Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

@dadpad,

Well it certainly makes more sense than Labor giving its preferences to Family First, to keep the Greens out (as they've done in the recent past).

I see what you're saying, dp, but me, I prefer the idea of the Greens remaining much more independent of the 2 big parties.

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Ha! Just saw a little bit of this on Jenny Brockie's program on SBS.

Did anyone watch Insight, by the way? The current views of the "undecideds", the swinging voters. What they want from the next government. Very interesting.

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@msolga,

My thoughts exactly. I guess John Howard got his wish. We're relaxed and comfortable.

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@hingehead,

... or, if you come at it another way, hinge .... perhaps we have simply stopped believing that they actually mean what they say in election campaigns?

There seem to be quite a number of "non-core" promises floating around from the previous election....

... & a heck of a lot of poll-driven statements this time around.

Who knows what they (both sides) will actually do if in power? Confused

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@msolga,

I have to say if neither side stated their intentions (honestly or dishonestly) I'd still lean to the ALP - but that doesn't mean I think they're doing a great job right now. They've got some talented ministers but they've got some self-serving nincompoops too. Libs on the other hand, and Tony's team in particular, are tainted by it's role in the Howard years.

I'm hoping for a reduced ALP majority in the lower house and a greens controlled senate. And for a few deaths (political or otherwise) in the shadow cabinet. Oh, and Mark Arbib and Jason Clare relegated to the backbenches.

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@hingehead,

hingehead wrote:

My thoughts exactly. I guess John Howard got his wish. We're relaxed and comfortable.

I'm not...I'm anxious and discomfited.

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@dlowan,

Yeah, but bunny, when have you ever been in tune with the majority?

Wear it as a badge of honour.

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@hingehead,

Quote:

I have to say if neither side stated their intentions (honestly or dishonestly) I'd still lean to the ALP - but that doesn't mean I think they're doing a great job right now. They've got some talented ministers but they've got some self-serving nincompoops too. Libs on the other hand, and Tony's team in particular, are tainted by it's role in the Howard years.

I'm hoping for a reduced ALP majority in the lower house and a greens controlled senate.

My thoughts exactly, hinge.
(Though that doesn't mean I'll actually be voting for Labor. I much prefer the Greens' policies. And integrity-wise, the Greens stand out like a sore thumb (as the saying goes! Smile

) at the moment. For me, anyway. And for quite a number of Australian voters looking for an alternative to the big 2, according to the polls. Let's hope they stay that way & are not "tainted" by their recent preference deal (& any future wheeling & dealing) with Labor. (Remember the Democrats & Meg Lees, cosying up a little too closely with the Libs on the GST? Really damaging internal divisions with their own members & (almost) instant death to their political credibility & their viability as the third party in Oz politics)

Quote:

... And for a few deaths (political or otherwise) in the shadow cabinet. Oh, and Mark Arbib and Jason Clare relegated to the backbenches.

Could you elaborate, please? I'm not familiar with either of these two, though mark Arbib definitely rings a bell .. & you've mentioned him before here.

As to my (political) death-death wish in the senate.: I fervently hope we've seen the last of Steve Fielding & Family First . Ugh.

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@dlowan,

Quote:

I'm not...I'm anxious and discomfited.

Oh I can understand that, Deb! Smile

Could you elaborate a little on the aspects of this campaign which are causing your anxiety & discomfort?

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Good evening. For what it is worth, I played internet scrabble this evening with someone from Hirom, AUS. I can't find that in my atlas. Do you know where it is?
It is tough to carry on a conversation with a stranger about politics in the midst of a scrabble game, but I do try.
The 58 year old Aussie says it is time for a change. The new PM is no better then the previous one. It is the worst government ever.
Why, I asked. Immigration, mining, climate change?
All of the above was the reply, particularly the "climate change bullshit."
"We look after too many alien countries."

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@msolga,

Quote:

..I fervently hope we've seen the last of Steve Fielding & Family First . Ugh.

