THE AUDACITY OF HOW DARE YOU DISAGREE WITH ME:

Dawn of a new silence (Janet Albrechtsen, February 20, 2008, The Australian)

BIPARTISANSHIP is ushering in a new era in politics. We are witnessing an "epiphany" where politicians work together, discarding partisan politics, in the search for the best policies for this country. February 13 marks a "seismic change in our nation", according to effusive letter writers. Is it possible the Opposition's backflip yesterday on Labor's workplace reforms is the first real sign of the dawning of some new age of bipartisanship?

Not so fast. The Opposition's backflip is simple paranoia about the consequences of a double dissolution. And as for Kevin Rudd's bipartisanship on indigenous policies, it is also pure politics. Bipartisanship may be the new Rudd Government buzzword, but it is an alluring word that masks a darker motive, a word chosen to deliberately deceive. Bipartisanship is a dangerous move if it is code for saying no more criticism, thank you very much.

Such is the impulse that lurks behind the bizarre notion that Barack Obama, the most pro-death candidate ever to run for president, is uniquely qualified to unify the country. When only 20% of the public agrees with him on permitting infanticide it's hard to see how he could be more marginal.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 19, 2008 9:28 AM