Daily Archives: May 31, 2022

It was no contest in the battle to become the GOP nominee for attorney general in Texas. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

For George P. Bush, the one-time golden boy of Texas politics, running for state attorney general after serving two terms as land commissioner shouldnt have been too much of a reach. This son of Jeb and Columba Bush, with movie-star looks and Latino heritage, had managed to become the one member of his family who got along with the new ruler of the Republican Party, Donald Trump. The incumbent, moreover, Ken Paxton, had become the most frequently indicted and investigated elected official in Texas, making him an ostensibly soft target.

But after Bush forced Paxton into a runoff in a March 1 primary, it was all downhill for the dynastic heir to two U.S. presidents and governors of Texas and Florida. Paxton crushed Bush by a 68-32 margin, making the loser a potential political has-been at the ripe old age of 46. In the end, Paxtons high name ID from being in the headlines so often, and his backing from Donald Trump, mattered most. Efforts by Bush and two other vanquished primary rivals to make Texans ashamed of Paxtons scandal-ridden tenure seem to have just reinforced his self-image as a MAGA outsider being persecuted for his righteousness, just like the twice-impeached 45th president.

As the Texas Tribune explained on the eve of Paxtons huge victory, Bush had a lot of material to work with in labeling his opponent a philandering felon:

Paxton was indicted for felony securities fraud charges several months after he first became attorney general in 2015. In 2020, the FBI began investigating him over claims by former deputies that he abused his office to help a wealthy donor. He has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

Bush has said the legal issues make Paxton unfit for office and could risk the important seat for Republicans in November. And he has increasingly attacked Paxton over an even more personal issue: an extramarital affair that hereportedly hadthat is connected to the FBI probe.

Separately, Paxton is openly feuding with the state bar, which is suing him over his lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in four battleground states.

This last scandal is the gift to Paxton that keeps on giving. In MAGA-land, Paxtons lead role in the most audacious effort to reverse the 2020 election results (joined by 16 other Republican attorneys general) is legal tender. It had zero legal merit, as his persecutors in the Texas Bar keep pointing out, but few Republican voters cared so long as he fought the good fight for Trump. For his part, Paxton ran ads calling his runoff opponent liberal Land Commissioner George P. Bush, presumably trading on conservative mistrust of the candidates father, uncle, and grandfather.

And in the end, there seemed to be little left of the positive part of the family legacy in Texas Republican politics. Paxton won over 70 percent of the vote in the West Texas counties where the transplanted Yankee George H.W. Bush got his start in the oil business, and in Harris County, which Poppy once represented in Congress. He even got two-thirds of the vote in the county that contains George W. Bushs Crawford ranch. The only major county George P. Bush won was the liberal enclave of Travis (Austin). Maybe he can make a political comeback there.

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The Bush Political Dynasty Ends With a Whimper - New York Magazine

Molly Smith Metzler was first handed a copy of Stephanie Lands bookMaid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mothers Will to Surviveduring her time in theShamelesswriters room.

Metzler had just written a play on motherhood calledCry It Out,and was the prime candidate forMaid EPs John Wells and Margot Robbie to adapt Lands story, roughly based on her life as a poverty stricken single mom battling the governments red tape of benefits.

The protagonist, Alex Russell (played by Margaret Qualley), also goes up against her abusive partner, Sean (Nick Robinson), in trying to land custody of their toddler girl Maddy; a role which he totally isnt fit for, despite the system ruling in his favor.

In addition to being a story about the forgotten class, says Metzler, even larger is this issue of emotional abuse and domestic violence inMaid.

During the pandemic, domestic violence reached a crisis level; people were trapped at home with their abusers. We need to start to talk about these issues and now is a pregnant time for it, says Metzler on todays Crew Call.

Qualley read for the role and immediately Metzler wanted her for it: She was so raw and unaffected(she brings) joy and dignity in the most humiliating scenes.

One of the great prizes of the Netflix limited series which dropped last fall is watching Qualley perform opposite her mother, Andie MacDowell, who plays Alexs artist mom, Paula. Qualleys Alex is the more mature and level-headed in crisis situations to her more liberal, carefree, and selfish matriarch. Metzler shares how that dynamic casting came to be.

Listen to our conversation with Metzler below:

See the article here:

Maid Creator Molly Smith Metzler On How Netflix Series Addresses The Forgotten Class & Emotional Abuse Crew Call Podcast - Deadline

MISSISSAUGA Steven Del Duca was in Mississauga today to shine a light on the staggering $10 billion cost of the Ford Conservatives Highway 413, amounting to every household in the province from Thunder Bay, to Peterborough, to Ottawa, to London paying nearly $2,000. All this money for a highway that will only save a handful of commuters a mere 30 seconds.

Highway 413 is a waste of money and an environmental disaster in the making I know, I was the Transportation Minister who killed it the first time, said Del Duca. Now, Doug Ford wants to pave over these sensitive lands in the Greenbelt against the objection of mayors, municipalities and environmentalists. Ontario Liberals will defeat Doug Ford and stop the 413 forever.

Rather than waste $10 billion on a road that only benefits a handful of Conservative donors, Ontario Liberals will build 200 new schools and repair 4,500 more, touching every region of the province. While Highway 413 will turn Doug Fords friends from millionaires into billionaires, our plan will result in better schools in your neighbourhood and an investment in your kids and Ontarios future.

This election is about choices and on June 2, the choice couldnt be clearer, continued Del Duca. Its a choice between the Ford Conservatives, who want to take $2,000 out of your pocket and hand it over to their wealthy supporters and the Ontario Liberals, who want to invest in your kids education.

On June 2, the choice is yours.

Read this article:

The Conservatives want every household to pay nearly $2000 to build Highway 413 for their land speculating donors - Ontario Liberal Party

Liberals to blame

The Ford PCs were elected in 2018, and barely a year later COVID came crashing down, exposing the many flaws in our health-care and long-term care systems. The mess inherited by the PCs was a legacy left behind after 15 years of Liberal rule.

The Liberals had 15 years to address and change a LTC system that was already heavily invested in privatization, but they chose to ignore the problems and treated the portfolio with indifference. Lets remember that Steven Del Duca was a senior cabinet minister in that Wynne Liberal government. Del Ducas criticism of the Ford government on this issue, and his pledges to now fix the defective system, simply drip with hypocrisy and shouldnt be believed.

Cameron Stringer, Hamilton

Short memories

I dont get how the PCs are ahead in the polls. Has everyone forgotten all the deaths due to deplorable conditions in long-term care? Dont people know nurses are still overworked and have to suffer with low salary increases? Are all those people interested in another highway to put money into Fords cronies pockets?

Vote with care

My grandfather fought in the First World War and my father in the Second. They went to preserve our freedom, which includes the privilege to vote. Do not take this election for granted, but vote wisely.

Consider voting for a candidate who lives in your riding. They will have the pulse of what is going on and, I think, have the concerns of their constituents at heart. I wonder what interest a fly-in will have?

Part of the process is to engage in debate, giving us an idea of what they stand for. I wonder why some parties are reluctant to allow their delegates to participate. Are they afraid they might say something that doesnt embrace the platform, or maybe embarrass the party?

Dont vote and you cant complain. Regardless of the outcome, its about time that whoever forms the government should set aside their agendas and work together for the people who elect them.

Vote strategically

Ford is set to take his fight against releasing the 2018 mandate letters to the Supreme Court which moves the potential publication date until after the election. And, have you noticed that the PC party is a no-show at local candidate debates? Fords tactic is to withhold information from voters and so far its working. Its time for strategic voting if we want to avoid a disastrous climate change legacy we cant undo.

Carole Arsenault, Hamilton

Fords agenda

Thank you once again to Lorraine Sommerfeld. Her column needs to be read by every person in Ontario.

