The Trial of John Winston Howard
Australian issues, Intellectuals, commentators etc, popular culture - - Posted on August, 12 at 2:33 pm by Helen
“You are aware, Ms Diabolica, that the Fifth Amendment is an American instrument?”
“Yes your Honour, but unfortunately so is my client.”
Boom-tish!
Last sunday night, the Melbourne Town Hall was packed to the rafters. As the doors opened, the queue stretched around the block and up to - it was rumoured - Russell street.
Moosehead Awards? Dalai Lama? No - it was the Trial of John Howard, put on by the Fabian society, set in the Court of the Supreme Bean, Linda Briskman (Centre for Human Rights)with Julian Burnside as prosecutor and Rachel Doyle defending. JHo was played by Max Gillies. Love the prosthetic bottom lip, Max!
From the Fabian site: Her gracious majesty in the person of Gerry Connolly will grace us with her presence as a witness for Howard (God help him), Melanie La’Brooy will appear as a witness for the nation as well as number of others.
Cast and crew have volunteered their time and brilliance to bring this man to book!
Tim Robertson directs, John Timlin is producer with Guy Rundle, Julian Burnside, Jeremy Press ,Rod Quantock, Rachel Doyle and Melanie La’Brooy… (Also, Shahin Shafaei as asylum seeker “Lucky”, Corinne Grant as Middle Australia and Gerry Connolly again as Paul Keating in a walk-on cameo).
It looked as if most of Middle Australia had turned out for this event. There were families from Brunswick and Thornbury to East Malvern and Blackburn– hardly inner-city Trotskyite types. If I were Mark Textor, I’d be feeling very queasy. Not only were the Doctors Wives all out in force, the doctors were all there too, along with the older doctors’ kids. Lots of oldies there; two of the people in our group were over eighty - you just can’t rely on these people to stay in their houses with the tartan rug over the knees any more. Troublemakers!
The ticket came with a printed warning: The bearer of this document will now be definitely known to ASIO, the CIA and sundry experts in the area of rendition, torture and detention centres and has never attended Kirribilli House or the Lodge as a fundraising guest of the Liberal Party or the Defendant. I guess our chances of being invited to Kirribilli House for dinner are kaput now, too.
Buried down at the bottom of the program, “By popular request, Janette Howard does not appear.” Zzzing! I guess it was a tough call whether to lampoon Hyacinth, and they decided to go easy on her, except for that little shot of acid.
It was intriguing to be part of such an old-style political event, in keeping with the Victorian architecture of the Town Hall. Despite the sophisticated AV equipment and auxiliary screens, this was the way we’d have been voicing our protest before blogging, forums and talkback: lampooning characters with a broad brush on the stage, with the house packed to the rafters with the ordinary voters cheering, booing and having the time of their lives.
Next day, the Hun headline was “Old, Tricky and Losing“. Even the Murdochistas are abandoning JHo. If I’m not careful, I’ll find myself feeling sorry for the old rodent.
Crossposted at the Balcony
Posted in Australian issues, Intellectuals, commentators etc, popular culture |
August 12th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Wish I could have been there, I think Ratty has run out of hawsers .
Me thinks you more careful than that.
August 12th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I can verify that the queue did indeed go to Russell Street.
August 12th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Has anyone noticed how the rodent and co (and some of the MSM) are talking about how the people are merely “bored” with the Govt and not “angry” with them?
Their thesis is that after 11 years Australians are just bored and ready for something new as opposed to being really pissed off.
This is because the rodent knows that if his party were to get an inkling that the nation was really “pissed off” with him then they would try to roll him in a heartbeat.
This shows his real agenda. The truth is that the real polling shows that Australians don’t trust him - they are pissed off with his lies and deceit. But he can’t admit that because he is determined to stay as long as he can - even if it means taking the ship down with him.
As soon as the Libs work out that he is going to take a lot of them down with him they they will be crying out for leadership change. Trouble is - it’s way too late - and none of them have the balls.
It’s ironic that they gave him the power and now they are scared shitless that he is using it to destroy them.
