Clive presents as a Pragmatist, a Troubadour and a Joker.

As a pragmatist he offers policy that many believe are populist “sore points” with the electorates. He focuses on the issues that many feel are wrong with our political system. His business expertise is accepted though many (especially the media) lack the smarts to understand the consequences of some of his policies.

Clive the Troubadour or “court jester” is manifest in his ability to present truth/news in a jocular way, telling the truth whilst couching the message in comic form. For over a thousand years Jesters have been granted license to say what they think without being beheaded.

Clive the comedian, has unceremoniously and relentlessly taken the Pi$$ out of the media, yet they can’t see it! Siding with the “good” side of the media, paying them compliments and, in particular sucking up to the ABC, from whom he has relentlessly extracted the urine. He loves the ABC and Fairfax? He hates News LTD?

They keep inviting him back without realizing that he is a conservative, but as a vocal and high profile politician from opposing ranks, they embrace him as a weapon of the left. The left perceives that he has greater value to the ABC/Fairfax than their ideology understands.

I admire Clive(not policies), because he seems to be the only conservative, big business, mining magnate, industrialist, rich bugger and capitalist, that has ever convinced the Left of Politics to embrace him. Now that is as stunning as it is magnificent.

I have not reached any conclusions as to whether Clive is just brilliant or the left is so freaking weak and dumb however, it is not beyond the bounds of belief that the left leaning media is being relentlessly sucked into Clive’s web of “Smarter than the Average Bear” politics because they lack the intellect to realize that they a being “had”.

Clive has clearly established his “under the radar” politics. So far he has the left in awe, the conservatives curious and the Greens taking one for the team.

‘Onya Clive.

In my view, Clive Palmer is the perfect ambassador for modern Australia.

Self-centred. Jingoistic. Litigious. And profoundly shallow.

Which fits him perfectly for our parliament, too.

The public persona of Palmer and his private side makes Rudd look like a choir boy.An ex-employee is about to spill the beans on Palmer, the real Clive Palmer.

Paul1405,

ex-employee? I think he was a bodyguard or something like that, ex mercenary with an axe to grind.
I am sure Clive will either laugh him off or sue him into the ground either way whatever he gets for telling his story won't be enough to provide safe haven from the wrath of Clive.

Wait for the next chapter in

"CLIVE GOES TO CANBERRA"

>>Clive presents as a Pragmatist, a Troubadour and a Joker.<<

He presents as a jocular fat fellow in an ill-fitting suit.

By my reckoning that qualifies him as a Troubadour or a Joker: a Clown.

But not a white-faced clown: they're the serious clowns. When he dons the white make-up, the ruffle and the pointed hat then we might begin to take him seriously.

Cheers,

Tony

Just about as mad as any past politician ever was the man is a pain.
Not just to the party he was once a life member of, [money can buy somethings.]
But with a green like focus on promising the undeliverable he muddys the waters when this country never needed men of substance in the house more.
Labor of course understands we need [and in our case have] women of substance.

Pericles says Clive would make the prefect representative for Australia. Maybe, but I reckon he wouldn't be anywhere near as good a fit as Pericles would as a representative of the whinging poms.But if Pericles does decide to return to mother England to take up a position, can we get our 10 pounds refunded?

Dammit, I must have missed out, KarlX.

>>But if Pericles does decide to return to mother England to take up a position, can we get our 10 pounds refunded?<<

So you actually paid them ten ponds a head to come here?

Now you tell me.

Gee, the lefties are getting dirty & all worked up. Better take a cold shower. Clive Palmer has more competence in his little toe than the whole of the ALP combined. It'll be a long time yet before they can breed the insane jealousy out of themselves.

Yes Clive’s and interesting fellow.

But hold on - his policies seem to be beside the point in this discussion. Surely they need to be the most important thing.

They don’t look particularly inspiring to me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_United_Party#Policies

Don't sweat it, Pericles...

"Now you tell me."

'Cause it's not true. Commonwealth citizen immigrants under the scheme were, in fact, charged 10 pounds for their fare.

Not all migrants were so fortunate and I have met many who found themselves in a more uncomfortable position having had to work their passage over.

That's not necessarily the worst way, WmTrevor.

>>Not all migrants were so fortunate and I have met many who found themselves in a more uncomfortable position having had to work their passage over.<<

I flew Garuda to get here.

No matter what you say about Clive, he has a good speech writer who used to work for John F. Kennedy.

