2010 Federal Election

[Calliope]

Wilkie Chooses Gillard. Surprise! Surprise!

Too late for yesterday's nuptials, but maybe he will get a separate ceremony.

 

[noco]

Wilkie Chooses Gillard. Surprise! Surprise!

Too late for yesterday's nuptials, but maybe he will get a separate ceremony.

As an ex Green, he was always destined to favor Labor. No surprise Calliope.

 

[trainspotter]

Wilkie Chooses Gillard. Surprise! Surprise!

Too late for yesterday's nuptials, but maybe he will get a separate ceremony.

I wonder if he will get his pony? 1 down and 3 to go.

 

[sails]

I wonder if he will get his pony? 1 down and 3 to go.

Would be a bit surprised if Katter sided with labor, but not so sure about the other two. They seem to be using the costings as a big excuse to rock with labor. Is it a set up? Only time will tell.

If they do go to labor, the next election will be interesting to see what their electorates think of them. Maybe they don't care.

Interesting to see if Wilke will be a long term MP as he only got 21% of the primary vote so far. If it was liberal preferences that got him over the line they won't be happy campers.

WILKIE, Andrew Independent 13,724 21.28%
JACKSON, Jonathan Australian Labor Party 23,111 35.84%
SIMPKINS, Cameron John Liberal 14,601 22.64%
COUSER, Geoffrey Alan Australian Greens 12,199 18.92%

http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-15508-194.htm

 

[noco]

If Katter and Windsor go with the Coalition and Oakeshott backs Labor, 75 all and back to the polls.

Tony Abbott should pray Windsor goes Labor.

Will be a good one to lose for the Coalition. Let Labor strangle itself. Trouble is we will all suffer in the meantime.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

If Katter and Windsor go with the Coalition and Oakeshott backs Labor, 75 all and back to the polls.

Tony Abbott should pray Windsor goes Labor.

Will be a good one to lose for the Coalition. Let Labor strangle itself. Trouble is we will all suffer in the meantime.

I agree La Gill has lost all credibility. Abbott seems like a more natural PM at the moment.

Anything may happen though.

And then there's the GG with Bill shorten on the phone to her from a Vietnamese restaurant.

The show ain't over til the fat lady sings.

gg

 

[noco]

I agree La Gill has lost all credibility. Abbott seems like a more natural PM at the moment.

Anything may happen though.

And then there's the GG with Bill shorten on the phone to her from a Vietnamese restaurant.

The show ain't over til the fat lady sings.

gg

The GG ain't fat. Not sure whether she can sing either.

 

[basilio]

Saw Wilkie on the 7.30 report tonight. A couple of points were very telling

1) He wasn't impressed with Abbott trying to throw $1b at him for a Hobart hospital. He thought it was too much, looked like a blatant bribe and didn't fit into any budget framework. On the other hand the Labour offer was more modest, was part of an overall hospital program which covered the whole country and was made part of the whole budget process. It wasn't a blatant pork barrel. It was well thought out.

2) He was very, very keen on attempting to get some control over the amount of money people get stripped via pokies and he thought the Labour proposal might just do it.

I'm really impressed with this priority. I think pokies are a scourge which just rips off the poor and dumb for the benefit of the smart, conscience free and callous. (and that includes most politicians)

Good luck to him.

_________________________________________________

I'm a politician. Don't tell me what to do. Make me xxxxing do it.

 

[IFocus]

I'd suggest that if the Coalition managed to get their costings in order prior to submission to treasury, posters would be hailing Abbott as an economic oracle.
The holes were flagged weeks ago due to the issues the coalition had with their modelling and assumptions not matching the accepted Treasury standards, and reported in the few sectors of the media not focussing on the one liners of each repsective leader.

If the economy is the biggest factor, and Treasury and the coalition have such an acidic relationship as some claim, should that not cause concern? Personally I don't think the relationship is that bad - although Abbott's long term policy of "attack the source if the news is bad" will give that appearance.

I think its OK for oppositions to get the numbers wrong as they don't have the same resources as governments.

This should be addressed so oppositions have access to treasury to help form policy

Abbotts problem is the continued call that they are better than Labor. Along with the sneaky reasons for delaying the costings by treasury Abbott has kill off any credibility he ever had on the subject especially when he continues to defend the indefensible.

