2010 Federal Election

[noco]

Not over yet noco. Still another week to go. Someone will make a monumental mistake and sway the great unwashed mases into the other camp. Education Policy out today from the Libs. Watch the media hacks swarm over this.

The Libs have not helped themselves with a Treasury blooper of 800 million by the way. Then they want the head of the source on a pike?? Suited them when they had Godwin Grech pumping them full of furphies.

Will be interesting to see what Mark Latham is up to on 60 minutes Sunday night. He may have a bomb shell somebody else posted a week ago.

 

[SmellyTerror]

"Yes, I do think there's a point. I do think people can change their minds.

I change my mind.

I argue hard because I want to LOSE. I can test my beliefs and my thinking against people who think otherwise, and I can hope to be convinced by them and switch sides, because then my outlook has been improved. "

I was going to write some massive missive to this response ....... but I gave up. You go and LOSE it Tiger !

If you want to test your beliefs and ideals please PM me and I wll be only be too happy to discourse your diatribe.

I look forward to hearing from you and wil be only too happy to offer you a one way ticket to "Carnivale"

I'd love to lose. My point, and the problem, is that I'm engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

I'll LOSE when someone can show me a better way of looking at the world. Can't see how you're going to do that without, you know, presenting any actual arguments.

 

[SmellyTerror]

Insulation in roofs then tearing it out again, not to mention destroying an entire industry, isn't your run of the mill mismanagement.

(And to the larger issue of who-would-have-stuffed-the-stimulus-the-worst):

The insulation scheme was blatantly idiotic. You pump an insane amount of money into a small industry, what the hell do you think will happen? Gee, shonks came out of the woodwork to lap at the public teat? Who coulda seen THAT coming? State OH&S laws aside, it was a clear recipe for disaster.

So my question is: WHY DIDN'T THE OPPOSITION SEE IT COMING?

Isn't that their job? You know, scrutinising government policy to find problems? With no details at all, just the money amount and the target industry, anyone could have seen that there would have been a disaster. So why the hell did the opposition, apparently brilliant financial managers, NOT notice the glaring stupidity of this plan until AFTER it cost this country billions of dollars and who knows how many lives?

'Course, we're so used to oppositions doing nothing more than whine that we seem to have forgetten they have an actual job. But I think that's a fair question the next time the Libs whinge about this particular screw up: what the hell were you guys doing?

'Cause you sure as hell weren't doing your job.

I personally can't believe that the Lib's plan would have been any less rushed and half-arsed than the other mob's effort. I mean, politicians being asked to spend a LOT of money. When has that ever gone well?

 

[SmellyTerror]

Thinking about it realistically ....... what actually changes when there is a change in Government? Under both parties I still have managed to survive and truly have not noticed an amazing difference between either party? Both have failed to deliver any major reforms that I am aware of? Most of it is tweaking around the edges really !! Whoooopeeeee 2% off tax for companies. I just get slugged somewhere else.

The last major policy that I can actually credit that made any difference to Australia as a Nation was the GST. And barely even then. Some things went down and others went up ?? Still have the same money circling around just in different areas.

Anyone else got some policies that are/were earth shattering? HUH ??

SO what If I can get my internet faster?? I already have too many options available to me for high speed internet. SO what about Work Choices ?? I employ people and it did not make one iota of difference to me.

QFT.

Faffing about at the edges, the lot of them. Same policies, just brand names and packaging.

There really needs to be another party. Maybe two. Lib and Lab have gone to the insipid middle, and there's no-one to the left or the right that aren't clinically insane.

 

[noco]

Wayne Swan paid a visist to Townsville this week and introduced the candidate for the seat of Herbert as Tony Murphy (Tony Mooney). The Magpie in the Townsville Bulletin today 14/08/2010 sums up Swan's visit.

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2010/08/14/163011_magpie.html

 

[Calliope]

According to the latest polls Gillard's bacon will probably be saved by the Democratic Republic of Victoria.

 

[DocK]

(And to the larger issue of who-would-have-stuffed-the-stimulus-the-worst):

The insulation scheme was blatantly idiotic. You pump an insane amount of money into a small industry, what the hell do you think will happen? Gee, shonks came out of the woodwork to lap at the public teat? Who coulda seen THAT coming? State OH&S laws aside, it was a clear recipe for disaster.

So my question is: WHY DIDN'T THE OPPOSITION SEE IT COMING?

Isn't that their job? You know, scrutinising government policy to find problems? With no details at all, just the money amount and the target industry, anyone could have seen that there would have been a disaster. So why the hell did the opposition, apparently brilliant financial managers, NOT notice the glaring stupidity of this plan until AFTER it cost this country billions of dollars and who knows how many lives?

'Course, we're so used to oppositions doing nothing more than whine that we seem to have forgetten they have an actual job. But I think that's a fair question the next time the Libs whinge about this particular screw up: what the hell were you guys doing?

'Cause you sure as hell weren't doing your job.

I personally can't believe that the Lib's plan would have been any less rushed and half-arsed than the other mob's effort. I mean, politicians being asked to spend a LOT of money. When has that ever gone well?

The nasty, cynical and suspicious side of me is thinking that if they did notice the glaring stupidity of the insulation plan their first thoughts would have been along the lines of "hopefully they'll stuff it up big time and we can hang them with it at the next election", rather than any thought for the good of the country occurring to them. Sadly, that seems to be what politics is about these days - winning elections, rather than responsible governing.

 

[Calliope]

'Course, we're so used to oppositions doing nothing more than whine that we seem to have forgetten they have an actual job. But I think that's a fair question the next time the Libs whinge about this particular screw up: what the hell were you guys doing?

