15 October 2008

Candidates' websites - October 2008

| johnboy
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[First filed: October 13, 2008 @ 23:43]

Candidate websites are in decline.

Politicians seem to have realised that the web is hostile territory where people won’t always say what you want them to say. Much safer to stick to older school media where opinion can be safely bought and sold, to be ladled to the dwindling band of proles still receptive on their couches.

A minority of candidates, however, are still giving the interwebs a go.

I plugged the laptop into the tele and got my politically apathetic housemates to give their opinions of the various websites and, photography permitting, crumpet factor, of those who would rule over us for the next four long years.

For those unwilling to wade through the notes I can say it was an all Labor show.

Mary Porter has the best website by far. Adina Cirson (pictured) wins the crumpet factor, with Andrew Barr the only male to make the crumpet list (should have had a website Morgo).

Mike Hettinger also features with the ugliest website, possibly the ugliest website ever produced outside the educational sector.

Steve Doszpot

It has elegant design. And it’s well set out. But making text deliberately small is just silly.

A decent effort, but unremarkable.

Joy Burch

Unremarkable and dull, lacking in appeal. But she seems like a nice person.

Mick Gentleman

A housemate thinks he looks a little insane

As for the site the fonts are too busy and it looks like a blog. A plain blog.

John Hargreaves

When his picture came up the comment was “eahhh…”

But the site looks friendly, if a little empty.

Tracy Mackey

This page is super trendy with the centrepiece being a flash driven slideshow zapping gormless motherhood statements into your brain.

The problem is that periodically the same photo keeps flashing

It’s otherwise light on content.

Wayne Seivers

Wayne Sievers is a serious man, but perhaps the site could have benefitted from less photographs of him rather than more, because he’s no oil painting.

The use of hyper-emphasis which drops high level heading text into the middle of paragraphs was also not appreciated by the housemates who shrieked “STOP YELLING AT ME” at Wayne’s visage.

On the other hand he mentions RiotACT on the front page so he gets a plus mark.

The Motorists Party are too busy reminiscing about Pauline Hanson to do web pages. But we did have lots of giggles looking at their photos. William “Andrew” Simington always got a laugh when spirits were flagging.

Anyone want to speculate on why all the AMP candidates are men in white shirts? Hasn’t history shown us poor results when political movements wear uniforms?

The housemates wanted to know why they’re all so ugly?

Chris Bourke

The housemates quite liked the look of Chris Bourke saying he looks reasonable, with quite a pleasant face.

The website on the other hand is dull, sparse, with not much to it.

Adina Cirson

According to her website Adina is “one of us”

Which made us wonder what if God was one of us?

And is she trying to hide being an alien?

The site has far too many colours. They clash. And the whole thing is not pleasant to look at.

In a rare break with convention the candidate appears to be the child standing next to the grownups, and is not the focus of the pictures.

Mary Porter

This is a very pleasant, very well laid out website.

By far the best on offer for any candidate. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what ails a site but this one is rolled gold.

Roger Nicoll

An ugly and disinterested site with mixed fonts and motherhood statements heavy, everything else light.

Jacqui Myers

Like Adina, Jacqui claims to be “one of us” with all the slightly creepy overtones entailled.

While not making the crumpet list she was considered to have a reasonably pleasant face.

Nothing too exciting about the site but no complaints.

Andrea Tokaji

Andrea has a myspace page with all the ugliness that entails.

She also proves that scans of campaign literature don’t work on the web.

And she scored as crumpet.

Matthew Watts

Mismatched fonts, and bad proportions were balanced by a link to RiotACT on the front page.

Matt on his soapbox did not impress. Although he was accused of looking at one of the housemates “funny” one night in the Pot Belly. Make of that what you will.

Harold Hird

Blurg.

Egocentric and yet with nothing on it other than the colour green, buttons and a photo.

It says “Hello, and welcome to my web site,” welcome to 1995.

And how many fonts do you need? Three? Four different fonts?

Mark Parton

It’s generally considered to be one of the better sites, and it didn’t make anyone’s eyeballs hurt.

Adam Verwey

Adam was considered to be possible crumpet, but with insufficient detail in the photo no verdict could be reached.

The site design was considered harmless if slightly amateur.

Darren Churchill

Popups everwhere!!!!! Nowhere is safe to mouse!

We thought it had the same picture over and over but down the bottom there lurked a new one.

Andrew Barr

The only male crumpet in the pack the website also rated well with the layout especially pleasing.

Eleanor Bates

Housemates wanted to know why is her neck the same size as her head?

It’s dull, but well set out and she rated as Semi-crumpet

Simon Corbell

“Our city is under a tack!”

This site bugged me so much.

So very much effort has gone into annoying the user.

It changed the mouse cursor to something blue. “Give me back my mouse bitches!” shrieked the housemates.

And if you have sound turned on it makes a HORRID HORRID noise – like a coin on glass – when mousing over the menu buttons. Why go to that much effort to upset visitors?

The big red tack stabbing into Canberra was thought to be a positive, distracting from Simon’s zombie like visage,

After some debate zombies were prefered to giant tacks.

Katy Gallagher

Despite a staggeringly dorky “Welcome to my new website!” message Katy scored as crumpet.

The site also featured far too much red text. But was otherwise workmanlike.

Mike Hettinger

“OH MY GOD” we all screamed.

“MAKE IT GO AWAY” followed forthwith.

Then we all fell around laughing for some time.

