No FuelWatch effect from Morgan either: indeed, their face-to-face poll conducted last weekend shows Labor’s lead up to 63-37 from 61-39 the previous week. Labor’s primary vote is down slightly from 53 per cent to 52.5 per cent, but the Coalition’s has fallen further – from 34 per cent to 31.5 per cent, their worst result since mid-March.
Reflections on the Miracle of Democracy at Work in the Greatest Nation on Earth
Morgan: 63-37
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738 Comments
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BB, if Candice ever catches wind of your heartless condemnation, I’m afraid she’ll have to dig even deeper. Long saronged 1000 mile stare walks along Maroubra beach might help, for a time. But in the end it will only be the unswerving devotion of compatriots such as Kate McCulloch (who’s Australian and Catholic values, despite what the pontificators say, are completely beyond reproach) that will give her the confidence to shine again as a true sporting patriot.
That’s not Downer’s son.
Downer’s son’s at Flinders Uni. (I know, because my Facebook directory keeps asking meto pick him as a friend!)
whoops re posting 400, i only meant to paste the last item about Milne, yoiks i dont know what went wrong, sorry William i’ll put in a donation to help with the bandwidth—Judy creeps away shaking her head muttering about people shouldn’t try things their not adept at.
donation completed, sorry again William.
On two somewhat related topics, the US election and poor political commentary.
Whilst we have to endlessly endure the drivel slapped together by what laughingly passes for intelligent conservative commentators in Australia; the US is blessed with quality commentators of all political persuasions. One of the best conservative commentators is David Brooks of the NY Times.
Here is his classic article from October 2006 encouraging Barack Obama to run for president.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E6DB1F30F93AA25753C1A9609C8B63
If you heard girlish shrieks, crying, and temper tantrums emanating from the Mayo area this is probably the reason why.
“AUSTRALIA is to lead the way on kick-starting the faltering nuclear disarmament process, with former foreign minister Gareth Evans to co-chair an international commission.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23836647-23109,00.html
Wails of ” But, I’m more relevant than Gareth were heard”.
Possum’s Pollytrack has the ALP Primary vote down from 46.6% to 46.2% from mid May, everything else is flatline. I really, really want the ALP pre-election commitment to independent appointments to boards fast tracked so that some approximation of balanced reporting on the ABC becomes possible again. As for that Australian Story last night, if that’s an Australian story, we’re in a lot of trouble.
That people who excel at sport should, by virtue of that fact, be catapulted to celebrity status, points to a deep shallowness among the populace. Where is the lauding of people such as David Malouf or Peter Carey? Where is the lauding of people who excel in science? Where’s the gong for someone like Robin Williams, the Science Show? Or philosophy? Or anything else that actually contributes to the sum of human knowledge, experience, understanding, capacity to engage deeply and across divides?
With some exceptions, who still survive, beyond all expectation at the ABC, bugger all.
End of rant from grumpy old woman. Goes off to start sending emails to gov’t members and Conroy to get on with it.
Just watched the the 7.30 Liberal Report. Who needs Chris Toolman when you have Heather Ewert. Rudd couldn’t do a thing right. The sneering, negative report on the hybrid car plus a scathing account on how Rudd sees the big picture. And guess who she interviewed to get an unbiased point of view? Greg Sheridan. Spare me. Can Rudd do anything right?
Interesting article, Aristotle. Ta.
BB,
It’s CandIce. She can’t be all that bad – was wearing Rabbitoh gear twice that I saw. That alone, by anyones lights, squares the ledger.
By the way, the Super League war is hotting up again. Mate against mate. State against state. Date against date. And all that. The Ruddster follows the Broncos, thereby putting himself squarely in the News Ltd corner. Might get messy later on so he needs to snuggle up to some Sydney teams for balance.
response from Morgan:
Keep in touch, it will be interesting to see where the poll sits in a few
months, you may be right as the problem up to now has not been caused by
Rudd and his team. However they will need to fix the future, and this will
be tough!
Gary Morgan
Watching SBS.
The common denominator of those countries with the best health and hospital services and coverage (every one) is the lack of profit making health insurance companies. Japan, Germany, Britain, Taiwan.
Tawain 6% of GDP on health care, the USA 15-16%. No doubt that extra 9% is profit in the pockets of health insurance companies.
Gary whilst i agree somewhat with your view regarding Sheridan, their were some interesting things said by Ewart in her article.
Thus is it feasible to make cars in Australia which will be save less Greenhouse Gases than overseas hybrid counterparts and will the cars sell as prices for them will not be cheap in comparision to smaller cars.
Also should Toyota get money for a project which may not succeed?
I am ambivalent about the project and do not necessarily support Ewarts’ stated views.
Sheridan who i cannot stand did make one good point regarding policy all symbolic gestures and not much substance.
