Aussie journalists are yobbos... and an apology to US friends...

Yobbo or Yob: Colloquial - a loutish, aggressive, uncouth, slob like person with no class and little respect.

The word most likely originates from joining young or youth with slob. But it doesn't apply to young people only.

Anyway. Our journalists have no respect for leaders of countries. Not even our own. They call our leader Mr. Howard and not Mr. Primeminister (which I have heard US journos call our leader).

They refer to The President as George Bush or Mr. Bush. They won't run a story which says The President does this The President does that. And in any coverage in which they have spoken directly, they will not address him as Mr. President, but as Mr. Bush.

No respsect.

For US friends who see this, I apologise.

I would also like to apologise for the ads the ALP (our version of the Democrats) have started running which have the line "Don't Back Bush."

The Liberal Party (our version of the Republicans) is in power. So it is the opposition party which is running these ads down here.

I find their actions appaling. And somewhat puzzling. Puzzling inasmuch as the British version of The Democrats are in power in Britain, and they are not yelling "Don't Back Bush."

Come to think of... this is the first time I have ever heard of an opposition political party in one country, running ads in their own country having a go at the LEADER of another country.

What's up with that?

Is this just catering to the squeeky wheelers. Or even encouraging them. To score cub scout points???

Whatever their reason... it shows them to be Yobs too. (Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing.)

Ba humbug.

Michael Ross

P.S. One of our leaders once put his arm around the Queen of England. Funny, eh?