The housemates decided that young Mike was crumpet in his USAF uniform. Current Mike less so.

Outside of the education sector it’s possibly the ugliest website ever made.

David Matthews

David’s eyebrows were thought to be on the scary side.

But on the plus we were able to find his page even though he shares a name with a rock star.

The website cunningly matches his grey suit and hair.

But it was thought he needs more information on the front page, and less begging.

Norvan Vogt

“welcome to my little part of Cyberspace” was not a winning message with the housemates.

Now was two shades of orange for communicating. And not much to communicate.

Elena Kirschbaum

Another Myspace page, and one of the more elegant ones out there.

Elena’s reputation of emo-hate had preceded her and the housemates were not pleased.

“I think the reason she hates emos is they’re so much more beautiful than her,” said one.

“It’s time to grow up and get a real website,” said another.

It also features leftover senate campaign information and puts her a year younger than her profile data suggests.

Belinda Barnier

“She looks like she’d be a nice mum,” was the verdict.

A good looking site at the top of the page, down the bottom it looks like her kids have been trying to help out.

Red buttons with bevelled edges and mismatched fonts urgh. Ticker blech.

But there’s some nice use of themes with imagery.

Jacqui Burke

“It is a pleasure to welcome you to my homepage,” is the opening piece of patronisation.

On the site there’s very little to indicate she’s a Liberal.

It makes nice use of simple points and benefits from a well thought out soft palette.

Definitely one of the better ones.

Jeremy Hanson

This site is a triumph of style over substance.

It plays up his Army links but features such comedy boxes as:

    “Upcoming Event
    No Upcoming Event”

It also starts an auto-load of video which is a great way to seriously annoy visitors.

Gary Kent

Grey text on white, with a grey background.

The site makes a point of flogging opportunities to help him, and fourteen mentions of the word “Gary”

Greg Tannahill

It’s a default template blogspot blog, hasn’t been updated since August.

It screams “I wish I’d never let them talk me into doing this”.

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone, but frankly if you can’t get your site into the first couple of pages of google results you’re just not trying very hard.

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tylersmayhem12:38 pm 17 Oct 08

You and your kind, please climb out of our gene pool and just walk away.

I assume that you are referring to Norvan with that quote Skid?! That said, how exactly could one do that – it’s kind of impossible.

Is it ironic that Norvan Vogt’s site is different shades of Ginger?

No.
You and your kind, please climb out of our gene pool and just walk away.

Irony is like goldy, just more ferrous.

Irony as an abstract concept is an indirect presentation of a contradiction between action, reaction, or expression, and the context in which it occurs.
In speech and prose, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn’t it?” if made during a cyclone.

You are thinking of Alanis Morriset irony, which is like ten thousand spoons, when all you need is a knife.
Alanis Morreset’s attempt at a simple expression of technical irony is, itself, technically ironic at a cosmic level.
May she and her progeny be doomed to explain that song until their seventh generation.

tylersmayhem11:08 am 17 Oct 08

Is it ironic that Norvan Vogt’s site is different shades of Ginger?

I must say though, the photo on his site is VERY “rock n’ Roll”, kind of Josh, the lead singer from Queens Of The Stone Age LOL

Sorry Norvan, I just can’t bring myself to vogt for you.

I don’t believe Johnboy is sexist any more than I would believe he is racist.

Some of the posters are, but there are an awful lot of good men here. You know it is true, or you wouldn’t keep posting yourself.

I think everyone was upset by yesterday one way or another. A lot of us are really fond of Loquaciousness.

areaman said :

Just look as the beauty queen the GOP is running for vice president,
.

I’d say being attractive can be quite a handicap for an ambitious woman – look at how much Sarah Palin cops because she won a minor beauty contest decades ago! Do you seriously think she was chosen for her looks?! You don’t hear people saying that Julia Gillard got where she did because she’s so attractive, do you? I just think everyone should relax and accept that we look at both men and women and make an aesthetic evaluation, and discussing what we think is proving a good diversion from the asinine political campaign currently underway. Chill out!

‘Presentation’ is a very very polite way of describing attributes of a MYLF.

Perhaps politics is your calling afterall.

Except the judges were women.

Well you should have made that clear and that doesn’t invalidate my other two problems.

I hate to say it but candidates know that they are going to be judged on presentation as much as anything else, especially the women (a sad but true reflection on society more than anything else).

I have no doubt, and I’m just as guilty of it as the next guy but that doesn’t mean we should embrace it.

Gees there has been just the one or two posts since I last read this.

I hate to say it but candidates know that they are going to be judged on presentation as much as anything else, especially the women (a sad but true reflection on society more than anything else).

Otherwise let’s face it they’d be waring trackydaks and probably wouldn’t both shaving, or even bother running a comb through their hair in the mornings. (it would be easier for them as most pollies are fairly time poor). But no, they know that a good proportion of voters will judge them on their look as much as anything else, and on election day the beautiful \ hansom people are going to be remembered by the general voting public.

Considering that looks play no part in a persons ability to run (in this case a small territory) they do spend quite a bit of time making sure they look good \ pretty for the camera’s (both the men and women)

Except the judges were women.

I’ve got to back up the women here. I’m a straight man, but rating the candidates by how hot you think they are is cheap and crass. Sure you can say that you rated the men as well but firstly as a (i assume) straight guy you’re always going to rate the women higher.

