Federal Election today

I should add to my previous post.

“…having a different viewpoint and ideology to yourself doesn’t make a person an idiot…” – JD114

Just the same as someone having an identical viewpoint to yours doesn’t necessarily make them rational.

None of us KNOW Gillard. She may well be an idiot, or she might be rational. People are making judgements about her based on balancing what they have judged against their values.

The entire RA community is based on opinion. BigDave didn’t pass his comment off as fact any more than you did yours.

“Julia Gillard has proven to be a steady rational and thoughtful spokesperson for fairer industrial relations, and there is no suggestion that in doing so she has in any way qualified as an idiot…” – JD114

Now THAT is a baseless statement.

BigDave

By dint of declaring Gillard to be an idiot without any basis of fgact you have actually proclaimed to the world that you are a cretin and if anyone is the idiot, it must be you. It really is a pathetic indictment of the type of people who come on to this forum to have baseless statements such as yours trumpeted as though they were somehow facts.

On the contrary to your assertion, Julia Gillard has proven to be a steady rational and thoughtful spokesperson for fairer industrial relations, and there is no suggestion that in doing so she has in any way qualified as an idiot. If halfwitted reactionary types such as yourself realised that having a different viewpoint and ideology to yourself doesn’t make a person an idiot, then your statements would have at least a grain of credibility in the discussion, which they certainly don’t have now.

nyssa, you were the one who brought up the whole “women” subject, not me. Not once did I mention it, or really care for that matter. So who’s the one being ridiculous? I just refered to Gillard as an idiot, which is precisely what she is.
As for “scare” tactics, let’s see how many of you are still smiling about this fantastic, new government in a couple of years time. I can’t wait to be the first to say I told you so…

“schadenfreude”

What electorate were they standing in??? 🙂

The schadenfreude at all the wailing and gnashing of teeth is delicious. mmmmm…

I wonder if he’s taking a boogie board?

I wish I could take a week off to Bali on starting a new job… 🙂

It’s got nothing to do with Julia being a woman – yet she looks like a man in drag.

Make up your mind.

Yes BigDave, you keep telling yourself that.

Your statement wasn’t well thought out and it was ridiculous.

As for being a ‘feminist’ – if that’s what gets you to sleep at night, so be it.

You’re ‘scare’ tactics are nothing more than a case of sour grapes.

Thanks for your comments nyssa. Spoken like a true feminist if ever I heard one.
It’s got nothing to do with Gillard being a woman. In fact she could be a man in drag for all I care, and that might not be too far from the truth judging by the look of her.
The fact of the matter is she’s grossly incapable of managing this country. But then again, so’s Rudd and Labor.
This whole scenario is strikingly similar to Britain’s 1997 election. A little known Labour (!)politician named Tony Blair (maybe you’ve heard of him), a young and smug family man swept into power. The public were all smiles and full of joy saying it was time for a change. Sound familiar?? Ten years on, Blair has gone, Britain is a bloody shambles and the people rue the day Labour ever got in.

You’ve been warned…

Because he was getting kickbacks????

So why was it decided soley by the minister and not tendered in the normal way?

“Actually the super hornets decision is sound. I will say no more on the matter other than to assert that it is not as bizarre as it may seem.”

Fully agreed, and the sooner people stopped listening to anti-Supper Hornet lobbiers like Peter Criss and Carlo Kopp, the better.

You all crack me up.. You can whinge and whine and sulk all you like… The proof will be in finite policy detail and the “core” vs “non-core” promises.

BigDave didn’t call Gillard being in charge a joke because she’s a woman, he called it a joke because she’s a woman.

Yes, people voted for change – but to quote BigDave: “Oh Yeah? A change from what? An excellent economy? Low unemployment? A prosperous country?”

If you think the PM and government policy has less to do with the strength of the economy than the hard working people of the nation, well, I guess I just find that amusing.

Yes BigDave, because women should be in the kitchen and not working.

What a Neanderthal statement.

People voted for a change. Suck it up and move on.

Our economy is good because of all the ‘little people’ who work their arses off day in and day out.

John Howard wasn’t a miracle worker. He just knew how to exploit the obvious to his own advantage.

Today, I have lost complete faith in Australians. Stupid, stupid people…

I think what frightens me most about this whole debacle is the fact that that idiot Gillard will be in charge of the country when nancy boy goes on his holidays. What a joke!
And the funny part? Watching those halfwits outside Parliament House last night, beaming and gushing, “It’s time for a change. Yay!!”
Oh yeah? A change from what? An excellent economy? Low unemployment? A prosperous country? I’m sorry, I don’t understand that logic at all. So they want a change for the worse??

