That lucid analysis I promised two posts ago will still have to wait another day. In the meantime, I have added a new “photo finish” thread below for Dickson, where Labor’s lead is an uncomfortable 389 votes, to those already existing for Swan, Solomon, McEwen, Macarthur, La Trobe, Herbert, Bowman and the Victorian Senate. It would also be remiss of me not to note the very sad passing of Matt Price, taken far too young at 46.
Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth
The day after the day after
Copyright © 2008 Private Media Pty Ltd, Publishers of Crikey.com.au. All Rights Reserved.
Independent news, blogs and commentary on politics, media and business.
Editor: Jonathan Green.
Publishers: Eric Beecher, Diana Gribble.
Level 7, 22 William St, Melbourne, 3000. Ph: 1800 985 502 Fax: (03) 8623 9975
1,367 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 22 23 [24] 25 26 … 28 » Show All
The next Liberal PM is probably still a glint in his father’s eye…
The longer the liberals are in denial, the better for the ALP. No-one so far, except for Turnbull, has been able to accept what’s happened or offer any real insight into why. I heard Nick Minchin this morning wanking on about how workchoices was good policy, but the ACTU had “successfully demonized” it. What a jerk. So the Australian people just couldn’t recognise good policy when they saw it, hey Nick? Try telling my friend on an AWA on $12 an hour working until 4am with no loadings, expected to be available for every public holiday that her job and working conditions are great, but it’s just been demonized by the ACTU.
The same goes for Coonan bitching about how Labor MPs visiting schools this week is tokenistic, or whatever she said…doesn’t she get it…Labor MPs visiting schools, getting down with the kids and reporting back to Kevin on the state of IT facilities in schools looks a whole lot better imho than Helen Coonan bitching about the fact that they’re doing it.
Turnbull is their great white hope, but I’m confident the party is incapable of uniting behind him…or maybe, as Paul Keating so aptly put it this morning, he’ll be like one of those cheap penny banger fireworks….offer lots of potential, and then fizzle out.
The booth I worked in on Saturday in the Kalgoorlie electorate had an 8.89% swing to Labor . Kalgoorlie has swung by approx 4.11% at latest counting – second only in WA to Forrest at 5%. New margin looks like being around 2.19%. Within range for Labor next time if they take the outback seriously, since the Libs never really have.
Still sunburned from Saturday, ouch. I hope the Kev 2010 t-shirts come with collars… But Yay! Maxine has slain the rodent and Hyacinth has to move back to Wolstencroft before they take up the ambassadorship in Baghdad. And maybe now we’ll get some better government.
#
1116
Steven Kaye Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Gotta love WA – Lib primary vote was 46.29%, Labor’s 37.25%. Why are they so much more astute than everyone else?
because they believed John Howard that the mining boom would stop the day after the Labor Partys election
Hate to use a term of Glen’s, but this is hubris to the max. No one party can rule forever – that was the mistake the Coalition made after 2004 and it’s something that the ALP should keep in mind always…
I am not sure who or where the next Liberal PM is, but i do know that they wont be too keen to introduce anything that even smells like workchoices.
The next Lib PM is still growing in my pool scum
1147
Steven Kaye – i agree we can be pissed off about loosing but lets face facts we can’t change what happened. We need a good leadership team Turnbull/Bishop to fight hard for 2010 and who knows???
Still it will be fun watching KR make so many gaffes and mistakes and then blame it on a big night out lol.
minus one O lol!
Steven Kaye, Glen, have you stopped and considered that with Rudd so centrist, where does the Liberal rump now position itself? Consider what Blair did to the Tories in the UK. Come back in 12 years or so…
Here goes moi indulging in Lib-spruiking, but if they were smart they’d go for Nelson-Bishop, look reasonably capable, get slaughtered in 2010 and then go for Turnbull-?. They don’t have a chance otherwise.
Swing, you badly need a sense of humour
Libs best chance of winning at the next election is to elect Kevin Rudd as thier leader
With all your criticisms of the tories being just a bunch of hard right ‘born to rule’ silver spooners many of you seem like hypocrites saying that…
1157
red wombat Says:
November 26th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
The next Lib PM is still growing in my pool scum
If i didnt know better that was hypocrisy with a capital H oh and hubris with a capital H too.
Voterboy,
The reason Howard’s politically dead is simple.
He forgot that the vessel with the pestle held the brew that was true and sculled the contents of the chalice from the palace instead.
That’s what happens when yopu live in a palace too long, I suppose.
I’m surprised Danny hadn’t already thought of thes obvious explanation.
Greed is good Swing Low. Greed is good. If socialism is dead why are their socialist governments in Europe with economic prosperity. But of course it is far better to have massive foreign debt and chief executives having pay rises of 237% average wage rises over the last ten years. Perhaps you are one. I would say so private school, private health.
You will never change my mind as a uni educated economist i saw through the economic crap they teach at uni these days but of course you fell for it.
Stephen Kaye at 1147 -
Yep – I’m shocked…. I can’t imagine how I’m going to feel when I land in Australia and lo longer have to see Howards or Costello’s face on the TV. No more dog-whistling, no more nastiness.
