Did Bennie really say that?!

"Even in our own lifetime, we can recall how Britain and her leaders stood against a Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews, who were thought unfit to live..."

Yup, you heard it from il papa's own mouth.

It wasn't centuries of entrenched anti-semitism in European society and institutionalised anti-semitism in both Catholic and Protestant mainstream religions which allowed the Nazis to plough politically fertile ground as they first demonised, physically isolated and then attempted wholesale eradication of Jews both before and during World War Two. Oh, no.

Apparently it was teh godless in society who encouraged and supported the Third Reich in this endeavour. An argument that's a bit rich coming as it does from a former member of the Hitler Youth.

I suspect that next Bennie will be blaming atheists for the fact that (according to him) paedophile priests have no free will when in a position of power over a child.

Is it any wonder that the Catholic Church's reputation is all but beyond repair?

One thing's for certain - Robert Bruce and that Knox laddie will be spinning in their graves about now.

"Mass Attendance in Australia" 2008

Pic of il papa in his glory days from Google Images

Live or work in the Clarence Valley? Hang up on Telstra!

In The Daily Examiner on 16 September 2010:

TELSTRA could lose millions of dollars worth of business from the Clarence Valley if it proceeds with plans to close its Grafton call centre, putting 108 workers out of jobs.
Yesterday Member for Page Janelle Saffin said if the Telstra plan went ahead, businesses across the Valley should reconsider their phone carrier.
She said if Telstra decided to abandon the Valley, we should consider abandoning it.
Today we launch a concerted campaign – 'Hang up on Telstra' – to encourage people to change carriers, but only if the Telstra plan proceeds.
Daily Examiner general manager Judy Lewis said she would consider dropping our Telstra account, worth about $5000 a month, and Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson said he would be asking his council to consider something similar. The council account is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Send Telstra a message it understands – money.
Ms Saffin yesterday launched a petition calling on Telstra CEO David Thodey to intervene immediately and halt any plans to axe the jobs of its 108 Grafton workers.
For the first time in anyone's memory, there was a queue of people in Grafton's main street waiting to sign the petition.

Grafton fights call centre closure

Contact Ms. Saffin's electoral office at 3/55 Prince Street, Grafton Ph: 6642.8507 to find out where petition can be signed.

Five short words for Mick Keelty

Keelty to tell court Rush was a minor player

Too little, too bluidy late!

Oakeshott as Speaker of the House?

If Rob Oakeshott were to become Speaker of the House of Representatives 2010 may yet go down in Australian history as the year of the most theatrical 'dragging to the chair' on record.
Indeed probably the most undignified installation since the 13th century.

Seventeen minute rulings on points of order during Question Time might become the norm. With hammed softshoe segues for the benefit of the visitor's gallery.

It would be hard to imagine anyone less likely to be able to manage a fractious Lower House or preside over Department of the House of Representatives .
Harry Jenkins' jaw must have dropped when he first heard of Oakeshott's ambition to replace him.

Still Oakeshott would easily live up to an early description of the office of speaker - The Mouth.

However, it may be a position Labor wants Oakeshott to fill in the hope it will lessen the chance that he will recant his support of the Gillard Government.

Being of a cynical turn of mind I recall that The Speaker receives an additional salary and expense of office allowance (slightly more than those of the majority of Ministers) in addition to salary and allowances as a Member of Parliament.

Power, extra money and on camera every day the House is sitting. Aaahh......................

The Australian online poll on 15 September 2010