Clarence Darrow famously said, “I have never killed anyone, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.”
Similarly, while there are many political figures I loathe and whom I would dearly love to see thrown out of office, there are few people I would actively wish harm upon. So when I read that Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has been hospitalised after a “nasty fall”, I must push aside any temptation to schadenfreude and wish him a speedy recovery.
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has been hospitalised and placed in intensive care after a serious fall which left him with vertebrae damage and several broken ribs[…]
“Early this morning, I was admitted to hospital after slipping and falling on wet and slippery stairs,” Mr Andrews said in a statement.
“A CT scan has revealed several broken ribs and vertebrae damage, and subsequent medical advice has recommended I remain in intensive care for the next few days,” he said.
There seems to be some confusion or perhaps confused terminology here. “Intensive care” and “precautionary” seem slightly incongruent.
Still, having recently packed myself off to Casualty after coming a cropper while descending a ladder, I can readily sympathise with him. I’ve cracked a rib before, too, and that’s bloody painful – definitely not something you’d wish on anyone.
Deputy Premier James Merlino will continue to act in Mr Andrews’ place, as he did over the weekend when the Premier was on leave[…]
“Dan had a nasty fall this morning as he was preparing for work,” Mr Merlino said.
“He didn’t hit his head, no head injuries so he is fine in that respect. He is going to hospital for some precautionary X-rays
“I expect he will be on his feet shortly, I can’t say exactly when that will be but I know he is fine and getting some good care as a precaution.”
If I’m going to read about the fall of Daniel Andrews, I want it to be at the ballot box.
As an aside, it is instructive to read the comments in various news outlets. Left-wing redoubts The Age and The Guardian, naturally, are wall-to-wall adoration and swooning. Contrast that to the sort of shameful commentary that regularly pullulates on those sites when a right-of-centre figure so much as gets a nasty cough.
Meanwhile, at the centre-right Australian, commentary is at times critical of Andrews’s policies – while wishing him a speedy recovery.
I have zero respect for Chairman LockDan but wish him a speedy recovery. Everyone deserves compassion in times of hardship […]
I wish him well and a full recovery. Worst premier very thou. [sic …]
While I am no fan of Dan Andrews that is terrible news. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery […]
Dear Mr Andrews, no one, even a non-Victorian, should wish anything but a speedy recovery for you.
The Australian
Reader Milo perhaps summed it up, best:
I like how the right and centre does not take joy in injuries sustained by leaders of a different political persuasion. These are all genuine supportive comments offering their genuine good wishes to Premier Andrews. I recognise many names of those who have criticised his policies but been sympathetic to him. However it’s nothing less than I expect from Australian readers. All the best Premier Andrews.
Indeed – a speedy recovery and return to work, Daniel Andrews: so we can get back to the proper business of shellacking your politics.
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