Additionally men don’t have a historic precedent of being judged by their looks rather than their abilities to anywhere near the same degree as women do. Just look as the beauty queen the GOP is running for vice president,

Finally you encourage the rest of the rabble to come out with even more ridiculous and offensive crap by setting a high level of ambient sexism.

Of course there is room for a bit of fun.

: )

Yeah, but I still think there is room for a bit of fun – and yes the MILF comments were a bit over the mark.

I don’t think anyone seriously votes on looks or even how pretty their website looks. We did have John Howard as PM after all.

I think the MILF post was wrong on many levels, but I wasn’t criticising the original post or the moderation.

But it does raise the issue, what of the Elephant Men and the Stephen Hawkings? Should they not be listened to with as much respect because they are not physically attractive? And can’t somebody’s smile, or gentleness, or tireless work for charity be just as attractive to us as a regularly spaced face?

And if these are truly our values as a society, should we not work towards building something better?

I think it was fairly balanced for both sides in the original post – there were crumpet awards for both. Some of the later comments may have been uncalled for, but generally I don’t think they’ve been too bad.

sepi: There was a discussion on nice butts in bike shorts not so long ago. I know I was talking about blokes.

Can’t we have the political incorrectness for both genders then?

Why always focus on women’s bodies and sexuality?

For mine it’s boring at best and offensive at its worst.

The unbalanced approach and general snickering just screams of a private boys school eduction.

Don’t answer any knocks at the door then – and don’t sit in front of the telly;)

Seriously though, I think johnboy and Riot Act deserve a big thanks for brightening up one of the most dreary and uninspiring election campaigns in history.

I’m not pressing any charges.

I thought I was just in the gap between conviction and sentencing already.

Be careful Johnboy. You’ll be accused of a thought crime and be sent for re-education.

Gosh we can become a humourless bunch when somebody says something that flicks us on the raw.

I am also a woman (rly!) and appreciate the editorial style of RiotACT. I always assume that Johnboy and others write in a way that is designed to elicit responses and vigorous debate.

If the site is to become viable in the longer term, it won’t happen through bland writing and political correctness.

But I did take out the hamster line after reflection.

*chuckle*

I already admitted to iCanberran that I was wrong for sexually harrassing the man. And then I did it again several times. I am actually not a very good person! Does this explain things more or less?

Friggin’ tags!

Granny, I’m just intrigued that you followed up this comment:
Yeah, make sure you say that in front of her two little girls, won’t you? Just so that they, too, know that they may one day be respected or valued for anything other than their physical appearance.

With this just two posts later:
When you’re right, you’re right. And you are sooo right.
In all my born days I have never seen such a vision of loveliness.
A rose by any other name ….
But speak to me Jeremy, my love, that I may die happy!

and then sharing him with others:
<i?Alright then, we’ll share! Legislative Assembly. October 19. Be there.

*heh heh heh*

Can’t really have it both ways.

The reason I’m intrigued is that it is out of character for you (or your online persona) and your usually well -balanced postings.

DING DING DING

Back to your corners please ladies

Granny said :

You slipped up earlier. You’re a bloke alright. Where do you get off pretending to speak for us? Try having a baby or even a menstrual cycle, jerk!

I’ve had two babies, actually, and menstruated since I was thirteen. You’re pathetic, Granny.

You slipped up earlier. You’re a bloke alright. Where do you get off pretending to speak for us? Try having a baby or even a menstrual cycle, jerk!

Firstly – Jeremy didn’t rate with the empaneled judges, so no photo. But he was linked to so you can go check pix his out.

Secondly – I thought in this enlightened age gender was a matter of self-assignment?

Granny said :

I don’t even believe you are a woman. You say you are. So what?

Why? Does it offend your feminist ideology that a woman might actually like men? Or that a woman might uphold men’s rights as much as women’s? So much for sisterhood – apparently, it’s only for women who hold the “right” views! Anyway, it shouldn’t matter even if I weren’t a woman – are you saying my comments would be worth less if I were a man? Now, that’s sexism!

Yeah JB – how about a nice, big piccy of Mr Meticulous?

I don’t even believe you are a woman. You say you are. So what?

“If you think I’m insane, I’d like to point to the female portion of your readership (if there are any left).”

I’m female and I’m still here! Why can’t everyone just relax and see the humour? I think Adina Cirson is pretty and if the guys want to rate her as “crumpet factor” no problems with me. A few of us have put our oar in and rated Jeremy Hanson – I agree, perhaps he should get a piccie as well, but let’s face it, there are more attractive female candidates than male. I can see that. Doesn’t bother me if someone points it out!

It was the particular comment I thought should hvae been moderated.

Where are the male perve posts??

Loquaciousness said :

johnboy said :

Men don’t need to be attractive in order to be considered good at their job, a standard which is sadly lacking for women.

What a load of codswallop! There are loads of women who are considered good at their job – most, in fact – and many of them, sadly, aren’t very attractive. If you seriously think this, then you are setting up excuses for failure. You are also insulting the men and women who employ them!

I gave you those posts Sepi and you didn’t like that either.

This one was balanced and if you don’t like it, well I’ll cry myself to sleep about it later.

i’ve been trying to stay out of this thread, but i will second the notion that it offends.

the comment rating women pollies in sexual terms should have been deleted.

and i’m still waiting for the male perve posts you promised some time ago in the interest of balance. (or – preferably – the end of the posts about the women as perve potential.

L, please come back.

gt; cool; go build a new one yourself with your own money on land that nobody else wants with no neighbours to get hacked off by the noise.