Poor JWH, he is now politically irrelevant, and will have to live the rest of his days knowing his own electorate couldn’t even stomach him at the end. Shocking, but fitting. I have to keep pinching myself to believe it’s real.
Marky,
Must be wonderful being the only righteous person on the planet.
Sorry, Dario – I picked on you on that one. I knew that was a joke, but some of the other comments on those lines haven’t been.
We can’t all sit here assuming Labor’s got 2010 locked up – this is what the Libs thought in 2004 and look what happened. Labor has got to work hard to deliver on its promises, coz I promise you that the Libs won’t let them forget about them…
Nick Minchin needs to take his fair share of accountability for the defeat
What kind of idiot localizes the negative message into the TV adverts and leaves the positive messages to struggle for currency outside of the mainstream media
not since Jim Carlton phucked-up the 1993 election has a campaign director been so in need of a dunking
Turnbull shows some promise of coldy re-assessing the strategy, but JWH needs to be part of the post mortem…I wonder if it will happen??
Oh Shit!!!, still thinking of Matt Price, what a loss
MArky at 1166 – which Europena govts do you mean? The Swedes, French and Germans are all conservative now and the Spanish might have a ’socialist’ govt, but it’s not particularly left-wing…..
Everyone at work this morning, while reasonably content with the outcome (except for two Lib rusties), said: so what’s Kev going to do now?
What is he going to do? The next three years are going to be a ride. Should be fun.
Thanks for the complement, Paul K.
So what is difference then?
If you going to say something please back it up with evidence.
Socialism is about putting out your hand and caring for everyone, equality but of course it is far better having a system which breeds selfishness, greed and status is it not.
I am a compassionate person who wants to help others espeicially the poor, but it is just a pity that some or many people believe in themselves and little else.
Steven’s brother Danny Kaye had a bit to say about the Liberals and their superiority complex.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZYzbkk5X4M
no Government has been thrown out after 1 term since 1931 , so the reality is Rudd has 2 terms. So whoever becomes the Liberal leader wont be facing Rudd in 2013
Turnbull is definitely the Libs best choice as leader, but i don’t think they are smart enough to make that choice. If he gets the leadership and the party doesn’t unite, solidly, behind him, then they will queer their only chance to be even competitive in 2010.
If Nelson gets it he will end up beholden to the right wing nutters that have been taking over the NSW branch. He wont be able to clean out the party, move them away from this cult of personality that developed around Rattus, (Worship him, for he Wins!!!!) and they will simply become less and less electable.
If Turnbull can be nurtured and listened to by the Libs, then as an ALP supporter i’ll be a little more concerned about 2010. If they are stupid enough to shaft him then ROFLOL.
I like some of the suggestions for the Ministry on this page, but I think that Joel Fitzgibbon needs some role. It would be a bit much to drop him from Defence then leave him without any role at all.
Mr Squiggle 1128
We do read you.
Taking a leaf from John of Melbourne.
As you seem to be saying.
We were gracious in defeat, at least I was, when Howard got in.
And it should be always thus. Someone will always be defeated. Someone will always win. But things change” we accept it.
Then we assess and ultimately pass judgement, on performance outcomes, to use that rather surreal term.
So, on from here. Let’s see how it goes.
And be there, yourself, to hold your Government to its word.
Rudd is well set in the centre now, and hopefull the Liberal Party will be able to learn from what happened to the Conservatives in the UK. If Turnbull and/or Nelson are going ot be setting the agenda, then they have somewhere to go. Turnbull has already said that he can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t support Kyoto. In the past he’s implied that he’s in favor of civil unions, and being located in Wentworth, he’ll want to make some show of supporting gay rights. Nelson has, in the past, indicated he supported gay rights and safe injecting rooms. His brother died of AIDS. The Liberals can support liberal economic policy, individualism, and social liberalism. They can pressure a Rudd Government on Gay Rights – that will do wonders for winning back the youth vote. Their conservative, right-wing base will just have to stfu and take a back seat. They’ve had the Howard Years, but realistically, the party is over for them (pun intended).
Marky,
What I don’t like about you is the way you stereotype people. Somehow only socialists are compassionate. Only Socialists care about people. What a load of bull. And if you dare to disagree or God forbid have something like Private Health Insurance you’re a selfish capitalist. In your world 95% of the people in Australia are worthless brain washed human beings. If Chavez and Castro are your ideal leaders you can have them.
Agreed, AJH, Fitzgibbon needs a role. As does Plibersek. And those two are right up Kevin’s alley so I wouldn’t be surprised if they get a go. McKew can do some sort of minor role as a prty sect but she’d be much better off out there selling the story of each cabinet meeting, which Kev has agreed to do a presser after. The likes of Shorten and Marles need to cool their heels and their egos. They are not as popular as they like to think.
Combet has to have a prominent role. He is smart, articulate and when he gets the specs off is a major spunk. The girls will love him, in a brainy sort of way.
