Rees gets rolled. Christina Keneally new Premier « Result #1 on Dec 3, 2009, 7:00pm »
(My earlier thread seems embarrassing now.) Anyway, Nathan Rees is no longer NSW Premier. The party room voted tonight for Christina Keneally, the first female to be appointed Premier of NSW. That's about all that can be charitably said about this pack of wombles.
Abbott elected as Opposition Leader « Result #2 on Dec 2, 2009, 6:32pm »
To prove that wonders will never cease, Tony Abbott was yesteday elected (narrowly) as leader of the Liberal Party. In a week of guessing and double-guessing, expectation and high drama, including shows of loyalty, behind-the-scenes treachery and one failed leadership spill, it came to a head in the party room. Abbott, remember, was expected to stand aside and give Hockey an easy run, until Hockey lost his mind and started to talk about "conscience votes" on the ETS. This gave Abbott the resolve to run. Hockey was knocked out in the first round of preferences and the final vote, I believe, went 42-41 in favour of Abbott over Turnbull (who was not expected to even get this far, let alone with so many votes). Today (Wednesday 2.12), the ETS was voted down in the Senate, denying Rudd his prize to take to the Copenhagen summit. With Rudd away and Parliament soon to go into recess, it is difficult to know how this all will come out. Possible scenarios are: *early election, with the "trigger" already in place--possibly as early as March, but also possible in July/August *regular election, giving Rudd time to wear away at Abbott
If Abbott gets a lasting bounce in the polls, things will get really interesting. At any rate, he's promised a fight, and looks like he might just provide one.
Re: Costello gone « Result #3 on Nov 29, 2009, 9:24pm »
Yea that's right Hockey can lead, after all he would be fully qualified, never lived in the real world, cant be trusted to keep his word, and places ideology over morality.
Hockey has stated his undivided support for the leader Turnbull, now watch as he has one eye on his own future and one eye on the promise he just made. Another self serving bludger on the public purse, and we are supposed to be impressed with their integrity.
Re: Emissions Trading « Result #5 on Nov 23, 2009, 1:52am »
Too many people are confused re the ETS and its impact on not only our economy, but also their everyday lives. Penny Wong has handled this portfolio dreadfully, explaining nothing, which makes me suspicious that the reality of this scheme is not going to be particularly nice. Much more information is required, indeed a referendum should be considered, because this could be bigger than the GST ever was.
Help we indian against China « Result #6 on Nov 18, 2009, 6:21pm »
As an indian who loves peace much, i can't understand why those noisy chinese organised so-called sino-indo internet webusers debate contest! What do they want to do on earth? I am annoyed so much, thus i come here to ask you americans for help! In your opinions, what should we indians do indeed? the corresponding chinese provoking site http://forum.globaltimes.cn/forum/showthread.php?t=8671
Who will be the leader of Asia, India or China? « Result #7 on Nov 17, 2009, 7:05pm »
Bharat's speach that India will be the only dominant power in Asia in 2020 pervades in China's media now!
Bharat, an expert in India, published an article that India must take action to deal with the rise of China. Also he said that India should have the capability to let PLA paralyze in Tibet.
Bharat claimed that China has a great imperialism ambition, and he predicted that China would dismember India into several pieces. In order to realize its dream, China began to besiege India.
To deal with China's policy, India should be determined to be the only dominant power in Asia in ten years or so.
India must accomplish it from 6 aspects: 1. To foster lots of military telents; 2. To share the retired troops;
Maybe that is really our Indian dream, but will chinese people think is a provoke to them£¿ Soure from a Chinese media, http://forum.globaltimes.cn/forum/showthread.php?t=8989 Even they held a so-called Sino-Indo internet users debate contests! Funny! As an australian, I have to say that China is crazy now!
Rees shows some authority « Result #8 on Nov 16, 2009, 10:51pm »
NSW Premier Nathan Rees has recently asserted the right to choose his own cabinet. In doing so, he surprised his party and the press. Gone are Joe Tripodi and Ian Macdonald; in are various no-namers, whom I can't even recall as I type this. He took a huge gamble, and may come out of it with new authority and drive.
The thing is, it's still about 16 months until the NSW election. That's almost half a term in federal money. If he can get some infrastructure projects off the ground, and if money starts coming back in when the economy picks up fully, this could be a contest. He might have a decent "war chest" to spend, and might yet end up looking like a premier.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #9 on Nov 16, 2009, 10:36pm »
Newspoll, Nov 16, 2009
Two-Party 56-44
Preferred PM 63-22
(no need for party or individual names)
This comes after a Newspoll a couple of weeks ago that had a huge rise for the coalition and a similar fall for the ALP. Well, that's pretty much in the past. Business as usual. Rudd dodging bullets; Turnbull barely able to fire one.
Costello and Nelson gone « Result #11 on Oct 20, 2009, 9:57pm »
"I think I'm gonna be sad, I think it's todaaaaay, yeah" (So sang the great Lennon and McCartney, in 1965.)
Sadness? Hardly. Costello and Nelson had their great moments in the political limelight and have now officially left the Parliament, as of today.
Who is left of the "old crew", the reactionary, feeble, despicable people who ruled the nation as I aged from 27 to 39?
Turnbull--a late comer; moderate; not respected by party or electorate. Abbott--not widely liked (although I personally don't mind him), but gifted. Julie Bishop--despised and useless. Sooner gone, the better. Hockey--widely experienced and liked, but soft. Young enough to "do a Howard" and reinvent himself. Warren Truss--noone knows or cares a thing about him. Minchin--noone cares. Macfarlane--noone cares.
Bear in mind that these are all front-bench Liberals--the Shadow Cabinet-- contending (in their own unique way) for government at the next election.
Some have hit the back-benches. Kevin Andrews and Bronwyn Bishop stand out as a reprobates.