Loquaciousness said :

Don’t bother moderating me, JB. I’ll see myself out.

L

I wasn’t planning on it.

Feel free to come back anytime.

Loquaciousness said :

deezagood said :

My point exactly.

deezagood said :

And if we are honest, a candidate’s appearance can influence their overall likeability and how they are perceived by the voting public.

A candidate’s appearance (for either gender) changes perception – that’s true, but not to the same extent. The public will vote for an ugly man with good policies before they vote for a ugly woman with good policies. Similarly, an attractive woman can have any policies she likes and will get votes based on looks alone.

That, right there, is inequality at its best (or worst).

L

L, do you really, honestly think that men are that stupid? Do I need to list the unattractive (according to me) females in Australian politics? And if you are right, where on earth are all the attractive gals?

toriness
(Picketer)
09:00, 14 Oct 2008
Quote
i don’t want government money spent on a dragway. if it is so in demand/viable – why don’t a group of bogans get together and pool their carton o’ winnie blue money and build it themselves?

You obviously know nothing about the dragway. A group of “Bogans” as you put it privately financed the old drag strip at Fairbairn. They operated it for over 20 years “without” government support (in fact they paid the rent on the site to the government) and “without” any noise complaints. In 1998 Brendan Smyth did a back handed deal with Snow, and others, to close it down with no consultation or compensation to the stake holders who had mortgaged their houses to provide the facility.
Just imaging the uproar if the government did that to any other privately run facility in the ACT.
Its comments from clueless ferals that dont understand that really gets up my nose.

Loquaciousness4:58 pm 15 Oct 08

johnboy said :

Loquaciousness said :

That, right there, is inequality at its best (or worst).

L

But that was not an inequality being perpetrated here.

So get off my back.

If you think that people aren’t more receptive to messages from people they find attractive you’re insane.

And it ain’t sexism.

If you think it isn’t sexism, then I want nothing to do with this site anymore.

If you think I’m insane, I’d like to point to the female portion of your readership (if there are any left).

When a moderator has apologised in public, and promised not to continue (so far as they are able to do so) with the behaviour, and then continue to do so – that’s not just human, it’s blatant disregard.

Don’t bother moderating me, JB. I’ll see myself out.

L

The public will vote for an ugly man with good policies before they vote for a ugly woman with good policies.

Deb Foskey didn’t even have good policies. how do you explain that one?

Loquaciousness said :

That, right there, is inequality at its best (or worst).

L

But that was not an inequality being perpetrated here.

So get off my back.

If you think that people aren’t more receptive to messages from people they find attractive you’re insane.

And it ain’t sexism.

whitelaughter said :

Another website:
Barry Smith (ginninderra) http://www.barrysmith.bigpondhosting.com/

right to use lethal force to defend your home stood out. I’d guess basic libertarian.

He seems to have a lot of libertarian leanings. I have problems with some of his policies though.

I think there is a correlation with some libertarian policy outcomes but he has a different philosophical starting point.

If I was In Ginninderra, he’d probably be somewhere in the top 7.

Loquaciousness4:48 pm 15 Oct 08

deezagood said :

The expression MILF is definitely crude/crass, but in terms of intent and ‘denigration’ is it any better or worse than the than the term ‘crumpet factor’ mentioned in the original post?

My point exactly.

deezagood said :

And if we are honest, a candidate’s appearance can influence their overall likeability and how they are perceived by the voting public.

A candidate’s appearance (for either gender) changes perception – that’s true, but not to the same extent. The public will vote for an ugly man with good policies before they vote for a ugly woman with good policies. Similarly, an attractive woman can have any policies she likes and will get votes based on looks alone.

That, right there, is inequality at its best (or worst).

L

Absolutely jakez.

If it makes you feel better, worse, or otherwise…
Johnboy did at one point have a go at Norvan in this photo for looking “like he has downs syndrome”.

Make of that what you will, but personally I prefer having a site editor who is human and willing to have (and change) an opinion, instead of one who is closer to Sir Les Patterson.

Skidbladnir said :

I had a wiki link to the relatively inoffensive MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) of the Phillipines…

But I pity their victims, as having an obituary of “laid to rest in Manila Cemetary after being tortured for three weeks by the MILF” is probably not the best thing to be remembered for.

Relatively inoffensive? My future mother in law will never see her sisters again because it is too dangerous for her to return to Mindanao. I’m generally supportive of secessionist movements and I have no illusions as to the virtue of the Government of the Philippines, but these people are truly horrible.

I think rape and murder are more offensive than sexual attraction.

Loquaciousness4:44 pm 15 Oct 08

johnboy said :

L we rated both men and women on crumpet factor.

Shallow, perhaps.

Sexist no.

And shouldn’t the women rejoice that so many more women were judged attractive than the men?

The MILF thing was distasteful however. I’d suggest you pass judgment on those commenters individually.

I don’t care whether you rated men as well as women – sexism goes both ways. For starters – there’s a giant picture of the woman rated with the best “crumpet factor” (no other pictures, no mention of who else was rated). And it’s not terribly surprising that you would rate all the women ahead of the one or two men. A male acquaintance of mine used to have a saying “I haven’t seen an attractive man yet”. Men don’t need to be attractive in order to be considered good at their job, a standard which is sadly lacking for women.

Saying that women should somehow be grateful that you have deigned to rate them as attractive is demeaning, rude and at the very nub of the point I’m trying to make. It makes my blood boil.