I wish you would do more of it. We need more people to help us understand where we are heading as a province, and your opinion piece helps to provide the truth behind Fords political agenda.

Required reading

Everyone in Ontario needs to read Lorraine Sommerfelds May 27 column. How do we get this message to the people of Ontario before they head to the polls and blindly vote for the status quo? It should be posted throughout the entire province; not just for Spec readers.

Margaret Mladen, Burlington

Eye-opening stuff

Ms. Sommerfeld is exactly right about (almost) everything in her latest column. In fairness, she cites The Narwhal about the fact that Fords proposed highway will consume 2000 acres of farmland, wetland, etc. So it isnt her personal statistic.

Those 2000 acres are just the beginning. What about the tens of thousands of acres of farmland that will be consumed and paved over building houses, plazas, parking lots etc. on farmland surrounding that highway? More than 20 years ago I happened to meet with one of the major land developers in the province. During the meeting our conversation stumbled upon the village of Waterdown. He said he had bought farmland just east of the village more than 25 years before a shovel went into the ground to build a new subdivision. Does anyone actually believe that developers dont already own, or have options on the land surrounding the proposed highway? What a great day to read The Spec for some eye opening stuff!

Richard Ronchka, Carlisle

Lack of choices

Fords not going to win because he is so great and popular. He will win because the other choices are even less appealing.

Hannah Gardener, Burlington

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Opinion | May 30: Blame the Liberals, short memories, essential reading and other letters - Hamilton Spectator

Hi there. It's Monday, May 30and you're reading The Loop, a quick look at today's news.

The three seats which remain in doubt are:

For more details on those seats, check out this explainer.

The Liberaland National partieswill meet today to decide who should lead them following the Coalition's election loss.

Here's what you need to know:

The Liberal Party meeting is expected to be brief because only two people have come forward for the leadership positions.

The Nationals meeting won't be as straightforward becausethree MPs have put their hands up for the top job.

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During the election campaign,many people told the ABC they were worried about their finances, as the price of pretty much everything was increasing.

We want to keep that conversation going and hear from Australians across the country to help inform our coverage.

If you'd like to share your experience with us, head to this link to get in touch.

Welcome to a brand new week of news.

ABC/wires

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The Loop: An Aussie makes cycling history, the election vote count continues, and who will lead the Liberals and Nationals? - ABC News

Letter writer SUE DYER, of Downer, offers some fearless advice to the Canberra Liberals.

ITS now clear that its not just letter writers who have despaired at the incompetence and tin-eared behaviours dished up by the ACT Liberal Partys HQ and its Senate incumbent for far too many years.

Unable to learn from the pathetic antics they foisted upon the electorate at the last ACT election, they delivered a 2022 federal campaign devoid of intelligent and relevant content and communications, instead relying on tactics reminiscent of desperate and out-of-touch crusades and manoeuvres orchestrated by gung-ho strategists for Donald Trump and Boris Johnson.

Whatever the Liberal campaign team tried and touched fell afoul of standards and expectations held by a well-informed and educated electorate.

Too often the Liberals and their helpmates failed to show respect for the right of others to stand and work hard to compete for the second Senate seat here.

A complete clean out of the current ACT Liberal power broking machinery is needed before the party even embarks on trying to regain the interest and trust of more territory voters in the future. Tinkering at the edges wont work.

Sue Dyer, Downer

NOBODY wants to talk about elections now, not even me. However, I do want to talk about voting processes in the hope procedures improve next time around.

In the 2022 Federal election there were 104 ACT polling booths open on election day. These all provided useful pocket money for Australian Electoral Commission volunteers who helped staff these outposts.

However, what about the political party volunteers, those who voters face outside these booths?

With polling taking place between 8am and 6pm, if each booth saw one party worker for the entire 10 hours a big ask 104 people would be needed. If a reasonable two-hour roster was in place, then 510 volunteers would be needed.

Certainly, some would double up but even with such dedication common sense tells us one person per booth upon any roster is inadequate and, depending on the siting of the booth, at least three possibly four party supporters would be needed a heavy demand upon what we are told is diminishing party membership and support and increasing pressure as the ACT population grows and more polling booths are created.