So many main players have left or been booted: Howard, Downer (fuck, I hated him!), Costello, Fisher, Anderson, Vanstone, Reith (see comment for Downer), Nelson, Vaile, Fahey, Wooldridge, Hill...and other less culpable ministers.
Like or dislike them, they represented a wealth of governmental experience. Some were not particularly old when they pulled the pin.
I can't see this current lot sitting on the Speaker's right within seven years (that is, two more election wins to Labor, at least).
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #12 on Oct 7, 2009, 6:18pm »
Newspoll, October 6, 2009
Two Party 58-42
Primary 46-35
Preferred PM 67-18
No need to put the names of the parties or persons next to their respective figures. This is getting ridiculous. In the news today, the talk is of Hockey being approached to lead the Liberals. He has pledged loyalty. Costello has formally quit, and there will be another safe-seat by-election. Hard to believe that, just 2 years ago, these people were in government.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #13 on Sept 9, 2009, 12:44am »
Newspoll, September 9, 2009
Primary Vote: ALP 44 LIB/NAT 39
Two Party Preferred: ALP 55 LIB/NAT 45
Preferred Prime Minister: Rudd 67 Turnbull 19
Has this ever happened before? A first-term PM with enduring support in the 60's, despite several policy failings and other policy doubts...it makes you wonder whether anybody else would be better leading the Liberals, or whether they have given up and will use the 2010 election to get rid of Turnbull and others, once and for all.
Still, a year to turn it around. It can be done. I'll bet now that the next election will be closer than 55-45.
Re: The NSW Train Wreck « Result #14 on Sept 8, 2009, 4:52pm »
Oh , my best friend,I miss you every much!This forum is very good, I like, I agree with that point of view above,I support you! tx share!Make An Honest Beginning With Determination - SKY IS THE LIMIT....
The news item included is from the centeral coast.
The School land should stay with the bloody schools not in the hands of the bloody greedy government. I am against it because my school and my old school is being sold. Not Happy. If this doesn't kill the government, I don't know what will.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #23 on Aug 10, 2009, 10:49pm »
Newspoll, August 10, 2009
Primary Vote ALP 45 LIB/NAT 37 (This is a clear election-winning figure, if it were to hold)
Two Party Preferred ALP 57 LIB/NAT 43
Preferred Prime Minister Rudd 65 Turnbull 17
Turnbull is dead meat. People have genuinely stopped listening to him (if they ever did).
Even if the TwoPartyPreferred figure comes down to, say, 53-47, or even 52.5-47.5, the Coalition will lose several more seats, making it that much harder to win in 2013.
Bold Prediction: a disaster in 2010 will split the coalition, delivering a generation of Labor government.
Even if that doesn't happen (well, it is a bold prediction!), an election loss in 2013 is likely, and it will only be due to the customary boredom of the electorate with long-term governments that will give the Coalition a chance in 2016.
The last three governments have averaged about 10 years.
Of course, there is much water to flow beneath the proverbial bridge in the meantime.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #25 on Jul 29, 2009, 6:44pm »
Newspoll, about July 27, 2009
Preferred Prime Minister Rudd 66 Turnbull 16
Primary Vote Alp 46 Lib/Nat 38
Can't recall the two-party preferred, but it hardly matters. Turnbull is looking like a dead duck. Interestingly enough, Abbott is shaping himself into a kind of policy voice for the Liberals.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #27 on Jul 4, 2009, 11:03am »
Turnbull has gone backwards in every poll since the OzCar affair (fake email, resignation demands, etc). The Coalition are hanging around 46% of the two-party preferred vote, and about 38% of the primary. The trouble is, there is no obvious alternate leader. It must be profoundly disappointing and frustrating for Liberal supporters.
100th Anniversary of the Birth of Errol Flynn « Result #30 on Jun 21, 2009, 11:09pm »
ERROL FLYNN AND TRUE HISTORY
Errol Flynn, an Australian-born film actor, was popular for his romantic roles in Hollywood films and also for his flamboyant lifestyle. Flynn was born in Hobart Tasmania 100 years ago today, on 20 June 1909 and I write this prose-poem as a sort of quasi-eulogistic, personal reminiscence, personal reflection on Flynn, my life and our respective ways and beliefs. He was born three months after the wooden casket containing the sacred remains of the Báb were placed in a marble sarcophagus in Haifa Israel inside what is now the Shrine of the Báb. Flynn died the day, or perhaps it was the week, that I joined the Bahá'í Faith, the religion which the Báb had come to announce, much like John the Baptist had done in preparing the way for the coming of Jesus two thousand years before. Flynn died on 14 October 1959. –Ron Price, Pioneering Over Four Epochs, 20 June 2009.
You were getting famous, Errol, right at the start of that teaching Plan, in those entre deux guerres1 years....your first novel came out in the first year of that teaching Plan--1937--and you were still getting your name in lights when I was getting into this new religion that came into town back in those 50s when rock-‘n-roll started, words for Negroes & genitalia were no-nos and a superficial propriety prevailed.1
My autobiography will not be as compelling as your’s-My Wicked Wicked Ways-released just before Christmas when I was fifteen, still in love with Susan Gregory & never having heard of you or your book....
You pulled no punches about your convictions, obsessions, addictions, Errol, but your exaggerations, your entertainment and shock makes the work ahistorical and a confirmation of the view that it is impossible to write autobiography that is really true history.
1 A French expression for ‘the years between WWI and WW2’ 2 D.T. Miller and M. Nowak, The Fifties: The Way We Really Were, Doubleday & Co. Ltd., NY, 1977, p.302.
Iran's Crisis: A Baha'i Perspective « Result #31 on Jun 21, 2009, 11:08pm »
Iran's crisis of civilization will be resolved neither by blind imitation of an obviously defective Western culture nor by retreat into medieval ignorance which often seems to be the direction taken by religious and political elites in Iran. The answer to the dilemma faced by Iran was enunciated on the very threshold of the crisis of modernity in the late 19th century, in the clearest and most compelling language, by a distinguished Son of Iran Who is today honoured in every continent of the world, but sadly not in the land of His birth--except by a religious minority now referred to by Iranian political and religious authorities as heretical.
