Don't give up on hope. The Australian parliament is tied up on citizenship. The Liberals have a one seat majority and they could lose that easily. The ALP clearly have membership issues, but they are obfuscating. The ALP possibly hope they can sneak into government through a bye election before they have to front up. The issue affects me. I ran for federal parliament in Jason Clare's seat in 2010. I knew I needed to get rid of my US citizenship, but I hedged my bets, and approached the US embassy. The Embassy was willing to expedite it immediately, but I said I would be very unhappy if they were to move hastily. They said "What if you are elected and it is decided that you had not vacated your dual nationality." I pointed out the document wording was to have taken the appropriate steps, and should I be elected I would immediately finalise the process I initiated. I understood that had I run again, I would need to have completed the process. Thing is, my grandmother was born in London. I can work in the UK because of that. So it may be deemed that I have citizenship of the UK. I had not even considered renouncing UK citizenship. That is a problem the High Court has stupidly dropped on the parliament. There is a reason why such retrospective laws are being enacted internationally. They are humanitarian grounds so people don't get abused as stateless Jews were prior to WW2. But it is ridiculous that the High Court interprets the constitution in a way that the framers never intended. They have read between the lines before.

Four of the same anecdotes, spread over time. I was at a Sydney Institute event when I got onto an elevator circa 2014. Michael Kroger was there with two other senior Liberals, possibly Ruddock was one. I was star struck and embarrassed. I was wearing swim shorts as they were the only pants that fit me. I was sweaty, carrying several bags. I wanted to talk to them because I needed their help. But I froze and they turned their backs to me and spoke in low tones. Twenty years ago an aunt of mine had gone to an ALP fundraiser, $3k a head. She was dressed to the nines. Paul Keating got in the elevator with security, and turned his back on her. Tom Pocock, Horatio Nelson's biographer, records a young couple were outside the Admiral's office in the UK circa 1803. They have an awkward wait with a short, one armed veteran that turns out to be Nelson. Nelson spoke shallowly and vapidly, referring to the 'Nelson's Touch' and his exploits. He finds out that the male is a soldier who had served in India, and suddenly Nelson speaks with knowledge and insight, humorous, not boring. And the last anecdote is Donald Trump as President calling a parent of a fallen soldier and thanking them for their sacrifice. The call had been anticipated and a family friend, a Democrat Congress member, was able to overhear the call and verbal Trump.

I have nothing but praise for Kroger, who was gracious and gave me an opportunity before going private. I have nothing but contempt for Paul Keating who thought little of his supporters. It is enlightening that we know so much of the conversation between Lord Nelson and that couple. But because of our ability to now make such connections and bring them into the public domain, politicians need to be .. diplomatic. It was despicable that a congress person politicised a personal call from President Trump. I'm sure Trump takes no pleasure from the sacrifice, and I'm also sure the President was Presidential, and humble.