BS: Australian election date

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 03:18 AM

A guy dressed in a rat suit got thry to Johhny the other day. Looks like the 'Furry Vote' may be big this year. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 03:11 AM

thanks Rich Joy, I'd heard that quote before but didnt know where it could be found!

yes, history repeats itself.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: rich-joy
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 08:46 PM

in case there are any Australian "swinging voters" reading this thread ...

:-)

" .. In "The Nuremberg Diary", Gilbert recorded a conversation he had with Hermann Goering on Easter break, 1946:

Goering: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece?

Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Goering: Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. ..."

" ... G.M. Gilbert was an American intelligence officer. He was also the prison psychologist during the Nuremberg trials after World War II, with unlimited free access to the top Nazi officers throughout the trial. He recorded his conversations in "The Nuremberg Diary," still in print today. You can get it at http://amazon.com and http://bn.com . Here's a review:
http://www.history-europe.com/Nuremberg_Diary_0306806614.html ..."

(BTW, I found this on Bob Webster's "Junkmail" e-zine)

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Martian Gibbon
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 06:53 AM

August 7 thats when I first - no maybe not

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Sep 04 - 06:43 AM

Well, half way thru the campaign (God! it seems longer!) and not much exciting. A protestor dressed as a sheep got thru to Johnny the other day and hugged him.

The most assinine political comment I heard so far was that Latham would be a better Leader than Howard, but he is too young at the momnet, and so he should have the experience of losing an election before he is allowed to win one lead the country! What cretin came up with that one? How about just having the best person for the job right now?

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 09:35 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 08:56 AM

Well, the battle is now back on - restarted by "The Great Debate"!!! so styled by channel 9 on it's locally produced '60 mins' prog - (which is nearer 40 mins with the ads!)

Well, according to the Rules wanted by Howard, it was more of a 'moderated press interview' than a debate, with no public, only press, and 'the worm' - an instaneous readout of the feelings of the audience displayed on screen, not allowed to be superimposed live over the speeches.

Well, according the the 'audience of swinging voters' (no, no, this is not the 60's 'swingers' - although some of them probably were in their 60's!) declared that Latham was the winner. So did the Labour party spokespersons, but funnily enough the Liberal party spokespersons seemed to think that Howard was.

But I can tell you who the losers were - more people watched live 'Australia Idol' than 'The Great Debate' !!!!!!! :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: DaveA
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 04:27 AM

Actually Robin, this has some relevance to the whole general discussion. There is a tendency to excuse immoral acts by people whose cause we support but condemn similar actions by those we are opposed to. Which is why, I guess, that they say "History is written by the victors"!

But, to get back on track, it would be nice to see an "external event" that worked in favour of Labour for a change. Now, there is a good phrase... I'm all for a change!!!!

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 08:56 PM

The first 'freedom fighter activists' who became famous for "terrorist acts" were the Zionist Israelies just after WWII...

But that's got nothing to do with this thread...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Ooh-Aah
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 08:03 PM

I just hope people point out good and loud that Howard's bullshit about our support for the US in Iraq not having made us a target for terrorists is now definitively proved to be just that - bullshit. How sad that innocent Indonesians had to die to prove it - as usual the terrorists, like the Americans, are experts at killing the innocent instead of the 'guilty' - not that the Embassy staff are 'guilty' of course. Roll on the election, and let's give this moron the flick!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 06:48 AM

Wellllllll..... He does have access to all the 'Spy Info' and he did set the date.... but then I'm a cynical bastard...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: DaveA
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 10:57 PM

OK Robin, nice thoughts but.......

Little Johnnie is a past master at manipulating the fears of the "ordinary bloke" into an election victory (shades of Menzies and the infamous "red under the bed" panic)

As I recall it, you made a (tongue in cheek?) post about something like this back on 30th August. Given his track record of doing absolutely anything to gain & retain power, is anyone prepared to categorically state that this was not sanctioned by some ASIO/CIA members?

