What a Downer

"What do you expect them to do, fall on the ground and grovel - eat dirt - I mean, get real."

Even if Haneef turns out to be a terrorist who escaped prosecution simply through the inept bumbling of law enforcement agencies, this quote from Alexander Downer really seems to encapsulate everything that's wrong with the Howard government.

There's this mentality amongst all those working in the Liberals that apologising is the ultimate act of shaming; that it's a sign of weakness, and to be asked to apologise is akin to having someone spit in your face.

Of course, that said, you'll not find many politicians who are all that willing to offer an apology - they'll really have to have messed up majorly to get them to do that. But there's this almost frenzied reaction the Liberals have every time they're prompted by journalists as to whether or not an apology is in order. You see it time and time again; the evasiveness, the arrogance, and the dogmatic belief that every single thing they do is absolutely right.

Given the amount this soundbite of Downer's is being played and re-played, I wouldn't be surprised if - should the Liberals lose the upcoming election - this is offered as one of the reasons they didn't regain power.

And if this post isn't enough to bring Pree out of Internet exile, I don't know what is; maybe I should photoshop up a picture of him in a dress.