Who is paying for the proselytising trips of Tony Abbott and Kevin Andrews to the USA? Taxpayers? Churches? Are these trips going down as investigation for parliamentary purposes when we know they're not?

Tony Abbott's sister and same-sex marriage campaigner Christine Forster has expressed concern about his upcoming visit to anti-gay marriage and anti abortion Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) group in the US this week.

"With great respect to those who don't share my views and recognising our proud history of European settlement in this country and beyond, over 200 years and more, I will lend my voice to the republican movement in this country," General Morrison said in his acceptance speech on Monday night.

Joe Hockey has had a very chilly reception in Washington DC as he starts his new job as Australia's Ambassador to the United States. 

Mr Hockey has arrived in the US capital to take up the plum diplomatic job, just in time to experience the "snowmageddon​" that is sweeping the area first-hand. 

He has posted several photos to Twitter showing the Ambassador's residence blanketed in snow, as well as a  "snelfie" (snow selfie), complete with slight grimace and hoodie. 

US Republican front-runner Donald Trump says he could stand in New York's Fifth Avenue "and shoot somebody" and not lose voters.

Yet, large and growing minorities in every country of Europe, and now in America, believe that not only is this proposition absurd, the end result could be national suicide. And when one considers the millions who are flocking to Trump and Sanders, it is hard to believe that the establishments of the two parties, even if they defeat these challengers, can return to same old interventionist, trade, immigration, and war policies.

A mooted succession plan in Bronwyn Bishop’s Sydney seat has been denounced by local Liberal party members as “North Korean nepotism”.

Rupert Murdoch, executive co-chairman of Fox News' parent company, wrote on Twitter that while Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz "bets uniting white conservatives/evangelicals enough [...] Trump appealing across party lines. Surely the winning strategy".

The battles are furious... The debates are like tar pits and asphyxiating feather pillows... but one of these candidates will finish on top...

I believe Al Bundy would do a great average job as President of the USA... or grandpa Simpson (with a Abraham Lincoln top-hat)...

The rat before Homer, though...