Federal Government
MIXED-UP: Does Julie Bishop have the intellectual bandwidth to be Australia’s Shadow Foreign Minister?
Shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop put in such a disgraceful performance on the ABC’s World Today this afternoon that its led many of her Parliamentary colleagues to question whether she can continue.
In the interview with Lyndal Curtis, Bishop appeared to question the Rudd government’s decision to grant Uighur human rights campaigner Rebiya Kadeer a visa to Australia.
Curtis nailed her on the inconsistency in her messages, by saying that previously she’d claimed Rudd was too close to China but now she appeared to be saying he wasn’t close enough. Bishop responded that her “Chinese contacts” (possibly a local restauranteur) were concerned about all the “mixed messages” but it seemed to be Bishop’s messages that were not so much mixed as scrambled beyond coherence.
Dog-whistling a half-protest about Kadeer’s visa is nothing less than a disgrace. That fact alone makes Bishop a wholly unsuitable representative of Liberal opinion on foreign affairs. Why is Bishop questioning in any respect the granting of a visa to a human rights campaigner who is fighting for better treatment of her people by the world’s largest communist dictatorship? Does anyone seriously imagine she would be able to hold down the important duties of attempting to restrain the pro-Chinese pro-Arab bureaucrats in DFAT and represent the nation on the world stage?
More than that, not only is there a mixed message about whether Rudd is being too close or not close enough to the Beijing regime, not only is there a disgracefully unprincipled position on a visa granted to a human rights activist, there is a complete inability on Bishop’s part to comprehend the political opportunity for the Opposition in relation to China.
They don’t have to manage the nation’s relationship with the regime. They have to do their best to tear the Rudd government down, using every possible argument they can muster and exploiting every opportunity that arises. Bishop appears to think there are votes in lashing Rudd for not getting on well enough with a regime that is increasingly despised here and around the world.
The problem is she doesn’t get it. She looks the part. Her CV is impressive. We can understand how she was preselected. But the Liberal party needs to start to get its act together ahead of the next election and that means moving the air-head on.
Discussion
19 comments for “MIXED-UP: Does Julie Bishop have the intellectual bandwidth to be Australia’s Shadow Foreign Minister?”
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She is an airhead, she would add much more to Australia by getting knocked up and go home and cook dinner.
That cross eyed vacant look, sort of like the ANF’s Lisa Fitzpatrick. An absolute twit, Bishop that is, then again so is Fitzpatrick. A compelling argument against affirmative action, when simplistic quota comes before intellect and ability.
Look at her eyes, I am sure she pulled too many bongs at Uni.
I’ve read the transcript. In fairness, she doesn’t seem to be questioning the granting of the visa, rather she is arguing that relations should not have deteriorated to the point where the visa was an issue.
When allowing visa to someone in which another country considered as a terrorists/separatists etc., of course the relation would suffer.
Imagine China allows an enemy of Australia to visit and let them bad mouthing about Australia all they want. I’m sure Australia won’t be thrilled either.
Hmmm…now lets see….dumb, vacuous, dithering, confused…my question is, why isn’t she the f&*king leader??!!
Julie Bishop, the Member for Rio Tinto… just another product of the Deliverance-like incestuality of the WA Liberal Party.
The thing to remember about Bishop is that she raises cash, and lots of it, for the Federal Party courtesy of WA-based resource companies. So she’ll always be promoted regardless of competence, especially as the Libs need her cash now more than ever.
Julie’s not awful, just way out of her league. I’m beginning to think the same about Joe Hockey. A true backbencher.
China decides who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come?
Howard would be rolling in his grave…if he were dead.
Hamish,
At least Hockey has a grasp of his portfolio. Bishop doesn’t seem competent in anyone. Also, Hockey beats her with his blokey BS communication style. She just has that creepy stare (her contacts are too big for her) and silly smile.
I know Julie personally and she’s got the beautifulest blue eyes I’ve ever seen……this means that, well from my point of view, Julie would make an excellent breeding partner. Julie’s children providing they were mine would be future psychic generals and psychic business leaders. What I’m getting at is providing that Julie was eager to recipitate, with myself being the sperm donor, Australia could breed a super amry of psychic’s. That said Julie is only one of many woman that can be used to meet this requirement.
Try an understand that when Andrew Rixon looks at a woman Andrew looks at her potential as a breeding partner. That not to say I just look at beauty, but at all of her body parts and what psychic abilities these body parts can provide.
Anyway as I have my eye on Julie leave her alone…..I’m not saying that as a threat, meaning I’m not the person you have to worry about…..it’s her son that you have to worry about….as his name is Simon….of the childs game SIMON SAYS!!!
Believe me she is smart and has been treated very shabbily by her so called colleagues. As for Hockey, please spare me, he does an excellent impression of someone who is lazy, useless and vacuous.
don’t usually like personal attacks but here goes… Julie Bishop is a walking ‘LIBERAL’ hair coiffeur in Jannell twin set. At least the colour isn’t beige but her political skills certainly are.
At least she looks a bit better than “kimmee” Gillard.
Now come on guys. This woman would look hot in a white bikini and that is all that matters. So she is an air head. So she thinks that Malcolmtent Turnbull has talent. So she was dumped from her former role because she is a miserable politician. She would still look hot in a skimpy white bikini.
Ooooh if Julie gets punted I might be able to frock up and get a gig. Perhaps she would lend me her wardrobe, although I have a few glad rags of my own. Malky and me, it gets my pulse racing just to think about it.
then Julez should quit pols & go get a job as a clothes horse at DJ’s, she’d be good at that – maybe
Txt be Julie.
RDR
Cant tell how good she is/was never fucked her.Left that to retired right wing grub-Ross Lightfoot.