'Cause you sure as hell weren't doing your job.

That's a fair assessment. However when I look at the faces on the opposition front bench, I don't see anyone capable of actually exploiting the government's stupid mistakes. The men behind the scenes must be just as inept.

Their advertising campaign is weak and insipid. There is so much baggage the Labor camp is carrying and yet the Coalition don't seem able to exploit it.

 

[trainspotter]

I'd love to lose. My point, and the problem, is that I'm engaging in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.

I'll LOSE when someone can show me a better way of looking at the world. Can't see how you're going to do that without, you know, presenting any actual arguments.

LOLOL ... argue amongst yourself. It will be the only way you will be able to keep up with your rapier wit.

 

[drsmith]

Their advertising campaign is weak and insipid. There is so much baggage the Labor camp is carrying and yet the Coalition don't seem able to exploit it.

A simple response to the stimulus management is that it's much easier to spend money than it is to save it.

The Coalition should focus more on the fact that they supported both the stimulus packages (the only difference being the quantum of the second) and then turn the debate to the subsequent management of those packages.

The campaign from both sides has now degenerated into a taxing and spending race to the bottom. The Coalition by putting a 1.5% levy on companies to fund it paid parental leave scheme put itself in the same boat as the ALP with its RRT. One is left to wonder whether the Coalition would have been better off raising additional taxes in the form of resource rents (or at least reviewing the issue) and offering tax cuts/reform in the context of prudent budget manegement.

The Liberal's web page won't even load. That sort of sums up their campaign.

 

[Calliope]

A simple response to the stimulus management is that it's much easier to spend money than it is to save it.

The Coalition should focus more on the fact that they supported both the stimulus packages (the only difference being the quantum of the second) and then turn the debate to the subsequent management of those packages.

The campaign from both sides has now degenerated into a taxing and spending race to the bottom. The Coalition by putting a 1.5% levy on companies to fund it paid parental leave scheme put itself in the same boat as the ALP with its RRT. One is left to wonder whether the Coalition would have been better off raising additional taxes in the form of resource rents (or at least reviewing the issue) and offering tax cuts/reform in the context of prudent budget manegement.

The Liberal's web page won't even load. That sort of sums up their campaign.

Yes Doc I feel much the same way. The Australian has run a swag of material over the past few months highlighting Labor management failures, which they have failed to take advantage of. I think they have blown it.

I now get the feeling that The Australian is positioning itself to come out, in their editorial next Saturday morning, in favour of Gillard. In a similar way they endorsed Rudd in 2007.

 

[Julia]

I now get the feeling that The Australian is positioning itself to come out, in their editorial next Saturday morning, in favour of Gillard. In a similar way they endorsed Rudd in 2007.

They have already started this, viz Paul Kelly's lengthy article in today's 'Weekend Australian'. Complete change of tune.

 

[drsmith]

Complete change of tune.

It's certainly a far cry from the pounding they were giving the BER earlier in the week.

 

[noco]

Don't miss Mark Latham on 60 Minutes ch 9 7.30 pm tomorrow evening. I think it may be explosive.

Latham wants revenge on both Gillard and Rudd as the hatred is very evident.

 

[drsmith]

Don't miss Mark Latham on 60 Minutes ch 9 7.30 pm tomorrow evening. I think it may be explosive.

Given he has long since published his diaries, I suspect it will be little more than mildly amusing.

I'll be watching it though, just in case. Good marketing by CH9.

 

[Julia]

Kevin Rudd will be interviewed on channel 7's "Sunday Night" tomorrow.
Not sure if I can cope with him being all brave and stoic, marching forward in good heart for the sake of the mighty Labor Party.

 

[trainspotter]

Kevin Rudd will be interviewed on channel 7's "Sunday Night" tomorrow.
Not sure if I can cope with him being all brave and stoic, marching forward in good heart for the sake of the mighty Labor Party.

I think it will be a shot in the arm for the Libs. If Kevin Rudd comes across as being unfairly hung by the Labor Party then it might sway a few swinging voters. If they have pictures of him playing with kiddies and looking human rather than a robot and answering questions frankly, people will empathise with him that the back stabbing by the Labor factions (Bill Shorten) was unneccesary. Ooooopsies.

 

[Calliope]

Kevin Rudd will be interviewed on channel 7's "Sunday Night" tomorrow.
Not sure if I can cope with him being all brave and stoic, marching forward in good heart for the sake of the mighty Labor Party.

It is in Rudd's best interests for Gillard to win the election. Whatever his plans for the future are, he has a better chance of achieving them from a Government base rather than an Opposition base.

Prior to the election he will keep his true feelings well under control. The test will be if he is asked tonight whether he admits that his government had "lost it's way," as Gillard asserts.

 

[noco]

It is in Rudd's best interests for Gillard to win the election. Whatever his plans for the future are, he has a better chance of achieving them from a Government base rather than an Opposition base.

Prior to the election he will keep his true feelings well under control. The test will be if he is asked tonight whether he admits that his government had "lost it's way," as Gillard asserts.

Calliope, come what may whether Gillard and Labor win or lose this election there will be plenty of BLOOD LETTING after the event. The division in that party has not yet been exposed and imho is far deeper than one could ever imagine.

 

[Happy]

…

Prior to the election he will keep his true feelings well under control. The test will be if he is asked tonight whether he admits that his government had "lost it's way," as Gillard asserts.

I just cannot believe that people will try to give Gillard another 3 years to do whatever after all the same Labor Machinery with just different mouthpiece could not do in 2 and ¾ years.