Persia's poetic genius captures the irony of the position of this religious minority: "I searched the wide world over for my Beloved, while my Beloved was waiting for me in my own home." The world's appreciation of Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, came perhaps most explicitly into focus on 29 May 1992, the centenary of His death, when the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies met in solemn session to pay tribute to Him, to His teachings and to the services rendered to humanity by the community He founded. On that occasion, the Speaker of the Chamber and spokespersons from every party rose, successively, to express their profound admiration of One who was described in their addresses as the Author of "the most colossal religious work written by the pen of a single Man", a message that "reaches out to humanity as a whole, without petty differences of nationality, race, limits or belief".
One of the most appalling afflictions, in terms of its tragic consequences, has been the slander of Bahá'u'lláh's Cause perpetrated by that privileged caste to whom Persia's masses had been taught to look for guidance in spiritual matters. For over 150 years, every medium of public information-- pulpit, press, radio, television and even scholarly publication--has been perverted to create an image of the Bahá'í community and its beliefs that is grossly false and whose sole aim is to arouse popular contempt and antagonism. No calumny has been too vile; no lie too outrageous. At no point during those long years were the Baha'is, the victims of this vilification, given an opportunity, however slight, to defend themselves and or to provide the facts that would have exposed such calculated poisoning of the public mind.
Ruling elites can make no more serious error than to imagine that the power they have managed to arrogate to themselves provides an enduring bulwark against the relentless tides of historical change. Today, in Iran, as everywhere throughout the world, these tides roll in with insistent urgency and tumultuous force. They are not merely at the door of the house, but they rise up irresistibly through its floors. They cannot be diverted. They will not be denied, perhaps not today but tomorrow---for tomorrow is another day.-Ron Price, Tasmania
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #32 on Jun 16, 2009, 9:19pm »
Newspoll, about June 15, 2009:
Two Party Preferred: ALP 53 LIB/NAT 47
Primary Vote ALP 41 LIB/NAT 40
Preferred Prime Minister Rudd 57 Turnbull 25 Undecided 18
The Poll was taken (I think) before the Costello announcement. Heaven knows if that will have any bearing on the next poll. At any rate, it shows that Labor is starting to fade a little, and so is Rudd (but not disastrously so for him) and the Coalition is starting to get some much-needed traction. God, but hasn't it been a long time?
Costello gone « Result #33 on Jun 16, 2009, 9:02pm »
The Hon. Peter Costello, Member for Higgins, former Federal Treasurer (1996-2007) and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party has announced that he will not seek nomination for the seat of Higgins. He will retire from politics and seek a career elsewhere. Good on him, I say, as long as he sticks out the next 18 months and does not cause a by-election.
This ends all speculation about his political future and should give Turnbull some space to operate now. Trouble is, if Turnbull loses the election next year (as he's virtually expected to do), who will lead? Hockey, for my money.
Hewson: little known fact? « Result #35 on May 14, 2009, 6:59pm »
Well, I think it's a fact, just having done some research:
Dr John Hewson came to Federal Parliament in 1987 and left in 1995, never having sat on the government benches. I believe he is the only Opposition Leader in Australia's history to have that distinction. All the others have become PM at some stage, or have been a minister, or at least a backbencher in a government of one political persuasion or other.
There is a way to fight reptoids, in case they refuse to discover and develop their more advanced genetic self..
Address the reptoid heart inside the EBA. Ask the reptoid heart to be in touch with all other hearts like itself. Ask it to tell the other hearts to become the opposite of light (de-photonize).
Addressing the heart can be done by monologue through your brain's speech center (right hemisphere).
It's worth it. After a couple of years, there should be no more reptoid presence on Earth.
Not everyone has to die in this field. It's interesting that you can overcome certain traits in one's DNA by recognizing the more advanced side.
You have to focus with a certain intention on your humanoid interior until you find that side. It's reported to give a tremendous feeling.
Compare it to a human being without reptilian DNA, but with simian DNA. The human may have 99 % DNA of that of a chimpansee (eg. as a result his body has hair), but he should not behave accordingly. The same goes for a reptilian, who's more than the 1 or 2 % of DNA that is coming from a reptilian animal.
Some Career help... « Result #40 on Apr 17, 2009, 10:25am »
Hi, I'm new having just found the forum today, but I am going to kick off by asking for some help...
I have just moved over permanently from London to Sydney where I worked (for a short time) as a Speechwriter and Research Assistant to a Member of the Lords (UK Upper House).
I'm looking to do something broadly similar here. I appreciate I'm in the wrong City, but unfortunately this is where my partners company transferred us!
I'm really after an idea of where such posts might be advertised, an idea of avenues to pursue, people to contact etc?
The UK has quite a robust structure for working within politics with official sites like w4mp.org, is there an Australian equivalent?
I'd be massively appreciative of any help that you guys can offer and thanks for reading my ramblings.
Australian PM Kevin 747 Ignores Shot Aussie Abroad « Result #43 on Apr 8, 2009, 12:16pm »
It's a tragedy that Australia forgets its citizens abroad.
When asked which he preferred, Kevin 747 or Kevin 24/7, he replied, "Just Kevin from Queensland, I'm here to help." But help who???
Where was that help, Kevin from Queensland, when I needed it? - Russell Cunning
Kevin 747 Rudd, Australia's Prime Minister, should ensure that all Aussies are treated equally. Please ask Kevin 747 Rudd to do the right thing.