It is an indication of how devalued the politics of this Government have become that such a thought is not immediately dismissed as "unthinkable"!

I have much sympathy for the innocent victims who ever the perpetrators were, but even more sympathy for the Australian people who may be conned into giving little Johnnie another term.

Dave

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

Australian Embassy in Jakarta bombed

Latham has cancelled all Labour political advertising and campaign appearances for two days as a mark of respect and political solidarity. He has also publicly stated total; support for anything the Govt does to deal with the situation. I have said before that anyone who thinks that such an attack is the way to divide and conquer Australia in the middle of a political campaign does not understand Australia.

Americans should note how a real democracy works - politicians can lie to the electorate and fight each other tooth and nail under normal conditions, but when this sort of event happens, the first thing after expressing sympathy Johnny did was to say he was sending the Govt plane to Indonesia that night with the Foreign Minister, and that he had extended an invitation to the Opposition Foreign Affairs Spokesman (referred to as The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) as well and sending experienced Police and medical aid on the same plane.

When such events occur, the public face is solidarity.

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: JennyO
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 11:25 AM

This is the latest one I can find, Charlie:

Johnny Howard's March
A song by John Dengate©John Dengate 2003
Tune: Paddy Mc Ginty's Goat

Little Johnnie Howard said, 'Diplomacy's a chore,
You get results much quicker from a swift and bloody war.'
He said, 'It's very simple; it's easily understood:
Sadam Hussein is evil and America is good.'

Now all the world is rising to 'Advance Australia Fair,'
We can crawl to George bush as good as Tony Blair.
We're the coaltion that will set a people free:
My buddy in the White House and Tony Blair…and me!

They bombed a few civilians that they didn't mean to kill
For the Yanks blast everything that moves and most of what stands still;
That's the way they operate; the people they have maimed
Will thank us for democracy and know we can't be blamed.

The Yanks have taken Bhagdad and tyranny has gone,
All because of George Bush and Blair and little John;
I'll win the next election, I haven't lost my touch…
I've got some blood upon my hands…but, really, not too much.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:54 AM

And has John Dengate come up with a new song to clarify the issues at stake, or not at stake?

At least your election campaign will be for a shorter period than here in the States, and you'll even know the results almost a month before we know ours, if we ever do!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 05:23 AM

Update: Ah! The Ausie Legal Society is about to issue a report very damning of the Aussie Govt's actions or rather lack of actions - hopefully, this will go away till after the election now (thinks Johnny!).

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 07:14 PM

Ah! 'panic mode' - Johhny & Co are now saying that they think the Military Tribunals are unfair! After months of warnings, they now will insist on a few 'cosmetic changes' to the "Star Chamber" (as British Subjects we do have a history!) JUST before the election!

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 09:51 PM

Only if I can accompany you on one of my various instruments... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 09:19 PM

Good luck to you all, and if sanity wins in Oz I hope there's room for the rest of us to join you there. I'm sure there's some coffeehouse on Glebe Street that really needs a full-time banjo player.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 04 - 06:12 AM

Well, someone made a comment about Johnny being "an untruthful rodent" in more colourful terms than that, and today, a lone protester, who later walked away free, walked thru the crowd (and the security) at a public campaigning stop, and gave Johnny a plastic bag of cheese...

In one of the upmarket Liberal 'safe seats', a multi-millionaire merchant banker (and apparently a fairly close friend of Johnny) managed to get himself preselected over the siting Liberal candidate,
who has now decided to run as an independent. Johnny is now trying to pretend that this will split the Liberal vote and 'give the seat to labour'. He must be 'taking the tablets' from those 2nd rate US political advisers too well, as we have preferential voting here in Australia, and the new independent candidate has said that his preferences will go to the Liberal Party.

