Latham - World Class Backflipper

[slyolddog]

Latham in retreat on Iraq troops
June 12, 2004

MARK LATHAM is retreating on his promise to pull Australian troops out of Iraq by Christmas, suggesting almost a third of the contingent could stay on under a Labor government to guard diplomats in Baghdad.

Mr Latham added that a Labor government would take advice "about what needs to be done - whether that means leaving troops there or some other arrangement".

Mr Latham then agreed he wouldn't be pulling the troops out "lock, stock and barrel", and said: "It might mean leaving some troops there; it might mean some other arrangement, so we'll just take that advice when it comes."

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9820264%5E421,00.html

 

[MGREG]

Maybe he should change his name to Greg Louganis!

What a boofhead.

 

[DaveW]

Someone once pointed out to me that when you do a backflip you actually finish in the same position you started. But anyway...

The only thing that surprises me about this is that Latham hasn't waited until after winning the election to announce this. I suspect Latham will reverse his position on this for fear of damaging the American alliance; just look at Garrett's about face on Pine Gap.

It's all the more likely if Kerry comes to power too, as Kerry is also pushing for internationalising the effort in Iraq. And I don't think Latham has quite the disdain for Kerry as he does for Bush.

 

[Tim56]

It just exposes the stupidity of Labor's policy. Most of the troops there are either protecting the embassy or air traffic control duties.

 

[hoss]

here we go again ....... welcome to the redneck fascist thread or as noodnuts would describe it a right-wing mutual masterbation session.

 

[FootyontheBrain]

Originally posted by DaveW
It's all the more likely if Kerry comes to power too, as Kerry is also pushing for internationalising the effort in Iraq. And I don't think Latham has quite the disdain for Kerry as he does for Bush.

Actually it sounds like the two of them are cut from the same cloth. However, Kerry could probably teach Latham a few tricks on how to flip/flop and not have the media call you out for it.

Kerry: "I voted for body armor for our troops. Before I voted against it." Huh!? The fact this guy is still in the race is unbelievable.

 

[Frodo]

Originally posted by hoss
here we go again ....... welcome to the redneck fascist thread or as noodnuts would describe it a right-wing mutual masterbation session.

Isn't it stange how a factual thread can be described by Labour barrackers in terms such as this!!

 

[kirky]

Originally posted by Frodo
Isn't it stange how a factual thread can be described by Labour barrackers in terms such as this!!

Well are Latham is doing is what one PM has done. Never ever GST - the biggest back flip of all time!!!!

 

[Goldenblue]

Originally posted by Frodo
Isn't it stange how a factual thread can be described by Labour barrackers in terms such as this!!

No better than the neo cons and the hard extreme right.

 

[Bomaz_Magic]

It's a pity that the whole Liberal Party policy, other than stuffing up this country (Higer Education reform, Ripping the heart out of medicare, GST, just to name a few) is all about discrediting the opposition. Just continue on this path Mr. Sheen and you will be at Centrelink picking up your unemployment benefits, along with the rest of your congaline of suck*&^%$.

 

[MGREG]

Boohead Latham has all but lost the election in the space of 48 hours.

Thank God. The last thing this country will ever need is a redneck Labor government giving us 17% inflation or 17% interest rates which they are so good at delivering.

Godd stable goevernment and proper economic management is what is needed and provided by the Coalition governement.


Not drug addled alcholic Laborites.

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by bomaz
It's a pity that the whole Liberal Party policy, other than stuffing up this country (Higer Education reform, Ripping the heart out of medicare, GST, just to name a few) is all about discrediting the opposition.

That's just politics idiot. They all spend a lot of their time discrediting the other party.

btw: what's wrong with GST?

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by MGREG
Boohead Latham has all but lost the election in the space of 48 hours.

Thank God. The last thing this country will ever need is a redneck Labor government giving us 17% inflation or 17% interest rates which they are so good at delivering.

Godd stable goevernment and proper economic management is what is needed and provided by the Coalition governement.


Not drug addled alcholic Laborites.

There's no shortage of Labor supporters on these boards who are delusiuonal and have double standards. As bad as they are, you and Noodnuts are worse.

btw: What happened to the housing bust that you were so confident about? You seemed to go quiet on that one very quickly.

 

[MGREG]

Originally posted by bunsen burner

btw: What happened to the housing bust that you were so confident about? You seemed to go quiet on that one very quickly.

I think you have the wrong poster there.

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by MGREG
I think you have the wrong poster there.

Apologies. My bad. Was a poster names gregg. Got you two mixed up.

 

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by bunsen burner

btw: what's wrong with GST?

Was there a 10% increase in transfer payments when it was introduced? I don't remember, but if there wasn't, there's the biggest problem. When you've got the poorest sector of society who dedicate 100% of their income to consumption spending, it pretty much slashed their standard of living by 1/11th. It's a regressive tax that hits the poor harder than it does the rich. I don't expect you or certain others to have a problem with that, but hey, some of us do.

Can anyone confirm whether or not transfer payments went up 10%?

 

[MGREG]

Transfer payments for what CharlieG? Are you referring to Transfer of Land stamp duty?

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by CharlieG
Was there a 10% increase in transfer payments when it was introduced? I don't remember, but if there wasn't, there's the biggest problem. When you've got the poorest sector of society who dedicate 100% of their income to consumption spending, it pretty much slashed their standard of living by 1/11th. It's a regressive tax that hits the poor harder than it does the rich. I don't expect you or certain others to have a problem with that, but hey, some of us do.

Can anyone confirm whether or not transfer payments went up 10%?

I wasn't asking you.

 

[Scorpio]

Just giving this thread some balance...