If you’re going to talk the talk, start walking the walk.

L

Hey, how about that, the offending #81 has been removed – obviously not partisan whining then…

The expression MILF is definitely crude/crass, but in terms of intent and ‘denigration’ is it any better or worse than the than the term ‘crumpet factor’ mentioned in the original post? Why didn’t ‘crumpet factor’ enrage maryhow? Or our swooning over the meticulous, well-planned Jeremy? I think this thread, with all of its blatant sexism from both sides of the gender fence has been great fun .. especially Granny’s lovelorn diatribe … ‘an ode to Jeremy’. And if we are honest, a candidate’s appearance can influence their overall likeability and how they are perceived by the voting public.

And someone drew attention to it.

Use the contact form you imbecile.

It’s gone now, any further debate on this will see the commenter in moderation.

Very sorry about your niece. We all have different experiences I suppose. You’re entitled to your view, but so am I. The women I’ve known with anorexia haven’t had any such experiences to warp their body image perception – it’s been about other personal issues affecting their psychology. The only person telling them they weren’t thin enough was themselves. Anyway, that’s my experience. And, yes, I agree, we are all worth way more than who we are on the outside, but not just women, men too.

jimbocool said :

Hello – someone has just been grossly defamed by being called a paedophile – I’m not whining just pointing out that if it were Richard Mulcahy sullied thus you’d be pulling that comment down pretty quickly.

Or Elena Kirschbaum…..

Hello – someone has just been grossly defamed by being called a paedophile – I’m not whining just pointing out that if it were Richard Mulcahy sullied thus you’d be pulling that comment down pretty quickly.

jimbocool said :

Um, Mods, you might want to take a look at #81 – line crossed there!
Otherwise Vote 1 Barry Smith, that guy rocks

Stop whining.

Most readers will read it as the partisan desperation it obviously was.

L we rated both men and women on crumpet factor.

Shallow, perhaps.

Sexist no.

And shouldn’t the women rejoice that so many more women were judged attractive than the men?

The MILF thing was distasteful however. I’d suggest you pass judgment on those commenters individually.

Um, Mods, you might want to take a look at #81 – line crossed there!
Otherwise Vote 1 Barry Smith, that guy rocks

I’m sorry politikos, but my beautiful niece descended into a nightmare of anorexia and death because of one creep who thought she wasn’t thin enough.

She was way too good for him, but I guess by the time she may have realised that the damage was done.

My girlfriends never put pressure on me. I love women. I think we are worth way more than who we are on the outside.

Granny said :

You know I still remember vividly the pain and humiliation of boarding a bus when I was only fifteen only to have some guy rate me really low in front of everybody. Was he beautiful? Was he a ’10’? Was he God’s gift to women? Hell, no. But he assumed he had the right to sit there and pronounce judgment on my physical appearance. Actually, you don’t. Women have enough pressure to be perfect. Leave us the hell alone.

Yeah, I know what you mean Granny – I’ve had the same sort of experiences. Men can be prats. But so can women, and if anyone should take the blame for putting pressure on women to be perfect, it should be women. I’ve felt more pressure from other women to be thin, beautiful, clever, etc. than I ever have from men. Crude and rude comments from louts are few and far between and don’t really matter. But when your friends put you under pressure, now that has impact. Anyway, we live in a world where most of have eyes and use them, and I think men have every right to make an evaluation of a woman’s appearance. I’d be disappointed if they didn’t. I’d prefer them to communicate this in a positive and respectful manner, obviously, but I’m not about to suggest they shouldn’t look and think. And it goes both ways – I’ve heard women say some pretty crude things about men’s appearances too. In short, I think people need to be a bit more relaxed about the whole thing. Seems to me that it’s women putting pressure on themselves more than anything else!

Loquaciousness4:15 pm 15 Oct 08

Hold on. “Crumpet factor”??? What the hell is going on here JB?

Since when did “crumpet factor” have any bearing whatsoever on a candidate’s ability to do their job?? Attack the beauty (or otherwise) of the websites. Don’t stoop to attacking the beauty (or otherwise) of the candidates.

Might I point out two links …

From 30 July:

Apologies for any offence.

It’s not something we’re planning on doing on a regular basis.

And from 3 October:

Ladies it’s always going to be a journey rather than a destination.

And simply because I haven’t gone in and purged comments on a past discussion (over 9,000 of them and I was away for 18 months) does not mean I’m happy with the way things came out.

Having said that I thank you for sticking around and doubly so those of you who point out when they’ve been offended, we can’t move forward without that feedback.

So thanks, it’s something I’m working on, and I appreciate any help you can give.

Your apologies are starting to sound very hollow.

L

You know I still remember vividly the pain and humiliation of boarding a bus when I was only fifteen only to have some guy rate me really low in front of everybody. Was he beautiful? Was he a ’10’? Was he God’s gift to women? Hell, no. But he assumed he had the right to sit there and pronounce judgment on my physical appearance. Actually, you don’t. Women have enough pressure to be perfect. Leave us the hell alone.

Oops. Second paragraph shouldn’t be in italics.

maryhow said :

BarryF said :

Granny said :

BarrF’s description and grading of the Female Candidates as MILF’s is horrible and this is denigrating to women yet again.