That’s the problem with sheep - they’re happy to be shorn but don’t like being turned into lamb chops.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
The Trial sounded like a real hoot. Would’ve loved to have been in the gallery.
“If I’m not careful, I’ll find myself feeling sorry for the old rodent.”
Please don’t fret excessively, Helen, the electorate has decided to do decent thing and take him to the vet. He won’t feel a thing.
Honest.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I can verify that the queue did indeed go to Russell Street.
Woah.
Please don’t fret excessively, Helen, the electorate has decided to do decent thing and take him to the vet. He won’t feel a thing.
LOL!1!
August 12th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Wonder if he’ll take his 2.5 million Workchoice booklets w/ him on the way out of Parliament…perhaps he could use them to build a fort in his backyard & play silly buggers w/ Downer as they defend themselves against those wily Islamos & rascally Aboriginal tribes?
August 13th, 2007 at 12:49 am
“If I’m not careful, I’ll find myself feeling sorry for the old rodent.”
Hey Enemy Combatant leave the cooking sherry to lil ol me.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:52 am
It was when this http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22207301-910,00.html
passed without so much as a murmur from the Burnsides, Lasrys, Farises, Kirbys, etc, that you realise just what a bunch of political tossers these human rights moral badge wearers really are.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:32 am
“that you realise just what a bunch of political tossers these human rights moral badge wearers really are.”
Hey Obs one article does not make a case for calling people political tossers.Most people would agree with the decision anyway.You are drawing a long bow to assume because you can’t find comment the list, all were for it. Or can You?
I mean shit Rudd has not taken up his place in the lodge yet, and already you are blaming him for the coming economic meltdown.Although I must confess I am such a cynical bastard I wouldn’t be surprised if they will sigh with relief if Rudd wins.Only a total imbecile would deny these fuckers know what is about to go down,and they have found the perfect patsy.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:39 am
How do you know there hasn’t been a murmur from Burnside, Lasry et al, if it just hasn’t been reported? Is it necessary to issue a press release for everything now?
The SA council for civil liberties - you know, SA, where the thing happened - was quoted denouncing it in the article.
I really weary of this “if you don’t denounce this thing loudly within a time frame of my choosing, then you support it (and you are a tosser)! it’s just a tired, adolescent Gotcha game.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Hey, Obs - ‘Farises’????? What on earth gave you the idea Peter ‘Hang ‘em High’ Faris was any sort of civil libertarian. George W is wont to rabbit on with words like ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’ he has drained of meaning much as a vampire drains blood from virigins. Does this make W a civil libertarian too?
August 13th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
You’re right about Faris hal so delete him http://www.farisqc.observationdeck.org/?cat=3
It was a comment in regards to the Haneef case when I made that false connection. The rest still stand but hold the writs Peter sweetie!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Helen, could you imagine the ruckus from all the usual suspects if Howard dropped double jeopardy protection to further pursue Hicks or Jihad Jack, etc? C’mon…
August 13th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
The main problem that I have with “le rodent” is that he has not once chosen to have a deep and meaningful conversation with the Australian people.
Not once over the past 12 years has he thought a matter to be of enough significance that he ought raise it and discuss it with us. Of course he has dealt with lots of significant issues over that time and the people have collectively had opinions on most of them. But unfortunately, he has not bothered to engage with us on any of them.
There are dozens – perhaps hundred of matters of significance where he has pursued his own self-interested agenda. Never once has he developed his argument, made and presented his case or listened to an opposing view. His approach has always been to push his own extreme view. No discussion, no dialog, no alternative, no argument. Take it or leave it, like it or lump it.
Well I don’t like it and I won’t lump it and it appears that a majority of my countrymen agree – and that is why “le rodent” is destined to learn a little history lesson.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Thought it was a wonderful “Cutting Edge” SBS 14/8.
A good cross section of Bennelongs masses and they were honest enought to put a finger on Johnnie and say so.
Thought Johnnie lloked tired, dry-mouthed and distracted. He’ll have to get a “Creative-type’ to advise on how best to rid oneself of ‘dry mouth’ on camera!!!