This is despite some 45 per cent of voters either pre-polling or postal voting because there is still a need, apparently, on election day to provide party how-to-vote papers. Democracy is not being served if people are not given a chance to vote for whom they want, even if they dont know how to do so.

So we face a dilemma. We dont have enough party volunteers to man all booths in future to show people how to exercise their democratic right and responsibility.

Or do we?

Why not introduce the 100-metre rule around polling booths that applies in Assembly elections also for Federal elections? People seem to manage okay without having sheafs of paper thrust at them and, in the absence of overdue improved voting methods, it would be a better result than the current system, which inevitably will break down.

It also would be fairer to small parties and independents who often have no chance of adequately manning polling booths.

And for once the politicians might listen. Think of the votes they might lose if booths are unmanned under current rules.

Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla

COMPULSORY voting is undemocratic and next to useless as the only thing it does is force eligible voters to attend a polling station (or

face a fine) and have their name crossed off the electoral roll. It

does not necessarily result in a vote being cast.

You can take a horse to water, but you cant make it drink . The only good thing about compulsory voting is the democracy sausage!

Mario Stivala, Belconnen

SO Phil Gaetjens, who headed up the Prime Ministers Department, has been relieved of his duties.

Now I look forward to Kathryn Campbell, current head of Foreign Affairs and Trade to follow him. She was head of the Department of Social Services when Robodebt was introduced and was subsequently promoted to DFAT by the Morrison government.

I hope the new federal integrity commission will examine the stacking of boards, tribunals and the like, along with the appointment of politicised departmental heads, ambassadors and delegates to various other Australian and international bodies, which need to be based upon merit rather than political favour.

Ric Hingee, Duffy

THE blind commitment to light rail, a discretionary and unnecessary project, demonstrates the governments incompetence and arrogance. Increased working from home and improved electric bus technology reinforce the stupidity of proceeding with light rail. A genuine review of Canberras land-use and transport strategy is required before more money is misspent on the project

Mike Quirk, via citynews.com.au

HERE, in Canberra, the message is: The ACT government is building light rail to Woden. We are investing in our citys future by ensuring Canberra is a more connected, sustainable and vibrant city.

A vibrant city with a slow, out-of-date tram that will take nearly twice as long as the new electric buses between Woden and Civic?

Sustainable when the building of the infrastructure for the tram with the necessary tracks and bridges plus importing 16 additional trams from Spain totally assembled will cause massive greenhouse gases? Ensuring Canberra is a more connected city? The authors obviously do not patronise Canberras buses otherwise they would know that on the R4 bus one can sit down in Tuggeranong and end up in Belconnen via Woden and Civic without getting up from ones seat.

It is the rapid buses that are connecting parts of Canberra and not the tram. Even if after a cost of many billions of dollars a tram would eventually run that route, the ride would be so slow that it is unlikely anybody would opt for it.

And, of course, never tell the public the cost. The $3 billion the short stretch from Civic to Woden is likely to cost would upset them. Better to have them ride on a virtual tram in a wonderland of neatly trimmed lawns so they forget about the years of traffic chaos ahead.

Robin Underwood, via citynews.com.au

THE ACT government will renew talks for further light rail funding from the new federal government, after federal Labor sensibly walked back its $200 million promise during the campaign.

The ACT government will request Commonwealth support for stage 2B through the Parliamentary Triangle.

Max Flint (Letters, CN May 24) states that Light Rail Stages 1 and 2 will cost around $5 billion if not more.

While I recently voted for a change of federal government, I hope Anthony Albanese with his strong background in infrastructure can see this ACT project is a dud that hasnt stood up to scrutiny by the Auditor-General to date.

If the federal government wants to use funds wisely, it would be far better employed in bolstering the struggling health system in the ACT. The tram is a deep hole that keeps on drawing down large wasteful buckets of money.