In February 2008 I was shot twice in Ukraine. To date, nobody has investigated the shooting. I made a statement, but the Police did not provide an interpreter as required by Ukrainian law. The Police did not ask any questions about anything except the exact location of the shooting. I drew them a map, and even took them to the place. Nothing has been done since then. My enquiries to the Police since then go unanswered. I was given a contact in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but he never has any news. He promises to ring me back. He has never returned any of my eleven calls.
While driving home at about 10:00pm, a large four-wheel-drive (an Infiniti QX-56) came from nowhere (possibly waiting on the side of the road) and began to tailgate me, flashing headlights and driving lights. I was overtaking a B-double (double length tractor-trailer) and could not change lanes. When I did, I flashed my headlights at the Infiniti. The driver of the Infiniti braked and swerved into my path, forcing me off the road. When I got out of my car and walked to his car, the door opened and the driver shot me twice with a revolver.
One wound on the side of my stomach missed my kidney by about 50mm (2 inches). It caused a minor injury, although it demonstrates that the shooter was aiming to kill. The other, about five inches below my left knee, hit the bone and travelled down along the bone. The surgeons operated on me in the early hours of 29th February. The bullet had travelled 150mm (6 inches). In the photo below the stitches on the left mark the original entry wound. The long incision was to remove damaged and dead tissue, and the smaller incision to the right is where the bullet itself was removed. From the entry to the smaller incision at the right is a little over 150mm (6 inches).
The wound was left open for two weeks before a second operation to remove more dead and damaged tissue, and then close the wound. Due to the amount of tissue removed, the wound would not close easily, and the stitches pulled through the skin, causing more damage. A large piece of gauze was then stitched to my skin to reinforce the stitches.
On 29th February I asked a friend to inform the Consulate of my circumstances. The Consulate later claimed that they notified me of his concern, to prove that they did something.
On the same day in April 2008 I met with Mr Michael Danby MP (Member for Melbourne Ports) while he was visiting Ukraine. I told him of the incident, and the lack of assistance from the Consulate. He expressed outrage at the lack of assistance I received from the Consulate, and asked me to write a letter. I did so in April, but nobody ever answered.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #45 on Mar 30, 2009, 5:23pm »
Age/Nielsen Poll, end of March 2009
Two party preferred: ALP 58 LIB/NAT 42
Preferred Prime Minister Rudd 69 Turnbull 24
Sasitfied with performance Rudd 74 Turnbull 43
Dissatisfied with performance Rudd 22 Turnbull 47
Primary Vote ALP 47 LIB/NAT 37
Frankly, it's getting ridiculous and more than a little tedious to have such disparity between the parties. It's a situation where the opposition cannot make a gain anywhere, on any issue. They must be deeply frustrated. The real risk, of course, is a complacent government. It hasn't happened yet, and with non-fixed three-year terms, isn't likely to happen, but you never know.
Emissions Trading « Result #46 on Mar 17, 2009, 9:11pm »
A few short months ago, this was to be the defining issue of the new government. It was going to be bigger than the GST, the Harbour Bridge and the Snowy Scheme put together.
Now look at it. The government seems to want the issue to go away, as if they're thinking, "If only we hadn't campaigned quite so heavily on this."
And I agree with the popular sentiment that jobs are more important than an environment policy that will have no effect on global warming. (I'll take some icy blasts from the forum on that, I suppose. So be it.)
Oh, and one final thought. If they try to push it through the Senate and stand their ground when the inevitable happens, it could be the trigger for a double-dissolution. Maybe. Stranger things have happened.
Re: Interesting Links « Result #49 on Mar 14, 2009, 9:02pm »
G'day, I found your site via Google and thought I would join up. I have an ulterior motive and will be upfront about that.
I see you have a links section (I'm posting in it ) and wanted to tell you about my forum.
It is Political Animal Australia Forum and I also host a blog and website. I actively lobby government and would love you guys to join up and let me know your thoughts. I create videos for hosting on YouTube.
If this post is objectionable I understand you may delete it, that's OK, I was only being friendly and sharing the news. Feel free to join my forum and let us know about yours. I am happy to share the love.
Forums can often share members and while your general topics may suit people who read my forum, my political ferocity may suit those of your members who want to mix it with a righty (which I unashamedly am) in the rough and tumble of strong political battle.
I am friendly, I do not bite, I have a very tolerant moderation style (in fact nothing has ever been deleted from my forum though some has been shifted to an archive for posterity). I probably have similar rules to your own and foster a safe environment. A couple of people have been banned and that is for stalking, racial villification or breaching the privacy rule. I am fiercely protective of the safety and privacy of members.
You can join both the website and the forum (though the blog is my personal writing). Membership is not common to the website and forum and it is necessary to register to participate in my forum.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #50 on Mar 10, 2009, 6:13pm »
Newspoll, March 2009
Two Party Preferred ALP 56 LIB/NAT 44
Primary Vote ALP 44 LIB 32 NAT 4
Preferred Prime Minister Rudd 61 Turnbull 21 Uncommitted 18
Preferred Liberal Leader (might as well include this one, until further developments) Costello 45 Turnbull 38 Uncommitted 17
One interesting thing is the fall in the ALP Primary Vote. It is still way ahead of the coalition, but it should be noted that the Greens and "others" have lifted to achieve 20% between them. But that might also be temporary.
Mr. Rudd if your a true aussie you should do this « Result #53 on Mar 9, 2009, 7:52am »
Hi Mr.Rudd
If your a true blue aussie you should take the ranes of our country and steer us into the future.
The first thing you should do is get back control of our mint that is make the reserve bank the property of the Australian governement and not some fat cat bankers, we should print our own money, not have someone else (private company) print it for us and lend it to the government with an interest rate attached.
The second thing is to take control of our utilities eg. electricity water gas, power to the government of the day not to private companies, the government of the day should control these things.
Ladies & Gentlemen of Australia when was the last time you received a letter from lets say the your gas company saying that due to heavy compettion we are lowering your gas bill???hehehe.
I bet NEVER.
