Clive Palmer’s contribution to Monday’s Q&A has sent the politariat into a spin. A conga-line of pollies took to the air to voice their disapproval. “Hugely damaging”, said Joe Hockey, in an irony-laden observation on the impact of careless talk to the media. “Inappropriate”, says Barnaby Joyce, adding “you can’t just drop your bundle on national television”.

Support came from the Senator for Spunky Blokes, Jacqui Lambie, who invoked the ghost of biographer Thomas Charlton with a sterling rendering of “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance”. To make sure we are under no illusions as to the vigilance required, she went on to say "If anybody thinks that we should have a national security and defence policy, which ignores the threat of a Chinese Communist invasion – you’re delusional and got rocks in your head"

So which is it? Does Clive Palmer represent mainstream thinking on the existential threat posed by our largest trading partner? Or are his outbursts simply the defence mechanism of a businessman who has overstepped the mark with an international joint venture?

Either way, can Australia afford maintaining him in a position of power?

Pericles>> Or are his outbursts simply the defence mechanism of a businessman who has overstepped the mark with an international joint venture?<<

P, there is perhaps more “vested interest” in every syllable that Palmer utters than the rest of the parliament put together. He is truly the buffoon’s buffoon....rich or not....he would roll around in mud if the electorate took it up as a pastime. He has been belly aching for a month now over his Chinese partners and now denounces the investment he himself sold them.....Double Dissolution and start again would be best for our nation.

Pericles this bloke is a laughing stock and an embarrassment to Australian politics.
His comrade Jackie Lambie is even more of a problem, what with her Reds Under The Beds comment, and her public announcement of a preference for rich, well-hung men!

The other members of the Q&A panel were either laughing, or staring incredulously at this larger than life politician who seems to be mostly concerned with his own business interests and his over-inflated opinion of himself.
A dangerous man...

I can't understand how it can take so long for people to see through some of these politicians.

It was obvious right from the start, why Palmer was in politics, & what his motive & objectives were to me, & many others. It most certainly was never to do anything for the people.

Why has it taken so long for others to see through him. Could it be a bit of useful idiot, & enemy of my enemy involved here. It definitely looks like it, & some are still doing it.

He may have blown it now. If as the Chinese are claiming, he misused money in a company account for a particular project, to fund his party's election campaign, he might end up in prison, & out of our hair.

At least now very few should take him seriously.

Pericles,

You ask:

"So which is it? Does Clive Palmer represent mainstream thinking on the existential threat posed by our largest trading partner? Or are his outbursts simply the defence mechanism of a businessman who has overstepped the mark with an international joint venture?"

Here's what he posted on twitter shortly after the rant.

"My #qanda comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to Chinese company which is taking Australian resources & not paying #auspol"

I'd go for the latter.....

No matter how outrageous Palmer becomes, he would be hard-pressed to be more outrageous than our current stock of pollies, when you look at them in a holistic manner.

I mean, our politicians are in bed with big business. Big bizz is driven by the profit motive. They give big donations. Pollies love big donations. Pollies give big favours for big donations. Our whole political system gets strongly geared towards the desires of the big and powerful business fraternity. We get super-high immigration and the worship of continuous never-ending growth and its utterly crazy primary indicator; GDP.

We get the most enormous mining boom, and after a couple of decades of it, when you would think the government coffers would be full and we’d have a huge surplus, we instead have critical budgetary problems.

Our politicians, of either persuasion (actually, there is only one persuasion: the bootlicking-the-big-bizz-boys persuasion) just continue to take our whole nation and economy forward in a manner that is TOTALLY at odds with a sustainable and healthy future.

And some people think that Big Clive is a little whacky!

Palmer is a lying bully. He tries to scare everyone around him into submission and those who stand up to him, he either insults, threatens or sues. His sole purpose is to promote himself. Every night we see his TV adverts that finish in 'Vote Clive Palmer for Prime Minister' which suggests he doesn't even know how the election process works.

After his idiotic rant on Q & A he tries to soften it by saying "My comments not intended to refer to Chinese people but to a Chinese company..." So is he saying this Chinese company shoots its own people and has no Justice system? That makes no sense at all.