Courtesy of ninemsn.com.au


Latham not wavering on Iraq troops
13:46 AEST Sat Jun 12 2004


Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham today disputed reports he was wavering on his pledge to bring troops home from Iraq by Christmas.

Mr Latham said reports in the media which indicated he was back-peddling on the commitment were simply wrong.

"That report on the front of the Australian newspaper today is absolutely untrue and absolute nonsense," Mr Latham told journalists outside Queensland's Labor Party conference in Brisbane.

"Our policy hasn't changed.

"In March, in announcing our commitment about the troops in Iraq, we said three things: the first is our intention to have them back by Christmas, second, in doing that we would rely on a federal election this year, say in September, and the third thing we said is that in relation to security and the protection of the Australian diplomatic mission in Baghdad, we would take the advice of the foreign affairs security officials.




"We would do that in government and act on their advice.

"This has always been Labor's position on the issue."

Mr Latham said he remained strongly committed to the US alliance despite criticism from leaders of that country over his wish to leave Iraq.

"I have always believed in the alliance with the United States and I always will," he said.

"I think it is very important for Australia's future and for the Labor Party, it has been part of our heritage." Mr Latham said he had not reached any conclusions yet on the results of local elections in the United Kingdom yesterday which showed a backlash against the Blair government's Labour Party over its stance on the war in Iraq.

"It doesn't give me heart to see the Labor Party defeated in any part of the world," he said.

"These are things for the British people to sort out in their own democracy, and how they vote at local elections is up to them."

 

[TheBloods]

Originally posted by kirky
Well are Latham is doing is what one PM has done. Never ever GST - the biggest back flip of all time!!!!

I thought Keating's backflip on the GST was pretty much the same.

Originally posted by CharlieG
Can anyone confirm whether or not transfer payments went up 10%?

I believe they did go up, but I'm not sure how much. They shouldn't go up 10% anyway - not everything went up 10%. In fact most things went up by less. People don't seem to get that - it wasn't a new tax - it was replacing a range of old taxes so adding 10% to everything is plainly wrong.

Originally posted by bomaz
It's a pity that the whole Liberal Party policy, other than stuffing up this country (Higer Education reform, Ripping the heart out of medicare, GST, just to name a few) is all about discrediting the opposition.

Firstly, that is standard fare for both sides of politics. You act like the Liberals are the only ones who do it.

Secondly, you've just done the same thing yourself - the thread is about Latham's policy and yet you've tried to sidetrack it into what's wrong with the Government.

 

[CharlieG]

Originally posted by bunsen burner
I wasn't asking you.

Can you answer my question, or are you going to dodge it?

If transfer payments (welfare, MGREG, if you didn't know) increased in line with the GST, then fair enough. There's still the issue of the minimum wage, but we'll get to that.

If they didn't, then there is something wrong with the GST.

Now, isn't that what you asked?

BTW - Thankyou to NMW, who actually did try and answer the question. It's not as decisive as what I'm looking for, but it's an answer.

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by CharlieG
Can you answer my question, or are you going to dodge it?

I've already said - I wasn't talking to you.

Now, isn't that what you asked?

No it's not. I was actually going to see if Bomaz actually had a reason why he/she didn't rate the GST or whether it was a case of disliking just because it's a Liberal/Howard policy.

 

[billy big ears]

Originally posted by Scorpio
Just giving this thread some balance...

Courtesy of ninemsn.com.au


Latham not wavering on Iraq troops
13:46 AEST Sat Jun 12 2004


Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham today disputed reports he was wavering on his pledge to bring troops home from Iraq by Christmas.

Mr Latham said reports in the media which indicated he was back-peddling on the commitment were simply wrong.

"That report on the front of the Australian newspaper today is absolutely untrue and absolute nonsense," Mr Latham told journalists outside Queensland's Labor Party conference in Brisbane.

"Our policy hasn't changed.

"In March, in announcing our commitment about the troops in Iraq, we said three things: the first is our intention to have them back by Christmas, second, in doing that we would rely on a federal election this year, say in September, and the third thing we said is that in relation to security and the protection of the Australian diplomatic mission in Baghdad, we would take the advice of the foreign affairs security officials.




"We would do that in government and act on their advice.

"This has always been Labor's position on the issue."

Mr Latham said he remained strongly committed to the US alliance despite criticism from leaders of that country over his wish to leave Iraq.

"I have always believed in the alliance with the United States and I always will," he said.

"I think it is very important for Australia's future and for the Labor Party, it has been part of our heritage." Mr Latham said he had not reached any conclusions yet on the results of local elections in the United Kingdom yesterday which showed a backlash against the Blair government's Labour Party over its stance on the war in Iraq.

"It doesn't give me heart to see the Labor Party defeated in any part of the world," he said.

"These are things for the British people to sort out in their own democracy, and how they vote at local elections is up to them."

Notice how all the idiot coalition supporters run like rabbits after any little scrap of false information that they think will get sleasy Howard re elected not surprising really when you consider their pin up boy johhne has made lying and deciept an art form..
You people just like the rest of the Liberal party are running scared.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by FootyontheBrain
Actually it sounds like the two of them are cut from the same cloth. However, Kerry could probably teach Latham a few tricks on how to flip/flop and not have the media call you out for it.

Kerry: "I voted for body armor for our troops. Before I voted against it." Huh!? The fact this guy is still in the race is unbelievable.

Kerry does have a reputation as a flip-flopper.

But he's not the only one.

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=42263

 

[kirky]

Originally posted by DaveW
Kerry does have a reputation as a flip-flopper.

But he's not the only one.

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=42263

Game set match. Thank you ball boys.

Bush is gone for what it is worth and then little Johnnie will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Can someone please explain why one isn't allowed to change ones mind. I'm sure I have become more moderate (and wiser) in my beliefs since I was in my early 20's.