BS: Australian election date

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 05:17 AM

Nuthin betr to do wit your time jOhn? Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 06:28 AM

super ted, you will no doubt be relieved and gratified to know that as part of the process leading to the election, the Governor-General, as representative of Her Majesty the Queen, had to dissolve Parliament.

The republic is still a work in progress.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 11:14 AM

The Solution will be bottled and flogged off to The Loyal Monarchists!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 10:32 AM

Well the first 'Chaser Decides' was on tonight. I'm glad it was only half an hour, as non-stop laughter for longer than get gets boring... er, well... no, not quite what I meant...

They started off in the Tally Room, with an analysis of the state of voting, only to discover that the voteing hadn't started yet, so they decided to come back later...

One of the cleverest bits they did was an analysis pf certain 'electorates' including Iraq & Guantanamo Bay...

They managed to put up a question to Johnny whether, in spite of them being denied human right, would the 2 Aussies in Guantanamo Bay be denied their democratic rights by not being allowed to vote? Then they showed the newspaper headline a few days later that showed that the Electoral Office had sent postal votes to the two aussies there.... :-)
Mike Moore's sense of humour is appreciated (and even understood!) in Australia...

But the best bit was with regard to last election - 2001 - when the Chaser did their first election coverage. One guy went out the first week with a foam baseball bat and asked various politicians would they like the chance to beat up on their electorate first hand? One grabbed the bat and hit the announcer. As it happened, it was a largely unknown to the public at that stage Mark Latham, who was heard muttering as he walked away "Bloody Idiot"!!!!!

One thing about Aussie Politicians - they learn fast.... by the next week, the word was out and all politicians were much more circumspect around cameras, but fortunately, many of the minders were still a bit thick, which provided much material for future shows, including the line "You mean if I try to get in to see the Prime Minister on Election Day, I'll be arrested?" "Yes!"!!!!!!

Well, Mark spotted them coming this year, and knowing them well by sight, he adopted the Aussie Larakin approach, and played along. He was challenged for $50 to mention his catch phrase "Ease the Squeeze" exactly 7 times during "The Great Debate" - which he did!

The show does have a website.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 09:01 PM

Mark Latham was recently ill with pancreatitus. Some of the alleged causes include good living and alcohol.

Johnny is well known for his 'Power Walking' fitness - many journalists are unable to keep up with his pace.

It had to happen. Some journalists challenged Latham to a test of his fitness. He agreed, and was shown on National TV News shows jogging well ahead of them, looking very fit and untroubled.

The 'Doctors Wives' Voting pattern - more than just that segment - is becoming very powerful. Coalition Voters annoyed with the constant alleged misleading over 'Children Overboard' and Iraq and other matters are going to lodge a protest vote, mostly likely with The Greens to the tune of 20% - many of these subsequent preferences will likely flow to Labour. Quite a few seats have a 'swing factor' of only a percent or two for Johnny & his party to lose them, but it is unlikely that many seats will end up as Green seats, most likely Labour.


Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST, John O'Lennaine
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 10:40 PM

Just by the way...

Does the Australian electorate have any constitutional right to expect its elected leaders to do what it wants them to do?

Or do we elect representatives in the expectation that they will do what's best for us, be it what we want, or what we obviously don't want?

I ask because the system of electing national governments by means of voting for local members (or parties at the local level) seems to infer a little of both or not much of either.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 04:00 AM

Number 2 mate!

In more than ONE sense of THAT phrase....

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 01:57 PM

The other day Latham caught up with the Rat that cornered Johnny. After a few clever quips, Latahm remarked "I've seen you on TV!".

But nobody seems to know what cause the Rat is representing.... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 07:44 PM

JOHN HOWARD has personally brokered a deal with the Family First party that would see the Coalition consult over policy with the Assemblies of God-backed party in exchange for preferences for most lower house candidates across Australia. With the Coalition keen to counter the Labor Party's dominance of the preference flows in a tight election, the Liberals signed off on the deal after a series of conversations between the Prime Minister and Family First chairman Peter Harris.

While the preference flows of the socially conservative minor party may have limited effect in most states, they will be crucial in the three marginal South Australian seats held by the Liberals. It is almost a political mirror image to the sweeping preference deal between Labor and the left-leaning Greens for Senate and 26 lower house seats reached last week. Under the deal with the Coalition, Family First will lead a direct advertising attack against the Greens and its liberal policies in four states from this weekend.

Announcing the deal, Family First representatives said Mr Howard would make some joint family policy announcements with Family First within a week. "I think that it's a watershed moment for Australian history that a new party can have influence even prior to the federal election going ahead," Family First SA Senate candidate Andrea Mason said.