How the hell can one man like Jeff Kennet sell of all our utilities without asking the people, where they his farthers assets or his grand farthers assets to do what he pleased with them.
No they were the property of the Australian people, now were at their mercy.
I also think that you should buy back the commonwealth bank and make it 100% australian goverment owned, that way when the reserve bank passes a 1% interest reduction the commonwealth bank of australia if its owned by our government will pass on the full 1% reduction whcih will force all other banks to do the same.
Otherwise i would say well stuff you, i'm going else were.
Come on Kev take the ranes into the your hands the australian peoples hands, the governement of the day hands take them away from the hands of the companies and fat cat bankers.
BTW after watching these utube videos i think these bankers should be placed in prison, they didn't just rob a milkbar they destabilised a whole country, caused wars (war criminals) and they are leading the world????
Mr Keating please explain « Result #54 on Mar 9, 2009, 7:38am »
Hi Mr Keating
Now i'm not really good at economics, so if you happen to poke your beak in here can you please tell me how the Australian people have benefited from the floating of the Australian dollar and the privatisation of the reserve bank.
Mum and Dad tell me that in the 1970's A$1 = US$1:25, why the hell did u do it.
Re: "The Howard Years" « Result #55 on Mar 9, 2009, 7:28am »
As far as i'm concerned Howard was the closest thing to a dictator that Australia has seen.
John Huson was an honest man he went around the country telling people how the GST worked and people threw tomatoes and eggs at him.
John Howard said elect me and i will then tell you how my GST will be or work.
Howard was never a strong leader through out his political carrier he always had to follow someones elses ideas, hence he became George Bush's puppet, talk about the blind leading the blind.
Lets not also forget that he got us involved in a war, and tried and did sell out Australia.
Costello: what about him? « Result #58 on Mar 1, 2009, 9:02pm »
Well, what about him, then? He seems determined to stay in Parliament, and will almost certainly gain preselection and win Higgins again. He must be contemplating the leadership of the Liberals. Why else hang around on the back-bench? Is he waiting for a Turnbull loss in 2010, so there is a clear void to step into? Or will he, for the first time in his career, challenge for the leadership earlier than that, in the face of disastrous polls, hoping to gain ground before the election?
Will people warm to him? I don't think so. He's not popular in the electorate, and many people associate him, intimately and inseparably, with the entire Howard regime.
Who else is there? (My bet is Hockey, as I mentioned on another thread, but he's still a little-known quantity.)
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #59 on Mar 1, 2009, 8:51pm »
I missed posting on the late-February Newspoll, but it wasn't good for the coaliton.
From memory, Turnbull was still around 20% as Preferred Prime Minister, to Rudd's 60-something%.
The Two party preferred vote was no help to the coalition, either.
The precise figures hardly matter: we are 15 months into a government, the economy is tanking, there are no obvious or easy solutions, and the coalition is struggling to make even one percentage point against Rudd.
What the hell is going on? The honeymoon should be well and truly over. Is it because the Liberals have yet to put up a likeable (electable) leader? Is Turnbull finished? Is the next Liberal Prime Minister even in Parliament, as we speak? Do people genuinely like Rudd?
After watching Hockey on "The Howard Years", I think he stands out as a decent, fair-minded person who accepts the "umpire's decision" and is willing to look at things how they are and move on. He seems to be a real pragmatist--perhaps a good thing in politics--and he would have learned this, no doubt, in several junior ministries under Howard, and then in his short-lived IR portfolio. He is one of the coalition's most experienced front-benchers and you'd have to see him as a future deputy, if not leader. My concern for him is that he might end up being the Liberal party's Beazley: a big, affable guy; maybe not enough of the mongrel in him to go all the way; maybe too much of the "human touch" when people want determined leadership.
Re: "The Howard Years" « Result #76 on Dec 8, 2008, 11:08pm »
Just a quick note on the final episode: I went to the ABC site after the show and watched the "Workchoices" interviews by Mark Textor, Joe Hockey and Howard.
I'm a school teacher (a heavily unionised profession). I recall being incensed as never before by the whole Workchoices idea--not for myself, mind you, but for those who would have had NO CHANCE of negotiating a fair deal with a big or unscrupulous employer--my daughter, perhaps (who knows?), when she hits the workforce, or the meek, quiet, unassuming, not-particularly-bright, or different-in-some-way...I'm getting at those who would clearly be disadvantaged by the laws.
So, I was on the phone, email, snail-mail to Howard, Costello, Joyce, Andrews, etc, and did a stint as a staunch unionist (which I've never really been). I recall thinking, during '06/'07, that people will vote against this. It's just too close to home, and MUCH different from a GST.
And, as the interviews reveal, it was not explained or sold at all. It was purely driven by ideology and circumstance (the Senate majority).
They went too far, obviously. I'm glad for the demise of such a law.
It is performed by the student of political science in Klaipeda University, Lithuania, seeking to reveal the public opinion of citizenship. The results of this survey are going to be used for the final bachelor work - researching the perspectives of national citizenship in XXI century. It will take you ~10min. to answer these questions. Thank you in advance!
Joined: Feb 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 320 Location: Melbourne
Re: "The Howard Years" « Result #79 on Nov 27, 2008, 10:25pm »
Oh I never forgot about those clowns and their dastardly deeds, I saved up 12 yrs of hatred against those smarmy pricks. T'was sooo sweet to see them slink off into the inky blackness of nothing.
Actually, Fisher was OK but Reith? Downer? Howard? Pricks the lot of them.
"The Howard Years" « Result #80 on Nov 27, 2008, 7:41pm »
I've been watching the ABC series and it's amazing how many of those people have departed the political scene: Howard, Downer, Reith, Anderson, Fisher, to name a few--all of them, and their deeds (good and bad) part of this grand historic tapestry now. It's easy to forget about the details of the Hanson protests, the role of Lees in the GST, the Government's terrible polls on election day in 1998 (before they won), the wharf dispute, etc, etc.
