tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post8191838697448837868..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Saturday Morning Musings - chaos in Australian politics, the NSW disease with a dash of academic writingJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-36967437742442682262013-03-25T17:06:55.717+11:002013-03-25T17:06:55.717+11:00Hi kvd. I was glad to see that Don had pleaded mea...Hi kvd. I was glad to see that Don had pleaded mea culpa despite your leaking ire! I thought that he would, although you probably annoyed him! <br /><br />Actually, I think that you are the one doing service to democracy by correcting. More broadly, I have argued before that independent bloggers can have little individual influence. However, I have also argued that collectively they can have influence over time because they work in the space between the committed. <br /><br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-42415330886440762013-03-25T15:20:28.211+11:002013-03-25T15:20:28.211+11:00Thanks for this second postscipt Jim; wouldn't...Thanks for this second postscipt Jim; wouldn't have otherwise picked up on it.<br /><br />However my frustration at this mis-reporting (which I unfortunately let leak into my otherwise polite comment on DA's blog) has only increased because I see that comments are now closed on that Drum item.<br /><br />That aside, I wish to compliment both yourself and Don Aitken for acknowledging the point I raised. I shudder to think how it might have been treated on sites such as the Cat or LP. There seems to be very few places available to politely discuss issues without first donning the unthinking mantle of Leftie or Rightie before 'going in to bat'. You both do valuable service to what's left of 'democracy'.<br /><br />Sometimes I just despair.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-46746903058815216392013-03-23T10:21:32.243+11:002013-03-23T10:21:32.243+11:00Thanks, kvd. As you will have seen, I brought part...Thanks, kvd. As you will have seen, I brought part of your comment up on the main post. It's not a small thing at all. The nuances are important.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-37380541835868109212013-03-23T09:13:27.569+11:002013-03-23T09:13:27.569+11:00Just a little further explanation of what might se...Just a little further explanation of what might seem pedantic to some:<br /><br />Mr Windsor has been very consistent in his approach to parliamentary democracy, so I would have seen nothing contradictory in his voting for the suspension of Standing Orders (which he did) but then perhaps voting against a motion of no confidence (he never got the chance to, but I'm betting he would have).<br /><br />I'm guessing he considers this nuance quite important, and I'm sorry it seems to have gotten lost in the rush of immediate reporting and opinion.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-70799258055977557562013-03-23T09:01:22.612+11:002013-03-23T09:01:22.612+11:00Hi Jim
Both you and DW say that a 'vote of no...Hi Jim<br /><br />Both you and DW say that a 'vote of no confidence' was lost, whereas I understood it to be a 'vote for the suspension of Standing Orders' SO THAT such a motion could then be debated and voted upon.<br /><br />And I seem to remember Tony Windsor making that point in explaining why he'd voted for the suspension of Standing Orders - i.e. that this might then be properly considered.<br /><br />It's interesting to see just how quickly history can be miswritten. Here's the Hansard:<br /><i><br />Mr ABBOTT (Warringah — Leader of the Opposition)(14:09):<br />I move:<br />That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion forthwith:<br />That this House declares no confidence in the Prime<br />Minister.</i><br /><br />Anyway, you guys are the historians, so whaddaIknow?<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com