Family First are in a strong position to pick up a Senate seat in South Australia reaching preference deals with every party except the Greens. Formed in South Australia just three years ago, Family First has one elected state MP and six of its seven board executive members are affiliated with the Assemblies of God church. At the 2002 South Australian elections the party polled 2.6per cent of the vote in the lower house - enough to secure two of the three South Australian Liberal marginals - and 4 per cent in the upper house.

Mr Harris said agreement between the Greens and Labor to swap preferences in the Senate and 26 lower house seat had ruled the Opposition out of any deal with Family First because of "the inability of candidates to exercise a conscience vote on a reasonable range of moral and ethical issues". Family First preferences exclude all but "three or four" Coalition candidates in the 109 seats where Family First is standing.

These candidates, who Mr Harris declined to name, "don't necessarily reflect the family agenda we have". He earlier called on these candidates to sign a three year voting agreement to support "certain Family First policy platforms and those issues remain to be resolved". But Mr Harris later retracted his statement, asking only for a commitment after moderate Liberals expressed concern over the move.

The party's policies oppose abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriages and stem-cell research and promote sexual abstinence before marriage. Others support income tax splitting, faster immigration processing for detained asylum-seekers, and federal control of the Murray River. In exchange for Family First preferences, Mr Harris said the Prime Minister was "incredibly receptive" to introducing family impact statements for all cabinet submissions - a proposition Mr Howard has canvassed before. Internal Family First party polling has shown the primary vote has reached 4 per cent in Queensland and South Australia, a party spokesman said.

The party continues to downplay its Assemblies of God links, with Family First yesterday advising its 26 NSW candidates not to disclose religious affiliations.
(Howard now has God on his side;By Michelle Wiese Bockmann;September 25, 2004;The Australian)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 08:41 PM

It's just as well we don't have the bomb - officially. Australia was on the path to develop one after WWII, but for some reason backed away.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:28 PM

I just found this John Dengate song in a Google search. Highly relevant at present with Little Johnny building up the terrorism paranoia to try and push us into voting for him. Although this mega-spending spree he is promising us for education and health and whatever in a bid to buy our votes has kind of taken over from his big "Iraq - the war we had to have" message.

Terrorist Song   I'll have to put this in the Australian Elections thread as well, because Little Johnny has built 90% of his electioneering platform on terrorism paranoia - that is until he started this spending spree of trying at the last minute to buy our votes.

Copyright 2003 John Dengate

Tune: Knickerbocker Line

As I was walking down the road, he suddenly appeared:
A bloody turbaned Moslem with a big Bin Laden beard;
I asked, "Are you a terrorist, is that your bloody lurk?"
He said, "No, I'm a carpenter, I'm on my way to work."

Chorus

I watched him, tracked him, rang up A.S.I.O.
I dobbed him into Alan Jones on talk-back radio.
I may not be a beauty and I don't have any sense
But, by God, I know my duty to the national defence!

They're going to bomb the Harbour Bridge then quiet as a mouse,
They'll sneak up with explosives and blow up the Opera House.
They're going to blow up Murphy's pub. I've heard about the plot?
I hope they get the pokies 'cause I'm losing quite a lot.

There's terrorism everywhere; it makes a man afraid?
I¹m buying a machine gun and I'll build a barricade.
You'll have to know the password if you come and visit me.
Shoot first, ask questions later mate, that's my philosophy.

My Aunty May's eccentric; "You¹re paranoid," she said.
She doesn't believe the terrorists are underneath the bed.
She reckons it's "hysteria"? I don¹t know what she meant?
She said she¹s far more frightened of the Federal Government.

John Howard will protect us, he is very strong and brave;
He's passing legislation that will make you all behave!
You won't be facing Mecca on that silly bloody mat
You'll all be Church of England, Abdul, cogitate on that!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 10:49 PM

thanks Helen. Another one of John's that's going through my head right now is I Can't Abide (the government front bench....) to the tune of Abide with Me...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 10:57 PM

Academics call for honesty in government; ABC News; September 26, 2004 - 10:05AM

Academics from almost every public university in Australia have urged Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham to restore the nation's reputation for honest government. More than 380 senior academics, including 160 professors, have released a joint statement demanding more honesty and independence from whoever wins the October 9 election. They said Australia's reputation had been tarnished by a string of events, including the children overboard affairs, Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the reasons for going to war there.

"This federal election provides an opportunity for both Mr Howard and Mr Latham to pledge that they will insist on truth and genuine accountability in government," they said. The academics include Professor Tony McMichael from the Australian National University, Professor Ann Daniel from the University of NSW, Professor Bob White from the University of Western Australia, Professor Robyn McDermott from the University of South Australia, Professor Verity Burgmann from the University of Melbourne, Professor Roger Fay from the University of Tasmania and Professor Clive Bean from the Queensland University of Technology. The academics cover a range of disciplines, from economics to pharmacy.

