Australia: A poisonous year in politics
Political passions burned bright in Australia in 2012
This was the year in which character assassination became the modus operandi of Australian politics, and when all-out attack became the default setting of parliamentary life.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Opposition leader Tony Abbott.
Former Speaker of the House Peter Slipper. Former Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd. All have been the target of withering assaults on their
reputations, and subject to the kind of sustained ferocity seldom
witnessed in Australian politics.
7 comments:
Another form of the politics of personal (self-)destruction?: Simpson Cullen, "POLICE ARREST MP CRAIG THOMSON ON 150 FRAUD CHARGES," http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/article/16034200/police-arrest-mp-craig-thomson-on-150-fraud-charges/
This phenomenon is not limited to Australia. See, e.g., "Sen. Robert Menendez denies consorting with prostitutes," LA Times (Jan. 30, 2013), http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-pn-fbi-menendez-20130130,0,1823587.story Of course, in the U.S. it cannot be said the government depends on the presumption of innocence.
But at least Senator Menendez does pay his debts - eventually: Matt Friedman, "Menendez did not pay for flights from campaign donor until this year," Star-Ledger (Jan. 31, 2013), http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/menendez_doctor_prostitution_f.html
... and (former) Governor Eliot Spitzer at least had the good sense (and the money) to pay his own way ... see generally http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer
Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer#Prostitution_scandal:
Prostitution scandal
Main article: Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns
On March 10, 2008, The New York Times reported that Spitzer had previously patronized a high-priced prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP[74] and met for over two hours with a $1,000-an-hour call girl going by the name Ashley Alexandra Dupré (legal name Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro, born Ashley Youmans).[75] This information originally came to the attention of authorities from a federal wiretap.[76][77][78][79] Spitzer had at least seven or eight liaisons with women from the agency over six months, and paid more than $15,000.[80][81] According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was Attorney General, and later as Governor.[82][83][84] Spitzer first drew the attention of federal investigators when his bank reported suspicious money transfers, which initially led investigators to believe that Spitzer may have been hiding bribe proceeds. The investigation of the governor led to the discovery of the prostitution ring.
NYTimes editorial lambasting Senator Menendez for ethical lapses: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/09/opinion/mr-menendezs-ethics-problem.html?hp
Article about Sen. Menendez's dealings with and for Dr. Melgen: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/nyregion/senator-menendezs-ties-to-political-donor-are-scrutinized.html?ref=robertmenendez&pagewanted=all
More press about Senator Menendez: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/menendez_and_melgen_an_inside.html
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