That Iguana Thing

I rue the day that the Watergate office-apartment-hotel complex was built in 1967. Or maybe I should be ruing that the Democratic National Committee moved their headquarters there – and that Nixon decided to authorise robbing their asses. Either way, I have a lot of regrets that the aforementioned Watergate scandal became so damn famous that every political scandal hence forth needed a –gate suffix. Lewinsky-gate, Camilla-gate, Nipple-gate… there’s a million of them, too often coined by people not alive in 1972, or aware of the true origins of the name. It makes a man’s ruing fist ache with over use. The latest addition is a local one, Iguana-gate, referring to John Della Bosca and wife Belinda Neal running amok at Iguanas Waterfront Bar.

It only happened two weeks ago, but already I wish I was born without ears. Talk about over reporting. The hapless oppositions in both state and federal parliament have seized on the incident and have devoted most of their ‘question time’ questions to ‘getting to the bottom’ of the affair. In NSW, Labor is taking a beating, primarily because of the culture of corruption and abuse of power that is taking shape. Today, for the first time Barry O’Farrell out polled Morris Iemma as preferred Premier – something that I hope Iemma takes very personally; it’s like losing a popularity contest to a cardboard cut out. So far though at the federal level, Rudd has managed to float clear of Ms Neal’s scandal… but he’s not out of the woods yet.

My solution to this is twofold. For starters, Iemma has worn out his welcome with me. It’s time to bring him down. The media are speculating that the left wingers in the state Labor party are conspiring to over throw him and replace him with Carmel Tebbutt, Nathan Rees or even uninspiring John Watkins (I’m a Tebbutt man for the record) – something they should do post-haste. A clean slate is just what NSW needs right now, a purging of the corrupt mafia-esque cadre running the place. Axe Iemma, Della Bosca, Tripodi and my old mate Costa. The time for the rising of the left is here.

Second, Rudd should be sounding loud and clear that the era of arrogance and privilege associated with politics has passed - by making an example of Belinda Neal if necessary. The public are in a mood for change and for ‘new politics’ and have little tolerance for the old clichés. These include demanding a better table because you’re an MP, peer pressuring employees to doctor statutory declarations, and writing the club’s apology for them. Bringing (at least the pretense) of public service (and humility) back to the Public Service is the new black… get onboard or get run over by it.

So Close

There’s only one thing worse than losing: coming within a whisker of winning – and then losing. The closer you get, the more it hurts. As Tiger tapped in for par on the 19^th (sudden death play-off hole) today, Rocco Mediate got a taste of what I’m talking about. So close to making history, to clinching glory and yet so very, very far. After 18 months of primaries, Hillary Clinton burns with thoughts of what might have been – and don’t even get me started on Al Gore.

As my man Barack clinched the Democratic nomination earlier this month, my thoughts turned to the biting disappointment that would accompany his loss in November. For me this would be accentuated by the knowledge that the Obama path leads us all out of the jungle, while McCain will only plunge further into it.

Logically, McCain shouldn’t come within cooee of the Presidency. I stand by my past assertions that he was the best Republican candidate, and I’m glad that he’s the nominee. He’s generally a straight shooter, has a proud military history and (was at least) considered a moderate amongst his right wing colleagues. As the race has progressed though, the 71 year old has tracked right, courting the support of the conservative base, and sticking with his pro-Iraq War stance. His suggestions for economic recovery and the environment are simplistic at best (and afterthoughts at worst). He’s also found himself continually justifying his involvement with lobbyists – and just lately, his temper (In 1992, after Cindy McCain teased her husband about his thinning hair, McCain snapped at her, in front of the reporters and two staffers: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c—.") Nice C-bomb - way to court the female vote...

In contrast, Obama embodies the fresh start that so many of us crave. He is championing cornerstone Democratic causes like Universal Health Care, immigration reform and an end to the War – but he also promises a return to a less invasion-based foreign policy (Joe Biden will make a great Secretary of State). I’ve gone on and on about Obama over the last few months, I can’t say enough good things about him.

Given all that, why am I worried? The Republicans of this generation are a remorseless lot committed to winning at all costs. In the post-Karl Rove era, any and all tactics are on the table. So far in the campaign, Obama has been labelled an elitist, a secret Muslim, terrorist and an anti-white bigot, while the character assassination of his wife is only beginning (when they bumped fists on stage the other night – shown above -, FOX News asked whether it was a “terrorist fist jab”. Pricks. (For a full list of the smears, go to Obama’s truth site). Add to that the innate stupidity (and, don’t kid yourself, rascism) of the continental US and this election is by no means over.

So, fingers crossed that Obama keeps fighting the good fight, and steers a controversy free path to November (he’s had enough already). I’m hopeful that there are enough well informed Americans to see through the smear campaigns and carry him to a fairytale victory. Having gotten this close to history though, who can help but feel the specter of the corresponding despair that a loss will bring.

Oil Pressure

I couldn’t help but notice last time I was filling up Commodore One (that’s right, I still pump my own gas… for now) that it cost nearly twice as much as it used to. Back in the day, a full tank would set me back $40 or so – and lately, nearly $85. Now, I’m not going to lie and say that it doesn’t hurt, because clearly it does – but I’m sick to death of hearing the whole country whine about it constantly. The rising fuel prices reflect some harsh realities that we all need to acknowledge, beginning with the obvious: this trend is not temporary.

For starters, the increase in prices reflects (the only) real cost to us citizens of the war in Iraq. Unless you’re deployed there (or were until yesterday), or know someone who is, the war is an abstract concept. The odd 30 second snippet gets on TV every now and then, but otherwise it bears no direct effect on any of us. Let’s face it – Iraq is a long way away. Unfortunately, the fighting there (and flow down regional instability) is the driving force behind rising crude prices… up from about $40 a barrel in 2001 – to $127 this week (and expected to reach $200 in 2009). Hopefully you don’t need me to pencil in the connection between crude oil prices and petrol costs (hopefully). Henceforth then, let your $85 tank remind you of the consequences of a hastily planned and poorly executed war.

More broadly though, the clamor for oil and petrol are representative of a problem more permanent than war: our supplies are definitionally finite. Delirious with our own oil driven technology, demand has grown substantially in a few short decades – Australia consumed 350,000 barrels/day in 1965, and in 2005, 884,000 (note that our consumption is dwarfed by US, China… well almost everyone). Meanwhile, supplies generally remain fixed. Sure, new fields are occasionally discovered, upgraded or invaded – but with demand how it is, the impact is minor. At current consumption, Saudi Arabia will be out of oil in about 80 years, and Canada (which produces at 1/3 the speed) will be oil-free in 150. Clearly, demand is not expected to flatten out overnight, so these projections are overly generous. The bottom line: if you eat your greens and exercise regularly, you could well see an oil-free earth in your lifetime.

If you aren’t scared by that prospect, you should be. The frustrating thing is that the current leadership paralysis means that solutions are not being explored. There is no over-reaching governmental push for smaller, more efficient cars; for bio-fuel; or more generally for innovation in this area. At present, the collective us are sitting on our hands, wasting valuable time scoring political cheap shots. Meanwhile, the Swedes – as is their penchant – are striding boldly (and logically) forward, vowing oil independence by 2020 (by cutting consumption, increasing efficiency, and exploring alternatives).

For my part (aside from pursuing the Presidency), I’m selling Commodore One and resorting to public transport. Sure, our Costa-tarnished trains are out-dated, crowded and don’t run on time – but I feel like it’s the least I can do. Aside from whining, what are you going to do?