Let's not forget the Chinese company has accused him of using their funds inappropriately to fund his campaign, which he probably did. The Chinese company is not at fault, its bully Clive blaming everyone but himself. Apparently he thinks we can't see through his lies. I believe he has no respect for the general populace whatsoever.

I'm very surprised to see he suckered Poirot into accepting his explanation.

"... are his outbursts simply the defence mechanism of a businessman who has overstepped the mark with an international joint venture?"

I think it is the reaction of an ego which didn't get its own way on an issue attached to a Senator who too often acts so dense it is a surprise he doesn't have his own event horizon.

"...can Australia afford maintaining him in a position of power?"

Yes, we have to accept the good with the bad as long as people in this country apply our constitutional rule of law.

With Clive Palmer the choice is to have him inside the tent, outside the tent... or wearing it.

ConsevativeHippie,

"I'm very surprised to see he suckered Poirot into accepting his explanation.

Who said I accepted his explanation?

I posted his tweet in reply to Pericles' question and to demonstrate Palmer just ran off at the mouth at the Chinese in general because he's dirty on some business deal.

He appears to have been labouring under the misapprehension that the rhetoric that served him in business is going to serve him equally well in politics.

Big mistake.....

Poirot, I stand corrected after re-reading your post.

Was Clive right when he said that the Chinese shoot their own people?

Remember the incident in the famous Square?

If China wanted to invade Australia then she has enough people to do it and we couldn't manufacture ammunition fast enough to stop them.

Is Mise,

Lol!..."If China wanted to invade Australia then she has enough people to do it and we couldn't manufacture ammunition fast enough to stop them."

And do yer reckon the US would stand idly by under such circs?

Notwithstanding that the US has its own challenges...the idea of China "at this particular juncture in history" pulling a stunt like that...is kinda out of the question.

They're quite happily toodling along beating the West at its own game of "captalism"...buying up reserves of land in Africa and elsewhere to grow food, etc....they don't need to start an international conflict to further their development.

Methinks.

(ConservativeHippie - thanks for that:)

Dear Pericles,

Malcolm Turnbull stated:

"If you love your country, have an interest in
politics or policy and care deeply about our nation's
future, there is nothing more certain to arouse
your fury and invite your contempt than listening
to an entire House of Reps Question Time."

It reads, spin, exaggeration and mis-statements.

Politicians need to re-capture voters trust.
Unfortunately for Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey, the
public has grown tired of the kind of theatre
exemplified by - Commissions of Audit, horror budgets,
and so on. Sadly with nothing much better on offer,
its no wonder some are switching to the vaudeville of
people like Clive Palmer.

Certainly, Is Mise.

>>Was Clive right when he said that the Chinese shoot their own people? Remember the incident in the famous Square?<<

But surely, this week of all weeks, you are not suggesting that they are unique in this? Does the town of Ferguson ring any bells? Kent State University?

But as we now know, Clive was referring to a company that apparently shoots its own people, not the nation.

Pericles,

Of course they are not unique, but are you suggesting that in the incidents that you mention the US Government sent tanks against their own people?

Think Tibet.

"And do yer reckon the US would stand idly by under such circs?"

Possibly/probably, depends on the trade advantages and US public opinion.

Perices,
Palmer is a fool that cannot control his mouth. If he had to 'borrow' funds from a company he was doing business with to fund a small election campaign does not say much for his general accounts. Any employees he has would not enjoy job security as he could go belly up at any time.

Would not be surprised if the Chinese quietly suggest their companies stop doing business with Palmer and then where would he be. Probably have a fire sale of assets to other mining interests and end up broke.

I think he may regret his rant and while he may dislike the Chinese company he was doing business with, his rant was disparaging the Chinese nation.

Is Mise,

"Possibly/probably, depends on the trade advantages and US public opinion."

Don't dismiss the strategic advantage of having an ally like Oz in the southern hemisphere.

It's why they set up their bases here and their radar/info installations.

They'd step-in in the blink of an eye...and Australia has always relied upon and known that...which is why we rubber stamp everything US.

Is Mise, as China is our largest trading partner I doubt they would shoot themselves in the foot and invade us.
I have no doubt America would be here in a flash too if the worst did happen.

