Not often an FB makes the national news (Darren Baum on ABC)

[e-RICHIE]

Man - are we talking about product placement for the up and coming niche-ista, one that will help enable growth and a more secure future? Or is this about a staffer at the White House trying to climb the ladder (or whatever euphemism you'd care to use) atmo? The thread drift reads like an episode of West Wing. PS I'm all about cronyism.

[nelo784]

Warwick,

take a deep breath, release and relax!

I often wonder why we cannot simply focus on our own work and making it great. If it doesn't bend it breaks and all that. Ego always seems to stand in the way of iterative reflection.

Warwick makes bikes. Darren makes bikes. I have one of both and they get along fine hanging next to each other in the bike closet here in DC! In fact, I am pretty sure they have a robust mutual respect for each other. The Thylacine doing what it does best on the trails and the Baum churning up McArthur Bvd in the early hours of the morning. My experience with both of you gentlemen was great and I truly respect your commitments to the bicycle, but as ATMO infers, I don't remember experiencing personal growth and a more secure future as a consequence of being a customer of Australia's bike builders.

Surely we can't worry too much about who we sell things too, otherwise we would be buying into the wedding cake argument the religious right trot out here about same sex marriage and proprietors choice. And they truly are the douche bags!

Inevitably your customers (Prime Ministers or otherwise) are likely to be a mix of conservative, wealthy, blue-blood types quick to plonk down a deposit on the next big thing as well as progressive, wealthy, dot-com liberals convinced that riding a bike will save them and the world. I don't imagine too many struggling minorities are fronting up for their next custom bike! The bike is the bike and what is on the saddle is the nut we all know about from other threads and analogies.

Ride on boys. I know I am and both the Baum and Thylacine will be in the rotation!!


Chris Nelson

[CarbonNeutral]

Thylacine is done and dusted man. You're riding a piece of history now ;)

[robbieS]

oh he definitely owns a baum

2014  Fitted and Built Custom Titanium road bike for Prime Minister of Australia (Hon. T. Abbott).

Here's the stupid git with it

Being fair a little bit (I'm not a fan of Abbott!) : If he had a custom builder from the US it would make news ("Why aren't you supporting local industry, mister prime minister!") . And hey, he sets a healthy example for active lifestyles.

Now if only he could be a better prime minister.

--
Rob Schonberger; Kibitzer!

[Blakey]

Now if only he could be a better prime minister.

Not anymore. Good riddance Worst Prime Minister Ever.

Andrew Blake

[Mark Kelly]

First Dog got it right seven months ago. I especially liked "And opposition leader Bent Spoontits is finally going to have to do some actual work for a change so that will be funny too"

[progetto]

Sounds like he is 4 days short of a two year stint which would have earned him a Prime Minister pension for life. I would be a little annoyed.

[Mark Kelly]

Schadenfreude aside, that story has been debunked. He gets a pension of about $300k, the four days would have added another $20k.

[progetto]

What about the other perks?

Schadenfreude aside, that story has been debunked. He gets a pension of about $300k, the four days would have added another $20k.

[Mark Kelly]

If you mean the office, staff and travel allowances, he's already eligible for them. They are automatically granted to ex-PMs who served more than one year "in recognition of public service". They're also not as large as the usual tabloid beat-up stories would have you believe: Former Parliamentarians' Expenditure - Period 1 July to 31 December 2014 | Department of Finance.

If we accept the former First Ranga's $400k office fitout as a one-off, the most expensive of them was Little Johnny Howard at about $140k.

[Colinmclelland]

First Dog got it right seven months ago.

Not exactly a timely response, but....I would wear that T-shirt! Bent Spoontits is a bit of a classic too.

Abbot is our federal member and he’s under a bit of pressure...possibly on account of having done nothing for us for 25 years, or maybe it’s because he shows no compassion, is a climate denier (i don’t get that, you would have thought a politician would just lie) a homophobe, a right wing religious nutjob and a very embarrassing representative. Except that he doesn’t bother to represent, he just does what he wants.

Of course, my dad thinks he’s great, so it takes all sorts. Whatever. If that cartoon was a t-shirt i’d be buying it.