28 September 2008

Ginninderra Liberal candidates – the worst ever?

| Bitter Lib
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I live in Charnwood and I’ve always voted for Bill Stefaniak. He was a good bloke.

I’ve been trying to find a new Lib to vote for out here, and I know with some of the rubbish candidates Labor has run in the past it is a big call to make, but I reckon the new Libs running out here might be the worst group of candidates in the history of ACT self-government in any electorate.

Here’s what 5 minutes of googling each of them tells me:

Matthew Watts

He’s been in Canberra about 5 minutes. He creates silly websites where he boasts about his own alcoholism, shutting down online Democrat forums, being booted out of pubs, the fact he’s a Freemason/Unionist and worst of all, that he ‘likes Caesar Salad’.

His personal priorities include initiatives like a Men’s Shed for Belco, which I know the gvt already funded weeks if not months ago. I know because my uncle was one of the people pushing for it, and he’s never heard of this Watts guy.

He ‘loves art’ but hates ideological hobby-horses (such as wasteful public artwork)’ Right ok.

In terms of policies, he’s got nothing to say about improving Calvary hospital or the schools out here, but don’t worry about it because he will be involved in ‘Facilitating a privately-funded dragway in the ACT;’ The only sense in which I care about a dragway is making sure it’s as far away from me as possible.

Alistair Coe

Who?

The only things google say about him are:

– He is 24.

– He is a quintessential Liberal machine man.

– He reportedly likes to visit strip clubs with someone called Mark ‘white power’ Powell.

– He sends out letters boasting of working for a mysterious unidentified community organization ‘which is one of Australia’s largest’. Ok so tell us!

– He is the candidate for Belconnen, Nicholls and Hall’. Right, ok. So I can’t vote for him then cause I’m in Charnwood? No worries, I wasn’t planning to anyway.

Vicki Dunne

I refuse to google her. I would even vote for Stanhope before I voted to keep this woman in the public eye for another four years. OK I did google her. Turns out when she’s not writing adoring articles for Quadrant supporting Tony Abbot’s views on abortion, she is planning to continue her terrifying record of ‘home insult-ation’.

Jacqui Myers.

Again, never heard of her or seen her in the community, but her CV does sound decent. I guess I’ll be voting Jacqui Myers. Or Mark Parton.

But all jokes aside, I really think the residents of Ginninderra deserve better than this. A couple of blokes that don’t even need to shave yet, an unknown accountant and Vicki Dunne. Thanks Zed.

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The Workers was bought out by the Labor Club a couple of years ago.

P1, you aren’t thinking of the Workies, over the road from the Street Theatre?

My mistake…

This is why you’re the Big Anti Jerk.
The big anti jerk has to iron out all of the smaller jerks (opposing their efforts by pulling away from them), in order to keep other things (market position, growth, and increase in growth) running within limits.

Skidbladnir said :

This election is producing more jerks than you’d expect to see in a similar period on RiotACT.

Possibly, but readership was accelerating rapidly anyway. And with it come new people either looking to join in or just with an axe to grind.

While wanting to discourage malicious posters with no care for the larger RA community, I also don’t want to make it hard for new players.

Deadmandrinking3:46 pm 29 Sep 08

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy said :

I see him at the pot, he’s a decent bloke.

You see him in the toilet? What the…

Go and sit in the corner VY.

Deadmandrinking3:45 pm 29 Sep 08

Definitely a liberal thing. I think Zed’s ideas about education lack any financial sense; I’d like to see Canberra’s children enjoy a better education with more resources than sitting in a smaller classroom. I think that most of the Canberra libs policies, in fact, follow this same nonsensical white-picket-paradise idealist B.S. (a permanent home for Floriade? What about permanent homes for Canberra’s thousands of homeless people?), with the notable exception of ‘green bins’ (still a bit iffy about their Autism policy; it’s the kind of area you really need to focus on providing quality services for rather than simply throwing more money at it).

I also note that p*ss-all has been said about Public Transport so far, which I think is a major environmental and social issue for this city. The removal of stamp-duty for first home-buyers is probably good, but I really don’t care, as I’m renting and probably will be for quite some time.

I should mention that Matt’s ideas about the Men’s Shed and the Dragway (which I think would save lives and reduce hoon activities on our streets) are good. But it is the liberal party, they’re going to fall back on their ideals at some point, which is where I will definitely come into conflict with them.

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy3:35 pm 29 Sep 08

I see him at the pot, he’s a decent bloke.

You see him in the toilet? What the…

Hehe.
Yes, I have just called “Bitter Lib” a jerk.

But by the logic I outline above, if you consider that part of Johnboy’s role is to increase the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd derivatives of riotACT’s market position…

His job description would need to be ‘the big anti jerk’.

-Skidbladnir
Derivatives nerd, heading to the Offal thread

You won’t ever see an decline in total user numbers (short of a total and irreversible system failure), no. Its a quantity that isn’t able to actually decrease.
(I am not talking -active users-, thats a whole other story. I am talking about base user numbers.)

For physics and engineering nuts, consider user numbers to be a ‘position’ or ‘displacement’ value.

You might detect a discernable difference (a “derivative”, if you will) in the rate of change(acceleration) in the growth (velocity) of that base user (position) value, though.
The derivative of acceleration with respect to time (the third degree derivative of position) is called a ‘jerk’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerk

This election is producing more jerks than you’d expect to see in a similar period on RiotACT.

Deadmandrinking said :

I think you’re putting a little too much of the brown stuff on Matthew as a person, not a politician. It shouldn’t have anything to do with what he likes doing in his spare time (as long as it’s not something completely illegal and immoral), it should be about what he intends to do once he gets into the assembly. THAT is why I’m not voting for him. I see him at the pot, he’s a decent bloke. I just don’t think I’d like to have him as a representative.

I promise I won’t try to change your mind in any way, I’m just curious. What policies are the cause for the non-vote? Is it a Matt Watts thing or a general Liberal thing?

Deadmandrinking3:05 pm 29 Sep 08

I think you’re putting a little too much of the brown stuff on Matthew as a person, not a politician. It shouldn’t have anything to do with what he likes doing in his spare time (as long as it’s not something completely illegal and immoral), it should be about what he intends to do once he gets into the assembly. THAT is why I’m not voting for him. I see him at the pot, he’s a decent bloke. I just don’t think I’d like to have him as a representative.

Sorry accidentally posted. Two post…..clownface?

I would have had to stop barracking for the Raiders…if I hadn’t already gone tailcoat and switched to the Storm.

You can engineer your life to fit your particular political/social goals as much as you want, but eventually you just have to put up your arms, walk past the pokies, and go down some brew with your mates at the local Labor Club.

wishuwell said :

Maybe someone who didn’t want to fund his opponent.

Mate you wouldn’t be able to do anything in life if you didn’t want to fund your opponent. I had to stop going to the Northside Fitness Centre when I found out it was owned by the CFMEU.

Perhaps a slight plateau effect, but I doubt we’ll ever get a decline.

Anyway everyone has to start somewhere and many people read the site for years before getting a bee in their bonnet and posting.

By the way, one post, no comments.
This is a walk-in user, possibly a shill thread.

Does anyone else expect to see a drop off in user creations or one-off posters after the election?

The Labor Club (in Belconnen) is still there.
P1, you aren’t thinking of the Workies, over the road from the Street Theatre?

Maybe someone who didn’t want to fund his opponent.

Mate, who isn’t a member of a Labour Club in the ACT?

Matthew Watts liberal candidate. Membership Canberra Labor Club.

Jakez,
He’s programmed to appear human from time to time.

Aurelius said :

Don’t we have a Prime Minister who the Liberals tried to shoot down for being chucked out of a strip club? And didn’t that go well for them?

Best thing about him. He was almost a human being for a second.

Don’t we have a Prime Minister who the Liberals tried to shoot down for being chucked out of a strip club? And didn’t that go well for them?

“Personally I’d be worried about voting for someone who had *never* been chucked out of a bar.”

Hmm… What if that was part of the campaign strategy? 🙂

PM said :

@ Bitter Lib – Charnwood is still in Belconnen.