They don't have a good track record with human rights, but then again, according to the United Nations, neither do we, with our treatment of Asylum Seekers.

Clive Palmer and Jackie Lambie are an embarressment to politicians, and that's saying something!

One thing our electoral system caters for, with exception of our ridiculous senate, is that voters usually get what they deserve and there is only one thing worse than an out of control idiotic politician, and that's a rich, out of control idiotic politician.

Abbott must call for a DD election and get rid of this arrangement because while he (Palmer) may go, his senators are here for five more years and god knows what sought of damage they can cause, especially given they are cloves puppets.

It is obvious from the recent suggestion from sen lambie that we should be fearful of an attack from China, that either she, it completely living I the past,or, she is a puppet. Either way, they are dangerous and need to be removed.

Of cause it could also be part of Clives other agenda, bringing down the LNP, any way he can.

rehctub,

"Abbott must call for a DD election and get rid of this arrangement...."

Oooooh...Yes please!

(of course, he won't do that....knowing as he does, he and his party would get done like a dog's dinner.)

Regarding the Senate....notwithstanding that it's rather a hodge-podge this time round. What do we do when a party achieves government by means of wholesale deception?

"Of cause it could also be part of Clives other agenda, bringing down the LNP, any way he can."

Er...the fed LNP seem to be doing a nice job of bringing themselves down....they really don't need assistance.

Poirot, "They'd [US] step-in in the blink of an eye...and Australia has always relied upon and known that...which is why we rubber stamp everything US"

No on both counts. An emphatic 'No' on the first.

That is not the way of diplomacy, nor of governments. Think of the changed relationship, UK and Oz.

There is no 'US'. There are US administrations and things change. As well, in a one horse race you can always bank on self interest coming first.

There are obvious scenarios involving our near neighbours where large groups, or a constant trickle, of displaced civilians could be used instead of an army. What would the UN do? That is, apart from criticising Australia because it has all of that (apparently) usable land.

The previous Labor+Green governments confirmed that Australia had little interest in protecting its borders and can be dictated to by people smugglers and economic migrants.

Australia could easily end up partitioned. But hey, that would suit the culturally cringing leftists whose aim is to diversity white Australians out of existence'. Anglophobes who would cut off their own nose to spite their face.

Social change in Australia has always been accompanied
by cultural anxiety for some.

For some there has always been a certain "Fortress
Australia" mentality against outsiders.

And from some of the posts on this forum we can see
that this 50s mentality still exists.

However the hardest work has already been done in
accepting differences by past generations.
Of course there remain challenges but today's
Australians and the attitdues of younger Australians
in particular is on the whole accepting of cultural
diversity. Most agree that on the whole Australia has
come through its historical trials in pretty good
shape.

otb,

Australia has always been of strategic importance...even as far back as our first days when settlement of the Great South Land meant ports for whalers and traders - (not to mention access to long strong pines and flax from nearby islands for masts and sails)

There was a whole lot more to the British settling here than just an outpost to dump convicts.

As far as the rise of Asia is concerned, strategically we are geographically very important.

Depending on the strength of the US in the coming years (as they have already reached their zenith and are probably in the first stages of decline as a super power - as is the way of all entities) I find it difficult to believe that they would sit idly by while Australia was threatened if it was in their power to intervene.

Dear Poirot,

Youre spot on as the following link confirms:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/foreign-affairs/us-to-extend-darwin-marine-bases-tony-abbott-meets-barack-obama-to-push-g20-agenda/story-fn59nm2j-1226952627611

well-hung men!
Sususeoline,
Well that leaves out the limp-wristed gay bar loiterers of the Left big time.

Dear Individual,

"Limp-wristed - bar loiterers?"

Seriously, you need to change your
drinking (and other) habits.

Palmer: A self-serving sociopath with little real idea of what's what, now pushing populist buttons to engender support but will most likely end up in gaol.
That PUP woman: I can't even remember her name but if she's looking for blokes with balls she's surely in the wrong place!

All these pollies seem to think that what goes well sitting around a drink with their mates will go well with the electorate, every party is guilty of this delusion, that's why we've got the current budget bs.

The Canetoad will NEVER call a DD, he knows full well he'd be given a second fundament by the electors of Oz, with ribbons on it!

The Canetoad will NEVER call a DD, he knows full well he'd be given a second fundament by the electors of Oz, with ribbons on it!
G'day Bruce,
Apart from that he obviously doesn't want us to experience more Labor pains for a while. That's a good thing !

Poirot, are you seriously suggesting labor is a better option?

In the first twelve months of Rudds term, he had opened the flood gates to illegals, a move that has cost us billions, I hate to think just how many billions, and he had all but made ready his plans for the failed insulation debacle, you know, the one that cost four young lives. The same one that, had Rudd been a company director/CEO, would most likely have gone to prison over.

In total contrast, Abbott and his team (note the word TEAM), as Rudds biggest fault was his go it alone ego, has stopped the boats and, saved potentially hundreds of drawings in the process.

BUT!, almost as if providing a get out of jail free card to the libs, your faithful leader, Bill Shortonideas, has cooked his proverbial goose by promising to bring back the worlds largest, ineffective, carbon tax.

Good luck!

I would love to see a DD election and in fact, regardless of who won such an election, the real issue here is Palmer and his litter of pups, as they are dangerous with a capital D and only a DD election can get rid of them.

So, for the betterment of the nation, and our future with China, I say, bring it on.

butcher,

".....and only a DD election can get rid of them.

So, for the betterment of the nation, and our future with China, I say, bring it on."

Yep...bring it on!

(You are joking, of course - even though I'd love them to call a DD - the polls are about 56% ALP - t0- 44% LNP - and have been steady around that mark for yonks)

Do you really think Abbott and his puppet masters are "that" stupid? We haven't even reached the stage yet - usually about a year out from election - where they start to pork-barrel...they're still at the pain inflicting stage.

Oh, and rehctub,

"BUT!, almost as if providing a get out of jail free card to the libs, your faithful leader, Bill Shortonideas, has cooked his proverbial goose by promising to bring back the worlds largest, ineffective, carbon tax."

You might enjoy this article...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/20/crisis-what-crisis-asks-coalition-spinning-as-the-budget-wheels-come-off?CMP=twt_gu

"That screeching sound is the government’s budget rhetoric doing a u-turn.

Having spent the last three months insisting the budget emergency meant there would be dire consequences if the budget did not pass, it appears the government is now facing the reality that key budget policies may indeed not pass – despite its best negotiating efforts over the winter break.

Lest anyone then try to assert that by the government’s own arguments we were facing some kind of emergency or crisis, the government has dramatically shifted its rhetoric, insisting there is in fact no crisis or emergency at all."

Lol!....perhaps you can ring up and offer to write their next script?

Yes Poirot, I wonder if the libs ever dream about gaining office with no debt, and money in the bank, because as long as I have had an interest in politics, about thirty odd years, labor are the only ones to have had that luxury.

It's hard to justify how you can throw mud when your lot have created the mess the libs have ONCE AGAIN inherited.

As for the polls, I'm guessing you would have been sucked in by them when K Rudd regained the reins.

rehctub,

There's always an argument for structural reform.

However, hacking the gizzards out of Australian relative social equity probably isn't what's called for.

You appear to think that a AAA credit rating from three agencies and an economy that is the envy of Western industrial nations in the wake of the GFC is somehow "terrible".

Would you have preferred we'd gone into a post GFC recession like most of Europe did?

They practiced post GFC austerity - and slid straight into the recession downpipe.

You're all in favour of Capitalism...well guess what?...if that's the system, it depends on "growth".

Poirot, there's obviously a huge variance in how a so called AAA rating is determined. I say this because when labor gained office we had some $20 billion in the bank and, we had zero debt. How can this be explained and, more importunely, just how bader shape do we have to be in to loose that AAA rating?

Now as for labors, or should say, Kevin Rudds ideas for stimulating the economy go, few would argue they were worthwhile ideas, it's just like the overwhelming majority of projects labor administered, they failed. They did so through sheer incompetence.

Then, when Rudd got knifed, Julia took over from where he left off, turning everything she touched in to mud. From live cattle exports to cash for clunkers and everything in between.

