Great article, Mr Barns! You can be proud of dutifully doing your part in thwarting the Tasmanian Greens on behalf of your, and it would appear by your increasingly affectionate descriptions in the build up to the election, good friend and idol, Paul Lennon, at every opportunity along with all the “countless” other “ordinary, concerned citizens” of Tasmania who so heroically banded together to fight the good fight against the scourge of the Greens. I for one will be missing your “analysis” of Tasmanian affairs on Mondays when you take up your well-earned position as one of the many morally principled spin-doctors the Tasmanian Labor Party needs to employ. My advice though would be to continue your current informal arrangement as “commentator” with your pro Lennon friends at The Mercury, carrying out the odd attack on one of the more hapless of Lennon ministers from time to time in order to maintain your cover, and concealing your rightful ambition to be an actual political player by randomly sidling up to the various opposing political factions that exist in Australia.
On a personal note, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed the sheer brilliance in which you display your vastly superior intellect for all to admire and your astounding ability to uncover the true machinations of Tasmanian politics through your vast network of trusting, non-fictitious ”friends” that you can truthfully quote from. You are an inspiration and the people Tasmania adore, respect and cherish your selfless, politically consistent “analysis”. Bravo!