Paul Daniel's Views On The World, For What They're Worth

I can’t believe the contradiction that is Jeff Kennett.

As much as I hated his politics, I admired him because he was one of the few politicians in my lifetime who have made it perfectly clear to the electorate what they stood for, and then governed to deliver on those objectives. Others in this category were:

• Whitlam
• Keating
• Bjelke-Petersen

Where have all the politicians with convictions gone? But I digress.

Kennett also has to be admired for the work he does as Chairperson for beyondblue, a not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia.

On the downside, if some of the press reports and stories from inside the Hawthorn football club are to be believed, one of the biggest challenges is keeping President Kennett in check, and then worrying about how to get the next AFL premiership. The appearance is that it’s all about Jeff initially, and the club comes second.

He then manages, on occasions to come out and make some of the most absurd comments one could ever imagine, including this week’s, where he has announced that Kool Mints were ideal for disguising booze on your breath because "they absorbed the alcohol" (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/not-kool-jeff-kennetts-booze-bus-beater-20101118-17ylk.html).

What a clown!