Of cause, who will ever forget the unfixable asylum debacle, the one labor couldn't fix, that took only months for the libs to fix.

History can be a bitch.

rehctub,

"History can be a bitch."

Lol!..yes it can.

Shame this mob of half-baked pollies calling themselves the LNP have made such a dog's dinner of their long-cherished shot in govt.

Have you ever witnessed such a debacle - in such a short time!

(It'll be interesting to see what history makes of their mega-botch)

You appear to think that a AAA credit rating from three agencies and an economy that is the envy of Western industrial nations in the wake of the GFC is somehow "terrible".
Poirot,
It wouldn't be terrible if it were true but that triple A rating is nothing but a Labor hype of wishful thinking as is that envy nonsense.

"It wouldn't be terrible if it were true but that triple A rating is nothing but a Labor hype of wishful thinking as is that envy nonsense."

Are you planning to ever post something intelligible?

Are you planning to ever post something intelligible?
Poirot,
Of course, as soon as an intelligible argument is put up. No point answering something intelligibe to parrot-fashion repeats of delusion.

The thing that has come out of this budget is very interesting.

It was in fact a very gentle budget, considering our current indebtedness, & the huge forward costs. To be properly effective to stop the rot, it should have been many times harder.

To watch the media in a frenzy, & Labor screaming was very interesting. If the Oz people are not prepared to wear the very mild reduction in government handouts in this budget, it is reasonable to say we are stuffed.

As we will not trim our expenditure ourselves, we will just have to enjoy the party for the very few years, before we find it done for us by the rest of the world.

I will now direct my endeavors to preparing my property to offer a reasonable life to my kids, & theirs, with very little cash income.

I had better put my stallion to a few mares. As Joe has quite truthfully told us, poor folk don't drive much, so we may need a horse or two.

Good evening to you all...

I have no idea what Clive Palmer is, or what he wants out of life, or what he and his ludicrous little party represents ? All I do know, is this gentleman must have far to much money on hand and not much to do with it all.

So one fine day he had a thought, that perhaps he might just purchase himself a small, average sized, parliament in which to play with. Not that dissimilar to a child and his 'sand box'. All this occurred in the vain hope his long moments of this awful boredom may pass, provided he has this parliament in which to amuse himself with ? It doesn't matter that he has no understanding of the rules, provided the parliament does exactly as it's told and provided there are no members therein who have any trace of oriental blood in their background ? You see, Clive doesn't understand much about their culture, in fact he understands very little, about anything.

So while this bumptious ignoramus amuses himself with his very own parliament, there are 20 million people who have to stand by patiently, until he's either finished altogether, or become thoroughly bored and shuffled off to his little cubby house, reportedly hidden deep within China somewhere.

Well good on you Clive you immature buffoon !

I had better put my stallion to a few mares.
Hasbeen,
Careful, the lefties will call you sexist !

One of the great misnomers in society is because you are rich, you must also be intelligent. The logic being, you became rich because of your intelligence. Not so, and Clive Palmer proves the lie. What wealth has bought Clive is a public voice. Formed his own political party, PUP, interesting its not the Peoples United Party, its the Palmer United Party, note the word "Palmer" in the name and what that implies. The Palmer Party is based on the Palmer, so important the word is in the name. Just like all political parties, the name tries to reflect in a word what the party stands for Labor, Liberal Greens etc etc and then there is "Palmer". You may ask, what is a "Palmer"? I answer a big fat turkey.
Under our democratic system even a mega rich Palmer can not occupy more than one seat in parliament, if he did there would be no party, united or otherwise. Being mega rich you can form you own political party, and splash around the cash and get others elected, there is your party. Its obvious Big Clive has been successful in getting other like minder people elected, Jacqui Lambie for one. Of course Jacqui could have easily been one of the girls down at the tennis club, same crackpot ideas, but no one would have heard of her, waffling on about what she thinks of that hunk Roger the A grade coach, and what she could do with dear Roger given half a chance, despite his misses and the 20 year age difference! But Jacqui is not at the tennis club, but in the Australian Senate and been given a platform to spruik her crazy thoughts in public.
As a footnote, When Jacqui went on about her ideal man I though she would have meant Big Clive, Clive is big, but I don't think that is the kind of big that Jacqui wants! Well not physically.