The claims of treasury bias ignores the fact that the bureaucracy actually runs the country not politicians.

 

[Julia]

Saw Wilkie on the 7.30 report tonight. A couple of points were very telling

1) He wasn't impressed with Abbott trying to throw $1b at him for a Hobart hospital. He thought it was too much, looked like a blatant bribe and didn't fit into any budget framework. On the other hand the Labour offer was more modest, was part of an overall hospital program which covered the whole country and was made part of the whole budget process. It wasn't a blatant pork barrel. It was well thought out.

2) He was very, very keen on attempting to get some control over the amount of money people get stripped via pokies and he thought the Labour proposal might just do it.

I'm really impressed with this priority. I think pokies are a scourge which just rips off the poor and dumb for the benefit of the smart, conscience free and callous. (and that includes most politicians)

Good luck to him.

_________________________________________________

I'm a politician. Don't tell me what to do. Make me xxxxing do it.

I saw this interview and found it notable mostly for the number of times Mr Wilkie found it necessary to assure Kerry O'Brien that he (Wilkie) had in fact offered Ms Gillard something very valuable today, despite admitting he was in reality giving Labor no more than he would give the Coalition if it turned out to be they who formed government! Mr Wilkie has not agreed to support any/all of Labor's policies, he has simply offered to Ms Gillard that she may count him on her side if she needs the numbers to make up the magic 76!

If Mr Abbott is able to form government with the assistance of the other independents, Mr Wilkie's deal with Ms Gillard is null and void!!!

What a joke.

 

[wayneL]

What a joke.

I am getting more and more convinced that forming a government with the aid of these pompous gits will be sipping from the poison'd chalice.

 

[Logique]

Wilkie will be a one-termer.

Nice work by Wilkie - pry into Coalition costings, receive an offer for $1Bill for a new Hobart hospital - turn it down for a far lesser offer from Labor (about two-thirds less) - blab about everything to the media, and Wayne Swan..

..and only then announce what everybody already knew, he's going to Labor. Naive or tricky, it doesn't really matter, he emerges with a tarnished reputation.

Every indication is that Oakeshott is desperate to go to Labor. Katter I believe will stick with the Coalition.

Guess what = Windsor as the sole king maker. Now that's brinkmanship. But he will go to Labor, making a great show of self-sacrificing nobility, it's '..just for the sake of stable government..' he'll say.

I agree with others that the $1Bill offer was over the top, I don't think the Libs had a good read on Wilkie at all.

 

[Calliope]

Nice work by Wilkie - pry into Coalition costings, receive an offer for $1Bill for a new Hobart hospital - turn it down for a far lesser offer from Labor (about two-thirds less) - blab about everything to the media, and Wayne Swan..

..and only then announce what everybody already knew, he's going to Labor. Naive or tricky, it doesn't really matter, he emerges with a tarnished reputation.

And this is the guy that harps about ethics and morality.

I agree with others that the $1Bill offer was over the top, I don't think the Libs had a good read on Wilkie at all.

You are right. He pulled a massive con job on them. He tried to convince them that Hobart needed a world class teaching hospital and the billion dollars was his figure. This mendacious man has found his right niche in the home of the spin doctors and liars.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...tal-offer-of-1bn/story-fn59niix-1225913517932

INDEPENDENT Andrew Wilkie has angered senior Coalition powerbrokers, who feel betrayed after he rejected an offer from Tony Abbott that will see the Tasmanian MP's local hospital receive $1 billion.

Coalition frontbenchers were last night furious that they had been snookered by Mr Wilkie, who labelled the Opposition Leader's offer as over the top and irresponsible - after he had originally demanded a replacement hospital and rejected the offer once it was given.

Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb said last night the hospital would remain a priority if the Coalition formed government, despite Mr Wilkie's rejection of the Coalition's

 

[trainspotter]

The world has gone mad or more to the point the Australian political landscape has strapped on the straightjacket of lunacy.

Wilkie got his wish and it now appears that to play a pokie machine you will have to be registered and a limit of no more than $200 to apply to ATM's to curb the rampant problem gamblers.

