Yes!!
Would she tell anyone?
No.
And there’s the problem of Covid and American politics in one brief Q&A.
Would Nancy Pelosi take HCQ if she had the Chinese flu?
1
Author Archives: lawofmarkets
Being stupid is not a barrier to political success
Let me add a bit more on Daniel Andrew’s lack of intelligence. Being stupid does not mean one does not have other attributes that might make for political success. The school bully is seldom the same person who sits on top of the Honour Role.
When I say he is stupid, what I am saying is that he is unlikely to be able to make sense of complicated arguments. You will not be able to reason with him since he has his own agendas, he is too thick, not just to follow what others are saying, but is bored by such things.
We policy types like to sit and discuss ends and means with a specific matrix of theoretical and practical considerations that lead to various conclusions that are embedded in policy proposals which are then implemented. Daniel Andrews has never shown the slightest ability or interest in any of that. He’s a brute with his own ideas of what to do, who wants his own way at all times and is determined to get it, however much harm he may do. He is a far-left Marxist-Leninist without the slightest interest in creating an environment in which the private sector can succeed. And he is as dumb as a box of rocks as well.
Reading the comments from the previous thread brought two things to light of particular interest to me. This was from Rohan:
In fact, Daniel Andrews has botched every single thing he has done. He has not had a single success in anything he has done since becoming premier. Try to find anything he has achieved with all the billions he has gone through. Victoria was already bankrupt even before the virus arrived. Dwell on this from the link.
It wasn’t just his current stint as Premier either. Remember the ER waiting times where people were waiting over 24 hours on gurneys to be admitted as a patient, when he was health minister?
Remember how he told the bureaucrats to fudge the figures so he wouldn’t look bad but the front line ER docs blew the whistle?
Remember how he never addressed the root cause of the problem and it only got better after the LNP won in 2010?
Because he can’t solve problems. But he has rat cunning, is a master in the art of bullying, obfuscation and lying his arse off to cover for his lack of intelligence and practicality and common sense.
Then there is this from Tim Neilson commenting on the six years it took for Andrews to get through his pass degree at Monash in politics and classics. I was surprised by the classics which does show some intellectual interest but see below:
He is of above average intelligence by today’s standards. He has a BA, majoring in Classics and Politics. Granted, that is not what it used to be, by a long shot, but stupid people don’t earn such degrees, even today. There is real work and intelligence required, even today.
It’s pretty difficult to fail an Arts subject if you hand in assignments and turn up to exams.
The Classics should have more rigour than some pseudo-disciplines. However, Andrews would have had the Classics belted into him at his Catholic school. Then he could go back to square 1 at Uni and get a Classics minor in his pass degree pretty much just off what what the Brothers had strapped into him.
As for a Politics major, if you think pass marks in that required anything much more than “four legs good, two legs bad”, you’re sadly overestimating Australian universities.
Yes, he’s not full illiterate level stupid, but his pass degree in the Arts doesn’t mean that he’s got any real intellectual ability.
He has superficial polish and a determined ruthlessness which work for him. He is also well supported by the many many standard-issue cliches of the left on being kind and caring and the evils of capitalism. I am only pointing out his vast intellectual limitations to help explain the predicament we are in. And how useless it would be to try to talk him out of the kinds of things he is doing that are ruining the State.
I don’t say that intelligence is the be all and end all of political ability or even common sense. Universities are filled with people whose political views are unbelievably idiotic. What I am saying is that Andrews stands out as much stupider than the average and his limitations are having a terrible effect all over the place. He is certainly doing much to ruin the Labor brand in Australia.
It’s that Dan is really stupid that makes it so much worse
See what they’re saying about us around the world: Australia Is A Full Scale Pilot Test For The New World Order
Several journalists and content creators have noticed that Australia looks like the most totalitarian police state that has existed in recent history. It has become a full-scale pilot test for the elitists to see how well they can implement the New World Order.
Australians have been subjected to some of the most horrendous basic human rights and dignity violations during this entire scamdemic.
“These guys know full well what they are doing. They are psychopaths, but they aren’t stupid.”
I can agree with most of that but not all. They are far-left totalitarians, psychopaths perhaps, but on that last point, I don’t agree. When it comes to Daniel Andrews, on top of everything else, he really is stupid. Along with so much else that is wrong with him, Daniel Andrews is the thickest politician I have come across in quite some time, and there’s a lot of competition at the moment. That he never discusses or explains anything is how he has been from the start. This was from the weekend: Labor unrest grows as Daniel Andrews botches crisis management. In fact, Daniel Andrews has botched everything he has done. He has not had a single success in anything he has done since being elected.