Actually the super hornets decision is sound. I will say no more on the matter other than to assert that it is not as bizarre as it may seem.

Labor have a good line up of women. Julia Gillard is great! Maxine McKew made a superb speech last night. Tanya Plibersek made many good points in her SMH column over the past year. Nicola Roxon seems very bright and sharp. Who else is there?

I reckon they should draft Judith Troeth from the Liberals though, she’s a very solid, sensible and decent woman.

Or the Super Hornets, the most bizarre spending decision ever.

And GregW, I’d hardly call the AMA or ICSA impartial experts…

Not to mention the ageing air force fleet and the stuff up with the Collins Class Submarines….

Defense is stronger than ever

Yes, that’s why some of our ships are falling apart and that others have to take up the slack because of it.

GregW, you don’t know what you are talking about. Some of our fleet are second-hand jobs from the US/UK and when you’re told that they stopped making parts for your ship in 1973, yet your still required to ‘fix’ it, there is a SERIOUS problem.

As for Education – ICSA is a load of shite. When parents have to mortgage their house to get their kids into Uni, that’s not a good policy. When the curriculum is inundated with PC BS just to buy votes, it’s not working.

Health is just as bad.

The inmates were running the asylum and now they’ve all been sectioned elsewhere.

Good riddance.

We’ve had to suffer with Liberals for so long. Majority rule… sorry.

These are strange days – Nyssa you’re correct. We need a woman high-up in the government, to blaze a trail for others to follow and hopefully even out the culture of men in parliament. There, I said it.

Aside from the fact, of course, that Julia Gilliard is actually a good politician. She’s smart, tough and seems to be a little more left leaning than Rudd, which will be a great balance.

And, if Maxine McKew manages to topple Howard proper – we could owe this election to the women. I’m happy with the result.

I honestly still can’t believe this happened. I was honestly prepared for another 3 years of liberals; another 3 years of workplace laws getting even worse, another 3 years not being on kyoto, another 3 years of Johnny’s wormlike manuevering getting him out of every political hiccup. This is a welcome surprise.

Unfortunately it’s doubtful Sepi.

I’m not sure who planted the ‘Humphries might lose his seat to Tucker!’ seed, but it seems to have backfired (or worked, depending on the source).

http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateDivisionFirstPrefsByVoteType-13745-101.htm

Yeah Humphries is still around. No change in ACT pollies – bit dull but there you go. Kerrie Tucker got a good vote though, which might make the incumbents pay attention to green issues a bit more.

I was at Defence when John Howard cut it by 10% and it was not good. He also reduced the army, forcing people to leave who didn’t want to (and paying them to go), and then ever since they have had trouble getting enough new recruits to service all his grand peacekeeping plans overseas. He’s not that popular at defence.

‘The best policy for health/education is what the people want, not what AMA or ICSA say.’

That about sums it up. Let’s blindly follow Labor because I, a citizen with limited knowledge in the area, think I know whats best. Experts be damned.

Humphries will retain his spot, no?

The best policy for health/education is what the people want, not what AMA or ICSA say.

When will everyone remember that the government is there to serve us?

The people spoke, and Labor won. Liberal will probabyl get in a few years from now… despite what people are saying here, it’s obviously not reflected around the country… or in Canberra itself.

Canberra is completely labor now. Obviously you Liberal supporters are in the minority.

How about let them do their job first, then criticise them later. Criticism has started and they haven’t even taken up office yet.

‘The man destroyed education, health and defence.’

Defense is stronger than ever, and both the AMA and ICSA have said that despite popular opinion the coalition actually has the best policy for health/education.

Labor’s with its education revolution has not actually announced any extra funding for schools rather choosing to provide pork to the parents (laptops and such), and its GP super centres add infrastructure when none is needed, yet don’t address the issue of doctor shortages..

Do Labor supporters have to try to ignore certain facts, or does it just come naturally?

I voted Greens, so atleast i have peace of mind no matter what happens.

yEP – GO JULIA!!

Mael, it’s taken 106 years for a WOMAN to get into one of the two top positions.

It’s about time. That’s all I was saying.

Link

Well, it’s obvious that lies and spin fool some people. People who can’t remember the basket case our economy was when Fraser and Howard were booted out. High everything. Labor did the hard work, and they copped the blame when the adjustments caused hiccups.

Julia Gillard aquited herself very well last night on the ABC broadcast. Very impressive. She can think on her feet, and struck the right note last night, interacting with Minchin.