I listened to Alan Jones at length yesterday.

He went on and on about something dear to my heart: the in-bed relationship of government and big business, or in particular; big miners.

This is particularly blatant in the relationship between political donations and political decisions concerning operations at Wandoan in Queensland and in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.

This sordid business has reached a major level of corruption.

He then said that Clive Palmer is calling for a senate inquiry into the Newman Government, of which this sort of thing is just one part.

Well, that puts Big Clive in my good books well and truly.

The lack of independence of government from the big end of town is one of the most fundamentally important things in our whole political system and indeed in the whole of our society that needs to be FIXED.

I applaud anyone who works towards achieving that.

Ludwig, I think that might have more to do with Palmer's dislike of Newman, a former political friend than anything else.
Politically I am opposed to the likes of Newman, but to demand an inquire more based on personal dislike than any altruistic reasons is rather cynical and costly to the ordinary Australians. Maybe the mega rich Clive should foot the bill.

Yes Paul, and there in lies the problem, big Clive has an axe to grind and, while he is focusing on the two issues at foot, Campble and Chineese partner, it makes you wonder just how much of his publicly funded time is actualy spend serving the public.

After all, he has missed many of the meetings he fought hard to be an attendee of and one can only assume this is due to non parlimenty commitments and distractions.

I also recall him openly saying before the election that if elected he would forego his business involvement.

Yea right!

Luddy, mate that is garbage I'm afraid.

The whole reason for Palmer united is that the LNP, & Newman would not give Palmer what he wanted, after they got into power. He had expected that as a large donor he would get whatever he wanted. This whole fiasco is proof that he did not.

You should be singing their praises for resisting his demands, & others, rather than complaining about them.

When we had Labor governments there was never any resistance to giving unions & academia everything their little hearts desired, just as the federal labor lot gave the greens everything they wanted, meekly asking if there was anything else they desired.

Palmer is in politics because he couldn't get what he wanted. It's now time for his revenge. That's the depth of it. Nobody should believe a single word that Palmer says. Politics on all sides is about manipulation.

<< Luddy, mate that is garbage I'm afraid.

The whole reason for Palmer united is that the LNP, & Newman would not give Palmer what he wanted, after they got into power. He had expected that as a large donor he would get whatever he wanted. >>

Yair Hazza, you’re probably right. But whatever Palmer’s motives for getting into politics, it would still be a damn good thing to have a senate inquiry that looked at the cosy relationship between big political donors and the favourable decisions they get, amongst a host of other things. So I hope Palmer continues to push for this and is successful in making it happen.

Oh yeah?
Clive's going to get an investigation going into the murky political/business overlap is he? One that would automatically apply to HIM too?
I don't think I'll hold my breath for that one!
Quite apart from the fact that only politicians can set up such an inquiry, and set the terms for it?
Unless you or someone else is planning a coup I can't honestly see any real change, now or in the future, can you?

Big Clive is getting flak for having what the Lefties lack, gonads & an appreciation to be from this country. All he's trying to do is protect it from the Lefties ruining it.
I'm waiting for his support for a non-military national service.

Indi, based on what Big Clive spruiks and what you post, I believe you and Clive could be two peas in a pod.
<<I'm waiting for his support for a non-military national service>> Only if you agree to name it the 'Big Clive Memorial Boot Camp' and drop any reference to Gomer Pyle. You see, Big Clive is very much into self promotion. His basic philosophy is, what's good for Clive is good for YOU!

Paul1405,
What is with you & your Boot Camp? What's a Boot camp got to do with non-military national service ? Are you so against any discipline & responsibility for new generations ?
How do you envisage a society totally bereft of integrity, a society made up of Paul145's perhaps ?
You sound suspiciously like a Peter Principle Public Servant.

No place for Clive Palmer in parliament: Ron Boswell
I just spotted this headline.
Will this become the battle of the bulges ? Ron Boswell had an extremely good run at taxpayers expense & he should now just shut f... up.
He's had decades in Parliament, what are his legacies ? Anyone know ?
Any of them beneficial to the electorate ?

Indy: "Any of them beneficial to the electorate ?"

