2010 Federal Election

[Some Dude]

Wayne Swan's bend over posture to Bob Katter might be hard to top.

Did you see the video or just the cropped image?

 

[basilio]

Michael Pascoe from The Age suggests a 75-75 split in the House of Reps. Worth a read.

What happens next in Canberra: 75 all
Michael Pascoe
August 31, 2010 - 4:08PM


.....So in this vacuum (and long-since realising that fear of foolishness is very foolish), here's what's going to happen: 75 all. Labor and the Coalition each have 72, the Green and the WA National effectively make it 73 each, Andrew Wilkie and Rob Oakeshott lean to Labor, Bob Katter and Tony Windsor lean to the Coalition and this really is a dead heat.

And that's when it becomes very interesting indeed. There will be enormous pressure on each of those independents to be the game breaker, to give one side 76, but by keeping the scores deadlocked, the independents have the opportunity to extend and enhance their present power and influence for the life of the Parliament. If you're sick of hearing what the independents do and don't like, this could be just the curtain-raiser.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/w...nberra-75-all-20100831-14b1b.html?autostart=1

 

[drsmith]

If the independents split 75-75, then they will effectively be saying "Back to the polls folks".

Did you see the video or just the cropped image?

Only the still image. There was a reference to it on the ABC's Insiders "Talking Pictures" segment.

 

[So_Cynical]

How come its only the deniers, boat sinkers and in general right wing alarmists that seem to be resentful of the independents.:dunno: what is it that lives in the Psyche of the hard right that makes them so afraid of some independent thinking.

 

[robusta]

How come its only the deniers, boat sinkers and in general right wing alarmists that seem to be resentful of the independents.:dunno: what is it that lives in the Psyche of the hard right that makes them so afraid of some independent thinking.

Couldnt agree more, maybe I am a crazy optomist but I can't wait to see how things work out with some ideas not put forward by focus groups.

 

[wayneL]

How come its only the deniers, boat sinkers and in general right wing alarmists that seem to be resentful of the independents.:dunno: what is it that lives in the Psyche of the hard right that makes them so afraid of some independent thinking.

Not so long ago, I put forth an easily provable hypothesis that it is impossible for those of the left to think objectively.

The above post is a striking illustration of this.

Hyperbole is one thing, but gross inaccuracy is something entirely different... gross in fact.

 

[Calliope]

I doubt that the Independents have not already made up their minds which way they are going to jump, and they are only continuing their grandstanding because they enjoy the limelight, with the media reporting every word they utter.

Whichever way they go their indecision and vacillation almost guarantee that any government dependent on their votes will have a short life..

 

[nioka]

The behavior of the Coalition liberal and national red necks has been simply extraordinary.

Looking forward to the country being run by hill billy's

Get out into the bush sometime. Get some sun on the neck. It may be good for the soul and you may find some REAL intelligence, original thinking and genuine trustworthy people with the courage of their own convictions that are not corrupted by the herd mentality of their city cousins.

 

[ghotib]

I still think this is absolutely fascinating and that the outcome has a good chance of being very good for the parliament and the nation.

Bob Katter commented on Monday that the Nationals had the balance of power for 11 years in the Howard government and didn't do anything with it. He didn't say, but it seems obvious that this is the reason for WA National Tony Crook's contorted position as a Nat but not part of the coalition. I don't know the terms of the coalition agreement, but in principle it seems they could greatly enhance their influence on the Liberals by operating as a third - fourth - party as the Greens may be preparing to do. Probably can't be done for this parliament though?

The least you can say about this situation is that it's thrown light on the complexity of national interests. Surely it's appropriate for the parliament to have something like the same complexity.

Ghoti (Political Junkie)

 

[Mofra]

What a shame the devil didn't phone Kevvie on 23 June to tell him there was a knife aimed at his back.
What happened to the Labor Party wrongful dismissal laws?

He was a coalition member - I dare say he didn't call Turnbull either.

 

[Mofra]

Not so long ago, I put forth an easily provable hypothesis that it is impossible for those of the left to think objectively.

Anyone who is blindly beholden to either side of politics cannot think objectively - I'd suggest this thread itself is an example.
At least most (on both sides) can speak politely here though.

 

[trainspotter]

Bob Katter hard at work in his electorate.

Do we really want this rodeo clown dictating the terms of Government?

ie Look after the QLD banana farmers and increase tariffs on imports

Key independent MP Bob Katter says he did not bother to attend briefings on offer by prominent economists Ross Garnaut and Nicholas Stern because they are "lightweights".

In outspoken comments on ABC Radio this morning, Mr Katter also branded climate change scientists as "stupid" and said he was within a "hair's breadth" of deciding which party to throw his support behind.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/01/2999212.htm?section=justin

 

[nioka]

Bob Katter hard at work in his electorate.

Do we really want this rodeo clown dictating the terms of Government?

Interesting comparison. What are the characteristics of a rodeo clown?

!. Guts enough to stand up and defeat raging bulls.
2. Agility and quick thinking.
3. Respected by the Bulls, the bull riders and by most of the viewing public.

Sounds like excellent qualifications from the way I look at it.

 

[ghotib]

And a strong enough ego not to mind looking ridiculous

Ackshully, no individual will dictate the terms of Government. 149 other individuals have to be involved. It's not a revolution folks. It's representative democracy as we know it.

 

[drsmith]

Like Windsor and Oakshott, I suspect that Katter would prefer to side with the ALP, but is coming to the realisation that idiological differences between himself and an ALP/Greens alliance are too great. Julia Gillard has also rejected Bob Katter's call for tariffs. Of the three National independents, he's looking more on the outer.

To me, the most likely outcome is an ALP/Green government (who actually voted for that ?) of ALP/Bandt/Wilkie/Windsor/Oakshott (76).

Coalition/Windsor/Oakshott/Katter (76) is also possible, but this is reliant on the erratic Katter.

 

[Calliope]

Ackshully, no individual will dictate the terms of Government. 149 other individuals have to be involved. It's not a revolution folks. It's representative democracy as we know it.

Wrong. It will take only one maverick to bring the Government down. In a vote of "no confidence" Labor members vote as a solid bloc.

To me, the most likely outcome is an ALP/Green government (who actually voted for that ?) of ALP/Bandt/Wilkie/Windsor/Oakshott (76)

I think this is they way they will go Doc. I think Katter has made up his mind.

 

[noco]

He was a coalition member - I dare say he didn't call Turnbull either.

Turnbull was democratically deposed by his party.

Rudd was assassinated by the faceless backroom boys. The Labor cabinet knew nothing untill it was revealed by the media.

No comparison ole boy.

 

[drsmith]

I think this is they way they will go Doc. I think Katter has made up his mind.

The stability of a Coalition government with Katter must also be on the minds of Windsor/Oakshott.

 

[ghotib]

Wrong. It will take only one maverick to bring the Government down. In a vote of "no confidence" Labor members vote as a solid bloc.

Right. Bringing down the government is not the same thing as dictating the terms of the Government. Bringing down the government would mean either a new government or an election. And coalition members would also be expected to vote in a bloc on a "no confidence" motion.

Incidentally, if Labor members vote as a bloc in this new parliament and the coalition continues to allow crossing the floor, wouldn't that mean Labor was more likely to be a stable government?

 

[ghotib]

Turnbull was democratically deposed by his party.

Rudd was assassinated by the faceless backroom boys. The Labor cabinet knew nothing untill it was revealed by the media.

No comparison ole boy.

I know you're using language that's all over the media, but I do dislike this "assassination" and "execution" talk. Rudd lost his job, not his life.

Ghoti