The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

He did say he had an exit plan in parliament yesterday .... didn't he? I thought so. Confused

Perhaps an urgent call to GWB for some clarification is necessary? :wink:

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5423344,00.jpg

0 Replies

Hmmm .... so the "housing boom" is about to go kapoot & interest rates are likely to rise? In mere months before the federal election? Poor JH must think everything is conspiring against him at the moment! You mean it was all an illusion, this argument about superior economic management by the Libs? :wink:

Personally, I never quite got why the drastically increased value of my humble home (& everyone else's) was such a great reason for rejoicing. I mean, was I going to sell it, to reap the "benefits"? And buy another one, on a hugely inflated market? The only folk who were actually "better off", or profitted, in this situation were the speculators with lots of surplus cash to splash .... definitely not those who had to borrow excessive amounts from the bank to fund their "investment"!:

Illusion cops a beating from reality
Ross Gittins
March 21, 2007/SMH

Times are getting tougher for John Howard - and I'm not referring to a few embarrassing resignations from his ministry. No, it's the economy. It's growing so strongly the Reserve Bank is contemplating raising interest rates again. And that brings us to housing. The factor that contributed so much to Howard's victories in elections past may start costing him votes.

We're at the point of experiencing the downside of the housing boom. Many home owners have been most gratified to see the value of their home at least double over the Howard Government's 11-year term.

But economic theory tells us the feeling of increased wealth people enjoy is an illusion. And we've reached a point in the housing cycle where they'll find that easier to accept.

Think of it this way: the inhabitants of an island have roughly the same stock of homes they had before, but now they've decided those homes are worth twice as much as they used to be. How does that leave those inhabitants better off?

When you look at it from the viewpoint of the community as a whole, you see we're not better off. Why not? Because you've got to live somewhere. Were you to sell your home to realise the increase in its value, you'd either have to buy another place to live in or rent another place.

The house you move to will also have doubled in price. Alternatively, rents will have increased to reflect the higher value of the place you're renting.

But if the notion that housing booms leave home owners better off is an illusion, why do so few of us see through it? ... <cont>

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/illusion-cops-a-beating-from-reality/2007/03/20/1174153063794.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

0 Replies

Yeah,Alexander's right! Stop picking on Santo!

Unfair, unfair!

Dirty, mean ALP!

Fair go!

Takes ya breath away, doesn't it?

Laughing

:

Santo Santoro is a human being whose political career has now ended, and Labor should leave him alone, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says. .......

........

..... "I mean he has resigned. What more can he do," Mr Downer told ABC Radio.

"Does the Labor Party want him to go out and do something even worse. Leave him alone now. He has resigned. Think about him as a human being.

"I think it is about time there is a bit more of that from the Labor Party. Santo Santoro is a human being. Does he have to be whipped and chastised more and more and more. He has resigned and I think the Labor Party should now start talking about something of substance."

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/leave-santoro-alone-downer/2007/03/21/1174153105845.html

0 Replies

Good morning to you all in Aus. I am Realjohnboy from the USofA. I have been an observer of this thread pretty much since it started. I am a world politics junkie.
I fell behind here by about 10 days and an almost equal number of pages. I have been watching the French elections. But in the last hour or so I have pretty much caught up on Aus.

I wanted to say, and I mean this very sincerely, that it is great to see some new voices here, and new voices to A2K, who have different opinions about things. I can't, of course, speak for msolga, whom I have never met and never expect to meet, but I suspect that she appreciates yall's input.

Anyway, I pieced pretty much all of the last 10 days together and ended up with two pages of notes to myself.

Questions: What did Peter Costello do that got him ousted as a senior Liberal Cabinet Minister? Who is Mark Latham, again? And who is Pauline Hanson?