They said it was time for independence, impartiality and decency in the Australian public service. "In the last weeks of the election campaign the leaders of the major parties are asked to address these issues," they said. "They should not be allowed to avoid them."
The statement follows a letter from 43 senior former diplomats and defence officials who earlier this year also called for a return to honesty in government.

© 2004 AAP

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 10:21 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 11:28 PM

I can't abide (Tune: Abide with me)

I can't abide the government's front bench,
send them away to the Germans or the French
I can't abide Costello's shallow sneer --
won't someone make the bastard disappear?
I can't abide that bloody awful Kemp,
bring back the gallows, the hangman and the hemp
Take Peter Reith and dump him in the tide.
Him I particularly can't abide
Poor little John deserves our sympathy,
born neath the burden of mediocrity
Pat his wee head and send him off to bed,
then hide the key lest he abide with me
I can't abide the government's ministry,
Senator Vanstone's worse than dysentry
Send her away without the least delay --
don't pour the tea lest she abide with me
Sink them the swine, an iceberg would be fine.
Far, far away in distant Hudson Bay
As they go down they'll warble while they drown,
flat and off-key, they'll be despised by me
I can't abide the government's front bench,
send them away to the Germans or the French
Take Peter Reith and dump him in the tide.
Him I particularly can't abide

By John Dengate

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 10:41 AM

Well, The Chaser Decides was back on - and it was just too funny to remember it all.

Latham definitely remembers the guys... :-) So does Johnny...

They did a trick with a bus labelled specially, and the reporter was out chasing Johnny telling him that his Deputy was out for his job and had sent out a bus to run him over on his daily walk... Johnny was smiling idiotically, but the sweating guys in the football jumpers were definitely not amused - they mainly seemed to be concerned with keeping up with Johnny...

Then the boys tried to gatecrash the Labour Party Campaign launch to see just how friendly to the USA the Labour Party was now, with

1) a giant US flag,

2) the bald headed eagle

3) a guy in an Uncle Sam suit

- but none of the minders seemed to have a sense of humour, although they were terribly polite - I am sure the word has come down from the top...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Oct 04 - 10:52 PM

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: New Religious Based Australian Political Party Wants
Mandatory Internet Filtering
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 16:50:07 +1000
From: Bob Bain <######>
Newsgroups: alt.atheism,aus.censorship,aus.politics

On 29 Sep 2004 21:43:07 -0700, newbjorn@########(newBjorn) wrote
in message id :

>Ask the xtian freaks why there is evil in the world and they'll tell
>you its because gawd wants us to have free will.
>Then the fruitcakes do everything in their power to stop you from
>using it.

They even gag their own members...

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10902379%255E2702,00.html

"The announcement came as the party gagged its 109 candidates from speaking to the media amid growing sensitivity about its ties with the Assemblies of God and the church's socially conservative views."

"Boothby candidate Paul Munn was threatened with disendorsement after he confirmed party members held creationist views, opposed sex before marriage and viewed homosexuality as unnatural. "

=============================================

Freedom of expression isn't on it's agenda....

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 07:32 AM

Pauline Hanson is featuring in a TV show - a dancing competition. The Ad involves a changed "Time Warp" song and Pauline is at the board with a pointer showing the steps "It's just a jump to the Right!"


Sigh!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 11:03 AM

Four days out, and Howard is worried; October 5, 2004; the Age

Latham may be succeeding in his audacious bid to drag older voters away from the PM, writes Shaun Carney. You can often get a sense of how political parties view their own prospects at an election through their advertising in the final week of a campaign. Clearly the Coalition is worried. The premise of an ad that began screening on Sunday, in which it ironically wishes voters "good luck" if they vote for Mark Latham, contains a powerful subtext. It acknowledges implicitly that Latham looks attractive but warns against being seduced by his charms; that way lies economic ruin. It's significant that the ad concedes that people are considering voting for the Labor leader.

Labor's main ad unveiled on Sunday tries to tie together two themes. It asks who to believe on interest rates, John Howard or a range of economists who say Labor is no threat to the economy, and then goes on to portray the Prime Minister as a man who would do or say anything and is "unbelievable". Labor appears to believe it has Howard on the run. It is trying to turn his big negative - the scare on interest rates, which the PM rolled out on day one of the campaign and which continues to be his one powerful message of the past five weeks - into a Labor positive.

How so? Something that Labor field workers and researchers have turned up as the campaign has progressed is a rising unease among some undecided and soft Coalition voters, especially in the older age group, about Howard's handling of the truth. This has encouraged the Labor leadership group and those in charge of the ALP campaign to rethink one of the basic assumptions about voter behaviour under Howard, which is that the Coalition's grip on the vast majority of people aged over 55 is unshakeable.

