Malcolm Turnbull called a press conference yesterday to accuse the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament over the Oceanic Viking deal. But does telling the truth in Parliament even mean anything any more? asks Bernard Keane.
Politicians behaving badly
Berlusconi gets busted: Italy’s love affair ends
PM Silvio Berlusconi will now face prosecution against charges of fraud, corruption, tax evasion and bribery, with an Italian court stripping him of immunity. Italians can forgive the perma-tan and philandering but not this, says Richard Owen.
Japan’s Sarah Palin Party
The Democratic Party of Japan has come under fire for recruiting young, attractive, female candidates, with little political or life experience — including a former erotic film star — in what critics see as a cheap and shameless attempt to broaden its appeal to voters.
Bruises, gossip and wives: the juicy side of SA politics
SA Premier Mike Rann was left with facial bruising after an alleged assault and now the rumour mill is pumping because the Premier was friends with his attacker’s wife. Will the gossip affect Rann’s leadership chances?
Politainment: some sexy light relief from our drab lives
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi’s stories of sex, scandal and beautiful women make him a more entertaining, and popular, politician than most. Is Berlusconi’s burlesque the political future?
Guy Rundle: Why Rudd said the F-word. Twice!
Kevin Rudd’s F-bomb attack caused an outbreak of “uh-maaaah”s from the News Ltd press. But there’s a way the ALP can spin this to their advantage…
Penberthy: Why I care when Rudd swears
I couldn’t give a rat’s bottom if Kevin Rudd swears or not, says David Penberthy. What is interesting is the divide between the modern softie who yucks it up on Rove and R-rated Rudd.
Political snippets: Parliament goes pre-school
Coalition MPs have done themselves no favours with their behaviour in the House of Representatives this week — temper tantrums don’t win support or votes. Plus pre-mixed concrete sales cements economic predictions and remember those jailed Rio execs? Hu? Exactly.
Parliament House or animal house?
The conduct of Federal Parliament recently has descended from chaos into outright farce, says Christian Kerr. Both sides know they’re behaving badly, but will either fall back into line?
Obama calls Kanye West a jackass; internet explodes
US President Barack Obama labled rapper Kanye West a “jackass” in off-the-record “banter” with journos yesterday. But one reporter just couldn’t help Tweeting it. Cue internet meltdown.
Is Della Bosca’s sex life really a public interest story?
With The Daily Tele’s eagerness to break the John Della Bosca sex scandal and destroy his political career, what will this mean for future issues involving politicians, privacy and matters of public interest?
Canberra Calling: Money, Della Bosca and stimulus
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and editor Jonathan Green are back discussing the press gallery’s “group think” in reporting the latest economic news. (Warning: contains seamless segue from stimulus to the Della Bosca sex scandal).
Della Bosca joins long list of upstanding members
Politicians straying from the marital bed? Where’s the story? asks Bob Ellis.
The aphrodisiac of power = ‘poor personal decisions’
Why would John Della Bosca, a politician with premier hopes, risk his entire political career on a sex scandal? SMH explores how the affair aftermath unfolded.
Scandals shouldn’t be our political focus
Why should politicians be a moral guiding light? If personal indiscretions don’t interfere with political responsibilities, then it’s no big deal, says Tony Smith.
Daily Tele’s interview with Della Bosca’s lover
The Daily Telegraph does a hard hitting interview with John Della Bosca’s lover. “If you want to have the hedonistic type of life where you can sleep with someone other than your wife without consequences, then don’t get into politics”, she says.
Incompetence and scandal the NSW way
New South Wales doesn’t need another AFL team — its government provides more than enough in the way of spectator sport, writes Crikey intern James Pattison.
Ruddinator 2: Judgment Day
Poor judgment. Bad judgment. Wrong judgment. Misjudgment. Flawed judgment. The word ‘judgment’ was uttered 24 times in Question Time yesterday.
David Cameron drops the ‘twat’ bomb on radio
While the Kyle and Jackie O show provoked controversy in Australia, British Conservative Party Leader David Cameron stirred up his own little storm on popular commercial radio in England overnight.
Silvio and scandal: a Crikey timeline
Italian billionaire media tycoon and three-time Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is no stranger to gaffes and sex scandals. We take a look at some of the Latin lothario’s greatest hits.
Silvio Berlusconi, a man’s man
With sex tapes revealed involving Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, an escort and “Putin’s bed”, ire has risen about his behaviour. But, while I wouldn’t vote for him, says Max Davidson, I wouldn’t mind being him.
Gordon Nuttall and the Queensland crony club
The Queensland Inc of the 21st century is not a rerun of the matters uncovered by the Fitzgerald inquiry. But business and politics work closely, as the conviction of ex-minister Gordon Nuttall for corrupt payments shows, says Andrew Fraser.
Bobby and Jackie: sex in politics gets a new twist
According to a new book, Bobby and Jackie Kennedy were like two high school kids who, in front of the entire Camelot court, couldn’t keep their hands off of each other, writes Michael Wolff.