Praising somebody in charge because of their sex or the colour of their hair is frankly sooo last century.

Making comparisons to the labor party of 20 years ago didn’t work last night – so why do you think it’ll work here ?

But do Julias curtains match the drapes?

Gingas in charge is a scary concept. Dyed ginga, not so scary!

Oh and it’s about time there was a woman in one of the top two positions.

She’s a red head to boot – we’re special 🙂

Oh FFS. *Relax* folks. As far as I can tell, the sun still rose this morning.

Please, build a bridge. Labor won.

It’s not like it was a ‘shock’ result FFS.

As for those who said “I’ll give it a year before people complain” – well bully for you.

I remember MANY people saying the same thing in 1996 when Howard won, and again for the past few elections.

The man destroyed education, health and defence.

I for one, won’t be crying any tears for him.

I have already….
I felt physically ill when Kevin came on tv last night.

maybe you could have a cry?

“A monkey can run the economy for the next decade simply off the mineral boom alone. “

That’s lucky, because we now have a pack of monkeys running the country…

What a disaster.

we were doomed to get a smarmy smirk no matter who won – just get it earlier now.

seems ms milat didn’t get quite enough votes to get herself into the senate. that would have been a beautiful sight!

Maelinar, yes, lets remember who started the privatisation ball rolling back in the early 90’s (Commonwealth Bank, Australian National Line, Australia airlines, Qantas etc).

That might explain why Labor has never given a rats arse about Aussie farmers Mælinar. I’ll give it one term before Australians have had enough of that smartass little prick.

an open response to those who think that voting labor was a gullible action:

for those who think that if a business is doing well, perhaps they should think about how much of the corporate dollar is making its way to their pocket.

For those who think that Australia has a great economy – damn straight it has. A monkey can run the economy for the next decade simply off the mineral boom alone. China is not going anywhere without Australian ore, and that is a simple fact.

For those who think that the liberals were to credit for the boom times – more fool you. The money from Telstra and Qantas went into somebody’s coffers, wouldn’t you think it was the governments ?

For the Liberal hacks that read this post: it is obvious that your pork barreling is mis targeted. One farmer on 10,000 acres just doesn’t equate to 10,000 voters on one acre no matter the odds.

I’d just like to congratulate everyone that voted for Labor. You idiots. Let’s see how you’ll vote in 3 years time when there are strikes every other week, interest rates are sky high, the country has a huge deficit and our economy is shafted. Oh, and let’s not forget, our troops will STILL be in Iraq. A big pat on the back goes out to all you misguided twats!

Oh noes the sky is falling!!11!1!1!!!!1!

Well, whats your bet? I give it about a year until everyone realises… ‘Oh no what have I done, these guys have no idea..’

spot on, Sepi. Mr Howard has dragged us all down into small-minded, plasma-Tv-obsessed, xenophobic insects. Maybe we can start to get back to being a country of decent people.

McKew’s saying great words on the ABC right now.

Someone else has already said it, but:
I want to live in a society, not an economy.

Looks like Gazza got in over Kerrie Tucker in the Senate?!

I think it is appalling that a nation would vote out a Government that has given Australia such a great economy. I think people’s decision to change the Government has overshadowed the real interests of this nation and has severly lacked any thought process. I think younger generation are now voting for a Government that they have never had to live independently under. I am one of those but I like to believe that I have weighed up my options more than most.

Kevin Rudd may win, but he won only because he appealed to people who leech off Government benefits, not real working class people.

Antony Green on the ABC has made a cautious call of 82 seats to Labor, and a win. This is awesome. My bloke (Mike Kelly) got up. Cheering in the tally room as Gillard says it looks like they’ve got it. Greens polling well too. This is very good. Just remains Howard to be booted out of Bennelong, and it’s a really great result.

Looking that way..

http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/emon.htm

Gullible Nation.

Does that link show that children are not currently detained? (I can’t view the pdf.)

Anyone seen an update on a Canberra seat on telly yet? Eden-Monaro they are saying Gary Nairn is gone.

Anyone know where the parties – Lib, Lab, Green and Dem – are holding their partays tonight?

See you in hell JWH. Australia has spoken. We live in a society, not economy. We care about the environment, not your business crony mates. Work to live, not live to work. And Frank and Fearless advice in Government went with the introduction of Performance Pay.

See you later you glory hunting gnome….

Sepi

http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/detention/facilities/statistics/index.htm

The figures are here.

Nemo – I think anybody who can’t figure out how to write numbers in boxes without a how to vote card, shouldn’t be allowed to vote in the first place… But then, they wouldn’t be Liberal voters if they weren’t happy to swallow whatever is shoved down their throat…

I am not sure what “Wall To Wall Labor” will do for us. I don’t know if I like that idea yet. What I KNOW I don’t like is the WALL TO WALL plastic sheeting that advertised the fact all over the polling place.

I am seriously talking metres of the stuff wrapped along most of the fencing, completely around an ancillary building, trees etc. How much of this crap is being used Australia wide? Howard Environmental Policy in action

On a lighter note, in the small building next door, a wedding was taking place. I can just picture the door attendant asking “Bride or Groom?” and the perplexed person standing there, complete with how to vote forms in his hand, wondering what kind of election they were running this time…

“It is the government’s express intention that children only be detained as a last resort.”

That’s from the immigration factsheet on children in detention. It doesn’t say there are n’t any there.

It’s just a meaningless statement – a bit like john howard’s climate change idea – he’d like to reduce emissions, but only if it doesn’t cost any money.

Well I voted late, and no liberal voters in sight.
No queueing either.

I’m not convinced there are no kids in detention – I heard a radio national story about them on Tuesday.

And they should definitely shut down Nauru – it costs 1700.00 a day per prisoner. 90% of whom are then given visas anyway, eventually. Imagine how much free dental they could spend that money on.

I heard from the greens guy and the labor guy that the libs were copping a fair bit of shit at my polling place. Poor guy. I wanted to be nice to him, but I was repelled by his t-shirt.

Hopefully this is a sign for tonight.

I said to the Labor guy I was not happy becasue of the cuts that Labor will make to the PS. He said “Howard cut 30,000 PS jobs in 1996”. I replied “So I should feel better with your unknown cuts?” there was general laughter from the Greens guy back to that.

Of the people standing in line when I voted at Macgregor this morning, I would estimate 75% had a Liberal how to vote card.
Then again, it could just be that the labor party attracts people who dont get out of bed before noon.

I’d say that’s because McMullan is a certainty, so the Labor Part needn’t worry.

Sepi – There haven’t been any kids in detention for years. They moved towards residential housing projects for women and children several years ago.

The mandatory detention policy was actually brought in by Labor (Gerry Hand 1992) and has had bipartisan support.

Of the people standing in line when I voted at Macgregor this morning, I would estimate 75% had a Liberal how to vote card.
Then again, it could just be that the labor party attracts people who dont get out of bed before noon.

The highlight of my trip to the polling booth was without doubt the egg, bacon and onion roll with barbecue and tomato sauce that I rewarded myself with on the way out.

I love democracy. Particularly with two sauces.

I’m going to wear my Nineteen Eighty Four “Miniluv” t-shirt when i go to vote. It represents the way the Liberals operate quite well.

Went down and had a bit of a vote.

The getup.org.au fortune cookies are pretty sweet.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Rudd that much. But he’s the lesser of two evils. If he signs the Kyoto Protocol, rolls back Workchoices and closes down the Nauru detention centre, I’ll be happy.

Plus, he’ll be influenced at least a little by the only man in this country whom really should be Prime Minister – Bob Brown.

*continues to rant angrily in true left-wing reactionary fashion until he roars with disappointment and utter contempt for a stupid society and burns down Parliament House*

I saw a person get busted for wearing a Kevin07 shirt in a polling place. This person was asked to cover it up. Or leave. Fortunately the very nice ( and highly practical and realist ) AEC staffer handed the wearer a plastic shopping bag and said that this would suffice as a cover up.

mmmm…. sounds like a Chaser skit. But it did happen.

Just waiting for a raft of byelections as re-elected (to opposition) former Liberal ministers decide their family/health/other reason mean they can no longer serve the country that they have so professionally degraded and discredited.

Good riddance.

Not too interested in throwing a party to welcome another lot of #!@$#@% into Parliament House.

All I’ll say is you’re right Sepi, it’s not going so well for everyone.

Don’t worry sepi, the kids (and adults) in detention don’t get to vote, so it won’t affect the rest of us. Hasn’t this government taught you anything? It’s all about what’s in it for you!
Here’s hoping that whoever wins does their very best for the country. That’s all I’m game to hope for at this stage.
My election party is all good to go – anyone else throwing one?

Things are not going so well for anyone on a low income who needs dental care.

Or for the kids in detention, who devfelop an extra mental disorder for every 6 months they are locked up.

Not everyone is happy with the status quo.