properly' married in a church and everything) was killed, let's say while serving with Australia's defence forces overseas, deserves less rights?

I don't even know where to start being outraged.
posted by dg at 8:37 PM on January 7, 2014 [3 favorites]

Anthony Albanese is, to my utter surprise, actually saying something of value:

ALBANESE: There’s nothing fair and nothing reasonable about these extremist comments from Cory Bernardi.

He says that he’s pro-freedom but he’s against women’s right to control their own bodies.

He says he’s pro-religion but he’s against any religion that isn’t the same as his.

He says he’s pro individual rights, but, in his advocacy of WorkChoices, he would take us back to the Howard era that saw division in the workplace and saw workers discriminated against and rights being taken away.

He says he’s pro-family, but he’s against any family that doesn’t resemble his depiction of what a family is.

This is an offensive contribution to the policy debate.

posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:44 PM on January 7, 2014 [19 favorites]

So because I'm a single (not by choice) person with children, I deserve less rights?

This is the crazy thing if you consider Bernadi's proposed policies. They don't make anything better for anyone really. They only make things worse for certain people. They are basically punitive. How would "restoring the traditional family model to prime position" do anything, improve anything, make anything better, even for those "traditional families"? I have a traditional family. I'm pretty fucking sure that we're already in "prime position".
posted by Jimbob at 8:45 PM on January 7, 2014 [10 favorites]

They only make things worse for certain people. They are basically punitive.

Yes, and the 'certain people' are him and his. So from his perspective, it's hunky dory.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 8:49 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

Well, that depends on what he calls a 'traditional family', potentially. Given that his views seem firmly rooted in the '50s, I hope your wife doesn't work or plan to work. God forbid you should need two incomes to pay your mortgage. Or maybe he would like to take that tradition back to 1901 (sounds like a pretty traditional time) when she wouldn't be able to vote? As you say, his ideas make things worse for the majority of people when you put them all together. Probably a good outcome for him and his cronies, though.
posted by dg at 8:52 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Another plastic dick in a 2-for-1 Roger David suit who doesn't give a fuck about children after they are born, and in fact doesn't give a fuck about children at all and just wants to make sure that women don't step above their station. He's just another in a twisting, slimy parade dark alley circus clown motherfuckers, dragging this already mediocre country down further into a black hole of suck and fail. I would actually return to the church if it meant I might bump into him in the gent's after mass one Sunday and violently disappear him in a hurricane of piss.
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:53 PM on January 7, 2014 [43 favorites]

turbid dahlia, you win my vote for MeFi Australian of the Year (invective section).
posted by jaduncan at 8:54 PM on January 7, 2014 [12 favorites]

There is the suggestion that this is just an attempt to shift the Overton Window to the right (something Andrew Bolt has recently admitted is his aim), but it can only backfire once you start taking swings at step-kids and the Red Cross.
posted by Jimbob at 8:56 PM on January 7, 2014

You know what people say about the gay-obsessed...

Bernardi is threatening to sue over that comment.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:04 PM on January 7, 2014

I'm just going to say this right here:

Equating of same-sex sexual relationships with having sex with animals has nothing to do with sex.

It has everything to do with "othering".

It is the classic bigot mindset of "these beings who seek to be equal with us are not equal with us, in fact they are lesser animals".

It's exactly the same as the political cartoons from Nazi Germany which portrayed the Jews as rats. It's exactly the same as racial bigots who equate blacks with monkeys.

It's saying that "this group of humans is not, in fact, human. They are animals, and therefore are completely not equal to us."

It is bigotry at its purest form. "You are not like us, in fact you are distinctly unlike us so much that you are not even considered human by us."

Never mistake the mention of bestiality in the same breath as same-sex relations for anything other than pure bigotry in its purest form. That is all it is, and that is all it should be taken to be.
posted by hippybear at 9:04 PM on January 7, 2014 [41 favorites]

To the extent the U.S. is at all responsible for people like this not being too embarrassed to voice such opinions among polite society, I'm sorry y'all.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:10 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

Lenore Taylor had a good article in the Guardian on Monday propounding just that shifting the Overton Window to the right view.

it can only backfire once you start taking swings at step-kids and the Red Cross.

I don't think it necessarily will backfire in terms of the point of the exercise - the outlandish extremism of Bernardi's views make merely very-right-wing views look palatable by comparison. It's not outlandish to suggest that that might be why he's there, otherwise why would the Liberals keep him around?
posted by coleboptera at 9:11 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

You know who else was from Austr?
posted by Samuel Farrow at 9:13 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Dame Edna?
posted by Mezentian at 9:14 PM on January 7, 2014

Bernardi is threatening to sue over that comment.

I sort of hope he does. I believe that there's precedent that, in Australia, calling someone gay is not defamation (any law-talking types, do please confirm/deny).

I think, also, if I call him a dickhead, that's probably defensible as fair comment, or truth...
posted by pompomtom at 9:14 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

Is bestiality even a crime throughout Australia?
posted by Sys Rq at 9:20 PM on January 7, 2014

Is bestiality even a crime throughout Australia?

How is that relevant? And yes, it is. For example, NSW. VIC. QLD. Even in Bernardi's home state of SA.

[Can't be bothered to dig out the rest, but they exist]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:24 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Interesting that bestiality means different things in different states.

Would be interesting if he did try and sue. He would need to prove that calling him gay (or inferring, in this case) would lead to the average person thinking less of him. Hard to imagine he'd be successful.
posted by dg at 9:36 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

I sort of hope he does. I believe that there's precedent that, in Australia, calling someone gay is not defamation (any law-talking types, do please confirm/deny).

There is, at least in most situations - see the discussion of Australian cases in this New Zealand article, but it does seem that in certain circumstances allegations of homosexuality might be considered defamatory (see here, although it doesn't cite specific examples).
posted by Pink Frost at 9:37 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

'Freedom'...
You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means.
posted by dazed_one at 9:40 PM on January 7, 2014

Hmmm. This 2011 article from The Monthly is rather good.

“Cory is deluded,” says a Liberal Party colleague. “He is one of the least effective or important members of the parliamentary team. Cory is a person without any intellect, without any base, and he should really never have risen above the position of branch president. His right-wing macho-man act is just his way of looking as though he stands for something.”

...

He claims to be widely read but admits his favourite fare is airport novels, especially the late Dick Francis’ formulaic thrillers. His recommended reading list includes a book called Confrontational Politics by a retired US senator, HL Richardson, published by the Gun Owners Foundation. The author’s credo is “pro-life, pro-gun, pro-God” and he was once voted ‘Chauvinist of the Year’ by the National Organization for Women. His book is a crude polemic that rails against homosexuals, tree-huggers, humanists, pagans and abortionists, whom he likens to Hitler. It calls evolution a “scientific justification” for rejecting God, and argues for “the necessity to limit the power of man and government” as the Holy Bible should be the basis for human law (a proposition starkly similar to that advanced by the Islamists Bernardi condemns). Bernardi liked the book so much he bought 100 copies to hand out.

...

A frequent commentator on the ‘dangers’ of Islam, Bernardi has the Koran on his iPad but acknowledges he hasn’t read it, except for the passages he quotes to advance his arguments. He doesn’t know the ‘five pillars’, or basic tenets, of the Islamic faith. He claims his warnings about Islam are based on the “unique perspective” he gained while travelling in Europe where, he says, Muslim migration has led to “almost unprecedented levels of social unrest”.

“I keep saying this is not about Muslim people,” Bernardi insists. “A lot of Muslims eat pork, there’s a lot of Muslims who don’t pray five times a day or go to mosque, there’s a lot of Muslims who decide to drink alcohol. There’s a lot of Muslims who are terrific people, that are fantastic, like people of any faith.” In other words: Muslims are fine, as long as they don’t practise their beliefs.

posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:47 PM on January 7, 2014 [5 favorites]

I've heard a few people say that giving this guy attention is a waste of time but he has directly insulted me, my family, my friends and the majority of people that I know because in the real world there are far more people living lives and raising families outside of his 1950's utopian white man's fantasy than within it.

He thinks that I'm a piece of shit and that my children are more likely to be losers and I'm supposed to say nothing, to feel nothing? I am offended, damnit! Why shouldn't I reply?

Those who oppose him should be constantly letting people who think like this know that their opinions are unacceptable and anachronistic, and then we should exclude them. Give them a taste of what it feels like to be looked down on.
posted by h00py at 10:04 PM on January 7, 2014 [9 favorites]

How is that relevant?

It's just that, in many parts of the US, when someone makes the slippery slope argument, you can point out that they're already at the bottom of that hill.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:09 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

He thinks that I'm a piece of shit and that my children are more likely to be losers and I'm supposed to say nothing, to feel nothing? I am offended, damnit! Why shouldn't I reply?

Because he's an ignorant stupid bigot, and by taking him seriously we are adding gravitas to his asinine world view. By treating him as an actual opponent instead of the vulgar wingnut he clearly is, we lend him dignity that he has not earned and does not deserve.

There is a hope that if we ignore him like we would his odious ilk that stands on milk crates in public places screaming about the bible and homos and sluts and God's wrath, he would fade into meaningless background noise and do less damage, cause less hurt.

But he has a megaphone, and an effective one. So yes, you're right. We must refute them.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:10 PM on January 7, 2014

How is that relevant?

It's just that, in many parts of the US, when someone makes the slippery slope argument, you can point out that they're already at the bottom of that hill.

Ah, I understand. Thanks for clarifying.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:11 PM on January 7, 2014

I applaud Mezentian for such a thorough post. When I saw this on my news feed, I was tempted to post it, but it likely would have been a single link with the caption "Look at the shitty fucking shithead and his fucking shithouse views about everything; what the actual fuck."

I am especially confused about what single, pregnant women are supposed to do. The answer isn't abortion, and it isn't raising kids as a single mum. Adoption? Lots of adoption? But the state can't be part of this process, because the state can't be expected to provide services to these obvious low-lifes. So, like, an underground baby market? Do we sell them? Does Mr Bernadi plan to just eat all these children? Would that surprise anyone? SO CONFUSED.
posted by jaynewould at 10:18 PM on January 7, 2014 [10 favorites]

I just checked the virtual tally room and it seems like he was popular enough in the SA Liberal Party to get the top spot, which is basically a sure thing, especially as long as voters go above the line.

Given his book contains nothing new (that I have seen), you'd have to assume he has the widespread support of the SA branch, if not at the Federal level. Until they dump him from the top of the ticket (and voting suggests the top two spots), he's pretty much guaranteed a place in the Senate for as long as he wants one.

And it looks like we're stuck with him until 2020, short of a double dissolution or something else.
posted by Mezentian at 10:19 PM on January 7, 2014

Yeah, the Libs can't disown the ass as long as he's sitting on that top spot on the Senate ticket.

He's also a frequent traveller to the US, sponsored by the Tea Party. So no mystery where this shite is coming from.
posted by Wolof at 10:25 PM on January 7, 2014

Is the Tea Party linked to the American Legislative Exchange Council explicitly?
posted by Mezentian at 10:34 PM on January 7, 2014

They are entirely close enough. Chew on these tasty morcels.
posted by Wolof at 10:59 PM on January 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

I am especially confused about what single, pregnant women are supposed to do
Obviously, single women don't get pregnant in his world.
posted by dg at 11:02 PM on January 7, 2014

Nonsense. Of course single women become pregnant in his world, and they must be punished, and their offspring made an example. Such women will be cloistered in convents for lives of celibacy, humility, poverty, and service, and their children committed to Church-run orphanages.
posted by gingerest at 11:09 PM on January 7, 2014 [3 favorites]

Nonsense. Of course single women become pregnant in his world,...

Oh no. No, no, no. Dear child, those aren't women. Those are sluts. And they DESERVE WHAT THEY GET! And Bernardi's here to make sure that they get it.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:34 PM on January 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

For what it's worth.
posted by dg at 11:40 PM on January 7, 2014

Petition by
Pauline Pantsdown
Ipswich, Australia

Yes.

