Only days to the London Olympics and there is no news, apart from the old chestnuts of Chinese man ladies and panic that the stadium or whatever won't be ready. So what do the media blokes do? Oh yes, find another angle, another scapegoat. This time its Leisel Jones. She's too fat.
The coverage about Ms Jones is very very similar to the treatment meted out to another welsh-Australian, our PM Ms Gillard. In John Howard speak, Gillard has done well - there is little to no news about. Australia is prosperous, plump, safe, low inflation, housing market rising; we have a government which though consultation, negotiation and compromise, actually represents a wide variety of voters and indeed has managed to Get Things Done. In this news desert, they have to make things up, they have to create their own headlines. Thats why the leadership question keeps arising - despite his trouncing, that phony rat Rudd (I mean, really... who EVER said 'fair suck of the sausage'? Who sucks a sausage?) keeps gnawing away, offering hope to the starving media. Say something often enough and long enough, and it will develop a life of its own. And before you know it, even Mike Carlton is saying Julia must go.
Ask your mates. I've asked hundreds of people what they think of JG; all except 2 like and respect her. The two were tradies - one said she was a bitch, the other blamed her for the GFC.
There's no doubt about this - this is simply misogyny. This government works, it delivers on all counts - but it may get voted out because the pundits say the leader is not popular with the electorate. Its fine to have a female GG - she only has to sign things and look elegant ( which she does, beautifully). Otherwise, women get placed in leadership only at the end of a party's grip on power.
Well I have a solution to this. Hey you Carlton's, Keane's, Fitzsimon's, Hendersons, you have recognised good government, so instead of singing this chorus in the minor key, sing joyfully in a full throated roar about how bloody fortunate we are, and how we should simply be grateful for what we have.
Publicly acknowledge the success of the Gillard approach - consultation, conciliation, compromise and results. And consider the alternative - a pugilistic boofhead.
I hope the nasty comments about Leisel Jones spur her onto success, as it has Ms Gillard. Whatever happens, history will be kind to both of them