The Coalition has 33 senators in the incoming Senate.
39 votes are needed to pass legislation. This means it will
need six additional votes whenever Labor and the Greens
oppose lelgislation in the Upper House.

I'd say Clive Palmer is in an excellent bargaining
position. In any case, love him
or loathe him, Palmer is a character who looks like he's
going to liven up politics, partly because of his
unpredictability (and lack of policies). It will be
interesting to see what he does next. Either way it won't
be dull.

Pericles taking a weak shot at your birth place is as much as Karl x can manage.
It rather proves why he likes Palmer, same limited IQ.
Make up not needed to show us Palmer is a clown, at best.

Behind the jocular facade the real Clive Palmer lurks, the arrogant bully, too used to getting his own way. Palmer is a person who thinks money can buy him everything, his millions may have bought him a seat in parliament.Once Palmer is exposed for exactly what he is, an overbearing buffoon, the votes will tire of him or he'll tire of the voters, whatever way, it can't come quicker 'nough.

Well said again Paul!
I would have thought some one from Menzies house would see through the silly old fella.
Quite mad is actually praising the bloke.
And while his vote will not bring the house down, he is going to be a pain for Liberals more than my mob.

Clive Palmer must be a good bloke since Pericles and our MSM presstitutes hate him. I'm going to dig deeper into the Palmer mystique.

Arjay, "I'm going to dig deeper into the Palmer mystique." Be warned there is a lot of lard to get through first.

Arjay,
if the lefties hate Palmer then he must be ok. In fact whenever the lefties condemn something or someone it's a sure sign that it's ok. After all, they're against logic, common sense & integrity.

Dear Individual,

The first point to remember in how to win an
argument is to always argue in a logical
manner. Sound reasoning will conquer
unreasonable generalisations everytime.

Try again.

Individual, I know a Clive Plamer Candidate and she has a high opinion of him. Importantly Clive knows about the bankers Cyprus Style "bail in " scam theft of bank deposits. http://www.cecaust.com.au/ but I don't know whose side he is on.

If the Corporate media pressitutes are demonising him like Pauline Hanson, then this is reason for optimism.

Now "bail in" was approved by Wayne Swan at the last G 20 meeting and will be sealed by this G20 meeting in Brisbane soon.

Not just to the party he was once a life member of, [money can buy somethings.]
Belly,
You couldn't try & be just a tad more hypocritical,could you ? How do you think the membership of the ALP is made up then ? Overpaid public servants who produce sfa are the backbone of your useless party which has sent us to wall because they threw all the money in the coffers at the public servants in wheelbarrow loads. Are you just jealous of Clive because your union muggers couldn't drag him down ? Do yourself a favour get a couple of dollars worth of integrity if you ever happen to realise what that is.
ps. what's this nonsense of women of substance in Labor ? Don't you know what substance means ?
By all means if Clive & the new crowd stuff up then condemn them, I'll even give you hand doing that but at this stage mate, leave it alone because at this stage they're still in the process of unwinding the ALP stuff-ups.

Indie, could the sycophantic admiration of Palmer have anything to do with some illusionary hope that possibly one day, in the distant future, a few crumbs, or even a morsel or two, may fall from the fat mans table and land in your lap. That is figuratively speaking as the fat man has no intention of sharing his humungous pie, with anyone. including you. You never know Clive may one day embrace your 'boot camp' (my words) idea as "policy" he's silly enough to.
Or is it a bad case of my enemy's, enemy is my friend, with you.

Paul1405,
I have a totally different mentality to yours so you'll never understand me & I will never let myself fall to the level of yours.
You really need to look up the word integrity & it's definition. You might just get an inkling what it means & why a coalition/conservative supporter is far ahead of you.
Idealsim doesn't translate into pragmatism but it can work the other way round. I have done several little experiments over the years & it was always the ALP supporters who ruined it for all. They are the ones who grab every bit they can extract through the tiniest loop hole whilst preaching the word integrity which they actually don't understand.

Dear Individual,

Could you give us some specific examples instead
of sweeping statements?

Foxy,
nothing sweeping about my last posts. keep trying to understand though, don't give up.

Dear Individual,

What am I supposed to understand when you don't really
say an awful lot. You haven't given specific
examples or provided any concrete evidence.

*Individual you fill me with admiration for you*
To be brave enough to insult some ones intellect, with a track record of mumbled insults like yours is brave.
Or silly!
Not very often you introduce worth while comment to a thread.

