Compromise with nukes is neither sexy, powerful nor substantial.
What a pathetic figure Garrett presents. Hollow man.

Thanks for the post.
Graeme Dunstan
Peacebus.com

On Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 11:57 PM, Peter Bright <hobart_elf@...>wrote:

>
>
>
> July 17, 2009 02:00am
>
> Green groups and their supporters have never forgiven Peter Garrett for
> defecting to Labor.
> IT is not easy being green in the Labor Party, as former leader Mark
> Latham discovered when timber workers and unionists turned against him
> in the 2004 election campaign.
>
> Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett is finding it just as tough.
>
> His decision to approve a new Australian uranium mine this week has
> incurred the wrath not of the Labor rank and file but the anti-nuclear
> and conservation movements he once championed.
>
> Along with an avalanche of outrage and ridicule from his former friends
> and colleagues has come plenty of baiting from leading members of the
> Liberal Opposition, who agree with his decision but cannot resist
> another cheap shot.
>
> Peter Garrett is an obvious target. The bald, gentle giant stands out
> from the crowd of ex-lawyers, farmers, union officials, political
> staffers, bureaucrats and business types who make up the bulk of
> Parliament.
>
> It is hard not to contrast Mr Garrett, the minister in a dapper suit and
> tie, with his rock star past as lead singer of the band Midnight Oil,
> famously belting out hits with a social conscience. Then there is his
> very public record of passionate opposition to uranium mining and the
> idealism of a man who helped found the Nuclear Disarmament Party and was
> head of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
>
> Green groups and their supporters have never forgiven him for defecting
> to Labor. He has been jeered, jostled and taunted by activists, had
> woodchips poured over his shoulder when walking through Hobart and been
> mocked without mercy. He has endured it all with dignity and good
> humour, refusing to lose his temper in the face of the most provocative
> insults.
>
> It is very easy for lobbyists, activists and music industry figures to
> criticise Peter Garrett but he is prepared to wear their righteous
> indignation.
>
> John Schumann, lead singer of the band Redgum, said: "you can't help
> wonder why he'd pursue a position that would inevitably compromise
> long-held and loudly espoused position".
>
> Yet politics does involve compromise, at least when in government.
> Government without compromise is a very dangerous thing.
>
> Mr Garrett could have persisted with his career in green politics and
> perhaps won a seat in the Senate but he would still be lobbying from
> outside government.
>
> Instead he chose a more difficult path. He joined the Labor Party to
> have a chance of being in power.
>
> That involves hard choices, respecting majority votes and achieving what
> is possible in the circumstances, with all the compromises that entails.
> All politicians in positions of power face these dilemmas and they get
> very little thanks for it.
>
> He argued against an expansion of uranium mining at the Labor Party
> conference and lost. He accepted the vote, just as he accepts the
> decisions of Cabinet where, no doubt, he puts his case with passion.
>
> For his sake, hopefully he is winning enough battles and making enough
> useful decisions to believe he is making a difference.
>
> It is not as sexy as singing but it is more substantial.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


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