Guest essay by Eric Worrall
According to Aussie ex-PMs Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd, and climate activist Michael Mann, the climate Deniers of Murdoch Media were responsible for the unrest which led to the January 6th storming of the US Capitol Building.
‘Utterly unaccountable’: Turnbull labels News Corp the most powerful political actor in Australia
By Lisa Visentin
Updated April 12, 2021 — 12.45pmFormer prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp poses a real threat to Australian democracy, claiming it has surpassed the Coalition or Labor as the most powerful political force in the country.
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In his evidence to the inquiry in February, Mr Rudd said News Corp used systematic character assassinations to cultivate a culture of fear among politicians, and engaged in campaign journalism against issues such as action on climate change. At the same public hearing, News Corp Australia executive chairman Michael Miller dismissed Mr Rudd and Mr Turnbull’s criticisms as “a convenient diversion from their own failings” during his evidence.
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“This is the fundamental problem that we’re facing: the most powerful political actor in Australia is not the Liberal Party or the National Party or the Labor Party. It is News Corp. And it’s utterly unaccountable,” Mr Turnbull said.
“It’s controlled by an American family and their interests are no longer, if they ever were, coextensive with our own.”
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He said the political might of the Murdoch empire represented “an absolute threat to our democracy” — a threat that he said America had already witnessed on January 6 when rioters stormed the US Capitol building. Mr Turnbull said the Murdoch-controlled Fox News had amplified the civil unrest that led to rioting, by promoting the lie that President Joe Biden had stolen the election from Donald Trump.
“If you don’t think that isn’t a threat to American democracy and undermining the strength and capability of our most important ally. Then, you know, you are kidding yourself,” Mr Turnbull said.
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Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/utterly-unaccountable-turnbull-labels-news-corp-the-most-powerful-political-actor-in-australia-20210412-p57idq.html
Michael Mann has also joined the anti-Murdoch frenzy.
Not to be outdone, even the Anti-Defamation League’s Jonathan Greenblatt has jumped in with their own wild accusations. The ADL are suggesting the Murdoch Media is promoting anti-Jewish conspiracy theories, based on their painfully convoluted interpretation of something Tucker Carlson said. In my opinion the ADL’s wholehearted participation in what looks like a political lynch mob is particularly shameful, given their stated objectives and history.
Pulling together is the aim of despotism and tyranny. Free men pull in all kinds of directions. Terry Pratchett
If there is a genuine current threat to democracy, that threat is the growing obsession establishment liberals appear to have with shutting down the voices of people who disagree with them, whether that disagreement be political policy or climate science.
If Turnbull, Rudd, Mann or the ADL could demonstrate a single incident when Murdoch media genuinely incited violence, or incited people to pull down Australian democracy or the US Republic, there would be no need for insubstantial accusations and wild allegations. Inciting mob violence and insurrection is a crime. News Corp executives would be in jail awaiting trial, with a video playback of their alleged crime repeatedly looping on the cable feeds of rival media outlets.
But the liberal lynch mob have got nothing.
So why are they so keen to fling wild insubstantial accusations to try to silence their opponents? In my experience, only sore losers demand their opponents be silenced.
Given the smell of desperation coming from Mann, Rudd and Turnbull, I think we can safely say they are not acting like people who believe they are winning.
In 2007 the prediction was that Australia would see unprecedented bush fires.
In 1974-1975 there were about 120 Million hectares burned. That’s the precedent.
In 2019-2020, there were about 19 Million hectares burned.
The 2007 prediction has been falsified, no unprecedented bush fires occurred.
Why is it that every time I see a picture of Michael Mann I feel like my IQ went down a few points?
Intelligence black holes are now observable phenomenon.
Can’t say ‘black holes’ in woke world !
it’s ‘holes of colour‘
It is News Corp. And it’s utterly unaccountable,” Mr Turnbull said.