If the independent comes last (and supposedly the reason that he was not endorsed is that he was not supposed to be wanted by the electorate!) - his preferences add to the Liberal vote - only danger is if he pulls sufficient so that the other independents or minor parties come behind him, they might swing sufficient preferences to Labour as the candidates with the least votes gets their preferences distributed first until there is a majority.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 08:56 PM

A US expert has said that Australia MAY be targeted for terrorism cause it is thought that Johnny will lose like Spain since Labour wants to take the troops out.

The Aussie psyche doesn't necessarily work like that - any such attack is likely to tip the swinging voters towards Johnny - "Don't piss us off" - so would not be surprised if ASIO or the CIA 'fake' an attack!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 08:09 PM

"It's a matter of trust" - John Howard on the coming election.

I initially thought he was conceding defeat right away, but upon reflection, it seems to me that his backroom boys have correctly identified his untrustworthyness as his weakest point and effectively nullified it as a weapon to be used against him.

There are many Australians who will be bluffed.

BTW His backroom boys have obviously not read Dan Brown's "Deception Point", in which a desperate and unscrupulous presidential candidate uses the campaign slogan "It's all about trust".

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 07:40 AM

Put it back a week, and if Johnny gets in, we may all be there... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 07:13 AM

Does that mean there will be no Australians at my birthday bash on that date?
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 05:51 AM

John has had to call the election so he can pull the pin on next week's sitting of the House of Representatives because he didn't want to endure any more Question Times.

He seems to think that Question Time in the Senate doesn't matter so much because he can always claim that the Senate is hostile anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 01:18 AM

Just couldn't resist this.

Johnny must think he is going to win, cause he has now a secret Weapon to Win Elections... his mate George did it and it worked!




PM pays his son to dish up spam
By Mike Seccombe
August 27, 2004

A Sydney-based software company, one of whose directors is the Prime Minister's son, has been "spamming" voters with Liberal Party election material.

Tim Howard's company, Net Harbour, is taking advantage of a loophole in the Government's anti-spam laws to open a new front in the election propaganda war, via unsolicited email.

Last night the NSW director of the party, Scott Morrison, confirmed it had entered into a "a contractual arrangement with Net Harbour", involving a curious round-robin of payments.

"Because it's a contractual arrangement involving the PM's son," Mr Morrison said, "... and involves the Bennelong campaign, Mr Howard took the decision to personally fund the service, to provide the funds to enable us to do that, out of his own pocket.

"He made the funds available to the division once we entered into the agreement, to make sure the division wasn't out of pocket."

Mr Morrison refused to say how much Mr Howard was paying the party to
pay his son's company.

Laws passed last year made it illegal for commercial operators to send unsolicited emails, but allowed an exemption for charities and political parties.

A spokesman for Net Harbour said yesterday that it was the only consultancy in Australia employing the American-style campaigning technique, and was working for the Liberal Party.

On its site, Net Harbour promises to deliver "complete constituent contact" via its "ePolitics" operation. It describes itself as working "in partnership with conservative political parties at electoral, state and national level to deliver online campaigns".

The deal between the state Liberal branch and the Howards, senior and junior, was news to the federal organisation.

The party's federal director, Brian Loughnane, said yesterday afternoon that he was not aware of a contractual arrangement

between the party and Tim Howard's company. "I'll have to investigate," he said. "But it could be somebody's just doing it as a favour ... In the normal course of events I'd expect to know. I sign the cheques. I haven't signed any cheques for Net Harbour."

One recipient of the e-bulletins - which appear under the letterhead and picture of the Prime Minister - said she had been spammed twice in the past month.Alana Hay, of Sylvania, said she was angry about it.

Although the emails purported to come from "John Howard, MP, Member for Bennelong", she neither lived nor worked within the electorate.

Ms Hay said she had no political connections and had certainly not sought Liberal Party campaign information. "What I want to know is, how did they get my address?"

No answers to her questions were forthcoming yesterday.

Net Harbour's spokesman promised the company's managing director, Brad Mancken, would call back, but he did not.