Certainly, the Government can continue to count on most pensioners and self-funded retirees. But the support levels are by no means monolithic. This is where Latham's announcement of Medicare Gold, the plan to provide free hospital care for all Australians 75 and over, at last Wednesday's formal launch of Labor's campaign could turn out to have played a vital role in the final stage of the pre-election period. It was a counter-intuitive move, an attempt to win favour among a voting group that appeared to have already largely made up its mind, and was not worth trying to win over.

But Labor hopes to double its returns for Medicare Gold. Not only does it expect to prise votes from older Australians with the policy, it believes the middle-aged offspring of those same older voters, worried about their ageing parents' health, will also come across. A Labor campaign worker said yesterday that the feedback from voters since Wednesday had been overwhelmingly positive. "It's important not to get ahead of ourselves, of course, but Medicare Gold has been crucial in getting us where we wanted to be at this stage," the campaign worker said. "Any outer suburban or regional seat that is a marginal has lots of people who are either retired or who have parents who are retired and need some medical attention. That's what we have done at one age level. The other is the schools funding policy, which has appealed to people in their 30s and 40s."

If these voters do change their votes and support Labor on Saturday, it will be a neat twist on recent political history. ...The AgePoll taken last weekend suggested a six percentage point increase in Labor's vote after preferences among over-55s in the space of just a week. Potentially, it's a rich harvest and one that might make all the difference four days from now.

Shaun Carney is an associate editor of The Age.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 11:10 AM

Tony Abbott's targeting bowels now..

I always knew that guy's a bit strange.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Oct 04 - 08:54 PM

The url to the .pdf file is http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s1208062.htm

The blurb before the link is (off http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/s1208062.htm )

    To help you consider your vote this election,
    a group of Christian organisations have put
    together a Check List of Christian values for
    each major party.

    Unsurprisingly, the Christian Democrats and
    the Family First parties rate very well, but
    it looks like the Greens and the Democrats
    are going straight to hell.

(surprise surprise)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 05:18 PM

I get automatic job alerts on my e-mail but I don't think I'll apply for this one!!


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    * Leader of Our Great Country
    * National Role
    * Smoke and Mirrors Industry

    Having previously advertised elsewhere, and after receiving only two mediocre applications, our client is now undergoing an urgent nationwide search for the position of Leader of Our Great Country.

    This is a fantastic career opportunity for the right candidate who must show a flair for hand-shaking ie. not too long but not too abrupt and not too soft but not too bone-crunching. Baby kissing experience is a must, as is proof of this ability in the form of written referrals from actual babies.

    Your role will include regular travel at the expense of all Australians. At times you will be required to wear strange, loud, ridiculous looking shirts to important meetings whilst maintaining a smile throughout. You must be well versed in the complexities of the mind of a seven year old, as at times you will be called upon to interact with George Bush. Although not mandatory, the ability to tell the truth and some degree of humanity (any at all) will be highly regarded.

    Your package will include a generous salary at the expense of all Australians, as well as two residences: a house in Sydney and a lodge in Canberra - although living in Canberra is entirely optional.

    Finally, as representative of the country, the ability to get tough with taxi drivers is crucial to the role. Any experience in this area will be advantageous.

    The voting committee of several million will seriously consider all underdogs.

    Send applications to www.mycareer.com.au..........TODAY!

    DO IT FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!

(mycareer.com.au marketing promotion)

Job Summary
        
Sector &
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Salary         More than you earn now
Work Type         Part Time, if you can get away with it
Location         Highest Office in The Land, Canberra, ACT
Date Posted         Wed 06/10/04
Applic'n Close         Must close by midnight October 8
Ad Placed By         Australian People

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 06:04 AM

It's all still in the balance.

If Labor lose, it will be the culmination of a series of misguided policies (or non-policies) going back three years.

1. They should have opposed Australia's participation in the invasion of Afghanistan on the basis that the then government of that country could have been subjected to international pressure and persuasion to hand over Osama. It might not have worked, but has the invasion produced Osama?

2. They should have opposed Australia's participation in the invasion of Iraq on the grounds that Australia should go in if necessary to support the UN, but not the US.

3. They should have made a lot more noise about the Guantanamo Bay detainees' being held without trial as criminals and without the status of POWs. In particular they could have seized on Howard's remarks that the detainees would get a fair trial and then be brought back to Australia to serve their sentences. This whole thing has so many legal and moral flaws it is difficult to know where to begin. The presumption of innocence is a good start.

4. They should have flogged to death the point that Howard says he is running the country, but his decisions are being made on the basis of informaton given by his advisers. Given the number of times he has used "bad information" as an excuse for his failings, it would appear that the country is being run by his advisers, because they decide what information he is going to use to make decisions.

5. In more recent times, they should have been attacking his claims to be a responsible economic manager.   How could he produce a Budget in May that is now being blown out of the water by the election promises he is making?

