A guide to Australian Politics for non-Australians

[Leaping Lindner]

Time for a laugh...at the expense of all sides.

http://noblekraken.wordpress.com/2013/0 ... lians-too/

[Magpiespower]

Always knew there was something a bit "off" about Wyatt Roy.

Come on LL, don't tell me you haven't been pi$$ing yourself laughing these past few weeks!

Whaddya mean we're supposed to take this whole shebang seriously?

[Leaping Lindner]

It gets better (?) our local Liberal candidate is openly gay and has announced if elected he will introduce a private members bill on Gay Marriage. However his how to vote card has him prefrencing the "openly" homophobic Family First Party second and the Greens last at #9. Obviously a party decision, but come on, how can anyone take these guys seriously anymore?

[Psyber]

It gets better (?) our local Liberal candidate is openly gay and has announced if elected he will introduce a private members bill on Gay Marriage. However his how to vote card has him prefrencing the "openly" homophobic Family First Party second and the Greens last at #9. Obviously a party decision, but come on, how can anyone take these guys seriously anymore?

It is possible to believe that a party's overall policy and strategy is right for the country even if you strongly disagree with some components of it, and for the party to tolerate that disagreement.
On that basis, I get on quite well with Cory Bernardi socially even if we do disagree strongly on some policies, and debate them openly at member functions.
It doesn't have to be all heavy emotion and all out war - you can debate and make your points in a mutually respectful and gentlemanly manner.

Despite our policy disagreements, one of which is Gay marriage, Cory nominated me for an executive position at my local branch AGM.
Can you see that tolerance of diverse opinion happening in the ALP or the Greens?

(I used to have similar debates with Alexander Downer over Guatanamo Bay and David Hicks without us becoming hostile with each other.)

[once_were_warriors]

It gets better (?) our local Liberal candidate is openly gay and has announced if elected he will introduce a private members bill on Gay Marriage. However his how to vote card has him prefrencing the "openly" homophobic Family First Party second and the Greens last at #9. Obviously a party decision, but come on, how can anyone take these guys seriously anymore?

It is possible to believe that a party's overall policy and strategy is right for the country even if you strongly disagree with some components of it, and for the party to tolerate that disagreement.
On that basis, I get on quite well with Cory Bernardi socially even if we do disagree strongly on some policies, and debate them openly at member functions.
It doesn't have to be all heavy emotion and all out war - you can debate and make your points in a mutually respectful and gentlemanly manner.

Despite our policy disagreements, one of which is Gay marriage, Cory nominated me for an executive position at my local branch AGM.
Can you see that tolerance of diverse opinion happening in the ALP or the Greens?

(I used to have similar debates with Alexander Downer over Guatanamo Bay and David Hicks without us becoming hostile with each other.)

I bet he gives three fifths of f*** all about your views though in a gentlemanly way of course.

[Psyber]

I bet he gives three fifths of f*** all about your views though in a gentlemanly way of course.

About as much as I do his perhaps, but he does take part in the debate and not just walk away, as do I.
That is, we listen to each others arguments for our respective views, and don't get aggro about them.

[Leaping Lindner]

It gets better (?) our local Liberal candidate is openly gay and has announced if elected he will introduce a private members bill on Gay Marriage. However his how to vote card has him prefrencing the "openly" homophobic Family First Party second and the Greens last at #9. Obviously a party decision, but come on, how can anyone take these guys seriously anymore?

It is possible to believe that a party's overall policy and strategy is right for the country even if you strongly disagree with some components of it, and for the party to tolerate that disagreement.
On that basis, I get on quite well with Cory Bernardi socially even if we do disagree strongly on some policies, and debate them openly at member functions.
It doesn't have to be all heavy emotion and all out war - you can debate and make your points in a mutually respectful and gentlemanly manner.

Despite our policy disagreements, one of which is Gay marriage, Cory nominated me for an executive position at my local branch AGM.
Can you see that tolerance of diverse opinion happening in the ALP or the Greens?

(I used to have similar debates with Alexander Downer over Guatanamo Bay and David Hicks without us becoming hostile with each other.)

There's degrees of tolerance surely Psyber. How many "wets" were in Howard's cabinet?

[tipper]

a bit off topic, but i this mad eme laugh at the expense of the two majors, and julian assange in a mullet is worth a look too...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... WU6tVxzO1I