Flim-Flannery

Flammery’s Lament

“They’ll run a front-page feature*

     too full of awful lies; 

they’ll state that I’m a creature

     of avaricious guys.

They’ll run a weekend-story

     to spread deceit and fear,

forgetting all my glory—

     an Aussie of the year!

Then comes a little stinger

     on Monday, on page three:

some dreadful paper’s stringer

     will dare to sneer at me.

Why are such people teasing?

     I cannot understand!

I’m clearly born for pleasing—

     a prophet of the land.

“Desert seers were oft abused†
     by those they came to lead.

Similarly, I’ve been accused

     of clumsiness and greed.

I am not the worst of chaps,

     no author of a plot;

scientific dunce, perhaps,

      a genius I am not.”

*  Tim Blair reports that Tim Flannery “might be exaggerating just a little”.  The delusional and, perhaps, paranoid Prof. Flannery said:  “The campaign [against the IPCC] was very much like the sort of media campaign that I’m used to when people try to discredit me.  And the way that works is usually on a Friday they’ll run a front-page story saying what a ratbag I am.  You know, front page, and that’s all right, interesting, someone’s been a bit, you know, corrupt or a bit rotten.
“And then on the Saturday they’ll run a page three story, usually a much longer story, listing everything you’re supposed to have done, and all the reasons why you’re a ratbag. 
“And then on the Monday they’ll put a little stinger in. A little reminder, just to remind people what a rotten person you are.”
†  John, iv. 44; Mark, vi. 4; Matt., xxxv. 57.