6. His fiscal record is wide open to criticism, too. In September, only four months after the Budget, we were told that GST collections will be $2.6 billion more than forecast. That's a hell of a variation in a very short time - he must have been poorly advised again.

7. We will have Peter Costello for PM within twelve months if the Liberals are re-elected. Labor have touched this, but they should have flogged it.

How are those for starters? All Labor have done in the election campaign seems to ignore the fact that Oppositions don't win elections, Governemnts lose them. Labor should have been aware that this election campaign started as soon as the last election was over, but they have been so lost in their own navel gazing that all these opportunities have gone begging.

I still hope they win, though - I can't stomach Howard, and I will laugh like a drain if he misses the opportunity to become Australia's second-longest-serving Prime Minister after his hero, Bob Menzies.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:14 AM

We have two different election processes.

The Lower House - House of Reps, we got a ballot paper for our local division which has about half a dozen candidates on average. You must number every square - if a candidate gets over 50% of the primary votes, he's it - if not the lowest candidate gets eliminated and their second preferences distributed, etc until someone remaining gets over 50%.

Now in the Senate - each state has several positions, and the system is much more fun. You can vote 'above the line' by placing a 1 in just one box, then your preferences are allocated according to the official party How to Vote cards - or you can vote 'under the line' where you must fill in all the boxes about 60 or so on average...

The following is a small contribution from someone who sent this to a list I run... :-)

~~~~~~~
Strategic voting in the senate.

Do you know the strategic exhaustion trick? Preference the top candidates from parties you don't like last, then the next rank, then the next, meaning your preferences give least support to their first
(and most likely) candidate... Likewise, vote 1,2,3 across the ballot, giving the first candidate in each of your preferred parties a larger slice of your preferences pie.

As a simplified example for Queensland, not necessarily representing my actual voting intentions...

Group J             Group K               Group L
One Nation                               Family Farce

[49] HARRIS, Len   [50] HANSON, Pauline [47] LEWIS, John
[45] NELSON, Ian   [46] SMITH, Judy      [44]SKELLERN-SMITH, Tracy
[43] SAVAGE, James

As an example of the overall process I will use my intended voting pattern... As usual, I will be voting under the line. I usually give HEMP my first preferences, but this year it is so important that I will be voting HUTTON, Drew (GREENS) [1] and probably CHERRY, John Clifford (DEMOCRATS) [2] (despite my unease with the Dems and Family Farce getting along so well in the playground). Back to the "lesser" Greens and Dems for 3, 4 & 5...

This election is so important, in terms of avoiding another 3 years of smug misrule by the Johnny Howard and The New Right (Watch for their next album on Jackboot Records :-), that I will probably do something I almost never do, and give Labour my next 3 preferences and in "correct" rather than reverse order...

The nice people from the Socialist Alliance and HEMP will get preferences ahead of the Slowalition and their stooges. A straggle of loony fringe groups such as the Channel 7/"Oh, think of the children" nutter, Hetty Johnston (too easily exploited by the likes of Family Farce IMHO). Then down to Dear Pauline in the wooden-spoon position...

(BTW, which group are crazier, CEC or The Great Australians? So hard to tell without a few days of careful observation of their behaviour in the rubber room...)

Now, why not just vote HEMP and Socialist Alliance as per usual? The
reason is that preferences are not passed on as whole votes, but discounted (if a candidate gets up) and thus the higher the reference assigned, the larger the fractional vote that gets passed from hand to hand. Likewise the lower the preference, the small the fractional vote that gets passed on.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 10:24 AM

LoL Helen, your post made me laugh. and foolestroupe you have kept me laughing with your posts. I completely agree with your analysis of events Hrothgar. The Labor campaign has not been as wimpish as it was under Beasley, but it still hasnt been enough. they have no spine and are too slick. i have been more or less emotionally imobilised in the last couple of days, wondering what the outcome will be. As well, i'm waiting for my first grandchild, 10 days overdue. I have been working on Andrew Wilkie's campaign, which has kept John Howard campaigning in his electorate, and therefore less in the marginal seats.

I wish I could wake up and find the government has been voted out. however the clock is ticking, one more day of pacing the floor before we see some outcome. I havent given up yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 11:18 AM

The channel 10 phone in poll this evening showed Howard/Latham 60/40%.

I would have guessed Howard 55% to win - he will get in again on the Marginals like last time, I think - so that's my prediction.

If something happens and he doesn't get a clear majority, then life will be interesting - I predict he will cling on with a minority Govt and support from the 'you know who' groups...

Traditionally, in Australia, Govts lose, oppositions rarely win, and the Eden/Monaro seat has been the 'bell-whether' seat for the last dozen or so elections. Also if a change of Govt happens it usually happens with a 'landslide' swing, and that seems unlikely this time.

