Chardonnay Socialists, tradies desert Labor. Eric’s in control ...Duh!
Bob Cheek
04.02.10 5:02 am
‘‘Labor stinks like rotten eggs, mate, and I can’t stand Bartlett’s smarmy look,’’ he said. Now the Gym Rat is quite well off; a chardonnay socialist laced with a smidgin of scotch and soda capitalism. But next day some fiercely unionised tradies fixing up the changerooms voiced similar sentiments, spiced with obscenities. Admittedly, my unsolicited little gym sample is no Newspoll, but it’s convinced me that blue and white collar workers alike are deserting Labor in droves.
Rick Pilkington
17.07.07 12:16 am
Rick Pilkington
Harsh words indeed Sue Neales, yet I believe the majority of Tasmanians would agree with her. Perhaps this is exactly why myself and other Tasmanians are so desperately disappointed in Will Hodgman and his party. And I do live very close to where the proposed Gunns Pulp will be sited so I may have to live with the consequences of what I see as the State Liberals party’s complete abrogation of their job as parliamentary opposition and total compliance with the Premier’s great pulp mill swindle.
04.02.06 5:34 am
MARGARETTA POS, Crikey: Cheek Jnr takes up post for Al Jazeera.
Bob Cheek: Who really runs Tasmania?
16.01.06 12:20 am
THE TUFFIN INTERVIEW: In this exclusive video interview on TTTV, successful businessman, former politician, and writer Bob Cheek reveals who he believes is the real power in Tasmania, and whether Premier Paul Lennon will survive Crown Towergate — and when he believes Lennon will go to the polls.
TTTV is part of thisTasmania NETWORK — a cooperative venture between Tasmania’s leading web sites which will be officially launched soon.
This is the first of an ongoing series of interviews, which will focus on issues that matter for Tasmanians, with no fear or favour, and with a larrikin instinct for the truth.
To view the videos, get Quicktime. Available for Windows and Macs.
19.12.05 11:37 pm
As the second print run of Bob Cheek’s bestseller hits the street today, we’d like to share an outsider’s review of this insider’s guide to Tasmanian politics:
That’s why the Punch-and-Judy show in Parliament doesn’t really matter all that much. Cheek’s time there is a tale of low farce, hilarious fecklessness, superlatively acrobatic treachery, deadpan hypocrisy and comical party-room fisticuffs (literally). He has more than a passing resemblance to John Cleese, and with Paul Lennon playing Aunty Jack, Jim Bacon as Fu Manchu and an unsuccessful stand-up comedian as campaign manager, the stage was set for a long-running comedy of errors.
The media weren’t kind to him, either, but Cheek’s propensity for taking pratfalls must have been hard to resist. And Enoch Powell’s dictum that politicians who complain about the media are like ships’ captains who complain about the sea is doubly true for ex-journalists who go into politics. There’s not much the hacks like more than a bit of cannibalism.
18.12.05 6:27 am
BOB CHEEK:
“And I’m pleased that the dire predictions from former premier Tony Rundle that I wouldn’t sell 200 copies have been left far behind.”
24.11.05 4:05 pm
NICK EVERS:
The book also impresses me as an honest one. Bob Cheek is surely not so silly as to court legal action which — given Rene Hidding’s earlier warning — would surely have been forthcoming if it was judged to be sustainable. We may not like everything he says but, for me at least, it has a clear ring of credibility about it. I do not know Rene Hidding any better than I know Bob Cheek but from the few times I have met him he has seemed a decent and diligent man. He fired a shot across Cheek’s bows, returned to the bunker and shut up. Smart move, that — too many others would have tramped around in the marsh until they became bogged in their own verbiage.
The notion of politics as a service — of managing public affairs and advancing the public good as a genuine mission — has been subsumed by a political ethic that reflects cynicism rather than service, electoral success almost for its own sake rather than the enrichment of people’s lives in tangible terms. None of this should surprise us because, in the absence of any tangible philosophical difference between the parties at state and federal levels, they only have brawling and name-calling left as weapons.
20.11.05 1:15 am
WAYNE CRAWFORD:
I doubt Cheek will have many mates left in politics after this, but the rest of Tasmania owes him a debt of gratitude.
17.11.05 12:27 am
Picture: ROB WALLS
LINDSAY TUFFIN:
Bob Cheek confronts this reality and mentality head-on. He is courageous in doing so for Tasmania is best served by the truth, even when it offends and threatens the powerful.
