2010 Federal Election

[Calliope]

No Calliope he isn't throwing a tanty. He's just reflecting the view that says being gratuitously nasty and snide about people or politicians on this forum is a bad look. I agree.

That depends on which side of the political divide you are on. I am well aware that you and I are miles apart politically. Nothing either of us say can change that. Crude language from Namrog is no help. I am surprised you agree with it.

 

[derty]

That depends on which side of the political divide you are on. I am well aware that you and I are miles apart politically. Nothing either of us say can change that. Crude language from Namrog is no help. I am surprised you agree with it.

@rse is hardly a crudity these days. I believe Namrog's post is far from a tantrum, more to the point it is an expression of frustration that 90% of what you post is petty inane drivel that does not promote the discussion and is quite frankly a waste of good 1's and 0's.

 

[Bushman]

It is not surprising that the dependent states Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania (see my post #826) came out so strongly for Labor. After all, Labor equals handouts.

Namrog throws a tantrum. I must have been on target.

.!

Lol, I bet you weren't saying this when the Federal government was bailing out Suncorp or when southern investors will be expected to pick up the tab for Bligh nationalising QR to balance your books.

 

[Calliope]

Well you are certainly coming out of the woodwork, I must have touched a nerve. I think it it too early to get your knickers in a knot. The bookies say you will win.

@rse is hardly a crudity these days.

Certainly not from your side.

 

[basilio]

The biggest winner out of the demise ol Gillard will be Tim Mathieson. No Lodge for him, he will be able to escape the spotlight, slink back to Altona, keep his job and get a bit of whatever he fancies on the side while Julia is away in Canberra.

(My bolds...)

Calliope we thought this was nasty and tasteless and it would have been equally so if you were talking about Tony Abbott, Bob Brown or any other politician.

Does the discussion of politics need to be mud slinging or is that just an easy way out of discussing policies and performance ?

 

[Mofra]

You'd certainly think so, given their rural origins, but after listening to both Tony Windsor and mad Bob Katter, their hatred for the National Party would appear to rule out agreeing with them.
Suspect we have at this stage little idea of the twists and turns still ahead.

They will also consider their constituency though, regardless of personal leanings (no politician is above "playing the game" if it helps personal circumstance). One wonders how their vote will be impacted in their electorate if they are seen to support Labor?

And the independents certainly don't want a new election called and lose this opportunity to have a real say in how Australia is governed for the next 3 years.

There's the rub - they'd rather support a party they hate than lose the moment to basically hold the lower house to ransom by forming a voting block.


As an aside, it was reported last night on the Drum that the proportion of Australians voting for the major parties has fallen from 95% in 1975 to 82% so far at this election. Surely mass-media can't be blamed for that level of disillusionment with mainstream politics in Australia.

 

[Calliope]

(My bolds...)

Calliope we thought this was nasty and tasteless and it would have been equally so if you were talking about Tony Abbott, Bob Brown or any other politician.

Who's we? The Gillard supporters? Get a life.

 

[trainspotter]

If Gillard gets in I am assuming her new cabinet will look like this. The top shelf will be reserved for Karl Bitar (Labor Party campaign manager)

 

[Calliope]

Julia Gillardwill be telling the independents that she has a cosy relationship with the Greens and has more to give them than Abbott. As Windsor and Oakeshott already lean to the left, I think it is all over Red Rover. These two guys may be in conservative seats but that counts for naught when you are on the make.

JULIA Gillard will tell the three independents she needs to form government that Labor's ties with the Greens will make it easier to get laws through the Senate and maintain stability.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/el...greens-thumbs-up/story-fn5zmod2-1225909063846

 

[sails]

Julia Gillardwill be telling the independents that she has a cosy relationship with the Greens and has more to give them than Abbott. As Windsor and Oakeshott already lean to the left, I think it is all over Red Rover. These two guys may be in conservative seats but that counts for naught when you are on the make.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/el...greens-thumbs-up/story-fn5zmod2-1225909063846

I wouldn't like to say it's a done deal yet. There are several seats which are only a few hundred votes apart with only about 80% counted, so that remains a wild card, IMO. Seats supposedly "won" can easily pop back into the "doubtful" group again. As some of those seats are favouring the coalition at this stage, a change to labor could mean they don't need the independants at all.

The indepentants are experienced politicians. This is an extremely tactical game for them and I think they will be all things to both sides until they announce their decision. Pretty difficult to read much into their statements at this stage. They seem to be enjoying the publicity and I doubt they will rush to make up their minds.

 

[IFocus]

They will also consider their constituency though, regardless of personal leanings (no politician is above "playing the game" if it helps personal circumstance). One wonders how their vote will be impacted in their electorate if they are seen to support Labor?


There's the rub - they'd rather support a party they hate than lose the moment to basically hold the lower house to ransom by forming a voting block.

I cannot see them backing Labor as their electorate's are too conservative. But they do need a big dividend (fast Broad band etc)for jumping in with Abbott hence the talk of liking Labor in other words the negotiations have all ready started through the media from both sides.

 

[Bintang]

This is Pollie Junkie heaven!!!
The AEC has a virtual tally room up as well http://vtr.aec.gov.au/. It's behind the media though, presumably because they're getting information, directly or indirectly, from scrutineers.

Ghoti, Thanks for the virtual tally room link. It doesn't seem that far behind the media. This evening ALP is back to 70, the coalition on 72. Of the 'too close to calls' Hasluck (WA) and Dunkley(VIC) might still go to LP and Corangamite (VIC) to ALP ..... mmm ... end result could be ALP 71, Coalition 74 plus 5 independents of which the coalition would only need the backing of 2. This could be very entertaining.

 

[Calliope]

The indepentants are experienced politicians. This is an extremely tactical game for them and I think they will be all things to both sides until they announce their decision. Pretty difficult to read much into their statements at this stage. They seem to be enjoying the publicity and I doubt they will rush to make up their minds.

Sails, Tony Abbott cannot form government without the three independents and Tony Crook ( the National who knocked off Tuckey). All four have massive grudges against the Coalition.

If he gives in to the demands of these opportunists and forms a government on their terms it will have a very short life.

I would prefer the Coalition to stay in opposition and let Julia Gillard cope with these grandstanding buffoons. At least it would retain the moral high ground.

 

[noco]

Julia Gillard must be shaking in her boots ATM with more holes in her dear Lisah's bucket than she has fingers to plug them. Because the Labor Party are festering with so much hate for each other is probably the reason Mark Arbib was band from Q & A last night.

The public have only seen the tip of the iceberg and it is reasonable to assume there are divisions much deeper within the Party. Gillard is doing all she can to suppress the problem untill after the declaration of the election outcome.

How can she possibly offer stable Government in the future.

http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermai...nts/labor_implodes_who_hates_who_in_this_zoo/

 

[IFocus]

Coalition in fighting...............not so stable as Abbott would have everyone belive

It appears the Coalition will secure 73 seats, three short of a majority in its own right. The Australian has been told, however, that the Liberals and the Nationals spent close to $2 million fighting each other in seven electorates across the country.

In the NSW seat of Riverina, the Liberals spent nearly $400,000 trying to win the seat off the Nationals following the retirement of Kay Hull, including placing two full-page advertisements in the local paper the day before polling day.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...unds-effectively/story-fn59niix-1225909104091

 

[So_Cynical]

What a remarkable piece of denial LOL. The Labor Party came within an eyelash of losing government in its first term and the coalition are losers?.

Actually, have a look at the primary vote, Labor is only there because of Green preferences. The coalition did a sterling job to come from where they were to the possibility of nicking this election.

Without the liability of Barnaby Joyce, it would be in the bag IMO.

The informal vote had a bigger national swing than the coalition..

 

[noco]

Coalition in fighting...............not so stable as Abbott would have everyone belive




http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...unds-effectively/story-fn59niix-1225909104091

Yes IF, but that is transparent and out in the open. What I am referring to is what we can't see behind the closed doors of the Labor Party and it is festering, make no mistake.

 

[Julia]

I wouldn't like to say it's a done deal yet. There are several seats which are only a few hundred votes apart with only about 80% counted, so that remains a wild card, IMO. Seats supposedly "won" can easily pop back into the "doubtful" group again. As some of those seats are favouring the coalition at this stage, a change to labor could mean they don't need the independants at all.

The indepentants are experienced politicians. This is an extremely tactical game for them and I think they will be all things to both sides until they announce their decision. Pretty difficult to read much into their statements at this stage. They seem to be enjoying the publicity and I doubt they will rush to make up their minds.

Agree, Sails. Certainly the three Independents are hugely enjoying themselves, even getting quite silly with their ideas e.g. Oakshott today suggesting he might "get cheeky" and put up the idea that Cabinet should be mixed from all parties. He seemed to think it might be just hunkey dory for an Abbott government to have Kevin Rudd as Foreign Minister, as just one example.

If this is an example of how their thinking is going to play, heaven help us all.

Initially, I thought the result might be a vote for a greater level of democracy, but now it seems more likely it will reflect the grandstanding and egoism of a few, with the nation the poorer.

The informal vote had a bigger national swing than the coalition..

That's quite true. You have to wonder if these people had instead voted properly a number of the seats currently in doubt may have been clearly decided. Hope these people will think more clearly next time.

 

[Whiskers]

The informal vote had a bigger national swing than the coalition..

That's what concerns me.

I wonder if those people are kicking themselves now and I wonder if they would do the same again, given the high probability of another early election when someone has a go at minority government.

 

[Whiskers]

The informal vote had a bigger national swing than the coalition..

That's what concerns me.

I wonder if those people are kicking themselves now and I wonder if they would do the same again, given the high probability of another early election when someone has a go at minority government.

PS:

That's quite true. You have to wonder if these people had instead voted properly a number of the seats currently in doubt may have been clearly decided. Hope these people will think more clearly next time.

Yeah, and the possible knee jerk reaction of a lot wishing (in hindsight) they had voted for the loser this time, in the next election.