Andrews is a political dictator who comes across as a strong leader. But, sadly, he is not a chief executive who weighs up the view of many groups before making a decision. Like all dictators Andrews relies more on his gut instincts than advice from others. Business people who attend the Andrews advice committees say he rarely listens. In the latest Victorian aid package the payroll tax deferral will scare the banks. Prior to COVID-19, the best example of Andrews disregard for commercial outcomes was in the infamous gas bans where somehow gas that did not require fracking got mixed up with the fracking bans. The fact that the bans on Victoria’s immense non fracked gas reserves sent gas prices and energy costs through the roof just didn’t register.
He is too stupid to know what he is doing, and the more he gets wrong the further forward he goes. He cannot explain, he never takes responsibility, he never defends. He just shuts up because he is basically a blank space between the ears.
What frustrates ALP members is that they now know that provided a series of co-ordinated alternative strategies are introduced there is absolutely no need for prolonged harsh restrictions that will send the state into recession for many years. The alternative strategies have been successful in other states and will work in Victoria. But as so often happens with dictators once they are headed in a direction nothing will change them.
They of course assume that Andrews is able to sift these different points of view, analyse them and come to a conclusion. The reality is that he has no capacity to evaluate anything that is said to him. Dumb as an ox but stubborn along with his arrogance.
There is the old political rule, “never apologise, never explain.” Andrews of course never does either, but not because he doesn’t wish to. It’s because he cannot. It may well be that other are looking at the example he has set, but it’s not because he’s some kind of genius. He has blundered into where we find him and ourselves through sheer stupidity. He is wrecking Victoria, and indeed the entire Australian economy. He has turned the police force into a Gestapo. He has made Melbourne a place of ridicule across the world. It’s a tragedy at every turn. Just don’t expect any serious explanation for anything he does since he has none.
“It is a principle of our law that fundamental freedoms cannot be invaded or overruled unless the law specifically allows it”
Both videos are found on an American post titled ‘I couldn’t breathe’: Aussie woman dragged from car in dramatic altercation with police at lockdown checkpoint (VIDEO). And no matter how you look at it, it is impossible to defend the police. It would not have mattered had they arrested her for some reason associated with CV-19, but madly that was not even why.
An officer had told her that it was illegal to have a mobile phone mounted on a windscreen and that the device was obstructing her view.
This tweet contains footage similar to the original video which has already been widely seen with commentary by Rita Panahi.
This is an extended video of the aftermath at the “scene of the crime”.
This is more than just an Australian story, although it is shameful just as it is. Peter Hitchens writes with regard to the UK: How the Government is wading into the swamp of despotism – one muzzle at a time. What he writes applies to Australia as much as it does to the UK.
The Government has no legal right to impose the severe and miserable restrictions on our lives with which it has wrecked the economy, brought needless grief to the bereaved and the lonely and destroyed our personal liberty.
This is the verdict of one of the most distinguished lawyers in the country, the retired Supreme Court Judge Lord Sumption.
He said last week in a podcast interview: ‘I don’t myself believe that the Act confers on the Government the powers that it has purported to exercise.’He was referring to the Public Health Act of 1984, the basis for almost all the sheaves of increasingly hysterical decrees against normal life which the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has issued since March. I promise you that it is not usual for a retired senior judge to use such language in public.
This 1984 Act was drawn up mainly to give local magistrates the power to quarantine the sick.
Nothing in it remotely justifies these astonishing moves – house arrest, travel restrictions, harsh limits on visiting family members, interference with funerals and weddings, closure of churches, compulsory muzzles, bans on assembly and protest.
English law just does not allow an Act of Parliament to be stretched so far.
Lord Sumption was referring to the Public Health Act of 1984, the basis for almost all the sheaves of increasingly hysterical decrees against normal life which the Health Secretary Matt Hancock (above) has issued since March. I promise you that it is not usual for a retired senior judge to use such language in public. +4
Lord Sumption was referring to the Public Health Act of 1984, the basis for almost all the sheaves of increasingly hysterical decrees against normal life which the Health Secretary Matt Hancock (above) has issued since March. I promise you that it is not usual for a retired senior judge to use such language in public.Magistrates are never given such powers. It is a principle of our law that fundamental freedoms cannot be invaded or overruled unless the law specifically allows it.
We seem to have found a very important flaw in how our laws are drafted and applied. The elections to come will be about little else but remedying these major flaws in our legal systems.
In the meantime, read the whole of Hitchens’ article.