Pity he did not say the same about Howard and Downers’ ideas.
Kina i thought it was 2% of GDP.
Nonetheless the Taiwanese are smart people, look all around the world at all Health systems work out the mistakes and develop the perfect system. And looking at it they along with the French have the best health care systems in the world. Far better than Australias’. We are dumb here more interested in individualistic greed.
Even those nasty socialist types in Switzerland fixed up the health system transforming it apparently. No profit on basic care and everyone has the right to health care. A basic human right she says.
Boy how much would Howard and the Libs hate all these countries. The AMA would scream blue murder.
The USA was 2%? If it was 15% given that there is appalling coverage it would mean money being wasted – insurance companies. If it is 2% then government under investing – leaving up to profit making orgs. Will have to check this one out – or probably people hear who knows it.
here
re: the hybrid car plan, at least the OO online is headlining with a positive tone:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23842485-601,00.html
Re: the oppositon’s response, this is typical of how poor their strategy is. They just attack everything for oppositions sake. Rudds skill as Opp Leader was to choose his battles and not just be negative about everything, or he would say, we support this but they should have done this or that. The current opp has so much to learn
Taiwan- i am sure was 2%. And look how they acheived it, they research, invest and innovate and do this with an urge to better themselves and their country, how fantastic is that. Australia the land of dills, commodities and not much else. And we sell our minerals overseas for countries to build things and we then buy them back- how intelligent.
Andrew (419) – I’m with you on that point, but don’t forget the coalitions embarrasing agreement with Rudd on:
a) the apology for everything that was ever done wrong to an aboriginal
b) certain aspects of Workchoices
c) kyoto etc
I think brendan ” I need no blanket, my love for my country keeps me warm” nelson is trying to choose his battles, just not sure how successful he is at it
Maybe Murdoch has some shares in Toyota.
The judgment of Herod was a little less subtle than Solomon’s. It involved killing all the kids in the hope he could get one. True believer George Bush certainly emulated Herod’s single-mindedness rather than Solomonic judgment when he vetoed the bill to provide healthcare for millions American children currently without it.
Most astoundingly, for any capitalist with an accountant, is the difference in costs and efficiency. Taiwan gives everyone healthcare for less than one sixth the price per head of the US. In fact by 2005, US healthcare amounted to almost $2 trillion, or $6,697 per person, amounting to 16% of GDP – and still left 47 million people without insurance, more than 20 million inadequately covered, and, as GM’s recent manoeuvres show, untold millions more whose insurance is not as secure as they once thought. Taiwan spent 5.7% of GDP and less than $900 a head.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/oct/07/taiwangetshealthy
Gary Bruce: what happened to Michael Brissenden? Is he on leave of some sort?
I must say I miss him, the 7.30 REPORT seems rudderless without him!
Spare a thought for those of us in New South Wales, we’re being deluged with Della Bosca/Belinda Neale/Igaunagate scandal!
Progressive #424, Della Bosca and Neal should be thrown out of the Labor Party if found guilty.
Taiwan- i am sure was 2%.
I thought that was Japan.
425
guilty of what?
having dinner and arguing with about the service with staff
strueth quick! better sack half Australia
425 John,
Are you serious? Dis-membered for complaining about restaurant service? Sure they were probably acting like a couple of wine-soaked Tories, but you wouldn’t have an issue with that would you? (Melbourne Cup, John Kerr, etc.). Do we need to stat a pissing contest as to which side has the worse record re: alcohol fuelled idiocy? Anybody who can be bothered (in this the binge drinking awareness era) with putting together a league table of political grog indiscretions, I’d be happy to see it, and my suspicion is that the blue bloods win hands down (happy to be corrected, however).
Didn’t Peter C spill his guts to Brissleden et al over numerous Aristotles of red?
I think they are in more shit for covering it up, rather than the incident itself… if they have that is
It’s Brisbane city council budget day today and the livability of the city continues to fall and the debt rise. Good work Liberals!
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/city-slips-in-liveable-ranks/2008/06/10/1212863638627.html
Perhaps we should all be rejoicing over the MSM’s antics, they are in the process of rendering themselves a laughing-stock with the average Ozzie. I still believe that we have an inherent sense of fair play, we can see the hypocricy such as the feigned concern for pensioners, when nothing was said during the Rat years as pensioners slid further into poverty. And who can believe them when they trumpet the latest ‘news’ from the camp of the screeching eunuch.
The Libs will soon start to self-cannibalise as the grim reality of life in opposition sinks in, and the media will then move on. In the meantime, I look for my news from other sources.
All this feigned outrage over Della Bosca and his wife is being whipped up by one anti-Labor commercial radio station in Sydney and the DAILY TELEGRAPH, always a model of journalistic integrity(rolls eyes). Now we’re being told Rudd should sack Belinda Neale because she allegedly elbowed an opposing player in a soccer match! The two of them are a pair of idiots, and Iemma is a weak tool, but this media feeding frenzy is getting to the point of sheer lunacy!
