Passing Bull 307 Somersaults at The Australian

It takes a lot to get The Australian to criticise the Prime Minister. 

On the weekend of 5 and 6 March, the paper had comments on a speech by the P M about Russia and China by Paul Kelly and Greg Sheridan. 

The former said:

The speech was a resolute and balanced effort to elevate national security in the election context.  Its focus was strategy, not politics.  It was realistic and steadfast.

This is the fallacy of treating two qualities as mutually exclusive when they are not.  Why could not a discussion of strategy involve politics?  How could it not in a democracy?  Especially ‘in the election context.’  Can this politician discuss anything without politics? 

Mr Kelly answers these questions at the end of his note.

He said the government was the ‘proven choice’ when it came to national security.

Labor, by constantly falling behind the government, seems to offer credence for this view.

Mr Sheridan had a different view.

Scott Morrison’s speech on announcing a committee to look at a location for a possible east coast submarine base came in what is one of the most profoundly disappointing prime ministerial speeches in modern times…. his words on our national defence are simply unreal.

Well, at least Mr Kelly pursued his policy of saying nothing at all, while Mr Sheridan pursued his policy of going clean over the top, but it all looks a bit odd coming from the front office of the Liberal Party.

Passing bull 308 – Random Bull

On almost any day, you can pick up a paper and be met with bullshit.  Take the AFR today.

The CEO of a big accounting firm – Deloitte – saw the need to see ‘integrity’ as a ‘core value’ and that the firm would show ‘zero tolerance’ to any breach of that core value.  Those phrases are pure bullshit.  What was the occasion?  One of the firm’s directors had stolen $3 million from it.  Why do you need to refer to a ‘core value’ when someone steals from you?

The CEO of a bank, BoQ, got a public serve from his chairman.  One of the issues was ‘the perceived extravagance of expenses.’  Sounds like Deloitte.  The CEO said the board backed him.  ‘The board and I are totally aligned with what’s really important and that’s what we’re focussed on.’  Sounds like the bullshit in Canberra.  ‘What you should look at is the facts.  …when you look at the numbers, where the facts are, it points to a culture that’s improving.’

Then there is John Roskam.  He refers to ‘the perceived misogyny’ and ‘the supposed need’ for a federal integrity commission.  Those problems don’t exist for him.  One never has.  As a matter of faith.

Australian – AFR – IPA – Sheridan- Kelly – Deloitte – BoQ