Mr Morrison refused to say how Net Harbour got hold of personal email details, or how the party was able to send spam referring to the recipient by her first name.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 12:55 AM

Looks like Johnny is going to fight the election on "Trust" (isn't that what George is doing?), while Labour is going to fight it on "Honesty", and the other smaller parties on "Accountability".

Still scratching my head, does that mean it's ok to trust someone who is dishonest? And if you are trusted, that you don't have to be accountable?

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 11:56 PM

She's On!

October 9th

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Aug 04 - 06:47 AM

Health Overboard!

Well, Mark Latham waited for a Public Hospital bed... might be ill for weeks or even months - Looks like Johnny has missed the Election Boat again...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 05:43 PM

Truth Overboard!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: Hrothgar
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 05:41 AM

Just after the Olympics will be a good time to announce it - all the reflected glory from the returning heroes.

Almost like having a good war.

Earliest realistic date now is 25 September.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 16 Aug 04 - 12:49 AM

"Johnny could go down in history as a lair..."

No "could" about it Robin, he will; has already.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 11:59 PM

Since the polls show Labour ahead at the moment, things will be put off for while, no doubt. It could be that Johnny has put it off too long - cause if enough things keep surfacing like today's guy who was gagged by Cabinet from appearing at the "Children Overboard" Enquiry said in a letter to the paper, the Govt had been told by him 3 times a few days before the election that there was no evidence for those claims.

Johnny could go down in history as a lair, and a silly one at that, who put off the election past the point where he could have won it...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Aug 04 - 11:01 AM

The spin doctoring continues, with more pre-election sweeteners - another boost for Medicare, and the announcement that it is unlikely that an election will be called while the Olympics are on because Australians are enjoying watching them and he doesn't want to interfere - oh John, you are soooooooo magnanimous and thoughtful - NOT.

Howard accused of bulk-buying close seats

Meanwhile a poll shows Labor leading at the moment, and the Greens scoring well with 11% of the predicted vote.

Olympics election all but smothered

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Aug 04 - 12:43 AM

While bringing in a bill to forbid homosexual marriage, at the same time Johnny is currently trying to force thru an "Anti-Terrorism Bill" in which associating with a suspected terrorist does recognise the act of homosexual marriage...

Silly Season is nearly on is it seems.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 12 Aug 04 - 10:24 PM

strong hint from a gooid source that the election will be announced tomorrow - a good time to be out of the country to avoid all the pre election crap - i'll be going on sun, back in 3 weeks!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 08:43 PM

The PISS Prime Minster - yeah, could work....

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 27 Jul 04 - 09:44 AM

...speaking of which, I am expecting that John Howard's next move will be to present himself as "The Peace Prime Minister", or a variation on that theme.

Is it a saleable product?

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:35 PM

Well, Tom, it's no diferent in the USA...

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 11:03 AM

Thanks for your commiserations, Tom H. John Howard is the most dangerous, racist, deceptive, arrogant, dominating and undemocratic Prime Minister we have ever had, and the papers don't touch him. Lies, damn lies, and the liers who make them...........

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,Tom Hamilton
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 10:57 AM

I feel sorry for you Australians having to listen to such crap and having to vote for the biggest bulldust artist and then they and their bulldust talking friends will go to Canbarra.

I'm here on holiday so as I say I feel sorry for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: bengi
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 12:47 AM

Who better to fight for you than Latham?

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:11 AM

Looks like we're past one hurdle...

Although the election doesn't HAVE to be called till nearly April, it's rumoured that it will be before the US election. If Bush gets beaten, Johnny's US advisors are scared that he will go down the gurgler too.

But first they want more time to beat up on Latham in a US style dirty politics smear campaign... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 12:31 AM

As a long term unemployed who has been refused useful training (cause it would cost too much) and who had the 'Earnings Bank' taken away by Howard (and lost a lot of cash because of it when I was able to get work) and wondorously restored before the election - I want my 'okie bonus'too!

Single people without kids are now being discriminated against!


