“We Need To Talk About Kevin!” “Who??”

One of the interesting things about the human brain is its capacity to find a unique view of the world in spite of all evidence to the contrary… Of course when I say “unique” that doesn’t mean that it won’t have similarities with other like-minded individuals; it just means that no two people ever see things from exactly the same perspective and…

Apparently, according to some of the brains in this world, our man in the USA, Kevin Rudd, was laughed at by our PM, Mr Albanese…

Now before I go any further, I’m just going to take all the politics out of this and give you a short script of what happened. However, instead of using people we already know, I’m just going to create a scene with a whole new list of characters..

Grumpy Grandad: Well, this Christmas has been very pleasant…

Cousin Andy: You don’t mind the names that Rodney called you last Christmas?

Grumpy Grandad: Who’s this Rodney?

Cousin Andy: He was Jenny’s partner?

Grumpy Grandad: Was he? (To Jenny) Do you still see him? 

Jenny: Yeah, he’s the guy you’ve been boring to death for the past half hour…

(Everyone laughs)

Grumpy Grandad: I knew I didn’t like him.

Of course, in my little scenario, nobody is laughing at Rodney or Jenny or Cousin Andy. They were all laughing at poor, old senile grandad who didn’t remember the boyfriend from last year… which is a bit cruel but that’s what people are like.

Now let’s go back to the Whitehouse… or what’s left of it. Trump has demolished a large part of the East Wing which a President isn’t meant to do without getting permission from Congress but, hey, Trump was all about bringing a new way of doing things, which some might say resembles the old way of doing things before there was such a thing as democracy and votes and checks on the power of the leader, but, as various Trumpets tell us, fascism was what they voted for and anyone who voted for someone else is anti-fascist and that’s the same as terrorism because their leader said it was and if you don’t do what your leader says then that’s unpatriotic and treasonous because everyone voted for Trump, and if they didn’t they don’t deserve a vote because they’re just un-American…

Anyway, it seems to me – and maybe it’s just my human brain taking a unique view – that when Trump discovered that Kevin Rudd was in the room, that the laughter was the nervous sort. You know, the “Well, this is embarrassing but, hey, if we all laugh, maybe the moment will just go away…” moment.

While some are concentrating on the Rudd moment, some people are pointing out that there was quite a lot achieved. Apparently we have some sort of deal where the USA will help us process the rare earth stuff that we have so that they can buy it from us and not have to rely on China. Trump also re-affirmed a commitment to AUKUS which means that we pay a lot of money and in return get some submarines at some future date when he’s no longer President. I am presuming that there will be a time when he’s no longer President because the Constitution says that he can’t stand again, but that’s only a bit of paper and who worries about things like that when you have the sort of President who’s on first name terms with Jesus…

Sussan Ley insisted that Kevin Rudd needed to be recalled but then – for reasons unknown – decided that he didn’t. Liberal leaders are allowed to do this, but it’s always worth remembering that Labor leaders can never change their minds based on advice; neither are they allowed they show single-mindedness. They either “backflip” or else they “double down”.

So, allowing for Labor’s inability to achieve anything positive, you’d have to call the meeting a great success… unless you happen to think that Labor can never be given credit for anything. Or unless you happen to think that AUKUS is just something that we got landed with by Scott Morrison before he went and got a job with some defence company in the US.

Or unless you think that any agreement with Trump isn’t worth the paper it’s written on… particularly if the written bit says that this is not a legally binding contract.

Keep Independent Journalism Alive – Support The AIMN

Dear Reader,

Since 2013, The Australian Independent Media Network has been a fearless voice for truth, giving public interest journalists a platform to hold power to account. From expert analysis on national and global events to uncovering issues that matter to you, we’re here because of your support.

Running an independent site isn’t cheap, and rising costs mean we need you now more than ever. Your donation – big or small – keeps our servers humming, our writers digging, and our stories free for all.

Join our community of truth-seekers. Donate via PayPal or credit card via the button below, or bank transfer [BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969] and help us keep shining a light.

With gratitude, The AIMN Team