Didn’t know Mr. Turnbull was such an autocrat. Michael Mann, sure, he abuses the American court system, but if he joins those other two clowns in an attempt to shut up critical news media, he needs reminding that he is not the Word of God, and that he’s no better than anyone else despite all his sloppy kisses from the NYT.
Turnbull has got worse, he is now like Rudd a dribbling fool but on the positive note perhaps we can go ship him off to the UN he would fit right in.
Democracy is grossly overrated. Consider the leaders it produces. There is confused Joe Biden, who is clearly becoming senile and a political puppet. Then there is the unfunny clown Boris Johnson and his political circus. We need honest, hard working, principled and competent leaders who earn the respect of supporters and opponents through responsible governance.
Biden is definitely going to harm the U.S. He’s already doing so. Biden is doing just exactly the opposite of what he should be doing. This can be expected from delusional leftists. That’s why we should’t give leftists political power. It’s like handing a two-year-old child a can of gasoline and a match. Bad things are going to happen.
Michael,
Here in the US we are supposed to have a constitutional republic, not a democracy! Our founders in their great wisdom viewed democracy as little more than mob rule which inevitably fails once the 51% majority realizes they can vote themselves a pay raise at the 49%’s expense!
What the modern era is teaching us rather emphatically is that even the US system can be subverted when the populace is made fearful and ignorant! Since the Climastrology scam wasn’t scaring many any more, the PTB hit on the Fauxi virus developed by the ChiComs to instill the needed fear level! Future generations will likely see an unending string of viral variants and mandatory vaccines; at least until the proper controls are in place and they can get serious about population reduction!
If our education system had not been intentionally sabotaged by the Progressives, most Americans wouldn’t be falling for the CAGW scam OR voting DemoKKKrat! Bothe require high levels of ignorance or stupidity!
In their view, AGW sceptics are detrimental to the strategy they have developed to win votes from the pilgrim masses with a goal of taking over the economy and banking system and install their central planning system, which they are certain will result in a better future for all, especially with them in charge. If they can destroy the credibility of a media outlet that promotes scepticism, they are going to attempt it.
From the article: “If there is a genuine current threat to democracy, that threat is the growing obsession establishment liberals appear to have with shutting down the voices of people who disagree with them, whether that disagreement be political policy or climate science.”
There’s no “if” about it. The Left is definitely out to shut up everyone who disagrees with them. They don’t want debate, they want conformity to their view of the world.
Cancel culture censorship is by far the biggest threat to Democracy I have witnessed.
Personality & personal popularity are not the cause of disapproval. Voters consider the policies & trustworthiness.
There are valid concerns regarding Turnbull’s existing business & family interests causing conflicts of interest for him.
A by-election was announced after the Turnbull decision was made. When they heard Turnball was back, many liberal/national voters were quick to respond & most of those would have without encouragement from the Murdoch associated media. The sitting members were getting complaints. Internal polling would be quick to show the Turnbull factor would loose them the by-election. The recent WA state election showed the voters don’t want conservatives trying to out green the Greens.
The power of the media is greatly exaggerated. Many people are now influenced by celebrities & online social media not controlled by Murdoch or any other family. The Murdoch voting control of News Corp was quoted as 39%. Many News across ownership may also be shared with others so Murdoch’s power & control is diluted. He’s not checking every story, not selecting headlines. Most people see/hear/read from multiple sources outside Murdoch control. It’s not a monopoly of controlling the public, otherwise we would see >90% vote for a single party.
Consider the small group(s) that control Getup or environmental groups. These may offer their members options to choose but members don’t control those lists. Only a few get to set their political agenda & members can only vote “yes” or do nothing, there is no way to vote “No” inside these groups. Unions have been like this too (members disagreeing with leaders are ostracised/attacked) with very powerful marketing to their members & the public.
I don’t agree with everything I hear, see & read. I have a brain & can make reasoned choices. Unlike some who disagree with me, I don’t rely on “being told what to think” & I don’t rely on emotions & popularity.
