The Statesman

[David Campbell]

The Statesman

Last night I saw The Abbott on
TV, and heard him rabbit on
about his budget, boring stuff
for all the nobs, just so much guff
that didn’t mean a thing to those
assembled here to diagnose
the issues that the world might face,
and try to help the human race.

And then I saw the US Pres,
a leader, and a man who says
so much so well, and in a way
that helps to keep despair at bay.
The contrast was so very stark…
while Abbott stumbles in the dark,
quite out of touch and partly blind,
a statesman leaves him far behind.

© David Campbell, 16/11/14

[Maureen K Clifford]

Good on you David - a very astute observation

[Bob Pacey]

Never watched it so cannot comment !.


Bob

[Neville Briggs]

You just did comment.

[Neville Briggs]

Did you submit that one to the editor of The Age, David?

[Bob Pacey]

Not on the poem or the interview
NEV ?


Bob

[warooa]

He gave it a good shot, did Tone - credit where it's due.

[David Campbell]

Thanks, Maureen

No Neville, not this one. Though I did consider writing one about that well-known cowboy, the rootin' tootin' Vladimir Putin.

Can't agree, Marty. It wasn't the time or place for a lecture on domestic politics that had nothing to do with his guests.

David

[r.magnay]

Sadly David I doubt it would matter what Tony Abbott said or did, you would condemn it. Too many people vote for personalities rather than politicians!

[David Campbell]

Not true, Ross. The new free trade agreement with China seems, according to reports, to be a very good deal for Australia...and credit must go to Abbott and Andrew Robb for that. And the poem is pretty mild compared to the views expressed in the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg ... story.html)

Besides, I don't vote for "personalities" or "politicians"...I'm interested in policies.

Anyway, just to even things up, if you have a look at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6305&p=55946&hilit=shorten#p55946 you'll find a little piece of mine from just two weeks ago on this site which has a go at both Shorten and Abbott for the way they're going about things. And here's one I wrote back when Kevin and Julia were tearing into each other.

Julia and Kevin

Now with Kevin and our Julia it’s all gone quite peculiar,
for they’ve battled through some twists and turns in life.
When it comes to all that fighting, it might almost be inviting
to think of them as much like man and wife.
For their nervous number-crunching and their frantic counter-punching
might be likened to a fierce domestic brawl.
But they’re both so darn demanding there can be just one left standing,
with the other taking quite a nasty fall.

When dear Julia skewered Kevin it was Labor Party heaven
for a moment…but it didn’t last too long.
Yes, that instant of elation that unfurled across our nation
quickly vanished when it all went very wrong.
While Ms Gillard shook and wobbled she was very neatly hobbled
by a rampant Kevin flying overseas,
and exploiting media deadlines by commanding all the headlines,
with our PM just left swinging in the breeze.

The resulting conversation is of Kev’s rejuvenation,
and the thought that one day he’ll reclaim the crown.
While Ms Gillard talks of taxes Kevin’s out there buying axes,
for he’d love to cut that scheming redhead down.
He’ll defend his days of glory and tell his side of the story
on a program like the famous Q & A.
He will smile so very sweetly, stick the knife in very neatly,
with the PM hardly knowing what to say.

There’s only one way this is going, but we’ve got no way of knowing
just how long this tale will take to run its course,
or how many will be shattered, bemused, and bruised and battered
by the cataclysmic ultimate divorce.
Meanwhile we watch on in wonder as our hopes are ripped asunder
by the egos that are battling for the throne,
for we see that, very sadly, it will turn out very badly,
and the chances for our future might have flown.