Spring begins tonight for us; winter for yall. I hope the rains come. -rjb-

0 Replies

Finally, in case you think I'm totally sold on all things TinTin, let me make it clear that I'm not. I'm just as concerned as many other believers in a half-decent public education system at his latest media pronouncements on the subject of education funding. For years the poorest government schools in this country have been shamefully neglected both both state and federal governments. You should spend some time in the northern & western suburban schools in my city! I'm sure it's the same in many other locations around Oz.)
So I'm not too choofed at Rudd's poll-driven strategy to diffuse the public/private education funding "debate" at all. Nor his (earlier) attacks on teachers in some of our toughest schools for "under-achieving". He should get out there & have a really good look & see what's really going on. (without the media & the photo opportunities!) Some schools are a disgrace. I much preferred Mark Latham's attitude (& grasp of the issues) regarding education funding, though his "message" was sold in far too abrasive a manner. It's time that all governments took a good, hard look at the haves & have nots in all australian schools & figured out what needs to be done to realistically address education disadvantage in this country.) I'm heartily sick & tired of education being used as a political football. Grrrr ... :

Labor MPs tackle Rudd on schools
Jewel Topsfield
March 21, 2007/the AGE

OPPOSITION Leader Kevin Rudd has been forced to reassure his party that public education would not be diminished under a Labor government, after some MPs privately raised concerns.

The Age believes Mr Rudd was asked to clarify his schools policy at a caucus meeting yesterday after his announcement this week that the notorious schools "hit list" policy was dead and a Labor government would fund all schools, public or private, according to need and fairness.

"People just wanted to remind Kevin of the emphasis we have always had on maintaining strong public education," one source said. The MP said some of the media grabs of Mr Rudd selling the schools policy this week "perhaps suggested otherwise". ... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/labor-mps-tackle-rudd-on-schools/2007/03/20/1174153063059.html

0 Replies

realjohnboy wrote:

Questions: What did Peter Costello do that got him ousted as a senior Liberal Cabinet Minister? Who is Mark Latham, again? And who is Pauline Hanson?

Spring begins tonight for us; winter for yall. I hope the rains come. -rjb-

Hi RJB! Nice to see you again!

I'm on the run, so I hope others will add to my quick responses:

Peter Costello hasn't been ousted as a Liberal cabinet minister. A much more minor senator has, Santo Santoro, for undeclared share dealings ... in conflict with his portfolio as Minister for the Aged.

Mark Latham lead the ALP to the last election. Seen widely as "too abrasive & lacking in character", etc, etc ..., to be taken seriously, though for a while there, he gave the Libs a damn good run for their money! (with bugger-all support from his ALP colleagues, who got the knives out straight after that election.) It is unfashionable to say so, but I liked & approved of many of his policies. Like education. He is no longer involved in Oz politics.

Pauline Hanson was a former member of the Liberal Party who was ditched after racist utterings. She went on to form a minor right wing party, One Nation, based on extreme nationalist/racist ideals. One Nation caused quite a stir, as you may recall. She also spent some time in jail (!) & is no longer a parliamentarian ... though considering a return!

Yes, it's good that there are new faces (finally!) on this forum. I agree! But I'd love to see some of the "old" ones back, too! We could actually have a real debate! :wink:

0 Replies

msolga wrote:

What I found fascinating, bungie, is that Pauline H was expelled from the Liberal party for her "outrageous" utterances .... the JH proceeded to run with them for all he was worth!

Just the old "double standard" at work msolga

If nothing else, bonzai stands up for his mates. The captains of industry, the wealthy land owners, farmers and business people etc. There seems to be no end of grants, low interest loans, tax concessions,etc etc. But what does the PAYE tax earner get ? .. He gets "WORKCHOICES" ... Ha what a joke. The choice is "it's the bosses way or it's the highway" .
I just hope those workers who voted for him last time wake up and see what's happening. If not, we deserve what we get.

0 Replies

quote="bungie:If nothing else, bonzai stands up for his mates.

Absolutely!
And not just his Oz mates & partners in crime, his overseas mates, too! GWB could never hope for a more uncritical & fanatical mate than JH. Nothing will change his mind about the "rightness" of anything GWB has done or will do in his last remaining months as president of the USofA. No matter what arguments, what evidence stare him in the face ... Nothing!

Kinda sad, hey?

0 Replies

Today on ABC Radio I heard The Mad Monk (Tony A) appealing for compassion for Santoro. I couldn't believe it! Surprised

Tony Abbott's absolutely ruthless himself, when going for for a vulnerable ALP jugular. Where did all this soppy stuff suddenly come from? Made me wonder why he & Alexander are suddenly so keen to bury this episode. Could it be that there's more to this than we already know? :wink:

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5424533,00.jpg

0 Replies

msolga wrote:

quote="bungie:If nothing else, bonzai stands up for his mates.

Absolutely!
And not just his Oz mates & partners in crime, his overseas mates, too! GWB could never hope for a more uncritical & fanatical mate than JH. Nothing will change his mind about the "rightness" of anything GWB has done or will do in his last remaining months as president of the USofA. No matter what arguments, what evidence stare him in the face ... Nothing!

Kinda sad, hey?

Sad, alrighty. Though Howler toned down the rhetoric and parrotting of shrubbite propaganda, he's brought the issue back to the fore, in light of the shrub doing the same with the Dems.

It's like, if you don't have an exit strategy, then what is your war strategy?

Kind of like an endless loop, if you ask me.

It's been clear for some months now that Cheney has no intention of pulling the troops out of Iraq. Watch for more negative propaganda re Iran, prompting more pre-emptive strikes, leading to all-out war.

This will ensure the current "leaders" of the US can avoid the certain defeat in the next election, by simply not having an election.

Too busy creating war to worry about silly little things like running the country, people.
Shocked

0 Replies

JH, however, was not in the slightest bit compassionate toward Santoro! How dare he make a mockery of his (JH's) valiant attempt to take the high moral ground with Rudd?! JH in revenge mode.: Laughing

:

http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5424654,00.jpg

0 Replies

Builder wrote:

msolga wrote:
quote="bungie:If nothing else, bonzai stands up for his mates.

Absolutely!
And not just his Oz mates & partners in crime, his overseas mates, too! GWB could never hope for a more uncritical & fanatical mate than JH. Nothing will change his mind about the "rightness" of anything GWB has done or will do in his last remaining months as president of the USofA. No matter what arguments, what evidence stare him in the face ... Nothing!

Kinda sad, hey?

Sad, alrighty. Though Howler toned down the rhetoric and parrotting of shrubbite propaganda, he's brought the issue back to the fore, in light of the shrub doing the same with the Dems.

It's like, if you don't have an exit strategy, then what is your war strategy?

Kind of like an endless loop, if you ask me.

It's been clear for some months now that Cheney has no intention of pulling the troops out of Iraq. Watch for more negative propaganda re Iran, prompting more pre-emptive strikes, leading to all-out war.

This will ensure the current "leaders" of the US can avoid the certain defeat in the next election, by simply not having an election.

Too busy creating war to worry about silly little things like running the country, people.

Sigh. Yes, JH's recent Iraq speech did give the impression that we will be staying, staying & staying the course, Builder!

... & I guess we can expect more Oz troops in Afghanistan soon. That one looks (to JH & GWB) to be a bit more do-able (for media reporting). Sigh.

0 Replies

This is a reply to the second-to-last post.

Yeah, that one backfired on him bigtime, Msolga.

I'm wondering about our own constitution in a time of war. If Howler continues to support the imaginary "war on terror" (or is it terrorism now?) does plunging our country into a war negate the next election?

I'd have to check the constitution........... Question

0 Replies

Builder wrote:

This is a reply to the second-to-last post.

Yeah, that one backfired on him bigtime, Msolga.

I'm wondering about our own constitution in a time of war. If Howler continues to support the imaginary "war on terror" (or is it terrorism now?) does plunging our country into a war negate the next election?

I'd have to check the constitution...........

What a thought!

I imagine that there would be hell to pay if he even contemplated the idea!

Yes, yes, check the constitution!

0 Replies

I want to talk about some growing reservations about Kevin Rudd's leadership of the ALP. (Much as I yearn to see the last of the Libs in government.) Ready for this?

0 Replies

msolga wrote:

Yes, yes, check the constitution!

Damn, I don't even know where to start. Shocked

If anyone has any clues, please share them.......

I was curious about Howler's sudden backflip on Iraq. Perhaps he's privy to new legal loopholes that will see him ensconced in power indefinately, just like the shrubbites plan to be.

Now that's a new nightmare worth contemplating.

0 Replies

msolga wrote:

I want to talk about some growing reservations about Kevin Rudd's leadership of the ALP. (Much as I yearn to see the last of the Libs in government.) Ready for this?

I just completed a renovation contract across the road from Rudd's Nambour home. I heard a lot about his early years from my clients.

0 Replies

OK ..... first, I totally disagree with Kevin Rudd's education pronouncements. If a Labour government won't support public education, then who will? I think he's simply trying to placate the (very powerful!) private schools' lobby, to assist the ALP's election. (Remember how they reacted to Latham's education policies?)
The other very worrying aspect of all this is that he appears not to have consulted his own party members before announcing his education funding guidelines.
IMO his approach to education funding is wrong & the process by which he made his decisions will probably lead to problems within the ALP before too long.:

Labor MPs tackle Rudd on schools
Jewel Topsfield
March 21, 2007/the AGE

OPPOSITION Leader Kevin Rudd has been forced to reassure his party that public education would not be diminished under a Labor government, after some MPs privately raised concerns.

The Age believes Mr Rudd was asked to clarify his schools policy at a caucus meeting yesterday after his announcement this week that the notorious schools "hit list" policy was dead and a Labor government would fund all schools, public or private, according to need and fairness.

"People just wanted to remind Kevin of the emphasis we have always had on maintaining strong public education," one source said. The MP said some of the media grabs of Mr Rudd selling the schools policy this week "perhaps suggested otherwise". ... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/labor-mps-tackle-rudd-on-schools/2007/03/20/1174153063059.html[/quote]

Now this:

No consultation again!

Whether his was the right or wrong decision is arguable. The point is he made those pronouncements without knowing whether he has the full support of the party or not. (& has apparently over-ridden ALP policy on further Telstra sales.)

It's quite a way to the election & it's concerning that internal ALP disquiet about his visions for education, the broadband network & further Telstra sales are already being leaked to the media. He really needs to pay a bit more attention to processes to ensure that he has a unified party behind him in this campaign!:

Last Update: Thursday, March 22, 2007. 12:35pm (AEDT)

Broadband: Kevin Rudd only consulted a few of his parliamentary colleagues about the plan (file photo). (AFP)

Rudd left MPs in the dark over broadband decision

Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has revealed he only consulted a few of his parliamentary colleagues about plans for a $4.7 billion broadband network.

A number of Labor's Caucus members have privately expressed concerns over the policy which would involve dipping into the Future Fund to pay for high-speed broadband.

Mr Rudd says he was satisfied to push ahead with the policy announcement after discussing the plan with senior members of the party.

"But in the end of the day you've got to take a lead," he said.

"I've made that decision, I accept responsibility for it, I believe it's necessary to lay out the building blocks for the economy for the 21st century, that's what the future's all about." ..... <cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1878719.htm

0 Replies

Builder wrote:

msolga wrote:
I want to talk about some growing reservations about Kevin Rudd's leadership of the ALP. (Much as I yearn to see the last of the Libs in government.) Ready for this?

I just completed a renovation contract across the road from Rudd's Nambour home. I heard a lot about his early years from my clients.

Well, was the family evicted from the farm when he was 11 years old, or not? :wink:

0 Replies

msolga wrote:

Well, was the family evicted from the farm when he was 11 years old, or not? :wink:

When Rudd snr died, he was share-farming, and the owner made it clear to Mrs. Rudd that when a replacement share-farmer was sourced, she would have to move out of the farmhouse they occupied.

It was some months later that a replacement was found, but it would seem that Mrs. Rudd was a rather proud sort, and she not only refused to share her plight with her family and friends, but assured her former boss that she had somewhere to go to.

As the story unfolds, it's most interesting to note that pride is what stood between her and the help she had around her.

I met Kevin's sister yesterday. Their family home is part of one of the most cohesive neighbourhoods that I have had the pleasure of working within.

0 Replies

The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know