I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

RR, that's so on point. A clear representation of the stupidity of this young woman's world and the ignorant adults who are guiding her. This is what the "conservative" right wing nuts are pinning their hopes for the future on. Ugh!

Suzie - I think you would fall under the liberal umbrella if you were in the US (sorry to say - ). I happen to think it's great that Herceptin is a free drug in Aussieland - anyone championing that logical policy here, though, would be branded a "socialist" by the GOP.

It's often hard for people in other countries - even those who define themselves as conservatives - to grasp just how far, far right the right wing is in this country. Millions here - including people with BC -- do not believe and vehemently oppose ANY free access to medical care.

Suzie, or not. My youngest brother is a citizen of your fair country. He is gay. He is a loving responsible partner to a loving responsible partner of the same sex. He would love to be married. He s a 53 year old hopeless romantic. Julia Gillard, your PM, took the piss out of the misogynistic leader of the opposition for his sexist, stupid, assinine remarks in the (here we would call it the House of Commons) parliament. And I was proud of her. Abbott, is the same guy you think will be PM. But she does not represent the needs of many of her constituents, she voted against same sex marriage, she does not understand that when one group of people is oppressed, all are oppressed. Australians are known for expecting that all should have a "fair go". All.

Don't even get me started on the big big problems in this wealthy country I live in. Our behaviour as a people towards our First Nations is a case in point.

Awwww Blue, your making my puppy meter go off the chart.

GG, yes it is.  It involved Monsanto and the bovine growth hormone.  Steve Wilson who worked for Fox at the time and his wife can't remember her name right now were involved in bringing the suit.  Steve Wilson then moved on to the ABC outlet in Detroit and was a wonderful reporter.  I don't know if he's still there.

http://www.foxbghsuit.com

Edited to add: Jane Akre was married to Steve Wilson and was the other party.

Edited to add one more thing:  This is why my family has bought organic milk and yogurt since then.  Organic cheese is something I have more trouble finding though.

I remember how angry I was when a Washington State court upheld that a politician didn't have to tell the truth because of freedom of speech - but this is even worse.  I always knew the people at FOX NEWS were liars, but - oh I dunno, somehow it seems even worse that they went to court and the court upheld their right to lie.

We always buy organic milk and yoghurt as well - and when possible, cheese.

Thanks, River.  I watched the piece.  It's just bloody sad that corporations have such a hold, and that the news organizations that are supposed to be the watchdogs, are just helping the foxes (no pun intended) raid the henhouse.

This country needs stronger privacy and libel laws and has to stop making free speech into a right that tramples over every other (or so it seems).

I am fairly libertarian on the concept of free speech - I would die defending the right of the KKK or the American Nazi Party to stage a march or an event. I am proud of that. I, an atheist, was moved to tears over pride at being American when I learned that we had given Bin Laden a Muslim burial. That is what makes us great -when we show magnanimity and tolerance towards those we despise.

But I protest when Facebook is allowed to violate my sanctity based on free speech arguments, or when Fixed Noise is allowed to be Fixed Noise - as stated above.

I agree wholeheartedly.  I truly wish that Mr. Obama had refused to accept his resignation.  People (even the best among us) make mistakes.  IMO making a mistake, owning that mistake, recovering and going on makes a better (and more trustworthy) human than someone who skates so far from danger that they never falter, or worse yet, someone who makes a mistake and then expends all their energy in attempting to cover it up.

I would usually agree about affairs being private business.  But I just feel that head of the CIA is different.  I don't want somebody with something to be bribed about as head of the CIA.  Also I haven't verified this but I read elsewhere that she had access to his emails.  That would be beyond the pale for me.

Edited to add:  I see that Kam mentioned the emails.  I somehow missed that when I read, but noticed after I posted.

If he were in any other position other than the head of the CIA, I would agree. But having an affair did make him vulnerable to blackmail, and having an affair with his biographer made him a security risk. His wife has a clearance, you can be sure. His mistress does not, and may have had access (however inadvertent on his part) to classified materials. If the FBI is conducting an investigation of her and possible access to his emails, there is much more to the story. As DH said, if the FBI is investigating his mistress, there is more going on than him "boinking some girl he met on the helicopter." I do think he did the right thing, as much as it pains me to say so.


ETA: Chickadee, we crossposted! I wholeheartedly agree with you!


L

HL, Kam and Chick - that's the same thing my husband said to me.  I know you have a point, but if he came out about the affair, then there's nothing to blackmail/extort him on - it's already known.  However, in regards to her having access to secret information - well, if he allowed that to happen - OK, then you're right.

I do not think someone like Petraeus would allow himself to be blackmailed - he would admit to the affair first.

I also think plenty of European (and Middle Eastern) intelligence agencies have functioned very well without this Puritanism.

Human beings are complex. A person will have an affair who would never allow himself to be blackmailed.

I think it's a shame that we can't make that distinction in this society. I am not apologizing for bad behavior, just noting that human beings compartmentalize. Unless I hear more, this was a waste of a resignation.

ETA: I LOVE these discussions we have - you just never know where we will fall on a given issue.

From what I've seen I don't think that people who engage in extra-marital affairs have that much loss of respect from either their subordinates or their peers.  Just saying.

He made the affair public knowledge, so the chance of extortion/blackmail seems pretty small - but it would not be possible for him to remain if he knowingly or unknowlingly permitted unauthorized access to classified documents of any nature.

Who the heck voted her in? I don't know much of Australian politics.