Sorry for the hyperbolizing.
Another thought, around the 1st anniversary of Rudd, is that you accept the change when the names sound "right": Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan, etc--the names have ceased sounding awkward (although "Foreign Minister Stephen Smith" still needs to sink in). I recall my brother and I listening to the news in my car in late 1991. The announcer said "Prime Minister Paul Keating" and we both said, "No, that doesn't sound right." The same with Howard: you get so used to the title next to the name.
Anyway, just some beer-fuelled musings on a Thursday night.
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Joined: Feb 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 320 Location: Melbourne
Re: New Forum « Result #82 on Nov 13, 2008, 9:41pm »
Plenty of forums but not much traffic there, mate. Try spamming a few more forums with that link, traffic volumes may improve.
Also, if you're looking for an active politics site, this one is well established by guys from the original Pollbludger blog days and gets quite a bit of activity.
President-elect Barack Hussein Obama « Result #84 on Nov 10, 2008, 10:43pm »
Not to steal any thunder from "Punk" (see adjacent thread), but I feel that this warrants a new thread on the International Politics forum.
In an historic day on November 4, an African-American, Barack Hussein Obama was elected as President of the USA, and will be inaugurated on January 20, 2009.
Barack Obama won (at the time of this post) 364 Electoral College votes, while John McCain won 163, with 11 undecided.
The breakdown of the states was about 28 to Obama, 21 to McCain, with Missouri undecided.
Obama's acceptance speech was brilliant for its promise and scope; McCain's was equally good for his magnanimity, grace and commonsense.
Joe Biden will be Vice-President, and I believe he'll do well in that role.
Sarah Palin is likely to be around for some time. Keep an eye on her in 2012.
The Democrats also look like having substantial majorities of both houses of Congress. Although "the party line" is nothing like in Australia, Obama can, nevertheless, expect a reasonably cooperative Congress for two years.
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #85 on Nov 10, 2008, 10:20pm »
Newspoll, November 11, 2008
Preferred PM: Rudd 62 Turnbull 22
Two Party Preferred: ALP 55 LIB/NAT 45
Undeniably high support for Rudd, nearly a year into the job. Turnbull has to turn this around, seriously. Maybe he's hoping for a genuine recession next year and expecting Rudd and Swan to falter...who knows? At the moment, Turnbull is doing better than Nelson, but not even close to good enough.
Australia Says No To Rudd's Internet Censorship « Result #88 on Nov 2, 2008, 8:48pm »
The Australian Labor Party, under Prime Minister Rudd, wishes to implement an Internet Censorship Policy in Australia. This Government, an insult to liberty, seeks to adopt an opt-in filter at the ISP-level (meaning you won’t even be able to use proxies) that will effect every Australian computer. This censor will be introduced so that the Government will be able to block websites it deems inappropriate – this is cloaked with propaganda such as “for the children” and similar hogwash – when in actual fact, there already exist many programs for parents to use that adequately filter and monitor sites on their home computer. This ridiculous policy endangers the liberties of the average Australian and also brings to the foreground Australia’s imbalanced political system, which quite apparently does not reflect the views of the wider society – in a poll done by Sunrise, 75% of people said they did not agree with the Australian Labor Party’s Internet Censorship Policy – and with this in mind, one can see that quite easily, the supposed ‘parliamentary democracy of Australia’, will disintegrate into a totalitarian Australia that sees fit to dictate its citizens with more propaganda and censorship than it is already subject to. The media has basically ignored the Australian Labor Party’s Internet Censorship policy since Kevin Rudd was elected as Prime Minister of Australia in late 2007. Why? It’s time to bring to light the Government’s wish to violate the average Australian’s liberties. Fight back Australia, against: 1. Rudd’s wish to wear away at democracy. Implementing this policy will be the same as sanctioning censorship, oppression and propaganda in un-democratic countries like China and Iran 2. Rudd’s wish to deny Australian citizens the UN sanctioned human right: freedom of expression 3. Rudd’s wish to waste taxpayer’s money on a $44 million plan 4. Rudd’s wish to make our Internet up to 86% slower
At 11am on Saturday, 15th November 2008 if you care about your liberties as an Australian you will attend a protest outside the Parliament House respective to your state. NSW: Macquarie Street, Sydney VIC: Spring Street, Melbourne QLD: George Street, Brisbane WA: Harvest Terrace, Perth NT: Mitchell Street State Square, Darwin TAS: Hobart ACT:
SPREAD THE WORD & POST THIS IN FORUMS/BULLETINS/NETWORKING SITES
Re: Rudd Government Polls « Result #89 on Oct 27, 2008, 11:44pm »
Newspoll, October 27, 2008
Preferred PM Rudd 59% Turnbull 25%
Two Party-preferred vote: Labor 54% Coalition 46%
This is in the midst of a serious economic downturn. Little else has been discussed in the consensus media for about three weeks (nationally, anyway). Turnbull cannot make any real gains on Rudd. It's early days yet, but maybe people genuinely don't like him, in the way they grew to dislike Keating. I still wonder what Costello is thinking, as his book is reduced to clear at $25 at Big W, last time I looked.
Re: did home loans caused the financial crisis « Result #90 on Oct 27, 2008, 9:06pm »
No, the trouble is that your arithmetic is dodgy. If 300 million people borrow even a thousand bucks each, that's 300 thousand million, or 300,000,000,000 (300 billion). If 300 million people borrowed a million each (unlikely), it would total 300 million million, or 300,000,000,000,000 (300 thousand billion, or 300 trillion--probably greater than the economic output of the entire world in a six year period). Which is clearly impossible.