~~~

The Election chaser tonight again had me rolling on the floor... and the Liberals/Nationals just don't get the joke - Labour, Democrats, Greens seem to have a sense of humour. Funnily enough the One Nation real candidates seem to have a great sense of humour, also seem desperate enough to play along with any joke so as to get some airplay... :-)

The best prank they pulled this week was to take a 'baby' and ask their victims to hold it, then drop it as the passed it... the poor guy nearly had a heart attack! Another one was the pram with the cover on it, and the 6 ft tall guy in the nappy with the dummy jumps out and chases the victim around... :-)

They tried to give the 'Mal Award' to the Family Farce Party, and she acted like a lunatic, trying to run away and ignore them instead of playing along like Latham the Larrikan does - which means that she came across as an arrogant stupid twit... :-)

One of the Chaser guys was on a chat show the other night and said that the great thing was that most Australian politicians had a sense of humour (except for a few !!!) and one COULD approach them with crazy stunts - even Ruddoch kept a straight face with a gag involving illegal immigrant high interest rates stowing away on Tampa 2!!!, and made a quick wise crack... I think the guys are too well known now... they come from a long line of crazy Aussies doing such stunts - a well known Australian Actor, Gary MacDonald, did such stunts for a while years ago... the show is a brilliant parody of CNN - they did a side splitting series a few years ago called CNNN. The last in the series is on next week with the summaries...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 08:43 PM

Glad to know that this thread has amused some.

And I hope that we Aussies have been able, not only to keep our overseas friends vaguely informed on the Aussie elections, but also been able to show our US friends how a Political Discussion can be conducted... :P

A friend has posted this to a list I run...

~~~~~~
Nationals split over Family First deal
Greg Roberts
The Australian October 08, 2004
THE Queensland Nationals have broken ranks with the Coalition over its preferences deal with the Family First Party, with Nationals Queensland Senate candidate Barnaby Joyce describing the Assemblies of God-affiliated party as "the lunatic Right".


Read the full article at:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11007286%5E2702,00.html

Deeply disturbing when the Qld National Party is the sane voice of the Coalition.

...Brock.
(Where's my tinfoil lined hat.)

~~~~~
As deeply disturbing when Wilson Tucky was the sane voice of reason from the Govt on the Environmnet debate a few years ago....

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 08:55 PM

You should really read that story - a brief extract..

~~~~
His comments came as police confirmed they were investigating an incident in which supporters of Family First allegedly hurled eggs at Greens party members after screaming obscenities at them and declaring that lesbians were "witches who should be burned at the stake".

Mr Joyce said he was deeply disturbed by a leaflet published by a Family First Victorian Senate candidate, Danny Nalliah, of the Catch the Fire Ministries.

"Spot Satan's strongholds in the areas you are living (brothels, gambling places, bottleshops, mosque, temples -- Freemasons/Buddhist/Hindu etc, witchcraft," the leaflet says.

"If you are ready to pray against it, do so. If not, bring it to your church and ask your intercessors, through the pastor, to pull these strongholds down."

...

Family First's Queensland Senate candidate, John Lewis, declined to comment, saying only that he was "too busy to be bothered about this".

The party's federal leader, Andrea Mason, declined to return calls.

The Coalition is exchanging preferences with the party in more than 100 seats, but Family First is directing preferences against Liberal candidate Ingrid Tall in the seat of Brisbane because she is a lesbian, and against Liberal MP Warren Entsch in Leichhardt because he supports gay marriages.



~~~~~~
Seems this is close to a breach of the 'Anti-Vilification' laws here - and guess who is lobbying to have them removed?

Looks like we are definitely head down the US politics path...

Reminds me of that old song...

"It's a Bumpy Road Ahead - Detour!"

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 09:00 PM

Compared with them, Pauline Hanson looks quite Moderate, even slightly Left Wing...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 09:58 AM

Well, The Treasurer staked his economic credibility on his claim that Labour's poilies had a $700 Million black hole. Labour said NO! and they had them costed independently. So they submitted them to Treasury Dept under the Law - the charter of Budget Honesty or summit, and Treasury said - We cannot find the black hole the Treasurer found. In fact Labour undercosted something that will make things better, but we found another black hole on something else for $700 million dollars ...

My head hurts... I'm not making this up you know!

Think I will go make an alfoil hat to protect me while I decide which one of the nutter parties I will vote for now, since I don't trust any of the major parties, and I don't want their mind control machines broadcasting mind control rays and affecting my judgement...

I'm not as foolish as I act you know...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST, John O'Lennaine
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 07:34 PM

Today's the day.

Today we find out whether or not the government has made itself sufficiently hated.

I fear it hasn't done enough.
Fraudulantly introducing the GST, Iraq, Sorry?, rorts & lies too numerous to mention, these things have come to be accepted, then expected, and finally admired.