Their are differing forms of socialism. Yes i agree each government in Europe is somewhat not like the true meaning of socialism but they are strong believers in government ownership and governments duty to do things for the people, and that is what i tend to believe.
Sweden a good example.
I do think you need incentive so i do not advocate total government control.
l liked the Australian economic system before 1983, one which involved itself in g1 ownership of banks, and infrastructure( essential services) and our hospitals and education and tenders out projects for roads and bridges if they are cost effective. Do not believe in ppp’s.
Selling the farm does nothing.
Keynesian economics worked well in the world up to late 70s’ and did not create the massive inequalities that we have now. Why change something if it is doing well. Reason individual greed. As a society we need to go back to such situations again.
Lateline Business.
Heather Ridout.
Way to go.
Amazing what a difference a day makes.
agree with Marktwain . Some of the older labor members should not get a portfolio
like Jenny Macklin , McMullin , Crean & even McClelland
This is the fundamental problem with your argument. Keynesian economics failed to solve the problems of the 1970s, which was why they have been abandoned by all reputable economists.
People realised that the only way to solve the stagflation problems evident in the 1970s was through supply-side changes (not demand-side, which was what Keynes suggested). Hence, the need for microeconomic reform – i.e, deregulation and privatisation of government industries, increases in competition and the introduction of enterprise bargaining.
Australia would be an economic basket case (or to use a Keating term, a banana republic) if we had maintained Keynesian economics for the past 25 years…
#1167 -
“Poor JWH, he is now politically irrelevant”
Hah! You poor sap! I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that your ignorance stems from the fact that you’ve been out of the country for a while.
John Howard has irrevocably transformed Australia for the better and has written the ground rules for every successful political leader that comes after him. Just look at your hero Krudd.
Swing lowe , which is why the economic reforms by Keating have transformed the country positively as a Global trader (which Howard/Costello have reaped the benefit of)
Howard destroyed the Liberal Party. Yeah, I’d say that’s a transformation for the better.
Big Blind Dave #1163 – Don’t joke about the Liberal’s electing Rudd as their next leader. There’s form there: remember Billy Hughes and Joe Lyons?
Paul K i treat people how they treat me, simple. You are welcome to your ideas, i just don’t agree with them.
And stereotyping people is it not what you are doing in regards to Castro and Chavez? Both have their faults but the poor who have gone without education and essential healthcare in Venezeleua and are now recieving it love Chavez. This is what we should be about in this world.
Simple.
Paul K i have my faults and am happy to admit them, but on policies for a better world instead of corporate and individual greed i will continue to espouse them, because that is so wrong with humanity at present.
So, what’s the deal with Howard? Seat of Bennelong.
When may we expect an observation of protocol?
Ron Brown,
That’s exactly right.
Which is why I think the Howard years have been years of missed opportunity. They concentrated their efforts at destroying the union movement – the Waterfront disputes, Workchoices, etc. By doing this, they forgot about other forms of microeconomic reform.
JWH should have cut tariffs further, reduced the subsidies given to the motor vehicle industry, invested in infrastructure (broadband and transport spring to mind) and promoted Australia not only as a resources-based economy but as a skills-based one, with a particular focus on financial services. Alas, this is now Kevin Rudd’s job to do…
SK at 1186 –
I repeat – ‘he is now politically irrelevant’ – he stayed too long and as a result is only the 2nd PM to have lost his seat at an election. His legacy is wall-to wall labour governments. That is what will be written in history books. Get used to it
Have I said Kevin is my hero?
There’ll be a next Liberal PM?
Surely Howard will concede it by Wednesday so that McKew can go to the caucus meeting on Thursday.
Crikey Whitey Says:
November 27th, 2007 at 12:00 am
So, what’s the deal with Howard? Seat of Bennelong.
When may we expect an observation of protocol?
AFTER the last vote is counted
why are the marginal seats taking so long….75% got counted from 6PM to 11.30PM Sat night
Thaaaaaaaaat long.
Soooooooooo long.
What kind of attitude is that?
We need Labor to re-establish the notion that in a Westminster democracy ministers and ultimately Prime Ministers are responsible for the actions of their government.
Rudd should ensure that every single significant Howard Government scandal is now fully and frankly investigated and, where appropriate, dealt with.
Apart from anything else it would set an important precedent that the ALP would have to live by itself.
Reeeeeeeally… is that why the outgoing “conservative” government was both taking more tax and handing back more welfare (to the middle classes) than ever before?
Baby bonus… family tax benefits… bribes for the oldies… bribes for the rich, bribes for the poor, but especially bribes for those in the middle.
Maybe you need to read up on your Adam Smith. The idea would be to take less and give less, and let people decide how to spend their own money. Which is emphatically NOT what has been happening in Australia any time in the last decade or so.
Should I
report
on What the Papers
Say
Social democratic princilpes combined with right wing values. At the end of the day should accept this is not a contest. make the most draw from learn from be yourself create inspire
Pages: « 1 … 22 23 [24] 25 26 … 28 » Show All