Federal Election

[Psyber]

You saw the 7pm Project too???
It seems to me that Kev has been told to support Jules, or leave.

He wants his promised cabinet job, and a later diplomatic post, then his optomised pension.
That's what politics is all about.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Want proof the Greens are a pack of hypocrites, check this out

http://greens.org.au/policies/care-for- ... -addiction

1. The Australian Greens do not support the legalisation of currently illegal drugs.

24. introduce the regulated use of cannabis for specified medical purposes, such as intractable pain.

Don't even need that when they hand Pyne free kicks with this good lookin fella.

[Brucetiki]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/in-d ... 5902111706

Take that Howard!

The High Court has ruled his subtle attempts to silence the young (by having the electoral rolls closed by 8pm on the day the election writs are issued) unconstitutional. This could mean up to 100 000 more people have the chance to vote at this Federal election, and attempts are being made to contact them to advise of this.

[wycbloods]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/in-depth/howards-changes-to-the-electoral-act-ruled-unconstitutional-by-high-court/story-e6freb9c-1225902111706

Take that Howard!

The High Court has ruled his subtle attempts to silence the young (by having the electoral rolls closed by 8pm on the day the election writs are issued) unconstitutional. This could mean up to 100 000 more people have the chance to vote at this Federal election, and attempts are being made to contact them to advise of this.

Awesome news.

[Gozu]

"The fundamentalist adventures of Tony Abbott"

From the priesthood to the gym to the parliament, our boy Tony Abbott has one helluva story to tell — and this spectacular Mad Monk musical history does the job for him.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/06/fun ... st-abbott/

[southee]

Desparate times for Labour.....

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-electi ... 11phu.html

Now Mark Latham is back!!!!

Plus the scripted, laughable Labour board meeting (on the ABC) with Rudd and co. in Brisbane.

Comedy hour!!!

[Gozu]

Channel 9 apologises to Julia Gillard for today's farcical scenes:

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/in-d ... 5902557371

[Brucetiki]

Channel 9's conduct in this election campaign has been nothing short of disgraceful - we now have had 2 of their journos try to undermine Labor's campaign.

Shame Channel 9 Shame

[redandblack]

Regardless of the final result, I find it sad for our country that the key plank of the once liberal Liberal Party is a fear campaign based on keeping out asylum seekers.

I think we currently rank 77th in the world for accepting asylum seekers.

[dedja]

That's only half of the story ... both major parties should hand their heads in shame on a range of topics.

Perceived popularism is more important than conviction ... apparently.

That wasn't the case all that long ago.

[redandblack]

Agreed, dedja.

It's the overall appeal to populism that degrades us all.

[Psyber]

That's only half of the story ... both major parties should hand their heads in shame on a range of topics.
Perceived popularism is more important than conviction ... apparently.
That wasn't the case all that long ago.

Agreed, dedja.
It's the overall appeal to populism that degrades us all.

Well, I guess democracy is about the will of the people, not the dictatorship of the righteous or of those who believe they know best..
And winning government in a democracy is about obtaining the votes of the majority by accepting their will to the extent you have to, even if you are the those who are "right", and would rather dictate.
The only other option is a sham democracy where a ruling oligarchy agree to only offer the voters choices that they agree are "right".

[dedja]

Not quite what I meant Psyber.

Conviction being the ability to put a consistent message out to the electorate for what you stand for ... not chopping and changing that at a moments notice because a poll goes bad.

As an elector, you then have a clear choice.

[redandblack]

That's a disappointing, but predictable, response, Psyber.

No-one is suggesting anything about the election result, merely stating an opinion that a campaign based around fear and xenophobia (by both parties) is also disappointing.

For someone who gets sensitive about others not debating the issues and resorting to name-calling and branding, your comments about a dictatorship of the righteous has a touch of arrogance and self-righteousness itself. If you read my original post, it merely states an opinion, an opinion which you obviously feel I'm not entitled to.

[Psyber]

Not quite what I meant Psyber.
Conviction being the ability to put a consistent message out to the electorate for what you stand for ... not chopping and changing that at a moments notice because a poll goes bad.
As an elector, you then have a clear choice.

I take that point dedja, but doing so may then guarantee losing the election, and political parties are all about achieving power and getting some of what there driving forces want by stealth, not standing on principal.
Now that they have some chance of achieving actual power the Greens are showing signs of using political double speak too.
[Just as the Democrats did when they became a significant force and tried to win real power. ]

[dedja]

Yes, that is obviously what drives them but there are examples of hard decisions in the pages of history that initially would have seemed to be bordering on suicidal.

Examples ...

Howard's GST
Hawke & Keating's fiscal reforms in the 80's

I would also suggest that the surge in the Green's vote in recent times stems somewhat from their stance against the so called popularist view of asylum seekers and other matters.

[Psyber]

That's a disappointing, but predictable, response, Psyber.
No-one is suggesting anything about the election result, merely stating an opinion that a campaign based around fear and xenophobia (by both parties) is also disappointing.
For someone who gets sensitive about others not debating the issues and resorting to name-calling and branding, your comments about a dictatorship of the righteous has a touch of arrogance and self-righteousness itself. If you read my original post, it merely states an opinion, an opinion which you obviously feel I'm not entitled to.

My comment was to the effect that I thought you were both being a little blindly idealistic, and, yes, based on your past posts a little one sided in your accusations of using fear and xenophobia.
If I was wrong there I apologise for my misreading of your intent.
See my reply above to dedja about parties and power.

[redandblack]

No problem, Psyber.

I'm certainly biased to one side, as most of us are, but in this case only one side is hammering a slogan "Stop the boats".

It's not idealism to bemoan that trend, only disappointment (with both sides).

[Psyber]

Yes, that is obviously what drives them but there are examples of hard decisions in the pages of history that initially would have seemed to be bordering on suicidal.

Examples ...

Howard's GST
Hawke & Keating's fiscal reforms in the 80's

I would also suggest that the surge in the Green's vote in recent times stems somewhat from their stance against the so called popularist view of asylum seekers and other matters.

True, although I would point out that the GST was originally one of Keating's intended reforms, dropped when it proved unpopular.
And their was John Hewson's stand which did fail to attract enough popular appeal - that event may have led to the modern trend to the "small target" strategy.

I think the Greens have taken the place of the Democrats as the haven for the idealists disaffected with the major parties, the for idealist candidates.
They also attract some opportunists looking for a vehicle to gain the power they would not achieve in a major party for various reasons.
There is always room for a minor party to pick up that idealist vote, then lose it when they get ambitious and think they can achieve power, and the opportunists within make their move to take control.
I flirted with the Democrats myself in their early days and knew John Coulter moderately well - I had a Liberal Movement leaning before their formation - but they lost me later.

[dedja]

That's why it sucks at the moment, no-one seems to fit the bill (to me anyway).