The perception that being a thug equates with being a strong leader is too widespread.
Apparently Australians favour strength over humanity in their leaders - I don't know who did the reasearch.

I hate to be an Alexander but I don't think it's going to happen.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 07:42 PM

Well said, John.

In the cold reality of the light of dawn, I have realised that today they also vote in Afghanistan.

I'm off to vote soon.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:46 PM

i havent given up hope.. and am off to vote now!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 09:30 PM

I've just done my civic duty. Another tablecloth ballot paper - I hope I numbered everything correctly. Pauline Hanson has now the dubious honour of being last on my sheet, having replaced Fred Nile who had that honour for a long time.

I followed your excellent advice - to a lesser extent - Robin, by spread my first choices across two parties so No. 1 to the first candidate in my first choice of party, No. 2 to the first candidate on my second choice. After I spread them out I started numbering everyone I absolutely didn't want from the bottom up, rather than top down. A neat idea! Thanks.

I've decided that if ever we needed prayers and lots of light and positive thoughts from Mudcat, today is the day. If all that positive energy could sway the marginal voters away from little johnny and into a more positive direction it would be worth it.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 03:33 AM

Any results yet?

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 04:06 AM

No, the counting has just begun so we won't have any idea of our doom until at least a couple of hours and probably more.

I can't bear to think about it. Maybe the bottle of scotch is a good remedy and I'll think everything is fine tonight and only have to face reality in the cold hard light of morning.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Ooh-Aah2
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:22 AM

If Howard gets in again then the Tasmanian forests are gone. I don't think I'll be sober for a few days..

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:54 AM

Good luck, Aussies.


..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 09:57 AM

It's nearly midnight here and I was hoping someone else would have reported in by now.

I guess no-one really feels much like discussing it.

Neither do I

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 10:09 AM

Howard has romped it in, in the House of Reps, with a swing to him, and a swing away from Labour, something I did not expect. The trend was obvious at perhaps the earliest point in the night in the history of elections here for quite a while. You can check out the AEC site for yourself - search for Australian Electoral Commission.

The Aussie Senate has an even number of seats, and so an opposition needs to get a majority to block things - the govt rules if it gets an even split.

Howard seems to have pulled that off, and maybe a couple of Family Farce members too will give him control. The Democrats standing for re-election have been wiped out in this half-senate election. The greens made gains everywhere, nowhere to hold a seat, but might get a Senate seat - given that Bob Brown (who dared to exercise free speech in the Aussie Parliament while Dubwya was there!) has retired this election.

Looks like Johnny carefully split the labour blue collar supporters and the progressives.

Johnny becomes 2nd longest serving PM on 22 Dec 2004.

Latham's concession speech looked like that of a great statesman.

With control of the house finally after a dozen years or so, expect the sale of Telstra, repeal of many things, the unfair dismissal laws & other things blocked for years to pass thru now.

The aussie economy has been idling for a while, I now expect it to boom enough to cause interest rates to rise (forcing up mortgages!) by the end of the year, being the ironic knife in the back for those who Johnny terrorised into voting for him because they feared that Labour would stuff things up for them! People have been cutting back on discretionary expenditure because of increasing house values driving up mortgages, and increasing petrol prices, so stores are offering considerable discounts - I expect that although a temporary boom will occur, the growth won't last as people are too near the bone, especially those near the bottom. I also wonder how much of our 'Budget Surplus' would be created by accumulated HECS (Uni Study) Fees, which are drawing increases due to interest.

I wonder what 'core promises' were made this time?

I expect the coalition now to stay in for about another 10 years (we have had a previous period of 23 years of Conservative Govt in 'good times') - and things to gradually worsen as we slide down the tubes, until eventually the pendulum swings back.

I expect now that Bush will get back in.

Thanks for following this Aussie thread. Don't attribute everything that I posted as purely my creation.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 10:20 AM

mayby they're all at the kind of party I remember in 1975 - sitting around stunned, saying "how can they be so stupid, how can they believe all those lies".

We were running a concert tonight (no radio, nuffin') but several folks arrived & told us the bad news, they couldn't bear to stay home watching the coverage, they said it was a landslide & who would want to watch little johnny's smiles?

It's now 12.10 & I'm listening to a CD - I'll get the papers when I go out in the morning. Strangely enought I'm listening to a comic song about politicians spruiking, written c. 1900.

I'm sure there would be coverage on the ABC - www.abc.net.au - have a look if you want to. Maybe the Electoral Commission would have coverage, too - www.aec.gov.au -

I know JennyO & freda were at a Greens party tonight, no doubt they will get on line when they (eventually) come home.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 10:35 AM

Robin, looks like you & were typing away in unison!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 10:55 AM

hi guys

have just come back from mig's, sandra, and prior to that a Greens electoral party in Epping. story so far:

The Greens may get two extra senators, Christine Milne, in Tasmania and John Kaye in NSW (looks like ousting Aden Ridgeway. The Greens vote has risen nationally, and they have cemented their place as the third party in Australia now.

