Crean reins in Bush protest

[rooboy]

Labor leader Simon Crean has intervened to ensure his MPs do not insult US President George Bush, quelling a backbench plan for Labor politicians to turn their backs to the world leader when he addresses Parliament later this month.

Labor backbencher Harry Quick was yesterday called in and reprimanded by Mr Crean for his attempts to organise a silent protest. Mr Quick is also planning to wear a white armband to the October 23 joint sitting of Parliament, and to carry the helmet of an Iraqi soldier killed in the first Gulf War.

"What I'm showing is disrespect for the man himself and what he represents for many of us in the peace movement and, I think, it will embarrass him," Mr Quick said.

Mr Crean moved swiftly yesterday to defuse the situation, which threatens to inflame tensions between Labor and the US Administration, dating back to frontbencher Mark Latham's description of Mr Bush as "the most dangerous and incompetent president in living memory".

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/10/08/1065601910419.html

[roguevalley]

1. Those two MP's who have it right should perservere. The world

needs bravery now. Embarrass him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mbperrin]

6. PUH-leeze

embarass him!

[Cha]

2. Show bush what you really think of him....show some brass!@

:kick:

[w13rd0]

3. OMG, are these PMs...

...planning to turn their backs on Bush? That would be great. Hey, where have I heard that before?

[arcane1]

4. what a BEAUTIFUL sight that would be!

to HELL with quelling!!!!

[rusty charly]

5. especially since

england has been so flogged the media as being our friend, supporter and coalition partner

[peterh]

7. I hope this will be on C-Span…

Would be the best entertainment on that channel in some time…

[sjdnb]

8. Bush will not be embarrassed

He is not cognizant enough of his surroundings to appreciate the level of contempt that the rest of the world has for him and his policies.

[burrowowl]

9. Diplomatically

it is difficult to insult the pResident when he is abroad without insulting the Nation, i.e., the USA. Unless of course they state exactly it is Bu$h that is being insulted. Still, it is ticklish.

[leesa]

10. I'm sorry but the US deserves it for allowing this travesty to happen.

[symbolman]

11. But

who is this "world Leader" they are talking about in the article? :)

[SCDem]

12. Turning their back to Bush

That sounds good for dems/protestors to do and Bush or White House official photo-ops. How can the Secret Service take you out of a group of people waiting to see the president if you don't have signs but just turn your back to * and have a white arm band on.

[Mal]

13. Never minded Latham

Crean is like cream, white, essentially flavourless, and while useful in a mix, not something you want as your ruling ingredient.

[goforit]

14. PROTEST your little hearts out!!!!

Don't OBEY!!!!

[sleipnir]

15. My perfect job

I really wish I was a backbencher, I believe it's probably my calling in life. Harass people from a position of elected status, without impunity. That or a Canadian Parliment cameraman....

[gemini_liberal]

16. Crean's a soft, spineless useless wimp

I bet he's just gushing over the prospect of meeting the President* of the USA. I remember a few years ago, when he just rolled over backwards for the government, so he did not upset the Queen on her visit.

to all you Americans who complain that your Democratic party is weak and spineless, I'd gladly take them as our country's opposition compared to the sad lot we have here.

*(in name only)

[rooboy]

17. That's a bit rough, imho...

It's not appropriate for Crean to endorse protests like this. Imagine if Labor won government and it was up to Crean and Rudd to get the Guantanamo detainees released. How the hell could he negotiate with the US government after having abused the shit out of them?

Whilst I hope the protest goes ahead, I fully understand that it's Crean's job to act like a PM even if he never becomes one. And be absolutely certain that Kim "I take free holidays in Israel" Beazley would be no different in opposing such a protest. Most of the Labor right wing is firmly in Likud's pocket.

[gemini_liberal]

18. I know, I'm sorry

I'm tired, I'm pissed off and everything is annoying me. While I consider myself a left-liberal I do not consider myself a die-hard Labour supporter (I mean I'd prefer anybody in the labour camp over Howard anyday.)

My Premier is Labour (well that one is a given lol) and I am no fan of his at all (Mike Rann of SA.) He makes horrible decisions and gets idiotic laws passed just to pander to the public. Don't be surprised if lawyers are made illegal in SA soon, because majority of the public don't like them.

I really tire of the set-up of the Australian political system, because 1) It is too partisan 2) It's too conservative 3) It's too "people vs. politicians"

so I apologise if I am a little cynical, but there is a lot of things that need to happen in Australian politics before I am satisfied, and the election of Crean isn't gonna make it all better.

(btw, I am not a Beazley supporter in case that's what you were implying)

EDIT: just edited to explain why I don't like my Premier and who he is

[rooboy]

19. No, I wasn't implying that you were a Beazley supporter.

We've got some problems in Aussie politics, that's for sure. I don't think Bob Carr should go to Canberra, but as a Queenslander, I'm starting to think that Peter Beattie might be suitable one day.

I don't mind the 'people vs. politicians' thing about our political system, though. I mean, look what has happened to the US as a result of all the sheep who think * is a good bloke!!

Don't get too depressed - as long as nobody screws with our voting system, there's always hope!

[gemini_liberal]

20. 'people vs. politicians'

I understand what you mean, but just remember: you may have people like Reagan and the fuhrer who are worshipped, but inversely you also have DUers who proudly announce their pride in people like Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter etc. Everything has a darkside, but everything also has a light side. The problem with the whole 'people vs. politicians' philosophy is that you constantly have people all over the place saying about how "the less politicians, the better" now, the difference: this 40 year old with the political knowledge of an unripe apricot thinks he/she is making a statement to better democracy, but in fact they're just giving fuel to attempts at reducing opposition. For instance, if the federal government wanted to abolish the Senate, when holding the referendum, the yes campaign would just have to spin it as though it was a proposal to cut back on government and get rid of some of the politicians. It may not pass, but it sure could as well. Freepers use this tactic too, why do you think so many of them are always complaining about too much politics?

and yes, I agree Beattie may be a good candidate.

[rooboy]

21. I don't have a problem with what you're saying here...

but I tend to think that our dislike of politicians is more a kind of "don't ask me to trust you" thing. It's not that we want less government, but more accountability.

It staggers me how unaccountable * and his cabinet are. NONE of them have been elected! That's what I love about our system. John Howard can be voted out by his own Sydney electorate and his career as PM is over. I like how that keeps a pollie's feet on the ground...

[gemini_liberal]

22. you're right

my ideas are probably too radical anyway. Australian politics rarely likes change.

I must also confess that in Australian politics, I usually vote for the Democrats, but that's only because my seat always goes to labour, and I never support the major parties in the Senate.