Abbott in Government

[Alanslegal]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Poor old Hockey ........ either he is still in negative opposition mode or doesn't read Treasury figures according to the latest articles

"The new Treasurer is promoting old Australian growth figures from the International Monetary Fund as fresh bad news for the economy. The L plates are being worn large this spring.

Read more: Joe Hockey's L-plates are there for all to see

 

[UP4014]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Poor old Hockey ........ either he is still in negative opposition mode or doesn't read Treasury figures according to the latest articles

"The new Treasurer is promoting old Australian growth figures from the International Monetary Fund as fresh bad news for the economy. The L plates are being worn large this spring.

Read more: Joe Hockey's L-plates are there for all to see

Yes, amused when I heard it. On the business front, I've really only heard gloom, but that's what the people voted for, wonder how long he'll last on that job.

 

[drron]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

As I have previously said the Peter Slipper case is a lot more than abuse of travel allowances.This is backed up by an article today in the SMH.

The federal police claim that Slipper then asked the driver: ''Could we process this manually and break up the payment, putting it down as suburb to suburb, so it's processed easier?''
Green apparently replied: ''Whatever way you want.''


Even though the car had eftpos facilities, four Cabcharge vouchers were manually processed through what is known as the Farrington card imprinter. They were broken up as $87 from Parliament House to suburbs; $80 from suburbs to Parliament House; $75 from suburbs to suburbs; and $95 from suburbs to suburbs.
The Commonwealth says that breaking up the total travel cost in that way, using the manual system of payment processing and describing the trips as to and from suburban destinations, shows Slipper was trying to hide his misuse of his cabcharge.
He must therefore, it says, have had the requisite knowledge or belief of his alleged wrongdoing.

Read more: Why Slipper's Cabcharges may be different to PM's weddings

So he is being prosecuted because he tried to cover up the purpose of the trip.If he had told the truth and put down where he actually went then he could have just repaid the claims.

 

[UP4014]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

As I have previously said the Peter Slipper case is a lot more than abuse of travel allowances.This is backed up by an article today in the SMH.


Read more: Why Slipper's Cabcharges may be different to PM's weddings

So he is being prosecuted because he tried to cover up the purpose of the trip.If he had told the truth and put down where he actually went then he could have just repaid the claims.

As a side question, did I read where Abbott claimed expenses to go to Slipper's wedding.

It get more bizzare as it goes on.

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

As a side question, did I read where Abbott claimed expenses to go to Slipper's wedding.

It get more bizzare as it goes on.

The more bizarre thing is Tony Abbott was Slipper's best man at his wedding.

 

[UP4014]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

The more bizarre thing is Tony Abbott was Slipper's best man at his wedding.

Wow, I didn't realise that. Abbott really is phoney Tony with triple standards then.

 

[Pukka]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

I must be mistaken in my understanding of the USA political system - can you please explain to me how the President is in charge of this government shutdown, and potential debt default?

As the president he's supposed to act in the best interests of the people of the USA. That means acting as a mediator with the right wing nutters and not just going the my way or the highway route. He's too arrogant to realize that he's actually part of the problem, not the whole problem but a significant part of it.

 

[drron]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

In regards to the debt it is unlikely there will be a default.Article 5 of the 14th amendment makes US Government debt sacrosanct.most observers believe that this article allows the President to authorise the payment of the interest and principal repayments regardless of the debt ceiling.Some,including Timothy Geithner who is the President's economic advisor believe it makes the debt ceiling unconstitutional.It hasn't been tested in court but it may be sooner rather than later.
And again this is the 18th shutdown relating to the debt ceiling since 1976 and it makes no difference what party the President or congress majority belong to.
Here are Senator Obama's words when he voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006-

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.

 

[drsmithy]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

As the president he's supposed to act in the best interests of the people of the USA. That means acting as a mediator with the right wing nutters and not just going the my way or the highway route. He's too arrogant to realize that he's actually part of the problem, not the whole problem but a significant part of it.

No, he's not. At all.

The answer in the best interests of the American people, is where the 80-odd million who currently don't have access to proper healthcare, get it.

There's nothing to "mediate".

He had a policy as part of two election campaigns where he won the presidency.
Legislation was proposed, negotiated, modified, and passed into law.
The law was tested in the highest courts of the land and found constitutional.

In no meaningful way, shape, or form, is Obama part of this problem. It lies 100% at the feet of the extremist right-wing wackos in the Republican party, and the less extremist right-wing wackos that enable them.


A more mundane example might look like this:

Crazy neighbour: I don't like your house, I'm going to burn it down.
Homeowner: Why ?
Crazy neighbour: I don't like it. You should never have been allowed to build it.
Homeowner: I had a DA up for 6 months before I built it. Did you register a complaint ?
Crazy neighbour: Yes, but I was the only one.
Neighbour: Everyone else in the neighbourhood likes it.
Crazy neighbour: I know, but I don't. I'm going to burn it down.
Homeowner: I'm not going to let you.
Crazy neighbour: Just the garage then ?
Homeowner: No. I'm calling the police.
Crazy neighbour: WHY WON'T YOU COMPROMISE ?
<Police arrive, arrest crazy neighbour>
Crazy neighbour: IT'S ALL HIS FAULT, HE WON'T NEGOTIATE. ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS TALK WHILE HIS HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.

 

[Pukka]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

No, he's not. At all.

There's nothing to "mediate".

He had a policy as part of two election campaigns where he won the presidency.
Legislation was proposed, negotiated, modified, and passed into law.
The law was tested in the highest courts of the land and found constitutional.

In no way, shape, or form, is Obama part of this problem. It lies 100% at the feet of the extremist right-wing wackos in the Republican party, and the less extremist right-wing wackos that enable them.

Lol he is definitely part of the problem, he needs to learn the art of negotiation but he can't because he's too arrogant.

TA won the election so all the lefties should lie down and let him get rid of the stupid carbon tax etc ???!!

Thought not double standards then.

 

[drsmithy]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Lol he is definitely part of the problem, he needs to learn the art of negotiation but he can't because he's too arrogant.

Negotiate what ?

"Obamacare" is a LAW that has been through an election, the entire legislative process, and the supreme court. There's nothing left to negotiate. The time for negotiation passed long ago, it's just that a small minority didn't like the outcome and have the power to threaten the entire country with economic catastrophe.

Republicans and especially the Tea Party faction have no interest in any sort of "negotiations". It's their way, or the highway. The Democrats already compromised on the system they'd originally wanted, but that's irrelevant because the crazies are opposed to "universal" healthcare in principle.

TA won the election so all the lefties should lie down and let him get rid of the stupid carbon tax etc ???!!

Thought not double standards then.

It's not an even vaguely similar situation.

If Tony had already gotten legislation through both houses, and it had survived a challenge in the high court to its constitutionality, then you'd be approaching a similar situation. Except in our system you then get a double dissolution election rather than a small group of paranoid, psychopathic zealots holding the entire country to ransom.

 

[Pukka]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Negotiate what ?

"Obamacare" is a LAW that has been through an election, the entire legislative process, and the supreme court. There's nothing left to negotiate. The time for negotiation passed long ago, it's just that a small minority didn't like the outcome and have the power to threaten the entire country with economic catastrophe.

Republicans and especially the Tea Party faction have no interest in any sort of "negotiations". It's their way, or the highway.


You have NFI what you're talking about.

If Tony had already gotten legislation through both houses, and it had survived a challenge in the high court to its constitutionality, then you'd be approaching a similar situation. Except in our system you then get a double dissolution election rather than a small group of zealots holding the entire country to ransom.

Obamacare !! The description sums up his arrogance. So if there's nothing to negotiate how come the USA ( under Obama ) is leading the whole world into financial Armageddon.