If Bernadi is so keen to ape the lowest of American conservative politics, I can't wait until the secret love child / dizzying array of male prostitutes come to light. Media, do your duty.
posted by Jimbob at 12:08 AM on January 8, 2014 [3 favorites]

Anglosphere gonna have Anglosphere commonalities!
posted by Apocryphon at 12:30 AM on January 8, 2014

Nonsense. Of course single women become pregnant in his world, and they must be punished, and their offspring made an example. Such women will be cloistered in convents for lives of celibacy, humility, poverty, and service, and their children committed to Church-run orphanages laundries.

Bonus: that's officially only going back to the Irish late 90s!
posted by jaduncan at 12:50 AM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

Oddly though, he's the only one from the government who's been able to articulate a vision beyond stopping the boats, repealing the carbon tax, getting back to a surplus, and ending Labor's waste.
posted by mattoxic at 1:22 AM on January 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

Some of these Amazon reviews are absolutely hilarious
posted by moorooka at 1:41 AM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

I found this an interesting take on where the Corgi is going to, and where he sits in "Liberal Values".

Inspired by the Tea Party and its Christianist forebears in US politics, Cory Bernardi is on a death-or-glory mission to do one of two things:

* drag the hollowed-out Liberal Party to the far right and bend it to his will, or
* (more likely) create such friction that he leaves with a name, a follower-base and a war-chest that will survive his ultimately being cast out of a major party, like Brian Harradine and Don Chipp did.
...

When Bernardi says he wants an "exchange of ideas", he means that he wants his opponents to exchange their ideas for his, no questions asked. In an exchange of ideas you take the chance that your own position may have to change in order to secure a result - this is the 'liberal' aspect of 'liberal democracy', and it's what clowns like this don't understand - if give-and-take only ever represents capitulation and loss, you're doing it wrong.

...

When the Abbott government passes into history Bernardi, more than any other backbencher and even most ministers, will have played a role in its downfall. His career may well continue after Abbott has gone, just as Brian Harradine outlasted the Labor split and Whitlam. This is what Bernardi means when he talks about enduring values. .

As they say, read the whole thing.
posted by wilful at 2:26 AM on January 8, 2014 [6 favorites]

Oh Australia. This guys not even a 4 on the Psycho Scale here in the States. Keep stomping on his head though, especially with the awareness that it gets much,much worse.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 4:12 AM on January 8, 2014 [3 favorites]

Conservatives are shit at Photoshop... that dropshadow... that need to defringe the cheap suit.
posted by panaceanot at 4:12 AM on January 8, 2014

Oh Australia. This guys not even a 4 on the Psycho Scale here in the States. Keep stomping on his head though, especially with the awareness that it gets much,much worse.

Really? He seems as bad any any of your dropkick loons, just less effective and with a smaller base. Fewer guns, too, I suppose.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:17 AM on January 8, 2014

Apologies for pointing out superficialities... but that mugshot... he looks disturbed. Hollow. Beady-eyed, haunted and sad.
posted by panaceanot at 4:17 AM on January 8, 2014

I am especially confused about what single, pregnant women are supposed to do. The answer isn't abortion, and it isn't raising kids as a single mum. Adoption? Lots of adoption? But the state can't be part of this process, because the state can't be expected to provide services to these obvious low-lifes.

The Catholic Church, being the pinnacle of morality and virtue, has orphanages and magdalene laundries that cater to this very contingency.
posted by acb at 4:56 AM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

pure bigotry in its purest form. That is all it is, and that is all it should be taken to be.

Pure bigotry with a drippy varnish of self-righteousness has been Cory Bernardi's schtick for a very long time.
posted by flabdablet at 5:48 AM on January 8, 2014

That cover photo is just priceless.
posted by flabdablet at 5:59 AM on January 8, 2014

And I'm loving the front cover pull quote from Bolt: "Bernardi opens up conversations others want closed"... which I would actually agree is exactly what he's doing, given that listening to Bernardi on pretty much any subject is the conversational equivalent of sniffing the stink finger.
posted by flabdablet at 6:04 AM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

Liberal Sue Boyce now weighing in with some measured criticisms of Bernardi.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:51 PM on January 8, 2014

''I hope he finds some solace in that,'' Senator Boyce said.