Soooo that means I will not play the pokies anymore and I will go back to the TAB on the internet and use my AMEX to bet unlimited dollars and unrestrained and unregistered.

This is what you get with Labor. "Freedom of choice" by Devo springs to mind.

 

[Mofra]

I think its OK for oppositions to get the numbers wrong as they don't have the same resources as governments.

This should be addressed so oppositions have access to treasury to help form policy

Abbotts problem is the continued call that they are better than Labor. Along with the sneaky reasons for delaying the costings by treasury Abbott has kill off any credibility he ever had on the subject especially when he continues to defend the indefensible.

The claims of treasury bias ignores the fact that the bureaucracy actually runs the country not politicians.

All good points, and I have to wonder if Abbott's natural inclination to go on the attack to every man, woman, child, rock, tree and government department that disagrees with him will hinder his chances of forming stable enough relationships with the departments and committees whose help he will need to run an effective government.

I still think Abbott will get over the line witht he three remaining independants and would prefer a softer approach when talking about the beaurocrats he will be relying upon for the next 3 years.

 

[basilio]

Quote:
I agree with others that the $1Bill offer was over the top, I don't think the Libs had a good read on Wilkie at all.

You are right. He pulled a massive con job on them. He tried to convince them that Hobart needed a world class teaching hospital and the billion dollars was his figure. This mendacious man has found his right niche in the home of the spin doctors and liars. Calliope

And perhaps the Libs were just too dumb and too desperate in agreeing to the $1b hospital in the first place?

I think (like most observers) the Libs just showed how poorly equipped they were for handling the complex ongoing negotiations that will inevitably be required to keep a minority government functioning. I believe that is the message Andrew Wilkie is sending out and what the other independents will be chewing over.

 

[Bushman]

I am getting more and more convinced that forming a government with the aid of these pompous gits will be sipping from the poison'd chalice.

I was pooh poohed earlier but if I was the Libs, i would flame these clowns into hopping into bed with the Labour/Green coalition, await the carnage and then win in a landslide next election.

My tip is a Labour/Green/Agrarian socialist minority government will not see out three years and the Libs would canter it in a double dissolution with a two-term mandate.

Abbott is upping the rhetoric and we could be seeing the revival of the National Party playing out before our eyes.

PS: some of Katter's ripper policies:

• devalue the AUD
• embargoes on foreign goods
• 'break up' Coles/Woolies

Holy ****e - this guy can only be described as anti-capitalism so maybe he is better off with the Greens (even though he had an anti-green platform).

Pass me the popcorn...

 

[Timmy]

I'm in the same situation as you except that my guy is a Liberal and is completely useless. He is the guy who was photographed in Parliament asleep not long ago. Members in safe seats get very lazy. There should be a time limit on them.

He was approached by the party to stand aside for Mal Brough. He declined of course.

This your chap, Calliope?



Was on the front page of the SMH & Age yesterday, story about him being approached to be the Speaker.

Apparently replied he wanted to sleep on it.

 

[basilio]

I was pooh poohed earlier but if I was the Libs, i would flame these clowns into hopping into bed with the Labour/Green coalition, await the carnage and then win in a landslide next election.

I think your right. I can't see the Coalition having the finesse to be an effective minority government with a hostile Senate and a bunch of independent minded independents.

They will be far better off reverting to form and becoming a head kicking totally obstructionist opposition until they can find or create some way to bring down the government. After all it will only take 1 maybe 2 Labour MHRs to "fall under a bus" to trigger a new election... (Or was there some talk of a kindler, gentler politcs emerging from this election ?

 

[Bushman]

(Or was there some talk of a kindler, gentler politcs emerging from this election ?

Lol, a leopard does not change its spots....kind/gentle will be shelved as quickly as you can say 'Kennedy'.

I am not sure if I would be comfortable with a parliamentary system that operates on a collaboritive basis? You need rigorous debate to ensure that the process remains dynamic.

I am very much looking forward to the end of focus polling!

I'm with you as i cannot see the Libs selling out to a bunch of disenfranchised Nats. Also Gillard has to deliver a result to save her career so she needs to have a punt on a schizophrenic coalition.

Libs hold the cards here no matter Gillard's posturing, albeit that she might remain PM for now.

Then again, a month is a long-time in politics and Gillard might still turn this around.