Somehow I doubt any regular person gives two hoots about this whole thing.
I’m struggling to care myself.
Della alienated David Penberthy (Daily Telegraph) a few weeks back when the Minister engaged in a frank and colourful discussion with some of Penberthy’s staff. This occurred at an awkward and sensitive time for the Minister: when he was photographed on a bicycle with an ill fitting helmet. It was shortly after the announcement that Della’s driver’s licence was to be cancelled for repeat speeding offences.
As for the Member for Robertson, one of Penberthy’s journalists (Malcolm Farr) wrote an uncomplimentary piece on her in yesterday’s Telegraph. So in the great tradition of ‘balance’ so cherished among Poll Bludgers perhaps some of the regular contributors here (those who have better than average knowledge of the Australian Labor Party and its elected representatives of the people) can confirm to the rest of us that Belinda Neal is indeed a fine, upstanding and decent human being, who was very even tempered in the face of rude and offhand behaviour from unreasonable staff at a restaurant in her electorate.
living in the area and knowing iggies and its reputation, im surprised that the veritable storm ina teacup has been blown up so much.
that said the fibs press mates are used to making a mountain out of a molehill viz jwh
regarding belinda,i have a sister much like her and constantly wonder why males are so intimidated by a strong woman,must be small penis syndrome i guess
Regarding Neal & Della Bosca, they are both complete tools but they will bunker down until the news cycle blows over.
Iemma won’t do anything because he needs Della Bosca in Cabinet to get Electricity privatisation through.
David Charles I didn’t read the piece in a completely uncomplimentary way. In some ways it presented her as a strong female parliamentarian. The whole piece, though, seemed overly personal and, in a way, demonstrated the insular nature of the Canberra Press Gallery.
But no, I’ve heard far from glowing critiques of Ms Neal mostly.
Have just received a response from both Barrie Cassidy and Kerry-Anne Walsh.
“FYI, I worked for some three years as a press advisor in the former Labor government.
I get more emails accusing me of bias against the Liberals.
So I guess I’m doing my job.
Kerry-Anne”
“we received numerous e-mails the previous week saying that we constantly bash nelson and that it’s time we concentrated on the government – after all they are the government. we must be doing something right.” Yeah, thanks Barrie.
So they all respond. Worth a shot.
Don’t worry this BS about Della bosca and Neale will pass into oblivion very soon. The Morongraph is capable of making a non story last about a week. Take “spewgate”, what a wank.
And now we wait for the inevitable defamation lawsuit against The Terror:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23846154-5001028,00.html
#438
Of course, they need to do something extra for balance whenever Piers Akerman makes an appearance. Probably nothing short of a Labor politician as one of the panel members would be sufficient.
I wrote to the Insiders (via their “email contact” form) on Sunday. No reply yet.
It is of course easy to say people complain for supporting one side or another – but the reality is one thing. Cassidy knows what the reality is. I find hard to believe that anyone could complain that the insiders has been even a little bit hard on the Liberals they interview.
Further back on this thread Aristotle suggested to contact Cassidy on cassidy.barrie@abc.net.au It worked.
“I wrote to the Insiders (via their “email contact” form) on Sunday. No reply yet.”
You won’t be getting one. Emailing them is as big a waste of time as watching them.
Anyone want to get in touch with Kerry-Anne Walsh?
Kerry-Anne Walsh
Political Correspondent
61 2 6240 4080 t
61 2 6240 4075 f
0412 397759 m
kwalsh@sunherald.com.au
If only Piers was so contactable.
Nelson today calls on Rudd to sack Belinda Neale from the Labor Party: oh please, why would the Ruddster even bother? I’d bet Belinda is kept in mothballs for the next year or so, she won’t be called on to ask Dorothy Dixers in parliament, she’ll be confined to work in her constituency.
What’s worse than the DAILY TERROR when it comes to anti-Labor bias? Try listening to radio station 2GB in Sydney, it’s wall to wall Rudd & Iemma bashing all day!
447 Progressive Try 3AW or better still try the opposition’s own pay TV channel. Oh, and its free to air TV channel.
akermanp@dailytelegraph.com.au
The Liberal supporting MSM is uncritical and would not change their support even if the Liberal party wanted to legalise child abuse.
You could just imagine all those murdoch journalists and Liberal radio stations spining weird stories demonstrating how beneficial child abuse would be if legalised. In other words they would support the devil if it were head of the Liberal party.
This is why they are on a path where they could eventually be harmful to this country, trying to have installed an incompetent and chaotic Liberal party as the government. The last people they are thinking about are Australians.
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