Belly & Foxy,
I'm afraid I can't keep wasting good OLO time trying to explain the obvious all the time. Do some thinking & it'll eventually/hopefully come clear one day. There are so many posters here trying to offer sense & solution yet the likes of you keep picking on petty issues. We need solutions not condemning of solutions offered. By all means if a solution doesn't quite cut it with your thinking then offer a better one but don't just flog dead horses for the sake of flogging dead horses. Our society is in peril, we need new ideas not perpetual defending of failed policies.

"Paul1405, I have a totally different mentality to yours." Indi, I suppose I should be grateful for that small mercy.
"I (Indi) have done several little experiments over the years & it was always the ALP supporters who ruined it for all." What kind of experiments did you conduct to come to that outlandish conclusion? Are you not the bloke who at times claims from your "surveys" 85%, or some such figure, of people agree with you on a range of issues. I may be wrong, but I get the impression you live in some rather detached rural community in the back blocks of the Deep Deep North and through your insular life fail to grasp the reality of the 21st century Australian, little own the rest of the world.
Without you on the forum things would be a good bit duller, you make it interesting.

Paul1405,
You'll never understand, it's a logic thing.

Indy based on nothing but your rants over many years, replace rant with posts if you insist.
Your ability to think and/or explain your self has yet to be seen.
I with hold my true views but should not give you the respect.
See in part my view is that your only intention is to insult.
Mate give it up!
You enter the verbal tennis court bottom out of your shorts and carrying a racket that has no strings.

Belly,
You have demonstrated since day 1 that anything or anyone who doesn't blindly praise your utterly useless & incompetent Labor Party is ranting. That tells me everything I need to know about you. You should be the one giving up. You're the one who's lost the plot.
I am interested in helping to overcome the damage done by your useless Labor Party.

Dear Individual,

You seem incapable of engaging in a mature discussion
on this forum and remain wedded to simplistic rhetoric
which you repeat ad infinitum. When asked for evidence of
your claims you merely continue to rant.

You blame Labor for all sorts of things yet refuse to
acknowledge their legislative achievements.
Things like the enactment of disability insurance, setting
in train a Royal Commissions on Institutional Child Sex
Abuse, to name just two.

What the new government has to offer in the way of a positive
legilsative agenda we have yet to see. So, don't be so quick to
judge other political parties. See how yours
performs when in government.

Foxy,
If the Coalition stuffs up then you can count on me expressing myself no different to when the ALP did.
As for mature discussion & lack of evidence may I draw your attention to my many posts actually drawing attention to the evidence. You simply choose to ignore the reality of it & instead put on your rose-coloured glasses. The legislations Labor introduced weren't ALP policies as such they were merely legislations which evolved left right & centre all over the place. No unique ALP think tank stuff whatsoever.
Disability & child sex abuse happened whilst Labor was in power & look how long it took them to think of it. I have actually though of it 50 years ago, so nothing new there either.
Come to think of it I noticed over time that many of my posts where I presented evidence receive no replies. Are they too difficult & true for people like you to acknowledge ? I know it's hard to tackle with the truth when it is inconvenient. Some of that truth actually made many ALP supporters to vote differently in the last federal election.
So, having "ranted" all this what do you think Clive Palmer should be focussing on first. Will you give him the benefit of doubt for time being ? I mean you've afforded the ALP the benefit of doubt for the past six years of just about running Australia into the ground.

Dear Individual,

You have never acknowledged any of the extra-ordinary
achievements of Kevin Rudd not least Labor's response
to the Global Financial Crisis and the apology to the
Stolen Generations. You have never acknowledged Julia
Gillard's led reforms which will stand the test of time
including disability insurance, school reforms, carbon
pricing, the Royal Commission in to Institutional Child
Sex Abuse and so on. So your protestations don't wash.

I won't go into the handling of problems by the current government.
It's still early days. Besides,
journalists are doing a pretty good job of that.

All political parties make mistakes and there is no doubt
that Labor has made mistakes. The way leadership change
has been dealt with would be at the top of the list.

What would be refreshing from you however is a bit more
substance in your posts and not just the same old rhetoric
that we've seen in the past. I guess we should be grateful
that you've dropped the "moron" and "idiot" labels.

As for Clive Palmer? I've already made my comment about the
man earlier in this thread. Love him or loathe him - he will
liven up politics and it certainly won't be dull in Canberra.

extra-ordinary
achievements of Kevin Rudd not least Labor's response
to the Global Financial Crisis and the apology to the
Stolen Generations
Foxy,
These are not achievements by that useless egoist, it was Costello's future fund that got us over the line & the apology was nothing more than appeasing those whose main ambition is to get as much as possible for as little effort as possible i.e. Labor voters yet even they deserted the useless mutt when he failed to keep on giving. Even people from the so-called stolen generation deserted him & his abysmally incompetent outfit. So, the apology meant not that much after all.

Individual,
My dear long suffering poster. Your summary of the "Belly" syndrome is adequate and complete.

Only a composite dunderhead could actually believe that the Labor "achievements" over the years back to Gough Whitlem have actually done anything for Australia or the average "true" Australian.

Immigration and refugee policy under Whitlem and his cronies, and in conjunction with UN conventionalism, destroyed the fabric and essence of the true iconic Australian and set about to create a hybrid socially engineered model in its place.

The result of this "experiment" is all the trouble and violence in out communities today is a direct reflection of the ethnic violence being suffered in most western and European cultures that fell foul of the UN generated multiculturalism model.

Individual [cont.]

Whatever Rudd achieved amidst the "Global Financial Crisis" was completely due to the fiscal policies of the Conservative government that preceded him and left him the wealth of unfettered funds which he was able to use to sooth the pain.

I shudder to think what position we would be in if that money had not been available and his only resource would have been the "Credit Card"
Funny how, now, they reject the government credit card as a backup.

The apology to the Stolen Generations did nothing other than to give leverage to the indigenous warlords to increase the pressure on "White" society to give them more and more of what they have never raised a finger to earn.

Disability insurance is a policy underwritten by a society that is hard pressed to meet its own personal living costs let alone pay for others being deliberately added to the bill because of UN conventions.

Not one person in receipt of disability insurance will have contributed to the policy in the first place.

The Royal Commission in to Institutional Child Sex Abuse is, and always was, a farce generated by Gillard as a public relations exercise for her own warped sense of importance.

The terms of reference were so carefully crafted to ensure that not one single individual identified by surviving victims will suffer one day in prison or be required to pay one cent in compensation.

Thank you Miss Gillard and it didn't even help to keep you in power.

Mr.Individual Belly should grovel in his own mire because he, and his like-minded created it.

At least when I shot somebody it wasn't in the back.

Dear Individual,

There you go.

You've got a kindred spirit who has the wisdom to see
things your way.

I shall leave you two to it.

I shall leave you two to it.
Foxy,
I suppose the above is easier to say than I can't argue with facts.

Dear Individual,

Argue with facts?
No, I don't argue with facts.
But what you're presenting is opinions not facts.
And it's your choice to remain ignorant.
When you broaden your views let me know and I shall
be happy to continue a discussion. In the meantime
you've now got a kindred spirit to share your opinions
with.

Enjoy.

"At least when I shot somebody it wasn't in the back." come off it Constable Clod, the only one you every shot was yourself in the foot. and you are still doing it. Were you a member of the Keystone Kops? Still throwing gays into the Parramatta River?

Foxy,
Well, I suppose your library is a much broader horizon of experiences than my travelling the northern communities & watching the ALP cronies ruin the indigenous communities.
You know the bureaucrats who cost us so much for nothing in return. I realise that's nowhere near enough insight as you can get in a library after all there's so much more to read, mostly written by academic experts.

Dear Individual,

You have no idea of where I have travelled, lived,
and worked, and my range of experiences over my
life and what I have seen first hand and what I have
encountered on my journey through life. So kindly
don't make assumptions about me. I shall try to
return the favor.

See you on another thread.

So kindly
don't make assumptions about me
Foxy,
They're not assumptions, they're what you expose about yourself. btw, the only remarkable thing about that useless egoist Rudd was that people (for want of a better word) voted for him.

