While most of us enjoyed a bit of a laugh at Clive putting a spoke in Abbott's wheel over the repeal of the carbon tax, it has been short-lived. Of course he's going to support the repeal - it's in his own business interests to do so. And the so-called ETS amendment, solemnly announced by Al Gore, is worth next to nothing. I think Clive must have put something in whatever Al Gore was drinking that day, and Gore is probably still wondering what happened.
A bit more surprising - or was it? - was his outburst against the Clerk of the Senate, Dr. Rosemary Laing, about advice she gave him which was contrary to his wishes. He shouted at her and told her to find another job. This was the Clive Palmer who told Tony Jones to "shut up" when Jones insisted he answer his questions without going off-topic, and who walked out on Sarah Ferguson on 7.30 when she tried to do the same. An arrogant bully. He's drawn universal condemnation from Labor and minor party Senators across the board (funny, but the Libs have remained quiet on the subject). He's woefully ignorant of parliamentary procedure, but tries to bully the experienced people whose job it is to make sure that senators don't shoot themselves in the foot.
Of interest to everyone but the very rich is the bill now being read in the Lower House, to introduce a co-payment for health care. It's worse than the original budget documents outlined and will hit pensioners and those on welfare very, very hard.
Will the self-styled friend of the Australian people vote against it, or will Abbott come up with a sweetener to persuade Clive to give it his support? If he sells out, I think he's finished - it's going to affect too many people, and even those for whom it isn't a big problem will remember that Clive couldn't be counted on when it mattered. Such is his complacency and self-belief, I think he truly may believe he's the Second Coming and therefore untouchable.
I think Clive will self-destruct, and I hope, the dreadful Jacqui Lambie - both have shown arrogant, bullying tactics (I can well believe she was in the army, and I'll bet she was hated), and a complete disdain for parliamentary protocols and even basic courtesy. There are those who have expressed the hope that they may become a third force in the Australian Parliament - no thanks, I hope and pray that the third force will be the Greens. They possess that precious asset, integrity. They're also generally blessed with intelligence, something that seems to be sadly lacking with PUP.
All in all, Australian politics is like living in a nightmare at the moment - we're surrounded at every turn by arrogance, cruelty, spite, and bullying.
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