Those that disagree can change the channel, change newspaper, write letters or protest in a park or footpath. Free speech means I must let you have the same opportunity to disagree with me. If I can hire a venue or pay for advertising, then you can too at your expense. If I’m free to write or call, you can too. If the Murdoch’s et. al. can own media companies, you & your friends can too. There’s many people who disagree with the Murdoch’s who have the money to do so if they wanted too. Check the actual ownership & viewership of 7,9,10,2,SBS & radio stations. Rudd et. al. can readily get signatures on a partition so where’s the problem?
The power of the media is greatly exaggerated. Many people are now influenced by celebrities & online social media not controlled by Murdoch or any other family.
What’s the source of these “celebreties opinion” ? Right, they read it in the media.
The liberals in America are redefining words in Orwellian fashion now more than ever. “Infrastructure” and “bipartisan” being the latest. One must understand that liberals define the word “democracy” as “democrat rule”. Any time something threatens democrat rule, they shout that democracy is being undermined. Yet when a truly democratic vote goes against their agenda, the liberals couldn’t give a bleep about democracy.
They can have fix news. Not a popular opinion with some nevertheless it’s my truth.
I wish
Climate Alarmists do not like people saying things like none of their predictions come true, even if that is true.
I have an idea, let’s eliminate the first amendment. Who needs free speech anyways. After we get rid of amendment one and two, let’s eliminate the bill of rights. Those pesky ten amendments never meant much and might all have systemic racist roots.
I’m all for change, especially if it’s being pushed by climate change alarmists. God bless Joe Biden and hypocrite henchman John Kerry too!
I think it is a step forward to describe Piltdown Mann as an activist instead of scientist.
I mean, if truth in media is the goal, that is a start?
No Mr Turnbull, Sky News is free to campaign for whatever it wants to. It is people like you, who may wish to suppress Sky News, that are the threat to democracy.
Projection.
The Cancel Culture in the Climate Propoganda War is intensifying.
Facebook got away with Censoring the Hunter Biden laptop story done by New York Post to protect Dementia Joe during the campaign last Fall.
The Climate Liars like Mann have seen BigTech like YouTube and Twitter take down any video that questions the COIVD “consensus”, so now these climate liars, and cheats like Michael Mann want Big Tech to take down FoxNews from thier paltforms and webhosting services for having people like Mark Morano on talking about the Climate Hoax.
If they can get that done to FoxNews, no internet blog is safe from the Cancel Culture liars.
I don’t think they understand what democracy is. In democracy, you don’t need activism, demonstrations, riots, etc to bend people to your will…the people’s will is demonstrated through the vote. These people are actually the threats to democracy.
They don’t want just that they want to make climate denial a crime punishable by imprisonment … Mike Mann openly states that.
Mann would make a nice export item but Australia is to nice a place for that, or was.
I sometimes catch a bit of Sky Australia on youtube, my god what a breath of fresh air.
Alan Jones makes me smile 🙂
And I thought the riots were all President Trump’s fault. At least that’s what the Goebbels/Pravda media told us.
Without the beard and only that ’stache, Mickey Mann looks like Pancho Villa now.
opposing voices are a threat to democracy.
huh.
“War is peace,” “Freedom is slavery,” and “Ignorance is strength.”
George Orwell from the book 1984
Repressive regressive Progressives do what they know best. Repressing and regressing.
The real threat is the Great Reset and the man caused global warming dogma is a cornerstone of that socialist threat.
I now refer to them as “Cancel Culture Progressives” (CCP). And yes, CCP == CCP.
In Australia, the ABC has far more outlets than the Murdoch Media.
Just not as many people listening to the ABC. 😉
ABC has the show Q&A which most of the dropkicks on it should need a license or a dog muzzle or both. If we are going to start with media banning that would be a good place to start.
It’s a good thing there aren’t any real issues in Australia. They would not get worked on with this bunch.