Chris Gaff and individual, you seem to share an IQ well below that you credit your selves with.
No poster here has ever posted more intensive charges and exposures about his own party than me.
Gentlemen if it walks like a Duck and sounds like a Duck, most probably it is a Duck.
Indy displays no ability to debate, NOTICE after I remind him of this his posts change.
From a two line insult to a two paragraph one.
CG a poster who posted a thread demanding we dump another, claims to be an ex Cop, if true he gives evidence of the sad state of the station he claims to have worked in, using racism freely in every debate.
So gents tell me, please do, knowing I have started tens of threads critical of Labor.
Address by giving your opinions these sad coalition problems.
Travel rort,s, Abbott not addressing human rights at his present meeting, dropping anti carbon action to one that can not work, why only one woman in his cabinet.
as no one EVER answers my challenge I leave a very long list unsaid.
But gents if you want tear me to pieces verbally, only my respect for the forum and good manners stop a far harsher review of indys failure to think, and CG nastiness seen in those who impose on a civil society usually only a handful of police as much despised by their work mates as the public.
CG a good Cop is worth far more than we can ever pay them, if you are an ex cop it is ones like you that make it so hard for the good ones.

Belly,
There is nothing wrong with racism except that here in Australia it seems to be offensive. I can't see why when every other race on earth is allowed to proclaim their birthright except Australians.
As far as police are concerned "good cops" do not solve crime. "Bad cops" do because they cross the line that protects the 'crim' from coercive investigation.
God man, look at Dr. Patel. Nobody is more guilty than him yet "Good" cops can't convict him.
Even your exalted Chief Justice" Lionel Murphy was a criminal who managed to escape justice by 'dying' just before he was arrested.
Mate you can spruk Labor till the cows comes home but you won't see them back in government ever again.
Yes I tried to get rid on one who cluttered up the pages with religious claptrap to the point of total domination.

Remember the title of a past thread.
Some thing along the lines out of his own mouth.
Your racist rant appeared there.
And as I said then you convicted your self, you do that again here
Thanks for confirming my words and opinion of you.

Belly,
If having a deep conviction about my national identity and vocally contrasting it against some of the scum we have imported is viewed as racist then I am a true blue racist and proud of it.
When the gauntlet is thrown down and WE HAVE TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY AGAINST THE INVADING RELIGIOUS zealots from the north I hope I see your lot in the front line beside mine though I doubt it.

CG I was about to write the words as you will know.
But very clearly you would not.
I have branded myself here in these pages as Racist.
Because with out fear or favor I think further Muslim Migration should end, forever.
You slander and untrue slash at my mob, ignores or is it a quote from your deep lack of knowledge?
See your mob bought us to todays unhappy place Frazer Big Mal, dropped every check and let the criminals in during the Lebanese civil war.
We pay for that still and constantly.
Some place in between your blind all encompassing racism, and the see no evil here, no truths, of the very wrong bend to them.
I sit, knowing some are no threat some are great migrants but too refusing to not see the dress aimed at separatism, the constant requests that we change, I despise the part of that group who rioted in Sydney.
The idiots world wide best reprsented by that silly old half wit flogging a burning car.
CG know folk like you, bitter and unable to calmly tell why they hold such views, who need to blame only some mystic non-existent *your mob*
Destroy your own case.
Muslims, not all but far too many, act and dress to insult and offend the religion they follow in some hands is a war mongering hate generateing mess.
From my working class Australia always got its troops in the biggest numbers should it need it I will till death, fight any enemy.
CG I still deeply regret you got away with that racist term for our first nations women, and note it is imposible to post a male name by the racist term.

Chris, you appear to be locked in some 1960's time warp when it comes to you fixation with "the invading hordes from the north". and your "Fortress Australia" notion of, "WE HAVE TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY AGAINST THE INVADING RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS". As for your views on justice they come from the dark ages, not only do you seem to believe that the police should be the law enforcers, but also the law makers, the arbitrators of social justice, along with being judge and jury as well. I think its called, a POLICE STATE is what you advocate!

Paul1405,
No I do not advocate a police state.

I do advocate a controlled state.

A state where the full force of the law comes down hard on lawbreakers.

Where all laws are enforced and penalties are harsh enough to deter.

Where judges and magistrate can be sacked and penalized when they do not do the will of the people.

Where there is no such a thing as "School's" and "Pupil free days" and where teachers who cannot or will not teach are sacked.

Where pedophiles and serial rapists are executed and vandals (graffitists) are publicly flogged and where parents are billed for their kids damages and they are then allowed to belt the living daylights out of the kid as a punishment and a warning against the future.

Where there is a return to National Service and it does not discriminate because of sex, race or creed.

I do advocate the police enforce these laws IF THE PEOPLE WANT THEM.