Murray May, Cook

Re So broke, the ACT government turns on widows (Seven Days, May 19): Lets call this out for what it essentially is elder abuse of the highest order by the ACT Labor/Greens government.

Vesna Strika, Gungahlin

DYING with Dignity ACT would like to remind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he opposed the euthanasia laws bill proposed by Kevin Andrews with the following words in the Federal Parliament in 1996:

I oppose this Bill because I support human dignity. I oppose this Bill because I support freedom of choice. I oppose this Bill because I support civil liberties. I oppose this Bill because my Christian upbringing taught me that compassion is important. I oppose this Bill because modern medical practice should be open and accountable, not covert and dishonest. I oppose this Bill because I believe that the national parliament should only intervene against the state or territory legislature when there is overwhelming public support to do so on a national level.

We call on Mr Albanese to remember his words and to act immediately to repeal the 1997 Euthanasia Laws Act.

Jeanne Arthur, president, Dying with Dignity ACT

DURING the election we often heard the call for affordable housing. Few understand how the problem is deeply rooted in the prevailing culture and the pursuit of so-called success and wealth to the extent that it now raises a question of survival.

Since World War II we have gradually built up vast social security and welfare schemes on which millions of Australians now depend (expenditure is about one third of the Australian governments total expenditure).

These schemes have effectively displaced the family as stewards of social welfare but now they are unsustainable simply because there are not enough children being born to fund them going forward.

Australian fertility was 1.9 in 2010 and 1.58 in 2020. The price of housing, pursuing a career and maintaining a certain standard of living are all factors in the birth dearth. Weve become addicted to affluence. Family and children get in the way of our addiction.

Australias declining fertility is papered over with immigration. While large-scale immigration increases the number of skilled workers, it suppresses wages, especially for the unskilled.

It also increases demand for housing, driving up property prices along with competition from investors and now inflation. Housing prices are becoming prohibitive for young people, discouraging family formation.

At first, people did not have children because they wanted more (materially). Today it is because they cannot afford them (financially). We are pricing ourselves out of existence.

John L Smith, Farrer

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Time to clean out the ACT Liberal power brokers - Canberra CityNews

This will be just the second election for the Kiiwetinoong riding.

The riding was established prior to the 2018 election, with the NDP's Sol Mamakwawinning the spot in the provincial legislature.

Kiiwetinoong has the largest land area of any provincial electoral riding, as well as one of the smallest population bases.

The riding is the only one in Ontario to have a majority Indigneous population. The boundaries of Kiiwetinoong are home to the municipalities of Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Pickle Lake, as well as several First Nations including Sandy Lake, Pikangikum, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Eabametoong and Neskantaga.

During interviews with the CBC'sSuperiorMorning,the candidates were asked to start by introducing themselves and explainwhy they're running.

Suzette Foster is a Sixties Scoop survivor who has lived in Red Lake for about 35 years and has experience in the mining and forestrysectors.

She has served as president of the Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre, as well as on other community boards.

Superior Morning2:40Suzette Foster

Prior to being elected in 2018, Sol Mamakwahad been the lead health advisor for Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

While at Queen's Park, he was the party's critic on Indigenous and treaty relations.

Superior Morning3:53Sol Mamakwa

Manuela Michelizziis a teacher in Sioux Lookout, after moving to the community in 2019.

Superior Morning4:55Manuela Michelizzi

Dwight Monckis the mayor of Pickle Lake after having been acclaimed in 2018. Prior to becoming mayor, Monckhad spent time with the Ontario Provincial Police and owneda small business.

CBC Thunder Bay requested interviews with candidates representing the four major parties in the northwestern Ontario ridings. The Progressive Conservatives declined to participate.