What Daniel Andrews needs to understand about Covid-19
The problem with Daniel Andrews has been from the start that he’s not very bright and has only a limited grasp of the issues. He does however like to tell people what to do and has little time for actual discussion and debate since argument is not really his preferred form of persuasion. The video will bring you up to date on where the Covid story now finds itself. It is a shame Andrews doesn’t get any of this. The video although somewhat long (but not too long) really is an eyeopener.
So let me get this right edition
If you ask any Democrat why do they hate Trump so much …
This year will be one of the most pivotal years in all of world history, and that is an understatement. We’ve seen a complete breakdown of American civil society over the last several months.
I don’t know what’s going on in the rest of the world, but when I walk down the street to get a coffee in 2020 New York City, I have to thank God that I have 2020 vision and the reflexes of a champion boxer to duck any knockdown sucker punches. And this is on 57th Street, what they call Billionaires’ Row. I can’t imagine what’s going on way Uptown, Downtown or in the Bronx.
Bonfire of the Vanities is like nonsense compared to this. The city has gone to the dogs, the pits, in drerd. Makes you want to stay inside and order food.
That’s what everyone was doing until all their favourite restaurants shuttered.
I have a new name for restaurants that are recently closed. They are ‘cloved’. Covid schmovid cloved. One after the other, all of my favourite restaurants are finished.
Where can you get a decent sandwich in this town? And if you even think of going off on me about some sort of privilege shpiel, you know where you can shove it.
And you know who is solely responsible for all of this? Our two schmegeggi state and city leaders, Mr de Blasio and Mr Cuomo. These two schmucks have led us down a dark and dreary path. Mason
The two Putzes-in-chief, but really putz is too nice of a word to call either of them. Actually, it’s an insult to putzes worldwide to include them in that estimable category. These guys have made our lives intolerable.
The degradation of my beloved city has happened in front of my eyes, well at least from what I can see on the TV screen while 60 floors up. It’s a nice view, but it cost a pretty penny. I know the last time this kind of thing happened, it took someone like my favourite dinner partner Giuliani to come to the rescue. Who’s going to be our Giuliani this time?
Only in America can murderers and criminals be put on pedestals. The world is upside down and topsy turvy. No one would believe it if I said in my act that you should let criminals out of prison, but if you don’t wear a mask you’re going to be arrested.
A murderer is let out because of fear that they will contract the coronavirus, and they’re free to commit crimes again.
The truth is I retired at the right time. With all due respect, my genius was that I was able to say exactly what I thought, and left my audience laughing, but more importantly, thinking. I wouldn’t be able to do
that today.It’s not a good time for comedians to speak their minds unless, of course, it’s to say that they hate Trump and then it’s easy. You don’t even have to make up jokes you just repeat over and over ‘I hate Trump’. That’s why I just like to do private dates now, where I can say and do what I want. Otherwise, anything you say is immediately called racist and sexist. You get called a pig and a degenerate.
You really gotta put yourself out there to be a public figure. So the next time you ask me to write this for nothing, I’m not so sure I’m going to agree. And while we’re talking about it, I have to mention that you can find me on Cameo. It’s a website, you can look it up. I’m not going to tell you anything else. See, you’re curious already.
In regards to the frightening times we’re living in, the political climate is the most pressing matter of all.
If you ask any Democrat why do they hate Trump so much, they answer because of what he did to this country. I ask them, what did he do to this country and they answer, I told you because of what he did to this country. I ask, is there one thing he did that is wrong? Is there something he shouldn’t have done? Name one thing that if you had a choice you would overturn. The taxes, the tax law? Did you make money or did you lose money? If he did anything wrong, why did you take the money, why didn’t you send it back? He opened up trade with Canada, he saved everybody money.
Even the Democrats admit it was a good deal, so much so that they tried to take credit for it after it was passed. Before this whole corona thing, he created less unemployment and higher wages. So what did he do wrong? The economy was the best it’s ever been. So what did the president do that everyone should be cursing him all the time? I’ll tell you what he did wrong. He’s wearing the wrong jacket. He has the wrong hairdo. He has the wrong attitude and you don’t like the colour of his tie. What does your side want from him? A new stylist? You don’t like the way he sounds, get some earplugs, turn off the volume on your TV. You don’t like his attitude? He’s not moving in to live with you! So what’s the problem? We ask them and they always say these nonsense things like he doesn’t sound like a president, he’s not presidential. He doesn’t even look like a president. So don’t look at him! Who told you to look at him? You have a TV that only has one channel? Change the channel if you don’t want to watch him.
Let me ask you, if I give you $3,000 would you care what I look like, what suit I wear, and the way I comb my hair? Would you care about what my attitude is?