Paul too think as you do about Chris.
In part a culture arises for Cops all over the world.
A Senior Police Inspector once told me it is not a nice one.
But that the young Cop wants better, years of watching lawgivers hand down bonds to low life people, they exist, is playing a role.
See every time in ANY WESTERN COUNTRY a full on no breaks attempt to clean up the streets takes place.
People clearly in the wrong jobs law giving folk, stall it.
I have always suspected the costs of imprisonment play too big a role in early release and small sentences.
Now Paul do not launch in tome for being tough on criminals.
Remember some target folk our age, all should get an honest job.

Interesting scenario, chrisgaff1000

>>A state where the full force of the law comes down hard on lawbreakers. Where all laws are enforced and penalties are harsh enough to deter. Where judges and magistrate can be sacked and penalized when they do not do the will of the people. Where there is no such a thing as "School's" and "Pupil free days" and where teachers who cannot or will not teach are sacked.Where pedophiles and serial rapists are executed and vandals (graffitists) are publicly flogged and where parents are billed for their kids damages and they are then allowed to belt the living daylights out of the kid as a punishment and a warning against the future.<<

Have you considered moving to Saudi Arabia?

From the evidence here, it certainly appears that you would find their society far more congenial.

Chris you left out one little bit from your perfect society I remember you posting this "throw gays into the Parramatta River."
"Where judges and magistrate can be sacked and penalized when they do not do the will of the people." What will the penalty for errant judges be, the firing squad, and who determines the "will of the people." You?
Pericles I think Chris would find Saudi society too liberal, I'm sure he would much prefer North Korea.
Chris, I know you claim to be an ex-copper, in the uniform so to speak. But just because you once had a job following the elephants around at the circus with a shovel, and even though they gave you a uniform in that job. And then there was your job down at the cities Sanitation Department, another uniform, that don't make you a copper in a uniform. It just makes you a nutter in a uniform, there is a difference.

I kind of like the idea of having a PUP running about the place, and the best of Clive et al in the mix could be good.

And of course, to quote the *Psi Cop Bester* from *Bab5* who in turn may have been quoting the original:

" ... The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend ... "

..

Now, about this largely unfettered power of censorship the guvment has .. Tsk Tsk .. talk about the need to cut the power and roll out slowly with those ailerons .. dear me.

But we note that like the Standing Orders, the mainstream of politics has had plenty of time to make corrections if that is what they wished but obviously not so do please spare us all these CRAP points of order about not answering the question.

Anyway, so there we had big Dave .. and *Snowden* in the Public Domain backed up by *BigRed* and then a way bigger than any mere micro expression ... but, snip goes the shears ey?!

What happened to the good old days of tv ABC when anything too long just got a ruff chop at the back end? These days, right down there frame per frame ..

And after all, *Snowden* is but one person added to the whole, but then, whose to say that he isn't full of some of the best of some of the top minds in the Western Alliance along with detailed knowledge of their activities and evidence to boot including that of the West violating the Sovereignty of anyone they can bully without getting hit back with flagrant disregard.

And based on the expression on his dial indeed *Big Dave* seems to have a pretty good idea about what *Snowden* got out with. ;-)

..

Even so, like *BaPak Indonesia* & *TH of the Feds* they all appear to have the sort of face that prefers a more gentle expression and a united and harmonious, win win solution as opposed to having to come down hard.

Is Palmer a fraud? According to the 7.30 Report Palmer is a 'mining magnate' who does no mining a 'billionaire' with no billions and behind the cheery exterior is, to put it mildly, a grub. As for investing your hard earned in a Palmer enterprise, be careful, just ask the investors in his Coolum resort.

"Just as he revels in becoming a Federal MP, investors at Clive Palmer’s Coolum resort accuse him of being a dictator who has locked more than 300 families out of their holiday villas and left them unable to sell."

"But a closer look at Clive Palmer shows a businessman with a number of projects struggling to deliver and, at times, bitter fallings out with partners and employees. Legal threats have prevented some people from talking about their experiences but tonight two investors speak to 7.30, concerned that Clive Palmer's public image is at odds with what they've experienced first-hand."

Last night’s Four Corners was all about Big Clive: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/11/25/3896229.htm

The point was made that he is part of a growing worldwide trend for those with big money to buy their way into politics.

Now, if the likes of Bill Gates or Dick Smith bought their way into governance, this might be a good thing. But Palmer? No, I can’t see it being a positive development.

However, having said that, we’d be hard-pressed to have a worse performance than that of the old dinosaurs: Labor or the Coalition.