Trapped by Hubris
Celebrity enthusiasts for the ALP are out in force. Cate Blanchett has been delusional in her support for Whitlam. There is one thing Whitlam did which has lasted. He made Advance Australia Fair take the place of God Save the Queen as the national anthem. Lasting change which hasn't caused crippling debt but which was typically divisive and as subtle and devoid of intent as a spit in the eye. Noel Pearson also went to his happy place when speaking about Whitlam. The Whitlam Pearson spoke of would not be recognisable to his policy victims, were they to be able to have heard the speech. Whitlam's powerful influence in world politics resulted in the deaths of many Vietnamese, Cambodians, Timorise and Chinese. Whitlam's callous disregard of individuals in Australia is measured by the debt he saddled the nation in, optimistically viewing the children as a source of national income.

Obama is helping the dismantling of the US Democrat party as a political force. Still, he can salvage a future if he changes his ways, and stops trying to divide America and destroy her institutions. He needs to let go of his vision .. it is what is weighing him down.

Greens have a new policy in Australia that should save the world. Pee in the shower. Reminder, Milne did say the alternatives were mining coal or choosing death. Most sensible people choose to allow industry to mine coal.

ABC seems disinterested in news of arrests on charges of an assassination attempt on the Queen. It took them time to report it and they played down the role of Islamo Fascists. David Marr on Insiders seemed vey keen to call it something else. Maybe he felt it was going to be another workplace accident, like that executed by US army psychologist Nidal Hassan.
MH17 Shirtfronting
Journalists joke about Abbott facing Putin over MH17. But it is a terribly sad joke. I like and admire Mr Abbott and appreciate what he is doing to achieve any solace for relatives and loved ones of those killed through an act of terror. I feel that Russia is culpable, but not solely, and it concerns me that questions are not being asked of another culpable party, the Ukraine, because of political allegiance.

The hard questions Ukraine have not yet answered, and have not really been asked, is what role they played in having MH17 targeted? Why did they not warn Malaysia that there was a war zone? Were they playing a game with the Russian separatists which escalated? Why have they kept fighting and prevented investigation of the area?

Ukraine leadership has partly resigned following, obscuring their activity. But those questions need to be asked and publicly addressed for public confidence to be restored.