Barnaby Joyce might look like an idiot, and famously he often plays one on television, but he’s not the fool he would have you think. Joyce is Falstaff by pretence but Iago all the way down – a conniving and dangerous second lieutenant disguised as a beet-faced drunkard with a plentiful lack of wit. His performance this week in the Methane Wars, cosplaying a flyblown kiloderp of man-shaped cow pats raised to the threshold of elementary sentience…
Do any farming communities still think the nationals led by Barnaby Joyce represent them. Surely most vote for them because they are not that city socialist leftist. It's probably why genuine independents, some very extreme fringe have a good chance to take seats of them.
Saving cow farts is the perfect smokescreen for saving coal. I know Australia (in general) has an ever increasing dumbed down audience courtesy of dear Rupert and his minions. Are we (in general), really that dumb not to see that the Nats are just as untrustworthy as Clumsy Morrison?
Bugger me, I always assumed he was just an idiot with certain animal cunning, but your piece has managed to make me think otherwise. I would be happier if you were wrong ( ignorance is bliss)
In 2007 I was a foolish and idealistic lad who decided to return to university for a Masters in Sustainability. I also started to attend public events. Cue Barnaby at the Shine Dome talking for an hour about democracy and the role of the Senate, shortly before he became leader of the Nats for the first time. At that point he was relatively new to Parliament, looked fit and well, spoke intelligently. He talked about transparency in public affairs and the importance of the Senate as House of Review, seemed to support the science behind climate change and the need to do something about it. I'm now embarrassed to say I was impressed. But the Barnaby I saw and even spoke with for a few minutes that night bears no resemblance to what we see now - a bloated, corpulent and corrupted shade of a man, the spectral claws of mining lobbyists manipulating his marionet strings. Some might call it the Canberra Transformation - I just label it disgusting human weakness from a man who knows better.
Though I am reminded of a quote by Groucho Marx “He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.”
That's a corker of an opener.
Cheers guv. Two hours for that first par.
Worth every second.
Do any farming communities still think the nationals led by Barnaby Joyce represent them. Surely most vote for them because they are not that city socialist leftist. It's probably why genuine independents, some very extreme fringe have a good chance to take seats of them.
That's why the Gnats are fighting a rearguard action against One Notion and the Shootin', Fishin' and Huntin' Party.
Saving cow farts is the perfect smokescreen for saving coal. I know Australia (in general) has an ever increasing dumbed down audience courtesy of dear Rupert and his minions. Are we (in general), really that dumb not to see that the Nats are just as untrustworthy as Clumsy Morrison?
He has replaced the photo of his ex-wife in his wallet with that of Gina Ironheart.
I think it was always there.
Bugger me, I always assumed he was just an idiot with certain animal cunning, but your piece has managed to make me think otherwise. I would be happier if you were wrong ( ignorance is bliss)
The most effective methane mitigation is the LNP turning the shotgun on themselves.
Would be, David. Unfortunately they'll never do that to themselves.
True. Entertaining the possibility they'll eat each other in an apocalypse cabinet lock down keeps me going.
Pessimistic realistjust now
In 2007 I was a foolish and idealistic lad who decided to return to university for a Masters in Sustainability. I also started to attend public events. Cue Barnaby at the Shine Dome talking for an hour about democracy and the role of the Senate, shortly before he became leader of the Nats for the first time. At that point he was relatively new to Parliament, looked fit and well, spoke intelligently. He talked about transparency in public affairs and the importance of the Senate as House of Review, seemed to support the science behind climate change and the need to do something about it. I'm now embarrassed to say I was impressed. But the Barnaby I saw and even spoke with for a few minutes that night bears no resemblance to what we see now - a bloated, corpulent and corrupted shade of a man, the spectral claws of mining lobbyists manipulating his marionet strings. Some might call it the Canberra Transformation - I just label it disgusting human weakness from a man who knows better.