Liberal Party goes Jerry Springer

I never really understood shows like Jerry Springer, but more precisely, why people went on them as guests. I kind of assumed it was something about parts of the American culture. A kinds of performative externalisation of problems - with a bit of pseudo celebrity to boot.

Producing such shows in Australia has been tried and failed. Except for certain slivers. There is MAFS and there is the frequent post electoral prostration on 4 Corners.

One such example was last night with the Liberal Party story on 4 Corners where a number of Liberal Party currents and formers were interviewed by that well regarded and balanced journalist Patricia Karvelas (sound of throat clearing).

The only thing missing from the 4 Corners story last night was Malcolm Turnbull coming out from behind the curtain, Jerry Springer style, to slap around some of the other guests.

For the same reason I wonder why Americans choose to air their dirty laundry on television, I wonder why politicians do it. It is not just a Liberal Party thing. Perhaps this is a necessary characteristic of the modern politicians and perhaps why the talent and gene pools are so narrow.

I have remarked before as to my irritation with the media describing certain politicians as “good performers”. But this plays to this politicians as celebrities shtick.

Clearly Paul Begala was 100 correct when he said:

Politics is show business for ugly people.

I disclose that I did watch “Decimated” and frankly was bored to tears.

Who cares what George Brandis thinks.

Why do they think that tax payers, through the ABC, should provide them with a metaphorical therapist couch to ventilate their thoughts.

Granted this was not a complete or representative sample, to my mind, of the things discussed, insufficient attention was paid to what the Liberal Party stands for. Other than salaries and careerism to too many of its representatives.

The Party members? Crickets.

An overarching policy framework? Nada.

John Roskam

on his Substack well describes the work that was put into Fightback. True, they lost the unlosable 1993 election, but the work that went into Fightback created a policy framework and roadmap - until John Howard decided, post 2001, to buy his political immortality with other people’s money.

What about a discussion on the WORK necessary to create a policy framework/manifesto?

The job of a politician is not to respond to polls by to change polls. That requires the intellectual slog of thinking, writing, and consulting. Not getting self serving dopamine hits and social media grabs by going on TV.

These people are pathetic and unfortunately, it is the average Australian who will pay the price.