Um... "Sick burn!", as the kids say.
Unless Turnbull comes out and says something. Which would be awesome.

I would love to be in the next party room meeting.
posted by Mezentian at 8:24 PM on January 8, 2014

For a party that were boasting that their win meant the adults are now back in charge, it's bitterly ironic that this week's news has played out like this...

Lib 1: gays r dumb
Lib 2: ur gay lol
posted by notionoriety at 8:31 PM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

Great post, Mezentian. Thanks for keeping us updated on what's going on in Australia, distasteful as it may be.

And I know it's really not fair (or reliable) to judge people by their appearance, but both Bernardi and Abbot look like guys you would see kicking some guy they knocked to the ground out behind some bar. I would never turn my back to either of them for a second.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:36 PM on January 8, 2014

Fun fact: Bernardi was parliamentary secretary for families while in Opposition. Had he not said what he did about teh gayz marrying turtles, he would probably be driving that bus now.
posted by Mezentian at 8:38 PM on January 8, 2014

And I know it's really not fair (or reliable) to judge people by their appearance, but both Bernardi and Abbot look like guys you would see kicking some guy they knocked to the ground out behind some bar. I would never turn my back to either of them for a second.
I had the same thought when I saw the book cover photo, actually.
posted by dg at 9:17 PM on January 8, 2014

And I know it's really not fair (or reliable) to judge people by their appearance, but both Bernardi and Abbot look like guys you would see kicking some guy they knocked to the ground out behind some bar.

Abbott does have a history of menacing and intimidating women.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:17 PM on January 8, 2014 [2 favorites]

And toolbag Senator John Madigan voicing support for Bernardi with the old chestnut that criticism = suppression of free speech.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:13 PM on January 8, 2014

Madigan has a point, though:
“When Tony Abbott was Leader of the Opposition, he stated abortion should be ‘safe, legal and rare’. Now that he is Prime Minister, it seems he cannot be drawn on the subject.
posted by Mezentian at 10:19 PM on January 8, 2014

I was going to say, the closest friend Bernadi has in the senate is probably Madigan. Even Abetz has figured out certain battles are lost.

Blacksmith / General Engineer / Boilermaker / Senator.
posted by Jimbob at 10:43 PM on January 8, 2014

To be fair, Madigan also has a point in saying 'People who have the guts to say what they think have my respect, whether I agree with their opinions or not.' I definitely agree with this. However, to go on and say '“Clearly not everyone shares my tolerance for others’ points of view judging by the vitriol Senator Bernardi has been subject to over the past few days. It is becoming increasingly obvious there is an element that does not believe in freedom of expression and the right of all individuals to hold a belief' shows he doesn't understand what freedom of expression means. Well, unless he means people should only be free to express things he agrees with ;-)
posted by dg at 10:54 PM on January 8, 2014

People can express whatever they want. I can express that they are caustic dickheads in response. That's freedom of expression, as far as I understand it.
posted by Jimbob at 10:58 PM on January 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

I'm very glad that Bernardi expresses what he feels. What shits me is that he's a senator and an arsehole at the same time.
posted by pompomtom at 11:00 PM on January 8, 2014

Jimbob, that was my point.
posted by dg at 11:14 PM on January 8, 2014

Hey man, don't threaten my freedom of expression to concur with you. Fascist.
posted by Jimbob at 11:28 PM on January 8, 2014

Well, unless he means people should only be free to express things he agrees with ;-)

That's exactly what Madigan means. Which is why he's a piece of crap.

Bernardi can say whatever homophobic, misogynistic, classist nonsense he wants. That's his right. But his freedom of speech doesn't include freedom from criticism or the other consequences of his speech. So fuck him, and fuck Madigan too.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:29 PM on January 8, 2014 [1 favorite]

freedom of speech

Which we don't have in Australia.
Because of those nasty laws that stop Bernardi and that nice Mr Bolt from saying what we all think.