Other candidates on the ballot include:

Read more:

Meet the candidates in the Kiiwetinoong riding - CBC.ca

Negativity reduxListening to Peter Dutton at his first media conference as Liberal leader, I wondered whether he received the memo that the Liberals actually lost the election. Everything he said was a rehash of the Liberal brand that was so emphatically rejected by the electorate only a week ago. His attacks on the new government sounded like Tony Abbott 2.0. I fear we are in for more of the same negativity from the surviving Liberals in parliament for the next three years. They already sound like yesterdays people.Nick Toovey, Beaumaris

Logging issues avoidedYour correspondent (Letters, 30/5) uses emotive language and euphemism in support of native forest logging, but avoids the important issues. First, the native forests being logged are not the private domain of the loggers, but are public property. According to surveys, most Victorians want native forest logging to cease.Second, native forests are not crops and thus are not harvested. They are complex ecosystems that support threatened, endangered and vulnerable species which are further depleted by the habitat destruction called logging. Australia has an appalling record of species extinction, yet we do little to protect what remains.The furphy that logged coupes just grow back, the implication that they are the same as they were before has been proven wrong by studies. Given that no comprehensive surveys of flora, fauna (including invertebrates) and fungi are conducted before logging, it cannot be assumed that logging-damaged ecosystems recover to their former state.Helen Moss, Croydon

Life and deathAbortion is illegal after six weeks in Texas, yet its legal for someone to carry guns that have killed 19 children. The logic defies me.Tania Hardy-Smith, Mitcham

Thanks to the wormsA worm farm is a great answer to food waste. I process all my vegetable waste and fruit peel, stale bread, coffee grounds etc through my worm farm and have an endless supply of fertiliser.As well there is a regular supply of rich soil.Graham Reynolds, Soldiers Hill

Transition mythsNick Toscano and Dominic Powell (30/5) explode the myth that it is the transition to renewables that is causing the recent surge in power prices. Rising gas and coal prices and ageing infrastructure are the real causes of power price increases.In contrast, once the infrastructure is built, wind, solar and hydro are free and last forever. They will also lower our carbon emissions. It seems a no-brainer that we transition to these free power sources as soon as possible.Graeme Lechte, Brunswick West

Curtains to all thatTo continue the Scott Morrison metaphor: the voters actually did a little more than changing the curtains, they demolished the house with the intention of rebuilding it from the ground up.Peter Russo, West Brunswick

Wisdom well toldThank you Tony Wright for the beautifully written article I love the boy: Urens gift to our PM (29/5). It was an acknowledgment of the wisdom of Weary Dunlop, Tom Uren and others. Anthony Albanese spoke of their legacy in his opening speech of the election campaign.Shirley Purves, Gisborne

Value for moneyA sum of $150 million for the Tasmanian government to establish its own AFL team (Its time to make history, 28/5) is value for taxpayers money. Compare that to Victorias annual, multimillion, loss-making, grand prix where our state government paid a total of $190.4 million to the Grand Prix Corporation during the two years of event cancellation due to COVID.Geoff Gowers, Merricks North

Truth of warJohn McMillan (Letters, 30/5) is right when he compares young Australian and Turkish troops as similar in their experiences in WWI.My father, then only 21, had a life-changing experience on the 8th of August 1918 in what was called the big hopover against the Germans. He came across a wounded German who called out to him for help. Dad said he wasnt allowed but propped him up so the stretcher bearers could see him. This man wanted to give dad his watch and showed him photos of his family. Dad asked him how he spoke such good English and he said he was a waiter at the Savoy hotel before the war. Dads thoughts at the time were: how is it that were the same, but here fighting one another.Jeanne Hart, Maryborough

Stark inequityThe article Were not asking for Caulfield Grammar (27/5), misses the point and the goals of the RISE North group, of which I am a member. Parents in the north Moreland Council area are not abandoning public schools, but we are finding that the public secondary schools in our area are not all supported by equitable funding nor an education strategy to address declining enrolment and significant gender disparity.The Department of Education and Training spokesman said that $21 million had been invested in the three schools over the past three state budgets, but did not disclose that $9.215 million went to Glenroy Secondary College in 2019, $11.944 million for Pascoe Vale Girls College in May 2022 and only $50,000 for John Fawkner Secondary College in May 2020. The inequity is stark. Strathmore Secondary College enjoyed $21million in upgrades and Mount Alexander College received $26.3million to modernise facilities in recent years.Education Minister James Merlino said in October 2021 that John Fawkner Secondary College had an upgrade project that was shovel ready, so where are the shovels? Where is the funding?I am philosophically committed to public education and feel positive about our familys local high school in Fawkner. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and expertise of new leadership at the school, and I really hope the facilities at the college can be improved to match and support the quality teaching there very soon.Laila Christie, Fawkner