Andrew Wilkie (Greens, former ONA Iraqi whistleblower) did very well in Bennelong, gaining 16.5% of the vote, and earlier in the evening John Howard got quite a scare when his seat was in doubt. His majority in Bennelong has dropped, and he has needed the help of preferences to get in this time.

every cloud has a silver lining - my oldest daughter is two weeks overdue and I'm hoping to become a grandmother in the next day or two.

commiserations and best wishes
freda

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 11:09 AM

and...

Coalition poised to take control of the Senate
October 10, 2004 - 12:24AM syd morn herald

The coalition was last night poised to control both Houses of Parliament after a swing against the Australian Democrats and independents in the Senate. Coalition gains in Queensland, NSW and Tasmania took the government to 38 seats - one seat away from a majority in the upper house. The Democrats were decimated, losing all three sitting senators up for re-election in Queensland, Western Australia and NSW, cutting its numbers to four. Early figures showed the coalition winning three Senate seats in Western Australia and possibly a fourth which would give it control of the Senate.

The Greens were set to boost their numbers to three in the Senate, with former state MP and environmentalist Christine Milne within reach of a full quota. One Nation's Len Harris, independent Shayne Murphy and Australian Progressive Alliance leader Meg Lees looked highly likely to lose their seats. Labor frontbencher Senator Stephen Conroy said the result would make the government less accountable.

"It looks like they probably have 38 votes, which means they will only need one vote to pass the sale of Telstra, so it will be difficult to hold them to account in the Senate," Senator Conroy told ABC radio. "Unfortunately it will probably mean the Senate will become a rubber stamp ... and that will not be a good thing for Australia or for democracy." AAP

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: dianavan
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 02:19 PM

Oh, this does not sound good. Of course I can't figure most of it but if I'm right, this does not bode well for the U.S. election. Its as if the U.S. has all of its lackeyes firmly in place. I know that in B.C. the premier is just hoping Bush can get another four years so they can continue to rape the land and starve the poor.

Its all these little guys that prop up the U.S. regime.

d

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Peace
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 03:10 PM

Years ago a very good friend of mine called me the morning Nixon won the American election to become President. My friend was quite drunk. It was about 4:00 AM. He said after a few minutes in a very clear yet slurred voice: "Bruce, it's bullshit. Once again the American voters get what they deserve. But why do I have to keep getting what they deserve."

Sorry, Aussies.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Helen
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:32 PM

Sandra in Sydney,

That is exactly what I have been thinking all night long: "how can they be so stupid, how can they believe all those lies".

And brucie, you're absolutely right. I am so tired of being at the bottom of the pile, getting kicked around by all of these pollies. I have been working as a casual/temp for the last 10 years, trying desperately to get a permanent job, with annual leave, sick pay, long service leave etc and also so that I can kick this constant stressful financial fear that sits on my back all the time due to job insecurity and loss of work. And I'm not a dole-bludger. I have a lot of experience and qualifications behind me. And I spend a lot of my waking hours searching for jobs, writing job apps, going for interviews, getting rejection letters - the cycle never ends.

I'm tired of having little johnny and his cronies in power, who only care about the rich people and who are now closely aligned with a moral-majority religious party who are going to help and support him to put the squeeze on us all to fit into a narrow-minded mould of their idea of "the right way to live". That means telling women they should be at home minding the babies, and telling unmarried women they can't have IVF (infertility) treatment, Meanwhile our health and education systems are going down the toilet at a rapid rate of knots. And little johnny is brown-nosing Dubya so that we have become a satellite of Dubya's America.

This is not Australia - not the Australia I knew where we looked after each oter and didn't do the dirty on our mates.

I'm depressed. I think I need the scotch today, not last night.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: dianavan
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 05:41 PM

brucie - "...Once again the American voters get what they deserve. But why do I have to keep getting what they deserve."

EXACTLY!

I guess thats my real interest in U.S. politics. What happens there effects all of us. An economic boycott of the U.S. may be our last resort if Bush wins again.

d

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Joybell
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 06:01 PM

Put in my vote for the Greens. Went home. Watched The Sopranos all night. Only feel like talking to Mudcat friends today. Oh Dear! Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: dianavan
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 06:25 PM

I hope I'm alive to see the day that the Pacific Coast of North America, Australia, New Zealand and our Asian neighbors form an economic alliance separate from that old Atlantic trade route. We have it all and we don't really need their 'old boys' club. What would the U.S. and Britain be without us?

Lets shake those vestiges of colonialism. We'll have our own 'tea party'.

d