Bring on the double dissolution in Australia so things can be sorted out finally

 

[drsmithy]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Obamacare !! The description sums up his arrogance.

WTF are you talking about ?

So if there's nothing to negotiate how come the USA ( under Obama ) is leading the whole world into financial Armageddon.

Because a small group of right-wing extremists would rather see the world in financial armageddon than poor people have access to healthcare.
(And probably an even smaller group of greedy psychopaths believe they'll benefit financially from USA economic instability and are trying to facilitate as much of it as possible.)

 

[Pukka]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

WTF are you talking about ?


Because a small group of right-wing extremists would rather see the world in financial armageddon than poor people have access to healthcare.

Actually I think Obama would like to see the whole world screwed just to prove a point. He's an idiot.

But we all have opinions and that's what makes the world interesting.

 

[drsmithy]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Actually I think Obama would like to see the whole world screwed just to prove a point. He's an idiot.

Uh huh. And what "point" do you think he's trying to prove ?

Why are you more accepting of holding the whole world to economic ransom so poor people don't get healthcare, than you are of legislated law being repealed by proper avenues rather than backdoor ransoms ?

If the crazy right-wingers want to get rid of Obamacare, then the proper way to do so is by passing legislation to repeal it. Why do you think it's preferable for them to threaten the whole US economy than do that ?

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Obamacare !! The description sums up his arrogance. So if there's nothing to negotiate how come the USA ( under Obama ) is leading the whole world into financial Armageddon.

Bring on the double dissolution in Australia so things can be sorted out finally

Obama never named it Obamacare. IIRC it is called Medicare, which will benefit tens of millions of US workers.

The majority of People support Obama's health care laws, they don't support the idiotic fringe dwellers that want the USA to close the government and default the US.

 

[drsmithy]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Obama never named it Obamacare. IIRC it is called Medicare, which will benefit tens of millions of US workers.

If you want to get formal, it's called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Medicare in the US is Government-funded healthcare for those over 65 (which, "strangely", the Republicans ignore all the time as a massive Government expense - because the depend so much on the votes of that demographic).

 

[drron]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

And I can guarantee that no one here understands Obamacare.The legislation has now gone over 20,000 pages.Earlier this year over 800 pages of regulations were made in one day..The legislation that passed was only a bare outline.The President has already postponed many of the features of the bill.The republicans are asking and have indeed passed a bill asking for a 1 year deferral and they will pass the debt ceiling increase.
Yet the president refuses to negotiate on anything.He is also being deliberately provocative with "the shutdown".Doing things like closing memorials and National Parks the closing of which actually increases expenditure.On the weekend congress passed a bill 407-0 that all "furloughed "employees will continue on full pay.The whole thing is an absolute charade and brings credit to neither side.
A good comment on US legislation-
Don't Ever Confuse Legislation Like Obamacare With Actual Problem Solving - Forbes

 

[drron]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

Obama never named it Obamacare. IIRC it is called Medicare, which will benefit tens of millions of US workers.

The majority of People support Obama's health care laws, they don't support the idiotic fringe dwellers that want the USA to close the government and default the US.

You will need to supply proof.Opinion polls in the US are actually running against Obamacare.-

As for Obamacare, public opinion has settled into skepticism. A Fox News poll released last week, after the websites' rollout, found that 54% of voters favor repealing all or part of the law, while 41% want to preserve or expand it — not much different from earlier findings

A one-year delay in implementing Obamacare, on the other hand, is a broadly popular idea, supported by 57% of all voters, including 80% of Republicans.

The unsettled healthcare law - latimes.com

 

[Moody]

Re: Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

The "lunatic right-wing" is now officially a tautology. Apparently democracy in the US should be repealed because a lefty nigger is in charge. Django Unchained anybody???

But I like the sound of a double dissolution for Oz - the honeymoon for lying Prime Ministers is notoriously brief!