I don't "like" him as such, and he's not in the class of Albo, and certainly no Keating or Whitlam, but as a terrier, snapping at the heels of the government, he has a certain amount of success, albeit as an irritant. And I'd have little doubt that he's involved in the Slipper/Ashby case up to his little pink ears, as is Mal Brough. If ever there was a beat-up, that's it, but Slipper should have known the Libs would be out for blood, and made sure there was nothing for them to get on him.
For that matter, I think Abbott has been abusing the parliament with his frivolous SSOs, and his public performances are a circus. But aided by a compliant media, he's getting away with it, and he has to be given credit for that, however infuriating it might be. It could never work if there weren't so many stupid people out there, soaking up the bullshit like so many blotters. It's a very sad reflection on our society as a whole.
Of course the Thomson affair wouldn't rate high in normal times, but it's not normal times, and the right-wing media are making the most of it. In fact, even if he's guilty, it's not a criminal offence. He won't go to jail for it, but that has been overlooked in the flurry to get a story, whereas Mary Jo Fisher's assault case was a criminal case, however minor. I can't see how he can be censured unless he's charged and found guilty, but the problem is that the media won't let it go away, and there's nowhere to hide. It's a bad look for Labor, and it couldn't come at a worse time. There's also a question about the HSU accountants - were they asleep on the job? And aren't the books audited? Why wasn't this nipped in the bud at the first sign of any irregular payments? I think these are valid questions. If Thomson is guilty, it would seem that he was aided by sloppy work practices involving other people. It should never have got to the point it did.
I think the Thomson case does give rise to other issues - the need for a careful background check on all prospective candidates. Whether they're chosen by Sussex Street or by the rank and file, the powers-that-be have to make sure there's no dirt, anywhere. And anybody with political ambitions should learn to keep their noses clean from the time they first begin to think about public life - there's always somebody with a camera, a mobile phone, a telephoto lens, or a microphone, waiting to snap. They can't get away with anything these days, and they need to wake up to that.
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