Give me bad attitude all you want as long as it comes with a cheque and tax refund. Let me ask you, if you needed to go to the dentist, are you more concerned about the dentist being a good dentist or having a good personality? I’ll take the guy who wrecks my teeth, but is friendly. No! I want the guy who fixes my teeth, and he could have the worst bedside manner of all time. Same thing when I call the plumber, and same thing when I vote for president. Really, how can a Jew not love Trump? I heard a rumour from my high-placed sources, but shhh, please don’t tell anybody, that in four years, after Trump leaves office, he’s going to run for president of Israel and he’ll win.
The worst president of my lifetime, except for all the others
That Donald Trump won’t get the Nobel Peace Prize is a blot on the judgement of the Nobel Committee, along with virtually the whole of the foreign policy establishment of the United States. You hardly even hear any of it in the press, and it’s played down as if it were just another day at the office. These are from Instapundit. For this alone he should hold his place in history as one of the greatest presidents who has ever held that office. Interesting also that this is the 19th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
Now Bahrain? Trump Really Does Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize!
Donald Trump (with significant help from Jared Kushner and Mike Pompeo) seems to be doing what few thought possible after decades of Oslo Accords failure—bringing peace to the Middle East.
Only the other day, to the consternation of the usual suspects, the president was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for helping engineer the new peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Now we have Bahrain added to the mix, apparently also making a deal with the Jewish state.
Cementing those ties, Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa will be arriving in Washington Monday to attend the Tuesday ceremony where Israel and the UAE will formalize their ties, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Saudi Arabia—that is known to have been sharing intelligence with Israel for some time and is now allowing overflights of its territory by El Al—seems poised for a similar recognition.
How could this have happened? It could not be more obvious it all began to reach fruition when Trump withdrew from the Iran Deal—the awkwardly-named Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCOA). Some action!
Why Barack Obama wanted to enter into such a bizarre and ineffectual semi-agreement (it was never really formalized) with the biggest state sponsor of terrorism remains one of the mysteries of our era.
Theories exist, but suffice it to say the net result was billions in the mullahs’ coffers with which they were able to finance their murderous proxies (Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas, et. al.), build missiles and other advanced weaponry and extend the Syrian civil war with another quarter of a million corpses not to mention millions more refugees.
That Joe Biden wishes to return to this insanity is reason enough to ban him from all public offices in perpetuity. . . .
Meanwhile, one thing is clear. Trump, unlike so many before him, really does deserve that Nobel Peace Prize. He is earning it for actual achievements on the ground.
His predecessor, Barack Obama, won one before he did anything at all, just for “being cool.”
PEACE IS BREAKING OUT ALL OVER: Trump Gets ANOTHER Arab Country to Establish Diplomatic Relations With Israel.
No one knows how the future will unfold, but so far these events are absolutely astonishing.
Well, maybe, perhaps
It’s a survey in Victoria by the Libs in five swing seats.
The election is two years from now by which time the lockdowns will probably be over so it hardly matters. It would have been interesting to have asked if anyone knew who the Leader of the Opposition is. We’ll see what happens in Queensland first.
How do we come out of this alive?
Taken from JobSeeker, JobKeeper ending will reveal massive recession crisis.
The core concept of Jobkeeper was all right, to make sure no one was deprived of the ability to buy because they had lost their income. The data in the graph are however insane. Does no one any longer have a sense of proportion, and can no one any longer look forward for more than a day at a time? And it comes with this, also at the link:
How much the recession will cost you
It comes from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and it shows how much more money Australians are making than the year before. It’s a lot. We’re flying.
The black line is now at 16 per cent, which means we’re making 16 per cent more money in 2020 than last year.
Think about it like this: Australians who were banking $1000 per week last year are banking on average $1160 now. That’s a lot of extra money each week.
Where is the cash is coming from? Up until the start of the pandemic, the black line was being held up by the blue bars: earnings from work, i.e. salary and wages. We were 4 or 5 per cent richer than the year before, because more wages were being paid.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic starts. The blue bars turn slightly negative – wages and salaries went down (they would have gone down even more if not for JobKeeper!). But the red bars shoot up. That’s Treasurer Josh Frydenberg turning on the money taps.
JobSeeker is the big one, and the two $750 payments that went to pensioners.
We’re paying out 16% more in incomes while productive output must have fallen along with business profitability by some massive percent! If these numbers are anywhere correct we are heading for the rocks.
I will add that if the government, any government, still believes that the level of demand is what keeps the economy moving ahead or adds to job numbers, they are about to find out once again just how wrong that is. Not that they will learn, because they are too stupid, but they will find out all the same.
Law of Markets 