Why wasn’t Rudd at John Button’s funeral?

Senator John Button was one of the great political and ministerial minds of the Hawke Government and instrumental in bringing the charismatic Bob Hawke into parliament just in time to run as leader and bring Labor back to power in 1983.

Not a bad word was spoken about the great man in life and after his death last week - even Bronwyn Bishop had nice things to say about him.

His funeral yesterday was attended by people from both sides of the political divide including former Prime Minister’s Keating and Fraser, former governors general Peter Hollingworth and Bill Hayden, while Julia Gillard represented Prime Minister Rudd.

So why didn’t Rudd attend? As reported, he was in Sydney where he took time out to visit Cate Blanchett and her new-born son. The excuse was made that he had a community cabinet meeting in Penrith that night, a meeting that Gillard was able to fly from Melbourne after the funeral to attend.

Of course The Bolt and others accused Rudd of being starstruck and putting image first instead of paying respects to one of his Party’s finest - agree with him or not you can’t blame anyone for taking that line.

We don’t know why Rudd visited Blanchett - perhaps there is a past personal link; perhaps it was to personally hand over her baby bonus. But he could have chosen another time to visit mum and bub and showed respect to a great Labor stalwart and one of the great men of politics - a mantle that has become increasingly rare in recent times.

 

Oscars wank

 

I’m glad Cate Blanchett or any other Australian didn’t win a major Oscar.

Whenever one does it sends Australia back 30 years to the days of cultural cringe where the media wank on as though it’s the greatest thing to ever happen to this country and inindate us with embarrassing ”wow, the Americans know we exist” shit - even when the award is for Best Costume in a Foreign Film.

We’re better than that.

Oscars Exclusive - Blanchett wins Best Actress

 

Cate Blanchett better start practicing her Academy Award acceptance speech because Club Wah can reveal that she has won the 2008 Best Actress Oscar.

How do we know this? It’s obvious, if you look at Clause 2.3.4 in the Official Rules of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences pertaining to Academy Award voting states that: “In voting for all award categories for actors and actresses, preference will be given to any actor who extends themselves playing the following roles:

- People with disabilities, especially retards, dummies and anyone who’s a bit mental. 
It’s worth noting here that while Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar for his role as Arnie Grape in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, it was decided not to give him the award because he did not have to extend himself.