I think Troy Williams might be right in prescribing a chill-out pill. Sure, it’s crude, but stop making such a fuss. I’d take it as a compliment if I were Belinda Barnier! What’s the problem: is it that BarrF is making an evaluation or that he’s being honest about it? He’s calling it the way he sees it and that’s better than a politically correct feminist world in which men can’t look at a woman without being jumped on!

whitelaughter2:15 pm 15 Oct 08

Another website:
Barry Smith (ginninderra) http://www.barrysmith.bigpondhosting.com/

right to use lethal force to defend your home stood out. I’d guess basic libertarian.

I did see your link, Skid, but was rendered completely speechless ….. Rare, I know!

*hehehe*

I had a wiki link to the relatively inoffensive MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) of the Phillipines…

But I pity their victims, as having an obituary of “laid to rest in Manila Cemetary after being tortured for three weeks by the MILF” is probably not the best thing to be remembered for.

Oh, indubitably!

; )

Gungahlin Al1:33 pm 15 Oct 08

Had to do a Wiki search on MILF – you’re a rude lot aren’t you? Where’s sepi when you need her?

I guess that’s why Adina’s picture looks certain to stay at the top of RA’s home page until the weekend at least.

So you couldn’t have put that point of view in a rational, non-homicidal manner in the first place?

BarryF said :

Granny said :

*guffaw*

So now I am a Feminazi?

Not you Granny. I’m talking about the Womens Electoral Lobby, WFA and other such organisations.

I notice the Number 1 MILF (Belinda Barnier) has had her people out putting up huge banners (they must be 8 or 9m long) in the last couple of days. Very clever, makes the little signs look even smaller. Even smarter than Voght.

I am a member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby (WEL) and we certainly do not need anymore Male Chauvinists in the Assembly, nor do we need the hard right anti abortion, anti euthanasia females in there, like Vicki Dunne, Giulia Jones and Jacqui Burke.

BarrF’s description and grading of the Female Candidates as MILF’s is horrible and this is denigrating to women yet again.

I normally vote Labor because of these issues but after talking with Belinda at the WEL breakfast last week I think you could let people know that Belinda is Pro Choice and is very forward thinking in these areas. Probably because she was a nurse and has had to actually deal with these issues.

Granny said :

I’m glad she’s your Number 1 MILF, BarryF. That’s kind of sweet really.

: )

Sweet … or kinda tacky

I’m glad she’s your Number 1 MILF, BarryF. That’s kind of sweet really.

: )

Granny said :

*guffaw*

So now I am a Feminazi?

Not you Granny. I’m talking about the Womens Electoral Lobby, WFA and other such organisations.

I notice the Number 1 MILF (Belinda Barnier) has had her people out putting up huge banners (they must be 8 or 9m long) in the last couple of days. Very clever, makes the little signs look even smaller. Even smarter than Voght.

*guffaw*

So now I am a Feminazi?

politikos said :

deezagood said :

Don’t be ashamed Granny – I’m sure Jeremy has a brain behind that pretty face.

According to the Canberra Times, Jeremy got a Gold Commendation for being “regularly exposed to danger” and his “meticulous planning, analytical ability, foresight and professional excellence”. Brave and clever… hmmm… I could take orders from a man like that! Lucky Mrs Hanson!

Have you met Mrs Hanson, poor downtroden woman. When I saw them together he was barking out orders to her. I’m surprised the Feminazi’s haven’t had a go at him yet.

You clearly haven’t reaped the benefits of a meticulously planned romantic evening, Granny and deezagood! And while we might object to being *bossed* about, we all like a man with confidence, who has a commanding presence. Anyway, here’s a novel idea: maybe those planning and analytical skills would be useful in government?! (Or am I drifting off topic? I can’t tell anymore. Are we discussing crumpets or candidates? Is there an election sometime soon?)

Gungahlin Al11:15 am 15 Oct 08

“What an anathema!!”

Had one of those once. Couldn’t walk straight for hours…

*chuckle*

Yeah, and who wants a man who gives orders? What an anathema!!

‘Meticulous planning …. analytical ability’ – total passion killers. I’m off him now – Granny, politikos, he’s all yours. And by the way Granny – you don’t fool me, other posters have alluded to the fact that you are most ungrandma-like! And keeping in the same crass tone introduced by the undoubtedly toad-like BarryF (I can think of a few good terms for that ‘F’) I think we should introduce the term GILF in celebration of hot Grandmas everywhere(if it doesn’t already exist).

deezagood said :

Don’t be ashamed Granny – I’m sure Jeremy has a brain behind that pretty face.

According to the Canberra Times, Jeremy got a Gold Commendation for being “regularly exposed to danger” and his “meticulous planning, analytical ability, foresight and professional excellence”. Brave and clever… hmmm… I could take orders from a man like that! Lucky Mrs Hanson!

Gee, thanks Mrshmellowman. I have no idea what might be causing your low personality issues. If 8 hours is lack of sleep, then bring it on ….

Mrshmellowman10:09 am 15 Oct 08

Thanks very much Eddie
Now I will never get that freaking song out of my head!!

Granny
I looks like you posted at 2am and then again at 10am this morning. Your lack of sleep might have something to do with your low self esteem issues.

Steady Eddie10:02 am 15 Oct 08

There’s bit a bit of discussion about Adina Cirson’s slogan “One of Us” and a few references which might be lost on some Rioters. I’ve chased up these references on the Net and they refer to a song released in 1995 by Joan Osbourne. Here are the full lyrics:

One of Us

If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets

And yeah yeah god is great yeah yeah god is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He’s trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if god was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in rome

*sigh*

It’s no good, deezagood!

I will just fade and pine away like the shallow venomous harridan with no sex appeal that I am. How can Jeremy even look at me, when I am spurned by somebody as odious and probably toadlike as BarryF?

Frankly, I just don’t have that kind of budget for reconstruction.

*sniff*

Oh, curse this star-crossed and ill-fated love! Come sweet dagger and remove this suffering from my sobbing, heaving breast! Nay, blot even the day I was born from the face of this dark and evil sorrow.

*screech*

Woe. All is woe. Turgid, turgid woe. Deep and turgid woeful woe.

Oh, cruel fate! Curse you … you venomous harridan!

*shakes fist*

No, I will just fade and pine. Fade and pine. Fade ….

Don’t be ashamed Granny – I’m sure Jeremy has a brain behind that pretty face. And I’m sorry below_average_Joe but young Mr Coe is just a bit too wholesome looking (and young) for my more mature tastes.

MILF, you say…

BarryF said :

I don’t do Grannies

I am wounded … wounded, I tell you!

*guffaw*

Your MILF is my age, but I hope you’ll have a very special time.

; )

Have fun now!

Belinda Barnier – “She looks like she’d be a nice mum,” was the verdict.

I’ll take that one step further johnboy, I’d vote her the number 1 MILF.

Other MILF’s –
Katy – Whinger – I couldn’t listen to it, nothing would be “perfict”
Giulia – Not even with yours
Jacqui Burke – I don’t do Grannies
Joy Birch – Please
Jacqui Meyers – Absolutely – comes second on the Liberal Ticket
Audrey Rae – Nice
Tracey Mackie – See Katy
Meredith Hunter – Yeah probably
Caroline Le Couteur – Don’t think so

Norvan.Vogt said :

*sob* my site didn’t get a mention

Put “Vogt for a DRAGWAY” all over it, that’ll do the trick. Pauline Hanson might even visit.

Oh you’re there buddy:

    Norvan Vogt

    “welcome to my little part of Cyberspace” was not a winning message with the housemates.

    Now was two shades of orange for communicating. And not much to communicate.

There, there. I’m sure it is very nice.

*chuckle*

*sob* my site didn’t get a mention

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

STANHOPE, WHERE IS THE DRAGWAY.

More proof that motor “sport” is correlated with deafness and mental retardation.

Heh. Nailed it. And why they think they can shout and threaten their way to getting the taxpayer to stump up for their anti-social facility is beyond me.

iCanberran said :

Granny said :

Yeah, make sure you say that in front of her two little girls, won’t you? Just so that they, too, know that they may one day be respected or valued for anything other than their physical appearance.

Hey Granny, I want brains AND a body. That’s why I find her hot. Your the shallow one!

You are right iCanberran. Bad Granny. I am ashamed!

I like David Morgan’s honesty:

“But recently I have become concerned about the direction in which Canberra is headed.”

Yes, recently, when you found out theirs an election coming that could result in you being elected to a tax payer funded “job”. Before that, you didn’t give a damn?

Granny said :

Yeah, make sure you say that in front of her two little girls, won’t you? Just so that they, too, know that they may one day be respected or valued for anything other than their physical appearance.

Hey Granny, I want brains AND a body. That’s why I find her hot. Your the shallow one!

Dragway – the CMP have drawn up plans to put all sorts of motorsport facilities in the majura valley – do they actually have a plan for obtaining this land – it isn’t just bush out there, there are wineries, horse breeders, properties etc.

Mark Parton – wants to support Communities, Families and Business – I would have thought the interests of the first two are almost opposite to what business wants – I wonder how he’ll deal with that – eg Power Plant in Macarthur.

Poor Katy looks like she is asleep in her ad.

below_average_joe9:05 pm 14 Oct 08

Alistair Coe would be a contender for the crumpet list – clean cut, wholesome looking lad. He may pop around the estate for tea, crumpets and prison style loving any time.

Also no mention of Mrs Coe – ladies, start your engines :-).

Alright then, we’ll share! Legislative Assembly. October 19. Be there.

*heh heh heh*

Not that I bat on this team, (Adina’s got my vote) but where’s that young whipper snapper for the Liberals in Gininderra. Alistair Coe is it? Doesn’t he have a website?

I think you could take me Granny – I’m a big wimp.

Ok, catfight!

*chuckle*

Yep gotta agree with politikos and Granny – Jeremy does it for me too … Grrrrrr

When you’re right, you’re right. And you are sooo right.

In all my born days I have never seen such a vision of loveliness.

A rose by any other name ….

But speak to me Jeremy, my love, that I may die happy!

“Andrew Barr the only male to make the crumpet list”

Have to disagree. The only male I’d put on the list is Jeremy Hanson. Bonus points for the uniform!

Yeah, make sure you say that in front of her two little girls, won’t you? Just so that they, too, know that they may one day be respected or valued for anything other than their physical appearance.

Mmmmm, Adina Carson, I wouldn’t mind buttering that crumpet….. oh god did I say that out loud?

Gungahlin Al6:16 pm 14 Oct 08

“Adina Cirson: One of us? Just a slob like one of us?”

I think she is trying to say to Belconnen district people she’s from there. The eternal “I’m no jonny-come-lately” pitch.

She was on 666 this morning pointing out that “a lot of things have gone to Gungahlin lately”, but seemingly forgetting that Gungahlin’s suburb of Nicholls is in her electorate (despite having attended our candidates night last week).

