We were warned by billionaires who know how the global financial casino works and don't like what they see, even as they prosper. You've got to love Warren Buffet, the most successful investor of this era, when he talks about the financial speculators and manipulators operating under the polite title of 'hedge funds'. 

The Bush family did not have a distinguished history before Samuel Bush ingratiated himself to the wealthy and powerful. Although they appear to have been present in this country from the early Colonial period, they had gained no distinction.  

The federal Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, has staked his leadership on a radical overhaul of conservative party politics, including the merger of the Liberal and National parties and allowing party members to elect the leader. 

Nelson Stakes His Future On Lib-Nat Merger

from Crikey ….. 

Mungo: What a difference a month makes 

Mungo MacCallum writes: 

In the first insider account of Pentagon decision-making on Iraq, one of the key architects of the war blasts former secretary of state Colin Powell, the CIA, retired Gen. Tommy R. Franks and former Iraq occupation chief L. Paul Bremer for mishandling the run-up to the invasion and the subsequent occupation of the country. 

Nationals MP Mark Vaile has broken his silence to vigorously defend his right to take on a private sector consultancy while still in Parliament. 

As he took a swipe at Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, the former deputy prime minister said he may quit office before the next election. 

A Texas oil executive was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for approving the payment of millions of dollars in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's Iraq regime so he could secure large oil shipments through a United Nations program.  

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin also fined David Chalmers $9 million.

Afghanistan veteran, Leo Docherty, criticises the British military campaign in Helmand province, where the Prince served until his tour of duty was cut short after details of it were leaked on the internet.

Perhaps Prince Harry knows this.  

Senator Obama is right to say the issue is judgment not years in Washington.  

If Mrs. Clinton loses the nomination, her failure will be traced to the date she voted to empower George W. Bush to invade Iraq.  

The Federal Government says it has scrapped the Friday parliamentary sitting day it recently introduced, because of the Opposition's disruptive behaviour. 

The Rudd Government introduced Friday sitting days for private members business but the Opposition opposed the move because neither the Prime Minister nor his front bench had to be there. 

The visit to Iraq by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad highlights the irony that Iran has been hugely strengthened by the removal of its old enemy Saddam Hussein at the hands of its current antagonist, the United States. 

Iran is one of the winners from the US-led invasion of 2003. 

Secret research handed to the Howard government showed its $46 million taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to promote Work Choices failed dismally. 

The research - based on polls of hundreds of people every fortnight from August 2005 to February 2006 - showed that weeks of TV advertising only served to entrench apprehension about Work Choices - which John Howard is still defending while on the lecture circuit in Washington. 

Opposition treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson should be given a fair go in the job, despite disappointing results in recent opinion polls. 

Speaking on ABC1's The 7.30 Report, Mr Turnbull said the lack of support for the Opposition and its leader is not surprising soon after an election defeat. 

US President George Bush endorsed Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain, two bitter rivals from the 2000 presidential race joining together now in hopes of preventing Democrats from winning the White House in November. 

from Crikey ….. 

Pollie bludgers: Should they stay or should they go? 

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes: