The "court" thing is a case of small judges wanting to be big Presidents.

Submitted by Michael S, Feb 20, 2017 at 16:46

Hi, Moh

This whole "court" episode is a clear case of little judges wanting to be bigger people than they are; so they go about legislating from the bench, as though they were Senators, and conducting foreign policy from the bench as though they were Presidents. In the end, most of their decisions have ultimately been overturned by higher courts.

Seeing your post reminded me to check up on how Malcolm Turnbull is doing. He just turned down an offer from NZ's Bill English, to take 150 Islamic migrants off Malcolm's hands; but the Aussie PM rejected him because he preferred to work out the details of the much larger deal (some 8+ times as many migrants) that he had on the books with the US.

Two things seem to be at work here, from my ivory tower perspective:

1. The deal, which had been cut between Turnbull and Obama in the latter's waning days, was actually an exchange -- Australia agreed to take a like number of Latin American migrants off Obama's hands, as part of a deal:

http://nypost.com/2017/02/02/inside-obamas-quiet-deal-to-help-australia-with-refugees/

2. Turnbull is more interested in deepening his relationship with Donald Trump, a dependable ally, than with the fickle Kiwi. NZ has a reputation for "pushing the limits" in being independent of its allies;
and at any rate, it isn't much of a player on the world stage:

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/files/styles/fullsize/public/images/dominion-day-cartoon_0.jpg?itok=VhhCKbMX

Did I get that right?

My family doctor, meanwhile (a Pakistani-American), asked me how you were taking the leaked, "animated" phone call between Trump and Turnbull. I told him the story was way overblown; and you actually liked Donald Trump. Was I right? Anyway, Mr. Turnbull is rather unfazed by it all:

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/02/19/09/47/us-australia-rock-solid-governor-general

I just bookmarked 9new.com. It seems fair dinkum, about as much as one can expect.

Take care.

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