(I am happy to be corrected on the math--perhaps I still do not understand you)
The 700 billion is to restore liquidity in the financial system (so that borrowing and lending can resume). The sticking point for Americans is that the Federal Government (the taxpayer) is now effectively a major shareholder in private enterprise (something totally foreign to their capitalist ethos--we're far more comfortable with govt ownership here), and the US govt will want to get some return on the taxpayers' money soon. They'll get it back, with interest, but it's just a question then of how they squander it. Sorry--spend it.
Don't worry--we're all losing super at the moment. For me, I've got about 25 years to retirement, and I think there'll be at least two more serious recessions in that time. The thing is, on average, since the last Depression, the stock market has shown about a 10 percent growth per annum (I heard on the radio). Recessions tend to be short, while periods of good or very good growth can be a decade or more. The only reason my super has any value is because of the success of the share market over the last few years.
The irony is, if everybody spent their money the same way all the time, and sat on their shares through the inevitable dips, there'd never be any recession.
Re: did home loans caused the financial crisis « Result #91 on Oct 27, 2008, 7:37pm »
Hi hansard
I guess i didn't explain myself very well, what i meant to say is this.
Lets say the majority of people that borrowed money were the middle class and lets say that there's 300 million of them just let it be like this for now, now being middle class they wouldn't have borrowed more than a million dollars.
Therefore if dear old George was to step in to prevent the bank melt down of the USA and the rest of the world all he would have had to do was give the banks 300 million dollars, yes pay of the loans, its better than giving them 750 billion dollars dont you think, thats tax payers money.
This would have paid the loans off given the banks their due and kept all those families under a roof.
It makes sense to me and the rest of the world doesn't catch cold because the USA sneezed.
Ofcourse i dont agree that the government should pay of peoples loans but if it means the difference between a long resession and 300 million dollars which would you go for.
The other thing is where has the 750 billion dollars gone?? did the people of America owe 750 billion in housing loans if we eqaute that 750billion divided by 300 million people = 25000 dollars per person, now i dont think everyone in the USA would have had a loan.
The problem with the current system is like you say confidence but hoe is confidence affected, by speculation, so IMO the system stinks i've lost alot of super from this crap, it has to change, there must be a better way.
Re: did home loans caused the financial crisis « Result #92 on Oct 27, 2008, 5:30pm »
Hmmm... so many problems with this, it's hard to know where to begin. Do you mean to suggest that the total of all bad housing debts in the US was 350 million? When you say: "lets say all of the Americans owed money to the banks it couldn't have been more than one million dollars," do you mean a million each or a million in total? Whatever, how did you come up with 350 million? The reasoning makes no sense. There are 305 million people in the US.
Here's the layman's version (the only one I understand):
Due to some policies of inclusion and reverse-discrimination, US banks were required to make home loans available to many people who could never afford to pay them back. Many of the loans were "walk-away" loans--once you can no longer pay the mortgage, you hand the keys in and the bank takes back the house and then tries to re-sell it. The Trouble is, when the s**t hit the fan last year, with many, many loans being defaulted upon, banks could not sell, or had to take a substantial loss on the houses (a flooded market, you see). This snowballs, inevitably, and ends up being a crisis of confidence. Banks refuse to lend money to each other and seriously tighten up on the credit offered to the public. The whole financial system is based around credit--short, medium, long term credit, and for business investment, home loans, cars, etc. Some companies borrow to pay their wages, in some instances, I understand, on short term credit, and also to make up for short-term holes in their operating budgets. The crisis is really a crisis of confidence--the houses are still there, waiting to be sold, but many banks are very wary of taking on more bad debt, so the whole system suffers. The sharemarket also rises and falls on the confidence of the buyers and sellers--indeed, the whole economy works like that. At the moment, people are worried about a recession, they cut back their spending, businesses suffer, jobs are lost, the process keeps intensifying, and there's your recession. It becomes self-fulfilling.
Anyway, I'm happy to be corrected on any of the above.
My question is: why should the US govt have to pay out people's bad loans? Will they also pay out their car/boat/TV/holiday loans? Gosh, I hope not, simply because of personal resonsibility--you take the loan, you agree to pay it back. Trouble is, with the sub-prime crisis, the loaning of the money to no-hopers was rampant. It was really the fault of an under-regulated, or badly-regulated marketplace. Now, the regulation is coming in: thick, fast, ad-hoc, and with little long-term consideration (in the US, here, Europe...).
did home loans caused the financial crisis « Result #93 on Oct 26, 2008, 8:35pm »
I find it hard to believe that home loans caused the melt down of the worlds banks??
If this was the case why didn't George Bush just pay off the home loans, its simple lets say all of the Americans owed money to the banks it couldn't have been more than one million dollars.
So pay the banks 350 million dollars and the banks have their money back.
Re: Turnbull--"Force of Nature" « Result #95 on Oct 26, 2008, 8:06pm »
If i was a millionaire i would vote for Turnbull, unfortunately i'm just an average joe so i usually vote Labor, at least they dont try and rip the shirt of your back and feed you plain rice twice a week.
I think John Howard was the worst Pime Minister this country ever had, actually i think he was a dictator in disguise, and that brutus Costello isn't much better.
Labor and Liberal sold out Australia « Result #96 on Oct 26, 2008, 7:59pm »
I would like to know what other aussies think about this.
In the last 20 or 30 years all governments around the world have been frantically selling the property of the people such as utilities (water, electricity), and other goverment institutions like telstra etc etc.
Who are these people that they can sell these assets to private companies without asking whether the people of Australia agree or disagree.
One example because i'm a victorian is the Kennet erra, were all the government assets his farhers or grand farthers that he just sold them off without a referendum to see what the people thought about it.
Now we have big business (BB) dictacting to our goverments what is going to happen to us all, instead of the governments telling BB these are the laws of this country this is what you have to do to opreate here.
Last i heard telstra makes 7 billion dollars profit every year why should it be sold of???? (probably abit too late now)
Rudd is commendable for his actions « Result #98 on Oct 26, 2008, 7:37pm »
Hi all not really a political buff but i would like to say well done to Kevin Rudd for injecting 10 billion dollars into our economy via the Australian people and not the fat cat bankers.