And:
What Rene reckons
16.11.05 4:30 am
BOB CHEEK:
This tall, impeccably dressed, deeply religious man did more to damage our chances of winning the 2002 election than any other politician — Labor or Liberal. At least with Rundle I knew where I stood: Runners never tried to hide his animosity and launched predictable upfront verbal assaults; Hidding was far more subtle and wreaked havoc from within while giving the impression he was working as part of the team.
Apparently, the State Hydro Electric Commission had been commissioned to look at the Hidding proposal. Lennon bellowed out the report, lusting over every word: The estimated cost would be at least $1 billion, not $25 million as Rene said, because of silt 30 metres deep; the dam would have to be at least a kilometre long; wildlife would be wiped out; the harbour destroyed. And so it went on. Hidding sank lower and lower in his seat next to Napier as it became obvious Lennon wasn’t going to suffer a heart attack (Rene’s only hope) because he was enjoying himself too much. Napier, loudly supporting Rene initially, fell silent. When Lennon finally sat down, like a bloated diner with gravy dribbling down his chin after devouring Liberal lamb shanks, Rene’s reputation was in tatters; and the dam had been well and truly breached.
16.11.05 12:27 am
DAVID OBENDORF:
And it seems that culture is not averse to lying, deceit and cover up. Sadly and all too often in this little State we see new examples of someone mad enough to try to make a difference — tell it how it is — rather than keeping the lid on a cosy, comfortable and well-heeled life-style of the rich, power-hungry and sometimes the maniacal!
15.11.05 3:50 am
CHEEKY: Confessions of a Ferret Salesman is launched,
Tomorrow, Tuesday (Nov 15)
Churchill Room,
Salamanca Inn,
Salamanca Place.
12.45pm
Cheeky: blows the whistle on perks
14.11.05 2:01 am
BOB CHEEK:
A nasty scene developed. There’s no more wounded or dangerous animal than a politician who’s missed out on a trip. In the end it was ruled that Bondey was only 10 metres behind the bus in his vehicle when the draw took place — and could almost be considered a rear seat passenger of the bus. So he kept the prize. Still, there were no more lucky bus draws, and the empty seats reappeared.
One night we arrived at our luxurious lakeside hotel in Fuzhou and someone suggested going up to the top floor to have a look at the view. There was a view all right — but not the scenic kind. The Tasmanian delegation had stumbled across a veritable communist Chinese paradise of stunning-looking call girls who were more than happy to make room calls later in the night. One of the delegation spent most of the next day on the bus learning the words for “blow job” in Mandarin, much to the amusement of the rest of the party. After that, the state excursion developed all the hallmarks of an end-of-season footy trip. Not surprisingly, the delegation failed to pick up any business for Tasmania. I’m not sure if members picked up anything else.
13.11.05 12:29 am
GUY PARSONS:
Every one of us in Tasmania now bears a black eye.
Count all the set-ups in this brief and petty episode, count the outcomes of cynical, self-obsessed, egotistical and bloody bullish behaviour. And — if we are not too hardened and cynical and resigned ourselves — well, weep. Mr Cheek’s portrayal of these events, we can expect, will open a new can of ugly, angry worms and new missions of recrimination.
12.11.05 4:01 pm
BOB CHEEK:
“Right, Bob, tell us where you were yesterday,” he sniped. “You didn’t bother to turn up for our meeting and then you go out and bag us. You’re bloody disloyal. I want you to make a statement to the party right now about your disgraceful behaviour.” It was an obvious set-up. The beleaguered party wanted a new scapegoat – and I was it.
“Let’s step outside and settle it,” Groom threatened, as he went to get to his feet. I thought he’d gone mad and tried to ignore him, thinking that Rundle would take control of the meeting.
As I staggered, Groom wrestled me to the ground and I hit the deck. I was shocked and enraged by the assault and attempted to scramble back to my feet so I could retaliate, as the other Libs finally reacted and piled into the fray. Several grabbed Groom, but they had trouble containing me and the next thing I remember is Frank Madill’s ample frame sitting on my chest so I couldn’t move. Others followed suit and I was pinned to the ground.
An Agathie Christie-like surreal atmosphere now enveloped the morbid room as Rundle attempted to push on with his agenda, occasionally casting nervous looks in my direction. As much as they tried to ignore the corpse on the couch, they couldn’t.
Today
• Feathering nests or furthering Tassie ... ? • Without fear or favour • Legco: Labor crushed • Andrew Nikolic and The New Examiner. 48,000 visit New Examiner ... • Is Tasmania a failed state ... ?
Passenger rail on its own won’t be viable and will not have the full benefit.
Run passenger express services…