... & speaking of Steve Fielding ...
What the hell is he doing on a "secret mission" in Afghanistan? ... along with (Liberal) senator Guy Barnett and Philip Ruddock? What's going on here? Confused

:

Quote:

....STEVE Fielding's eccentric political career could end at next month's federal election, yet the Victorian senator has spent five vital days of the campaign on secret missions in southern Afghanistan.

In a phone call from Dubai as he flew home from the war zone, Senator Fielding told The Age ''strict security requirements for the safety of troops and myself'' prevented any press releases about the nine-day trip.

Liberal senator Guy Barnett and veteran Liberal MHR Philip Ruddock travelled with Senator Fielding to the Australian base at Tarin Kowt for a government-funded familiarisation of the campaign against the Taliban. ....

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/steve-fielding-mia-in-afghanistan-20100721-10l65.html?autostart=1

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Hmmm ...

This would be a very convenient appointment ... for Labor. Wink

Quote:

Rudd 'in line for UN climate job'
Updated 2 hours 24 minutes ago

Federal Labor campaign spokesman Chris Bowen has moved to hose down reports that Kevin Rudd is in line for a key job as a climate change adviser at the United Nations.

News Limited papers are reporting that the former prime minister is being considered for the top-level job, which would force him to leave Australia. ...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/22/2960668.htm

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@realjohnboy,

Yeah, well you've got a right one there RJB - will vote liberal no matter what (unless One Nation resurrects itself).

Quote:

We look after too many alien countries

That's kind of funny - I wonder what a non-alien country looks like?

I can't believe even the staunchest right winger of that age would call this the worst govt ever - worse than Keating? Worse than Gough? Sound like the halo effect. Something in their personal life is pear-shaped and therefore the govt is at fault.

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@msolga,

msolga wrote:

Quote:
I'm not...I'm anxious and discomfited.

Oh I can understand that, Deb!

Could you elaborate a little on the aspects of this campaign which are causing your anxiety & discomfort?

Campaign?

Who's taking any notice of the campaign?

1 Reply

@realjohnboy,

Quote:

Good evening. For what it is worth, I played internet scrabble this evening with someone from Hirom, AUS. I can't find that in my atlas. Do you know where it is?
It is tough to carry on a conversation with a stranger about politics in the midst of a scrabble game, but I do try.
The 58 year old Aussie says it is time for a change. The new PM is no better then the previous one. It is the worst government ever.
Why, I asked. Immigration, mining, climate change?
All of the above was the reply, particularly the "climate change bullshit."
"We look after too many alien countries."

Good morning, RJB.
I'm sorry, I don't know where it is, either.
I just Googled "Hirom + Australia + location + map" & came up with Georgia & Maine.
Could this be another Liberal plant on your scrabble site? Wink

But seriously, he (?) wouldn't be alone in those sentiments. There are doubtless many other conservative Australians who'd share them.
And we definitely should stop looking after all those "alien countries", I say! Laughing

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@msolga,

Oh yeah, Fielding! Is in that half of the senate already? Yay!

Arbib is minister for employment - but is a lever puller for the labor right. Much more tied up with internal politics than his portfolio. And his stance on indigenous employment is naive at best. Psychophantic, ignorant, media massaging at worst. Clare works with Arbib as parliamentary secretary. A smooth operator, driven, but a prima donna. Comes across as much more concerned with his career than his constituents, obviously he's not Robinson Crusoe in politics but if you can't fake sincerity....

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@msolga,

I reckon the only job Rudd would take at the UN is Ban Ki Moon's - and I think he's had his eye on it a long time.

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@dlowan,

Quote:

Campaign?

Who's taking any notice of the campaign?

A few of us, at least?

Oh you're discomforted & anxious by other things then?

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@msolga,

Quote:

Campaign?

Who's taking any notice of the campaign?

Me! Oh, hang on a sec, I thought you said champagne.

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@msolga,

msolga wrote:

... & speaking of Steve Fielding ...
What the hell is he doing on a "secret mission" in Afghanistan? ... along with (Liberal) senator Guy Barnett and Philip Ruddock? What's going on here? :

Hopefully, Ruddock has taken Fielding "land mine testing"

1 Reply

Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

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