But that's okay, we have a Freedom Commissioner now.
posted by Mezentian at 11:37 PM on January 8, 2014

But that's okay, we have a Freedom Commissioner now.

Yes, he's an utter pillock also. But he might not necessarily be all bad. He's right about Queensland's draconian nonsensical anti-bikie laws, for example.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 12:00 AM on January 9, 2014

I was a bit on the fence about the Queensland laws until those five Victorian guys were arrested for having dinner and ice cream together, two days after the fact.

And then I discovered that apparently Newman's Queensland LNP Government just doesn't even try to write laws that made sense anymore. (and I see the law is called the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013, which... really says it all)

I am interested in the by-election and the Qld State poll, whenever that is.

Because I now see that Qld requires tattoo parlors to have a licence (well, if hairdressers need one...) but "you will also need to provide details about your close associates, such as your staff, business partners and landlord".

I begin to suspect Zombie Joh has risen.
posted by Mezentian at 12:14 AM on January 9, 2014 [2 favorites]

I've not been following the news of this too closely, but I just got an e-mail from Get Up! saying that "Gay Brisbane man Ali Choudhry" has won a bridging visa and won't be packed off to Pakistan.

In a rare Pollyanna moment, I'm just going to assume Scott Morrison took a moment from turning back the boats to use this as a personal "fuck you" to Corgi, who I assume he despites, and not some cynical ploy.
posted by Mezentian at 12:35 AM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

to use this as a personal "fuck you" to Corgi, who I assume he despites, and not some cynical ploy.

Some sort of Mad Penecostal vs. Nutty Catholic thing?
posted by Jimbob at 12:41 AM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Two may enter, only one may leave.
It's the Bartertown way.

(And also the LNP: see also Howard and Costello)
posted by Mezentian at 12:44 AM on January 9, 2014

Mezentian, FYI, hairdressers don't need a licence in Qld, although they do in some (all?) other states.
posted by dg at 1:14 AM on January 9, 2014

How curious.
posted by Mezentian at 1:22 AM on January 9, 2014

I can understand Tattoo artists needing a licence; there's a duty of care, training required, if you do it wrong you could cause people permanent injury. It's the requirement beyond looking at an individual's training and skill that's the issue, the associates and so forth. And then there was the situation back in November, of QLD Police wandering around asking random dudes on the street to remove their shirts so their tattoos could be recorded...
posted by Jimbob at 1:40 AM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

I would love to be in the next party room meeting.

Really? I would last about five minutes, punch someone (Kevin Andrews would do), then throw up.

I find the whole lot of them utterly repulsive
posted by mattoxic at 1:44 AM on January 9, 2014 [3 favorites]

something something hate filled leftists something
posted by flabdablet at 2:54 AM on January 9, 2014

MeFi's Own Andrew Bolt everyone! :)
posted by Mezentian at 3:14 AM on January 9, 2014

thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night

sack your waitress
posted by flabdablet at 4:57 AM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Has anyone seen Keith Windschuttle lately? He might be needed:In an opinion piece in The Australian newspaper on Friday, Mr Pyne added that ''concerns have been raised about the history curriculum not recognising the legacy of Western civilisation and not giving important events in Australia's history and culture the prominence they deserve, such as Anzac Day''.
posted by Mezentian at 2:30 PM on January 9, 2014

I read that there is not enough emphasis in the national curriculum on the conservative's contribution to the nation.

What contribution? Really? What? Oh- yes, the GST.
posted by mattoxic at 4:38 PM on January 9, 2014

Gun buyback, Matt.
posted by wilful at 4:44 PM on January 9, 2014

It's almost axiomatic that conservatives don't have a large role to play in the writing of history. History is generally the record of change and events. Conservatives are proudly against change, it's what the term means. Of course they're not going to get much of a write up in history text books since they're boring.
posted by wilful at 4:53 PM on January 9, 2014

culture the prominence they deserve, such as Anzac Day

Oh fer gawd's sake.

We want to give the kids a lesson on the cultural importance of Anzac Day? Minor European royalty got assassinated so out of a sense of fawning loyalty to the Mother Country we sent thousands of our citizens to a country we had no argument with to be used as cannon fodder? Birth of a nation!
posted by Jimbob at 5:06 PM on January 9, 2014

But, but MATESHIP!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:13 PM on January 9, 2014 [2 favorites]

Conservatives are proudly against change, it's what the term means.

Hence the call for a "conservative revolution".

concerns have been raised

Mistakes were made.
posted by flabdablet at 5:45 PM on January 9, 2014

Never mind the mateship, what about the legitimately getting shit-faced in public at 11 am and getting a day off work to do it!
posted by dg at 5:45 PM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Given this is the same party that required schools to fly the flag, and introduced the Cricket citizenship question, I am sure the role of Our Don Bradman in winning the war in Vietnam will be considered as well.

New information has come to light that shows that Menzies sent Bradman behind enemy lines, and he personally turned the tide of the war and stopped those damn pinko commies, thus keeping the dominoes upright and keeping tyranny out of Asia.
posted by Mezentian at 5:51 PM on January 9, 2014

Hence the call for a "conservative revolution".

Hmmm.

“But here's some advice, boy. Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come around again. That's why they're called revolutions.”

Terry Pratchett, Night Watch.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:53 PM on January 9, 2014 [3 favorites]

the role of Our Don Bradman

He'd spin in his grave were he to contemplate a Catholic PM.
posted by pompomtom at 7:28 PM on January 9, 2014

What do you mean? Our Don always worshipped in the Roman Church. It's in the new history books.
posted by Mezentian at 8:17 PM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Gun buyback

yes, true.

Christian chaplains in schools is another.
posted by mattoxic at 11:10 PM on January 9, 2014 [1 favorite]

Didn't grab the remote quick enough to turn off The Poodle, as he ranted on TV about "The Need To Teach Our Kids About The Superiority Of Western Civilization"...

Now I want to punch someone.
posted by Jimbob at 2:06 AM on January 10, 2014

Wait? One of the Ministers was allowed to say something in public?
posted by Mezentian at 3:32 AM on January 10, 2014

'sOK, he'll have to retract it tomorrow.
posted by flabdablet at 3:44 AM on January 10, 2014

Writing in The Australian today, Mr Pyne declares that parents want a curriculum that is "free of partisan bias" and deals with real-world issues.

... hence is appointing Kevin Donnelly to review the curriculum.
posted by mattoxic at 5:14 AM on January 10, 2014

Mr Pyne declares that parents want a curriculum that is "free of partisan bias" and deals with real-world issues.

What this parent wants is a curriculum that is free of Christopher Pyne and therefore deals with real-world issues.
posted by flabdablet at 5:30 AM on January 10, 2014 [2 favorites]

Christopher Pyne is on 'brainwashing and propaganda mission', critic claims

Education wars: what the curriculum actually says about Australian history

The education minister has brazenly appointed two close supporters to undo a curriculum that took six years to build – and his justifications are stale, ideologically driven and inaccurate

There's even a quiz.

And the kicker: Kevin Donnelly makes case for more religion to be taught in public schools, damn that secular schooling system.
posted by Mezentian at 5:08 PM on January 10, 2014

Australian History:

........Dirk Harthog..........Captain Cook.....First Fleet..Matthew Flinders.......Rum Corps.......Gold Rush...Eureka Stockade..........Federation.....Gallipoli.....Great Depression....Don Bradman........Tobruk...Kokoda.........Long Tan..........The Dismissal.

Everything that happened since is left wing, politically correct propaganda.
posted by mattoxic at 10:09 PM on January 10, 2014

I'm wondering what's going to happen when The Poodle "reviews" the curriculum and discovers that, actually, kids aren't being taught about the Risdon Cove massacre and the Wave Hill Walkout 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. Not too much, I guess.
posted by Jimbob at 10:35 PM on January 10, 2014

Maybe he could make them all sign loyalty oaths.
posted by flabdablet at 1:07 AM on January 11, 2014