tommytomlin 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 I dunno if you guys will have heard about this, and it's front-page news here in Australia so why not. Heckling senators booted out By Paul Colgan, Natacha Butler and wires October 23, 2003 US President George W. Bush's address to the Australian Parliament has been marred by rowdy heckling, with two anti-war politicians ejected from the chamber. Mr Howard and Mr Bush embrace at Parliament House before Mr Bush's speech / AFP Mr Howard's welcome Greens senators Bob Brown and Kerry Nettle jeered Mr Bush, who was forced to stop his address. "I love free speech," Mr Bush remarked as Ms Nettle was ejected from the chamber. Mr Brown was ejected when he started groaning as Mr Bush told assembled politicians no one who cared about human rights in the Middle East could mourn the ousting of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. He was joined by a handful of other MPs and senators who interrupted the President's speech. Neil Andrew, the Speaker of the House, immediately had the sergeant-at-arms remove Mr Brown. Mr Bush was forced to stop his address and took a drink of water before proceeding. After the address, Senator Brown re-entered the chamber and shook Mr Bush's hand while Senator Nettle attempted to give Mr Bush some papers, which he refused. Leader of the House Tony Abbott moved for the Greens senators to be suspended. Outside the Parliament, an anti-war demonstration turned ugly as protesters got into scuffles with police. At least three people were arrested after protesters broke security netting near the US embassy, only to be forced back by a strong police presence with dogs. Hehe When Senators ATTACK Although I think the Howard Government's position as America's lapdog makes me feel ashamed to be Australian, these Senators were out of line. Funny, but out of line. If you want to hear the heckling, go to http://www.news.com.au Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 I saw the event live on You-know-what News. OMG not everyone agrees with Bush. Can it be?! *shrugs*... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ken Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Just a little background on the Greens Senator Bob Brown: He's a fucking loser Oh, and when Bush rebutted with the 'I love free speech' remark, the entire house applauded. Just a few no-hopers trying to spoil the party. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Loved Bush's wink, too, when he got heckled. I laughed at that one. Oh, and I've been wondering this -- what exactly does it mean when Australian/England's Parliament start yelling? I see it happen all the time in England's House on C-Span. I assume they're agreeing with the Speaker, but what do I know -- I'm an ignorant American... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DARRYLXWF 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 In Australia's case, if the members of parliament are yelling, they're probably saying something to their opposing party, like 'You suck', only in politically correct terms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 I should clarify -- it's not quite yelling, but it's like a bunch of them saying "yeah" as if they were a bunch of zombies. The reason I guess that they are agreeing with the speaker is that whenever Tony Blair is tearing up the Conservative Party member just about everyone in the room are making that noise, along with laughing, at the person Blair's addressing... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DARRYLXWF 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Oh, you mean 'hear hear'. Yeah, usually when the prime minister or cabinet minister finishes a statement, his party will say 'hear hear', meaning 'Hell yeah.' It's derived from the british parliament. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Ahh, "hear hear." That's what they're saying. Merci... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted October 23, 2003 They should have let Bush kick the hecklers with that big boot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nanks Report post Posted October 23, 2003 hahaha, big boot.... If only our prime minister was that cool. "I'm reportin' this to my member of parliament" *goes to window and yells at man floating naked drinking beer in an inner tube* "HEY ANDY, I GOT SOMETHIN' TO REPORT" Yeah, Australian politics to a tea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommytomlin 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Wasn't the dude in the tube the Prime Minister? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiny norman 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 Harold Holt, maybe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tommytomlin 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 ROFL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Cerebus Report post Posted October 23, 2003 The two senators plan to defy a 24-hour ban by attending Chinese President Hu Jintao's address to Parliament tomorrow. I wonder if they'll heckel him for human rights abuses... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2003 If they do I'm sure Jintao won't say, "I love fee speech"... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites