The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

Saint Michael Leunig comes through yet again

Always, gf! But he's getting mightily bitter & twisted these days! But <sigh> he's not exactly alone in that, is he?

No msolga it's not. I did hear him interviewed on radio a few months ago, he was at his house which I think is in a rural area in Victoria and he was his usual wistful and delightful self but perhaps there was a tiny note of despair there. Crumbs if Leunig loses it there's no hope for the rest of us...But I think perhaps we're just entering our dark ages. The US is beginning to come out of its darkness. Bush is on the rack and rightly so, his administration is being exposed to the Americans and they don't like it. The same thing will happen with Howard and the Libs. Eventually. The trouble with us is that we're such lotus-eaters that we might take a bit longer to wake up. I have this mental image of our nation as a koala chewing on gum leaves and with a sort of "huh?" look on its face.

I know, I'll cheer myself up............

Impeach Howard! Impeach Ruddock! Impeach whatsername!

I suppose we can impeach? Anyway I like the sound of it.

Ah, well, that's good to know, gf! Leunig soldiers on!
Yes, I see this as a "dark age", too, & am frankly perplexed as to why Howard is being so extreme. Clearly the degree of confrontation is discomforting to many in his own party, say nothing of the rest of us. Clearly his policies are extremely divisive to our society. Where does his conviction that he is "right" come from? What exactly is the nature of his crusade? Is this simply a dreadful case of: I have the power, so I'll do anything I want!? I suspect that there are as many conservatives as those on the left how'd be alarmed by the policy bombardment in Canberra this week. Also by the the tactics employed to gain acceptance of the anti-terror legislation. I mean, look at the Australian articles you mentioned a few posts back. I suspect they have more to do with Howard's apparent loss of political judgement as anything else. He is doing a lot of harm to the conservative cause in this country. This week alarmed people!

That is brilliant!

Okay it was good but not THAT good

No wait....it was THAT good!

<still thinking ....>

I certainly didn't expect to see Howard stumbles as an editorial heading in the Australian. Yes, you're right, gf, something has changed, a bit .... & I think (continuing from my previous post) the change is that conservative interests are now very worried about his political judgement. This week really was too much! Let's just say that in the next few weeks Howard gets everything he wants. Where does this leave the Liberal Party down the track when the repercussions of his policies really hit home? Who are people going to blame for the mess that's been created? Who will people blame if there really is a terrorist attack in Australia? What causes will they tie such a catastrophe to? And who will people blame when the (inevitable, I think) industrial relations disasters hit home? This man has created a huge mess for the future (when he's gone).
I've seen lots less of those articles suggesting he's smart, a cunning fox, clever, etc, etc, etc, recently written by "reputable" journalists compared to some months ago. I think the very journalists who once wrote those fawning articles now think that his tactics are over-bearing & divisive ... & they probably want to distance themselves from his actions for their own credibility. Which makes me wonder: What would Rupert Murdoch make of his actions these days? A good investment for the future? Hmmmm ...

... & speaking of wolves: I've always been rather intrigued by AGE letters to the editor from the Anrachist Media institute in Melbourne. Usually a very interesting read! Some times I agree & some times I sor of wonder .... But this morning I thought they got it right!:

The real 'wolf' is not terror, but IR 'reform'

Howard was Malcolm Fraser's Treasurer. I have to admit that I hated Malcolm Fraser's guts over what he pulled with that grub Kerr. But look at Malcom now. I - yes - I admire him.

And thinking about that made me start thinking about the Libs in Malcom's day. Can I use names such as Snedden, Lynch, Killen (let me say immediately that I always liked his speeches, his wit) and others. I would like to use more names but sadly they elude me. Back then I thought they were demons. But Howard was always...somehow different from the others. I think they always tolerated him. Perhaps gave him the crappy jobs to do, checking to see if he would actually do them so he could gain entry into the inner circle. And he did them. But they still wouldn't let him inside. They gave entree to the Colt from Kooyong - Andrew Peacock.

I have this feeling the Howard nerdie kid is getting at us. This is some sort of horror movie translated to real life. Howard isn't a Liberal in the Menzies tradition. He isn't even a "good ol' boy" corrupt pollie in the mould of Bjelke-Petersen's Nationals. He is an ideological nutcase. He has made his Party into ideological nutcases. You only have to look at Ruddock. Stick him in a nice black uniform with silver piping and he would not look out of place. They've kissed their souls and their consciences goodbye for a pact with the mini-Fuehrer.

The best thing about this vision of a Howard dystopia is that it won't last long.

I hope.

Now you've got me on a trip down memory lane, gf!

I just remembered "the wets". Remember them? Ian McPhee - a thoroughly decent man. I'd settle for him as my local member any day, now.

I was just thinking that hey, the Liberal Party was once decent - just "conservative decent" - It's a bit like remembering Camelot, or something ....

Ian McPhee...msolga..thank you for that reminder. He was a very good man. I feel better already and paradoxically I feel worse. But yes, you've got it in one. Look at what that grub Howard has done to the Libs.

You should immediately sign on to the Labor campaign because you have hit on the vote winner. And trust me I am only half joking.

If Labor started comparing Howard to the traditional Libs and what he has done and wants to do to this country.............they would be on a winner.

But first they have to sort themselves out.

Now I feel sick.

... & Don Chipp, too! ... & the other purged "wets". When you think about the Democrat "alternative" & what's become of it (!), well, what a waste of perfectly good Liberals! (I can't believe I'm actually feeling nostalgic about the good ol' days of the Liberal Party!!! ) It's like the party surgically removed all signs of humaness from itself, or something ....

But hey, the Labor Party used to stand for clear, alternative ideals then, too. (But let's not go down that path ... then you'll really feel sick! )

Fair dinkum. I just despaired.

I won't do it for long though.

That's the way!

Deep breath!

Shoulder to the wheel!

Time for some heavy duty boulder pushing soon! (& I'm not kidding!)

That will be good. I hate this feeling of being inept. I want to DO something.

Michael Leunig lives about 2 big hills nth west from me GF.

Johnny thinks he will be remembered in history for this ir legislation and doesnt care what happens because he had to go before the next election. Leaving costello to pick up the pieces in an unwinnable election. kims putting up only token resistance because he thinks a win will be easy on the back of the Ir bill backlash. non of them give a fat rats clacker about the minimum wage earner. why? cause their own salary arrangements are all taken care of. and if they dont win a seat? cash in the super of course.

I'm not feeling sick, i'm feeling frightened!