Disrespectful messageIn recent years I have taken three guided tours, one to Kata Tjuta and last week, two in Tasmania.I was disappointed and unpleasantly surprised that none of the three tours began with an Acknowledgement of Country, there was no mention that the First Peoples of this nation are the oldest living culture in the world and there was scant information generally about the first inhabitants as we drove to and explored various well-known tourist sites. James Cook, explorers and the English settlers however, got quite a bit of air play.I understand that some information is not a non-Aboriginals story to tell, but not to honour the original custodians of the land was not only disrespectful but a lost opportunity to inform international, interstate and intrastate visitors about the truth of our history.Susan Hillman Stolz, Rye

Midwife originsI read with amusement the theory that men dont move into midwifery because they are put off by the term midwife as it is sexist and anachronistic. It is neither; the term midwife has its origins in the ancient English and simply means with woman. In the 1980s as a bloke and a midwife working in a busy CBD delivery suite for several years I was pretty proud to be referred to as a midwife.Kym Durance, Wangaratta

Wrong answerIf Peter Dutton is the answer, the question certainly wasnt, Who will win back the disenfranchised and disenchanted former Liberal voters?Greg Tuck, Warragul

Nats in the burbsNow that the Nationals have a more acceptable leadership team, their next step is to break with the Liberal Party and field candidates in the leafy suburbs. I can guarantee them my vote.Ken Barnes, Glen Iris

Are we family?Thank you China for forcing the Australian government to belatedly offer a grovelling apology to the Pacific islands (aka our family) for successive governments contempt for the Pacific islands concern about climate change. Thank you for making Australia show the true extent of its concern by having to formally state its, at best, modest CO2 reduction targets. Thank you for showing up the presumptuousness by Australia that the Pacific islands still even regard us as family.Bruce Hocking, Camberwell

PoliticsYou are right, Scott Morrison. The voters did replace the curtains. They were just too grubby.Jack Ginger, South Caulfield

Josh Frydenberg said that Monique Ryan was in bed with Labor and the Greens. Meanwhile, he is enjoying a permanent sleep-over with Barnaby and Scott.Elizabeth Long, Collingwood

Scott Morrison (ex-prime minister), how good is that?Louis Roller, Fitzroy North

If anything needs fresh thinkers and new blood, its the Liberal Party.Meg McPherson, Brighton

The best and only worthwhile achievement of the Howard government was the gun buyback after the Port Arthur massacre.Marie Nash, Balwyn

So wonderful for the Murugappan family. The change of government feels like Australia has been released from a nightmare sentence of a wrongful conviction.Julie Conquest, Brighton

A sigh of relief swept across Australia with the news that the Murugappan family will be allowed to return to Biloela. The Coalition never understood that compassion can be a sign of strength not weakness.Eveline Clarke, Berwick

Alas, one sour apple left in the opposition bucket might be all it takes for revival.Tris Raouf, Hadfield

The image of traumatised refugees being held on the deck of a ship in the hot, tropical sun to win an election is obviously something Howard supporters can overlook.Lynette Payne, Richmond

If Peter Dutton regrets boycotting the apology to the stolen generations, he can make up for it by endorsing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.Stewart King, Carnegie

Much as Im glad Peter Dutton isnt in government, Im not sure the Liberals choosing the wilderness is in Australias best interests either.Margaret Callinan, Hawthorn

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ELECTION AFTERMATH: A prime driver on road to defeat was corruption - The Age