Wide Boy Jake5:18 pm 14 Oct 08

Adina Cirson: One of us? Just a slob like one of us?

That was my little bit of fun. Took your time though!

The title of this post is just crying out for an apostrophe!

jakez – 😛
leave it alone.

…unless you are an emo artist.

ahahaha. gold! great post…wouldnt have even thought to check out their sites, i have a pile of their advertising crap on my lawn… glad i looked though, some of the sites are just just terrible!

and my two cents on Katy is that on tv she looks like she’s shrinking into her hunch and trying to look shorter than she is…whats that about? stand up straight woman!!

ohh and leave elena alone. that email shouldnt have been made public, true but not fair. she does a lot of good work for youth activities and arts in canberra –

I really wish this issue would go away. The reason they haven’t built one yet? Because only a small minority care…at all. The majority of Canberrans (voters) couldn’t give a rats about a dragway…many, like myself, are actually sick to death of hearing about it. Want one? Build the bloody thing yourselves & then shutup.

The real reason is because the land they wanted to build it would have been too close and loud. The reason they’re so angry is because no one else cares.

sepi said :

Funny that Hettinger is still bragging about

Being a Rocket Scientist!

Educated by Monks!!

I thought someone would have had a word about those dot points after the last election.

It is memorable though.

Argh, his website was too hideous for me to read properly to determine if people who are actually rocket scientists would also describe him as such, or if they would snigger mightily to themselves at that description. Where’s his PhD???

> STANHOPE, WHERE IS THE DRAGWAY.

I really wish this issue would go away. The reason they haven’t built one yet? Because only a small minority care…at all. The majority of Canberrans (voters) couldn’t give a rats about a dragway…many, like myself, are actually sick to death of hearing about it. Want one? Build the bloody thing yourselves & then shutup.

Woody Mann-Caruso1:10 pm 14 Oct 08

STANHOPE, WHERE IS THE DRAGWAY.

More proof that motor “sport” is correlated with deafness and mental retardation.

I kind of like Mike’s site. It looks like something that would be put together by Mulder and Scully’s geeky hacker mates. Sort of like not just the candidate saying, “Gee, I’m good,” but somebody who’s got some real friends behind them.

Mark Parton’s site was my favourite. It was kind of warm and friendly as well as glossy. I felt like I was more involved and interacted more than anywhere else.

Mary Porter’s site had the goods, but was a bit too sterile and clinical for me. She is obviously one of us warm, wonderful grandmotherly types so she should let her inner granny show through.

Eleanor Bates looks a lot better in person. I think she could have used photos that show how pretty she really is.

Mrshmellowman11:30 am 14 Oct 08

I appriciate Johnboy expanding on my somewhat desperate attempt to decide who to vote for on purely shallow grounds (although, who says “crumpet factor” – really)
I originally went for the anti-emo crusader, but having checked out her friends on myspace, I can not in good conscience vote for anyone with so many freaky looking dudes as her friends.
I am going to have to move to Ginninderra and vote for Adina Cirson (the yummy mommy?)!

(oops the above was meant to be a quote)

Oh size 16 chicks don’t do it for me.

…I’m sure Katy cries herself to sleep at night because of this…

@ Pandy #1: I’m sure Katy has that “look” because of all the sour words she has had to swallow over the last few years… ah… look for the “smiley” stretch marks on Barr (the smiling assassin) too…

and now more on topic – katy gallagher looks better in her tv advertising than her website.

i don’t want government money spent on a dragway. if it is so in demand/viable – why don’t a group of bogans get together and pool their carton o’ winnie blue money and build it themselves?

32Roadster – you should check the Electoral Commission website on casual vacancies in the Assembly.

Quinlan resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 21 March 2006. 11 nominations were received to replace him. In a recount of ballot papers received by Quinlan at the 2004 election, Andrew Barr received a majority of preferences. Barr was officially declared elected to fill the casual vacancy on 5 April 2006.

Other MLAs filling casual vacancies over the years include Jacqui Burke-Lib (twice), Marion Reilly-ALP, Simon Corbell-ALP, Louise Littlewood-Lib, Bill Stefaniak-Lib and Terry Connolly-ALP.

Funny that Hettinger is still bragging about

Being a Rocket Scientist!

Educated by Monks!!

I thought someone would have had a word about those dot points after the last election.

It is memorable though.

STANHOPE, WHERE IS THE DRAGWAY.
To all motorsport supporters who swallowed Barr’s promises if re-electe, DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH, Labor are proven liar’s when it comes to motorsport, angry, hell yeh.

Don’t be fooled, on October 18th, a vote for the GREENS is a vote for STANHOPE & Co.

I see Andrew Barr mentions when he was elected in 2006, WRONG, Andrew Barr was NEVER ELECTED, he was parachuted into the Assembly when Quinlan jumped as instructed.

Speaking of crumpet factor, my aged aunt reckons Dave Peebles could park his boots under her walking frame anytime!

Jonathon Reynolds12:09 am 14 Oct 08

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone, but frankly if you can’t get your site into the first couple of pages of google results you’re just not trying very hard.

You were looking hard enough JB!

Here is some more link spam to a comprehensive list for you:
http://www.canberravotes.com/2008-election-candidates/

If Adina is crumpet, Katy standing next to her looks like sour dough.

Oh size 16 chicks don’t do it for me.

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