So well done Kev you gave it back to the people of Australia..
Re: The politics of law-making « Result #99 on Oct 15, 2008, 11:28am »
Thank you hansard, i also agree, i think that the two systems working together is the best Australia could hope for in a legal system, having 4 years experiance in the Australian Defence Force as a police officer, there is very little if any Judge made law, as it is all to do with the Defence Force Disiplanary Act (DFDA). but in the Australian Community there is a need for the Judge made law for case to case issuses, Eg; the Mabo case and so on, I do think that by taking the power away from the courts to make case made law would be a huge step backwards for the Australian Legal system, the courts are there to interpret the law and then pass judgement on the merits of each case, since no two crimes are the same, and circomstances differ, and by taking that away from the courts would then make passing judgement very hard. i also think that the government of the day (parliament) should hold the final say as such but to work hand in hand with the courts.
How do Americans elect their president? « Result #100 on Oct 6, 2008, 9:55am »
How do Americans vote out their president?
In a big country with many different races and ethnic groups like the U.S, electing a president is regularly complicated, and the result is not always predictable. Before the election, each candidate, supported by his party, always makes his best effort to convince voters that he is better than other competitors and so more deserved their votes. To catch the public attention, his party usually carries out a mass electoral campaign which calls people: “vote for him because he is the most capable”. Of course such an effort will affect millions of voters and have certain positive effects because it tries to hide away the weak points of the candidate and show his strong points as much as possible. However, it will not necessarily guarantee that he will win the election then, for many voters don’t just simply vote for the most convincing candidate. In fact, they often make their decision to vote for whom based on many different factors. Depending on those factors, voters, in general, can be divided to 5 major groups. The first group of voters consists of citizens who have nothing to do with or don’t care about politics; for those people, which candidate becomes the president will not make any difference. These people will not bother to consider any factor before they vote. Some of them may think politics is nothing more than just a dirty game and a president election is nothing more than just a competition of skillful liars trying to take power, for power is naturally associated with benefit, and the winner is just a better liar who will rarely keep his words later, so they refuse to vote or just simply put down any name in the list of candidates on their votes without thinking. Others may vote under the influence of someone else: “My boyfriend votes for A, so I am going to vote for A too”. The second group consists of voters who at least know well whom they will vote for and why. Yet the reason why they make their choices may not relate to politics at all, for they are heavily influenced by a certain prejudice. Popular factors those they often base on to make their decision are race, skin color, sex, age, health condition, hometown, social class, and political affiliation of the candidates. For example, a white voter would prefer a white candidate, or a black citizen, likewise, would likely to vote for a black candidate; a voter who is a member or supporter of Republican Party always vote for the candidate from the same Party; a resident from New York wants to vote for the candidate from New York too. In this case, the capability or qualification of the candidates is not a point to be counted on. Some voters from this group may even vote for a candidate just because that character is so good-looking! Voters from the third group are citizens who worship individualism. These citizens usually place their personal benefits above national benefits and in general, above everything. Therefore, they will certainly vote for the candidate who will possibly bring them, by some ways, some benefits in the future. For example, a business owner wants to vote for a candidate who promises to cut down taxes for businesses, or a Mexican American voter will naturally vote for the candidate who promises a favorable policy for illegal immigrants from Mexico because his relative is an illegal immigrant, or a gay-citizen who will certainly vote for the candidate who has a friendly policy to same-sex marriage. Like people of the second group, these voters have nothing to do with the capability or achievement of the candidates. If Satan promises to give them what they want, they would not hesitate to vote for him! What about the forth group? This group consists of voters who are really serious about the election. In their view, electing a leader for the country is a sacred duty of any citizen with a good sense of responsibility. They understand that the future of the country is placed in their votes, and there’s no room for mistakes. That’s why these voters are very careful and difficult, yet they are usually impartial and have no prejudice to any candidate. Ignoring factors like race, appearance, political affiliation of the candidates, these voters will focus on the candidates’ ability and achievement. They will spend time to study and compare the candidates, their policies, as well as their parties with one another to find out who is the best. They will also discuss the matter with other people before making their decision. Like the forth group, the fifth, and may be the last group consists of voters who really vote with a perspicacious head and a serious attitude. The little difference between these two groups is that the fifth group is even more careful and difficult than the forth. Beside factors like the candidates’ capacity, policies, and their parties’ tendencies, and so on, these voters find some other relevant factors to think about such as, what is the major goal that the country needs to achieve in this period of time? And who among the candidates will most likely be able to help the country obtain that goal? For example, at a certain historical moment, the country would need a brilliant military commander like Napoleon or George Washington to be its leader; at another moment it would need another type of leader, a talented economist or diplomatist, for example, depending on what its major goal is. It will not make sense to vote for a military hero-candidate who is excellent at fighting but has limited capacity in economics and diplomacy at the moment when the country’s major goal is trying to restore an unhealthy economy or repair many sick international relationships. Likewise, it would not make sense either to vote for a super economist-candidate who knows well how to create wealth for the country yet doesn’t know much about fighting at the moment when the nation’s main goal is to defeat its enemy. In another word, the key question for these voters is not “who is the most convincing candidate?” but “who is the most suitable leader at this moment?” President election is obviously a vital political event for the country. Nevertheless, deep into its nature, it is nothing else but just a game. Like any other game, big or small, it will finally point out the winner as well as losers. Like any other game, it’s not easy to predict who is going to open a bottle of champagne before the game actually ends. That is the key point which makes the game so dramatic and full of excitement, isn’t it? And finally, to win any game, beside wisdom and capability, people always need a bit of good luck as well. After every 4 years, millions of people around the world anxiously share the common question: Who will be the next president of the U.S? Only time can give us the final answer.
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i think he's the worst US president ever.
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