Bob Ellis is lucky he has such a large deposit of intellectual capital built up over 40 or so years, otherwise I doubt anyone would publish him today. Certainly not as a political analyst where he has developed an unenviable record of writing complete rubbish.
However, perhaps the date of his ultimate decline ought to be set at today with this piece published in The Drum. Headed “How Labor can win in New South Wales”, an untenable proposition in itself, this paragraph, which purports to show that the Libs are unfit to rule, particularly caught my eye:
“Askin was a crook, Brogden a suicide, Coleman lost his own seat and in NSW the Greiner government was investigated for corruption. All this happened in O’Farrell’s and Skinner’s time as backroomers and they probably looked the other way.”
Now, he’s probably right about Askin, but why these 35 year old allegations should give Labor an edge is unclear, given its own reputation for corruption. How “Brogden a suicide” got through the editor puzzles me. It’s a nasty brutal allegation that stigmatises mental illness in a way we have been trying to eliminate in the last 10 years.
The Coleman point is pointless – John Howard lost his seat, but what bearing did that have on the quality of government he provided? The allegation about Greiner is technically correct but practically dishonest. The “corruption” consisted of offering a position to Terry Metherell, an independent, which he accepted, causing a by-election beneficial to the Greiner government. Charges of corruption against Greiner went to court and were dismissed.
Concocting this cocktail is one thing, but to take it and throw it over O’Farrell in an attempt to smear him is completely unpardonable.
It’s time for the curtain to fall on Ellis’s career as a political “commentator”.
What can one say about this person?
He is redundant just as is the Labor Party and our Barbie Doll premier.
Why have a state Govenor who won’t or can’t dismiss a corrupt and morally deficient government and it’s ministers? Perhaps this is where the problem lies.
We need a Govenor who will act for and on behalf of the people.
Comment by Off with their Heads — January 3, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
he’s a brilliant writer but these days his writing consists of piss and wind masquerading as analysis
Comment by barney — January 4, 2011 @ 2:44 am
I last gave Bob a cheerio at the Apology where he was shuffling the corridors in his curmudgeonly style nearly tripping over his perpetually long face, however his features did light up momentarily before trudging on.
Although I now probably enjoy him more for the pithy one liners than for his analysis and granted his Gonzo style has migrated from shades of Gore Vidal to channelling Andrew Bolt but I think he still has relevance and I for one would be sad to see the day he hangs up the quill.
Comment by csteele — January 4, 2011 @ 3:54 am
Who is Bob Elvis? Was he the gyrating would be pop polly,brother of the great pelvis? I just can’t place the name or the face.
Comment by Ross — January 10, 2011 @ 2:09 am
Bob is always good value for money, although often at his own expense.
He appears to be far better when writing on the past ,predicting the Future is not his strength.
Keep it up . Bob,I cannot accept your Politics, but, Luv Ya !
Comment by lauriesienna — February 16, 2011 @ 3:37 am