That's irrelevant in modern Australia, the electorate is there to serve the member these days, in effect anyway.
This applies across the board, irrespective of the Party concerned.
Welcome to the joys of the Two Party System, a game of good cop/bad cop played on Aussies by the political elite.

Ah! Palmer is practicing Free Speech! The conservatives should be supporting Palmer's right, and Lambie's by the way, to say whatever they want. Where's Bolt when you need him?

He was voted into parliament in free and fair elections and therefore has a mandate....

It's not only the Liberals who get to go on about their mandate and wreak havoc. Others have the same right surely?

Clive is no friend of the people. He's there because he believes he has something to gain and he doesn't care who or what he takes down to get it. Our Senate is a joke and our only hope is that once Big Clive double crosses his coalition of independents they break ties with this egomaniac. Honestly, no one in their right mind has any faith he will actually fulfil any of his big ideas. The sooner he's gone the better.

What ever happened to his grand plans for the Titanic, or was it just a publicity stunt like his dinosaurs?

Clive's got dinosaurs?

Now that I'd pay to see! :-)

Clive has a certain basic appeal to some sections of the primate community, as does Ron! Both are chasing the monkey vote. Nothing upsets a politician more than another poly trying to steal his constituency.
Indi, have you written to Clive about your "non-military national service"? Interest to get Big Clive's reaction.

Both are chasing the monkey vote.
Paul1405,
In that case you might soon see peanuts thrown around your nearest Universities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH0Ryek7rHk Here you will see Al Gore being grilled by Congressman Andrew Scalise. Al Gore tries to deny an association with Ken Lay the ex CEO of Enron and David Blood the then CEO of Goldman Sachs.

Note a few weeks ago, Clive Palmer has a meeting with Malcolm Turnbull who was the head of Goldman Sachs Australia back in 2001.In the above video Al Gore gets caught out trying to deny his association with Blood and Lay in establishing and ETS.

After his meeting with Malcolm Turnbull at that Chinese Restaurant in Canberra, Clive Palmer comes out espousing the merits of an ETS with no other than Al Gore.

I voted for Palmer last election hoping he would be rich enough to be beyond politics and do something for his country. Clive is my view is just another greedy scumbag who wants more power.

So in other words Arjay, he's a typical Aussie politician?
The main difference would seem to be that he spent his own money getting there, or the Chinese money if you want, rather than dudding all of us for the privilege as the two main Partys do?
Works for me!
Anything and/or anyone that disturbs the LibLab grip on power is axiomatically a good thing for Australia as a whole.

Anything and/or anyone that disturbs the LibLab grip on power is axiomatically a good thing for Australia as a whole.
G'day bruce,
I wholeheartedly agree but, & a big but it is, that anything/anyone must have more than just an ability to unbalance because once unbalanced the first thing that needs to brought in is balance.
Clivie boy is gauging the situation after all he is from a practical background, not a lawyer/academic one. He creates revenue & employs people unlike the others.
The hangers-on WILL drag the major ones down.

Got this email today.

Serious trouble for Australia
True, Very True
We are in trouble...
The population of this country is 24 million.
8 million are retired.
That leaves 16 million to do the work.
There are 8.5 million in school.
Which leaves 7.5 million to do the work.
Of this there are 4 million on the dole and invalid pensions.
Leaving 3.5 million to do the work.
200,000 are in the armed forces
Which leaves 3.3 million to do the work.
Take from that total the 1,160,000 people who work for state and local
Governments. And that leaves 2,214,000 to do the work.
At any given time there are 39,800 people in hospitals.
Leaving 2,100,200 to do the work.
Now, there are 100,198 people in prisons.
And 267,500 travelling at any one time
That leaves just two people to do the work.
You and me.
And there you are,
Sitting on your ar$e,
At your computer, reading jokes. Nice. Real nice.

Great! No wonder we got troubles.

Yes we have a problem, if anyone takes that as indicative of any truth, lol.
It's actually been around in one form or another from long before home computers were even invented, let alone the internet, I remember reading a version of it somewhere as a schoolboy in the early 60's!
Only the numbers are bigger now.

Big Clive has shown how gutless he really is. The fat bloke has had to eat humble pie and apologise to the Chinese for his "mongrels" comments.
That must come as a shock to some on here who though Palmer was some kind of Messiah, not so, just another plonker! Suck it in lads!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-26/clive-palmer-letter-of-apology-to-chinese-ambassador-australia/5696494

Well Clive fails to mention that this country was taken over by the international banking cartels long ago when both major parties sold off our Govt Banks like the Commonwealth.

Clive is only apologising to China because his exports there are now under serious threat.

Where's Pericles who knows all ?

Arjay, The big two sold out long before they flogged off the Com Bank, that was just a bit of fruit for the sideboard. I don't think they ever actually sold us out, because to be "out" you have to be "in" to start with. we were never actually "in"!
The sycophantic Clive brigade on here now have 'egg on face'. a couple of posts back Indi was praising Big Clive <<Clivie boy is gauging the situation after all he is from a practical background, not a lawyer/academic one. He creates revenue & employs people unlike the others.
The hangers-on WILL drag the major ones down.>>
Too right, he gauged the situation and went weak at the knees! maybe we would get more substance and less hot air,if he was a lawyer/academic.

I'm right here, Arjay, thanks for asking.

>>Where's Pericles who knows all?<<

The exchange of opinions has been interesting, thanks to everybody for your contribution.

The theme that shines through is that Palmer is being used as a form of proxy for other battles between vested interests. Meanwhile, he is taking full personal advantage of his pivotal role in the decision-making process.

It is difficult to avoid the view that he has used - and is using - his money to buy a position of influence in Australian politics. It is also unfortunate that our electoral system seems content to allow that to happen.

All politicians are expedient, particularly when protecting their individual financial interests, but usually this is employed as a means whereby they can maintain a position on the gravy train. Without the need to rely on pollies pay and perks, Palmer has taken expediency to an altogether new level. And in doing so has exposed our political process for the boys-club sham that it undoubtedly is.

Unfortunately, this also reflects itself in our image overseas. From a position of mere irrelevance on the world stage, we have become little more than a cringe-making comedic turn, with Palmer as our very own Basil Fawlty.

That cannot be right, Pericles...

"And in doing so has exposed our political process for the boys-club sham that it undoubtedly is."

It is, literally, politically incorrect.

As in, it is incorrect politically since surely the parliament is a boys and girls-club?

Nor can I let pass the denigration of the esteemed Mr Basil Fawlty...

May I submit the comedic turns of Touché Turtle (who you will notice even takes on a dragon (a Chinese reference?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SC31NbYqvU

Thanks for the introduction to Touché Turtle, WmTrevor. A new acquaintance for me, I have to say.

But the actions of your amiable chelonian appear far too sophisticated and plausible when compared to those of our political classes. Although his smiley face did remind me a little of Christopher Pyne, after a meal of particularly flavoursome schoolchildren.

Blaming politicians for the woes of the country is only justified if the electorate can prove beyond doubt that they're model citizens. In Australia it should be a smart population considering the immense amount of money going into the smoke screen called education.
Palmer is exposing that lack of value for money & only stirring can make people think some sense, especially when there is a good chance of lossing everything they never had to work for. The more Palmer stirs the more support will go his way. Academia is already up to its knees in the quicksand created by Academia. We don't need so much education for the jobs that need to be done. What we need is sufficient education so people can become part of a productive, revenue making workforce instead of the sponge that is the public service & associated bureaucracies. Instead of selling Australia to chinese billionaires Australians should move to China.

WmTrevor, I didn't quite catch the ending was that Touché Turtle and Indi?

Individual, you certainly have a very long list of those in society you don't like. What did you think of Mother Teresa,... a self serving opportunists? LOL

What did you think of Mother Teresa,... a self serving opportunists? LOL
Paul1405,
Well, if she was your mother then yes because in hindsight she should have giving us some consideration & have an abortion.

Good on yah Indi. Old Clive was on the telly last night. this time he wasn't talking as they chased him about with their cameras. Seems Big Clive's 'Coolum' resort is a bit of a 'Fawlty Towers' and Palmer is a fat version of John Cleese aka Basil Fawlty. I can see how he would appeal to the likes of you Indi.