'Earnings Bank' was a scheme that recognised that infrequent part time work may throw you over the fortnightly limit of earings which means that they payment is cut, but you will not be over the yearly limit. You built up a 'bank of credits' when receiving no income from work, against which you could offset occassional part time income before losing benefits.

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,John O'Lennaine
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 10:31 PM

The payment I refered to earlier ($600 per child), as blatant and absurd as it was then, is now even more so.

Apparently some families have been paid twice (not us), and are being allowed to keep the money because the legislation by which the payment was instigated makes no provision for the retrieval of overpayments.

In other words, it would be illegal for the govt. to ask for it back, or even accept it if it was offered.

This is all farcical enough as far as a corrupt means of buying votes is concerned, but what I want to know is what they intend to do about the rest of us who did not receive the overpayment.

Now it would seem that we have been underpaid (relatively speaking), through no fault of our own, and will need, I suggest, to be bought off if they want us to vote for them.

But then, that would constitute a special payment to selected families - I don't know if that would be seen as being entirely ethical.
("Ethical? What's ether got to do with it?")

Looking forward to the next instalment...

John

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:27 AM

basically, its up to our prime minister to work out a time which he thinks is most advantagous to his party's chance of re-election, within 3 - 4 years, I think.

this means tension builds up after about 3 years, the papers start guessing & speculating, all the pollies get nervous and everyone else gets fed up!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,curious
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 11:23 AM

freda: Thanks (I think!) I'm still not sure I understand it, but at least I have an idea of it, and thanks to you, a site to go to for more info.

I appreciate it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:01 PM

curious...

A House of Representatives election can held more or less at any time. At the request of the Prime Minister, the Governor-General issues the writs for a general election setting down the day when polling must be conducted. Under the Commonwealth Electoral Act, this must be a Saturday and be between 33 and 58 days from the issue of the writ.

The complication is the Senate election. The Constitution fixes the terms of Senators at six years, and an election for the Senate cannot be held until one year before the expiry of Senate terms. The current half-Senate facing election expires on 30 June 2005. Therefore a Senate election cannot be held before 1 July 2004.

An old High Court ruling defines an election as covering the whole period from issue of writ to polling day. Therefore, the writ for a half Senate election cannot be issued before July 1, and with a minimum campaign period, the first possible date for an election this year is 7 August.

If the government wanted to call an election for August 7, the writ would probably be issued on Monday 5 July. The complication is that while the Governor-General issues the writ for the House of Representatives and the two Territory Senate elections, the writ for the six state half-Senate elections are issued by the state Governors. With the paperwork transfer to the states, this usually means the election is announced a day or two before the issue of the writs.

The last possible date for a Federal election is 16 April 2005. Three year terms are timed from the first sitting of a Parliament, not the date of the last election. The current Parliament first sat in February 2002, though the election
was held in November 2001. It seems highly unlikely that the government would hold off until 2005 before holding the current election.

Note that while a Senate election may be held this year, the Senators from the states will not take their seats until 1 July 2005. The four Territory Senators would take their seats at once, but the other 72 Senators would remain in place until 30 June next year, whatever the result of the Senate election.

are you as confised as I am after reading this? it comes from this site, which has a whole lot more info about the Australian electoral system:
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/questions.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: GUEST,curious
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 05:18 PM

This thread has been fascinating to read; I live in the USA, and like most of us here, I suspect, I'm not well versed in the Australian government. Just a couple quick questions; (1) Who can call an election, and (2) how often can they be called?

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Australian election date
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:33 AM

They THINK they have something nasty... but they couldn't even get the 'pokie bonus' porkbarrel bribe right - they forgot to pay the defence forces... (places fingertips on thumb tip, hand on forehead, and makes waving motions back and forth...) and now there is a fuss that people are currently in jail for not paying back benefits wrongly paid by Centerlink, and we now have a new 'precedent' that they shouldn't have had to pay back those debts...