Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

Very timely criticism from channel 9's "veteran political commentator", Laurie Oaks.
Especially since Latham's very public harassment of Gillard backfired so spectacularly.

Ah well, Laurie, looks like you'll have to provide yet another anti--Labor leak, pretty soon, hey? Like around the time Labor launches its campaign, perhaps? :



http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/laurie-oakes-attacks-nine-over-hiring-of-latham-20100808-11q59.html?autostart=1

And just before I go ... Moir's (SMH) comment on the Libs official launch yesterday.
(A bit visually gruesome! (Eeek!) But I agree with the sentiment. ) :

Yes, indeed.

And a helluva a lot of them have been distracted of late.

It's hard for me to tell, though we are a big FIFO point for mines in the cape and western queensland. We get the Miners ads that say the new tax will make everything more expensive (like a flat company tax hike won't), but I still can't see how.

I did think about it but all I came up with was.

net profit drops (because tax is higher).
share dividends drop (for same reason)
consequences?
Mining shares might drop in face value, shareholders might have less to spend. None of those things would seem to make prices rise, less money in the economy, less competition from mining sector for services/products, would both put downward pressure on prices.

Will the tax put a mine out of business? Possible, though I don't think there are too many small miners in coal and iron ore. Gold, silver, platinum, pink diamond etc aren't included in the new tax. Twiggy Forest and co are pushing their political barrows under the guise of economic imperative. What is it about supreme wealth that makes you move into political activism. I guess I'll have to ask Rupert next time I see him at a Rabbitohs match.

Am glad Kevin puts 'Keeping Tony Abbott out of the Lodge' above all the other things weighing on him.

How desperate of Julia to arrange for Latham to attack her, just to get some sympathy, and get the light off Rudd!

(Just kiddin'.)

On religion in politics, watched Abbott speaking to some massive assembly of christians. I was surprised and impressed with just how anti-religion+politics he was.

eg. "I am not a Christian politician. I don't want your vote on the basis of my faith"

Hope you all saw QandA tonight. Defining moment of the election I predict.

I saw, Eorl.
But I must go to bed now. Tomorrow.
I'll be interested to hear what you & others thought of it.

Tony Abbott next week! Now that should be interesting!

Night night.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2971154.htm?clip=rtmp://cp44823.edgefcs.net/ondemand/flash/tv/streams/qanda/qanda_2010_ep27.flv

Just watching it now but I'm tired - good or bad for Julia?

Very very good I would have thought.

I have a little theory that the housing bubble is bursting as we speak. That would have to support a change back to conservatives, don't you think?

Not sure - you're happy if you're buying, sad if you're selling. Not sure voters equate this with the govt of the day. Makes regional Australia very attractive.

A typical $600,000 house in cairns will be new, 4 bed 2 bath, dlug with inground pool. and less than 15 mins from town centre. Same price would get you a pokey 2 bed flat in Randwick.

Just read a sample and generally they say Gillard did well. I wonder if Tony will have any conditions on his QandA slot. Gillard's backed him into a corner so he'll not want to appear more rehearsed and restrictive. I wonder if he can keep the snide rictus smile under wraps for an hour of surprise questions? I'd kinda like to see him snap someone's head off.

Julia shows just how big a tool Latham is (clearly the day at the footy has rubbed off:

Hi Eorl.

Maybe this is the "new Tony"?

Not the previous one who was anti-abortion, anti-contraception, anti-IVF, anti stem cell research ... and who wants to ban no-fault divorce?

It's very interesting, isn't it? .. The "new Julia" is a tougher, more straight talking version of the one we saw earlier in the campaign. And the "new Tony" is a much gentler, more sensitive & women-friendly soul than we ever could have imagined!

She did indeed do well on Q & A.
But then (not wanting to sound like a wet blanket) it was a pretty non-threatening situation. Julia came across as candid, intelligent, relaxed & funny. It was a pretty good media performance (which is what it was all about, I say with no hint of sarcasm. )

(However, I still have real problems with quite a bit of what she actually said. Meaning ALP policy on education (especially!), asylum seekers, etc .. But then, I have even bigger problems the Libs' policies on these things ...)

This morning I watched a live ABC broadcast of Tony Abbott addressing the press gallery in Sydney. With Scott Morrison, the Libs' immigration spokesperson.

Admittedly it was a considerably more confronting experience for Abbott than Q & A was for Gillard, but ... his performance was abysmal. He appeared hesitant, he stumbled, spoke (as briefly as possible) in cliches rather than offer considered responses to questions from the press ... he looked completely out of his depth to me. Inept. By contrast Morrison looked like leadership potential!

I can only conclude that Abbott has received a pretty easy time from the media, on the basis of what I saw. He has not been grilled to anything like the same extent that Gillard has. He has had a very easy time of it so far. It is almost like the press understand that he is not up to it! And let him off the hook. (But believe Gillard is up to the tough stuff?)

So I look forward to his Q & A appearance. This will be interesting!

Thank you for that considered response, hinge.

I think I came to rather the same conclusion as you did (i.e. political point scoring) from a long way away. But wanted a much "closer to the scene" response.

Oh btw, 11 days to go, today.

Ten tomorrow!

Kerrio Brine massacred Abbott tonight over his version of a national broadbean network.

Love that wordplay Eorl. Fully expect a standup comic to write a shtick about the Green pollies who do have a broadbean policy... epecially now that wikipedia told me that botanists are 'phylum seekers'

It is indeed but in retrospect we shouldn't be surprised. 'Politics is the art of compromise' can be extended into elections are a battle for the centre, or at least where we put the flag that marks the centre.

... or the battle for the perceived centre in the marginal/swinging seats, hinge?

Here's Kerry O'Brien interviewing Tony Abbott on last night's 7:30 Report, in case you missed it like I did.


Any feedback from any of you on what what he said? (Gave me a bit of a headache, watching it just now.) :

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/