State Government
IT GETS WORSE: Ted Baillieu demands silence from Bernie Finn on Governor de Kretser’s climate activism
We’ve had a flurry of calls, emails and comments in response to our story earlier today on Ted Baillieu’s race gaffe. We’ll be following up on latest developments shortly.
Many of these calls have come from committed Liberals. It seems the foot soldiers Ted will rely on to make him Premier this November are rapidly running out of patience with their lefty leader.
One western suburbs Liberal volunteer has told us of another bizarre outburst from the Dear Leader they witnessed at the weekend, while campaigning in Altona.
RED TED DEMANDS SILENCE ON GOVERNOR’S CLIMATE EXTREMISM
Our source tells us that Red Ted attacked popular western-suburbs Liberal MP Bernie Finn – in front of several stunned Liberal volunteers – over his calls last week for Governor David de Kretser to withdraw from a highly-partisan climate change gathering he is scheduled to address.
As readers will recall, we supported Finn’s stance – indeed it is highly inappropriate for the Governor to address what is a political gathering focused on a contentious issue.
According to our eyewitness, however, Red Ted was having none of it, telling Finn in no uncertain terms to "lay off de Kretser" because "people like him".
Our informer reports that a momentarily stunned Finn appeared too shocked by Baillieu’s lack of brains and guts to respond in-kind.
Unlike the Liberal leader, we suspect Finn probably understands that having a domestic in front of party volunteers isn’t the best way to boost morale among the troops.
This worrying incident suggests that Baillieu simply doesn’t understand the stakes here.
TED DOESN’T GET IT
The issue isn’t whether Victorians ‘like’ the Governor. We’re quite sure they (or at least those who are actually aware of who the Governor is) do.
But that doesn’t mean His Excellency enjoys the unquestioned right to participate in what is essentially a gathering – advertised as a ‘mass convergence’ – of left-wing climate activists, designed to plot strategy in the wake of the Copenhagen disaster.
The Crown is supposed to be above partisan politics. de Kretser has overstepped the mark here, and Finn (along with the many other commentators who have expressed their disapproval of the Governor’s decision) has the right to call him on it.
The Liberals aren’t going to win the 13+ seats they need come November if they wrap their missiles in doilies and shy away from asking tough questions. If Baillieu can’t see that, it’s no wonder so many senior Liberals are worried about his judgement.
Discussion
16 comments for “IT GETS WORSE: Ted Baillieu demands silence from Bernie Finn on Governor de Kretser’s climate activism”
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With the Liberals sickening lurch to the right, I suppose it’s inevitable that some moderates will start to crack. First Turnbull, then maybe Baillieu.
Interesting to see how this works out for the party. They seem to have enough rope now…
Monckton-style conspiracy theories and inconsistencies may be in fashion for a month or two, but these noisy trolls will wake up one day and see how silly they look, before crawling back under their bridges.
Ted’s got my vote.
So as a liberal who doesn’t live in Victoria. I have a couple of questions.
Does anyone in the Victoria Liberal Party actually support Ted (that trot Petro doesn’t count)?
Ted seems to be further to the left than Labor on many issues, so why is he in the Liberal Party?
Chasing lefty votes in a right wing party doesn’t really work (look at Mad Mal’s polling) so why doesn’t he just change his strategy become a proper right winger and give Victorians a real alternative?
What vision does Ted have for Victoria? (I’d be thinking they should include lower taxes, lower government spending, less pork barrelling into lefty causes like multiculturalism and global whining)
I eagerley await some answers.
Bernie needs to learn to close him mouth…. then the upper house will be a better place.
David Davis has my vote
I Luv Bunny Funn. He is choice bro
I am convinced that Ted does not want to win.As he would then have to work [ hard for a boy of his breeding]if he became Premier.
You know you’re in trouble when the Liberal Party becomes more left wing than the Labor Party.
Ted has my vote.
Bernie Finn a ripper bloke. Ted not his armpit
But I must say Bernie is not as ripper as Delores the She-male.
Red Ted is Dead
http://mrgautamgupta.blogspot.com/
Now lets not get carried away the loveable rouge we know as Bernie Finn – he ain’t without sin and yes on some occasions says bloody ridiculous things.
Not hear though – de Krester may, as you say, be loved by the masses (well lets be honest – not quite masses just those who read The Age which aint much these days and the doctors and lawyers on your electorate conference committee)
In between navel gazing have you seen the shifting tide in Canberra lately on things such as climate change? And things like the publics disdain at being preached to by policy wonk types who prey for the nanny state?
You know Canberra dont you Lord Baillieu? You know, where your mate Petro converts good oxygen into carbon dioxide for no apparent reason and for no positive outcome?
Lord Baillieu your track record to date proves you are not a politician’s a***hole.
Have you got the guts to turn it around? And soon?
Lord Baillieu you and your staffs lack of attention to the Altona by-election in comparision to the Kororoit by-election has been noticed by many Liberals on both sides of the factional divide.
Petty and petulant, Lord Baillieu, is not the way to inspire the troops who will have to come out in force in the coming campaign to tackle the ALP.
Then again, nothing to worry about is it Lord Baillieu, I am sure when it all goes pear shaped on the night of 27 November you will wheel out another Team Petro has-been to garbage the party and its long suffering volunteers for not getting behind you enough?
Hey Lord Baillieu here is an idea – why not lead by example? Take a leaf out of the Finn play book and have a go you mug!
Oh and by the way Lord Baillieu, be sure to thank Petro for providing you with his pearls of wisdom on your speech about how racist we are in Victoria.
It is unbelievable that you could take yet another law and order issue and so comprehensively stuff it up with your and your mates whimpy, whiney, preachy, small ‘l’ left wing liberalism which got us nowhere with Fraser, Hamer and Turnbull.
Every single community leader, and I mean every single community leader, be it left or right – sane or insane, has railed against the Indian media’s portrail of Victorians as a racist community – so what do you do – go and suggest that in fact the very masses which will need to vote for you in November are racists.
Maybe your Team Petro mates Judith and Russell also weighed in on your speech prep.
Lord Baillieu in the morning when you put on your speedos check you still have a pair of cojones and lead – the party cannot wait any longer for you to show up and get into the game.
Bernie Finn has the commitment of his convictions. He knows what the people want and he listens.He does the most any one does for the Western Suburbs .Unless the people of the West and get real about their needs and their votes and make this a marginal seat they will be stuck in the rut forever.If the keep Labor safe next election I will throw my hands up in horror and never try to help again .Get real and look after your community its all up to you.
Bernie Finn needs to be told where to go. His attitude is disgusting and bad for the image of the Liberal Party.
When you meet the man, you quickly come to the realisation that he is a nutcase.
He is great at keeping the backbench warm. That is it.