And I find it surprising that a forum whose members generally only meet each other over a few pints could be critical of a guy because he drinks 🙂

Well, one poster with a clearly labelled axe to grind hardly represents the opinion of the whole forum.

Personally I’d be worried about voting for someone who had *never* been chucked out of a bar.

Aurelius said :

Jakez
My first thought with that URL was that, being a .com.au, he’d have had to have a business registered in the same name, and that’d be quite difficult.
But the correct URL is http://www.wattstherightchoice.com (which, being a .com requires no documentation at all)

Thanks Aurelius. I always forget it’s not .com.au

I admire anyone who is prepared to put themselves up for public office.

It would not be easy to put up with so much public scrutiny and ridicule.

So I admire the Alistair Coe’s of the world rather than the ‘Bitter Lib’ types who just sit on the sidelines and moan.

@ Bitter Lib – Charnwood is still in Belconnen.

And I find it surprising that a forum whose members generally only meet each other over a few pints could be critical of a guy because he drinks 🙂

I think think one of the fundamentals that got lost in translation is;

1.) If gunning for any form of public represenation, do an audit of what material is available on you in the public domain, if it is the least bit risky/ or not ensuring you have placed the best foot forward see if you can limit its exposure.

yes it is censorship, however basic marketing savvy can do wonders for ones prospects for public life.

Woody Mann-Caruso9:17 am 29 Sep 08

An interesting read. Could you do the same for all the candidates for Brindabella, then put it into a handy one-word checklist for me (scumbag, dropkick, headcase, cultist) etc?

A question to you all?

Does there seem to be an amazing amount of ALP advertising on TV at the moment?

Did the Libs blow all their advertising budget months ago and leave ALP to saturate the market in the home stretch, which is the most important?

Investing in their brand while the rates were cheap and the audience was still receptive seems like a sensible thing to do.

Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot1:12 am 29 Sep 08

If I had my way all the decapitated heads of the Canberra Liberals would be resting on spikes out the front of my house to scare off any other failed abortion case from running for public office.

Labor and all the minor parties would fall soon after and we’d be on the road to nirvana people……..

Petting Zoo

I love self-government.

Put up your hand if any of you are part of their ‘Flying Squad’, launching another ‘covert’ raid on the interwebs.

Don’t be shy.

Jakez
My first thought with that URL was that, being a .com.au, he’d have had to have a business registered in the same name, and that’d be quite difficult.
But the correct URL is http://www.wattstherightchoice.com (which, being a .com requires no documentation at all)

bd84, Jacqui Myers and Alistair Coe are good bets but I’d also like you to consider Matt Watts. He doesn’t have the money for tv ads but he’s a good ordinary bloke (not a stuffed shirt) and I think he’d be good. Check out http://www.wattstherightchoice.com.au

NB: Yes I am a shameless shill.

As I will most likely vote liberal to get the stanhopeless out of office, I do have in mind some sensible voting based on who the candidates actually are rather than blindly voting. Luckily my electorate is Brindabella, but I have to say Andrea Takaji’s ads scare me, she has a certain scary stalker look about her lol. Jacqui Meyers looks a good bet and Coe doesn’t look too bad either. I think the Libs shouldn’t have too much of a problem keeping 2 seats in Ginninderra.. looking more like the 5th seat may go independent as both parties don’t have too much in the way of a strong 3rd candidate.

Molonglo, i’d expect Mulcahy to lose his seat to the Libs Jeremy Hanson, doubt there will be any other serious changes there.

Brindabella, Labor won’t keep the third seat, expect a independent or liberal pickup.

The deluge of ads has begun, maybe I’ll find out who the hell is running for Labor, I only know of one candidate??

I thought it was an entertaining summary of the field in this bloke’s electorate.

Wow all the Young Libs (and former Young Libs) are out in force in this thread.

Clown Killer8:16 pm 28 Sep 08

Who in his/her right mind would want to jeopardise a real job/career for the sake of a few years in the democratic equivalent of a petting zoo?

Gentlemen, take this to the pool room, post haste!

Vicepope,
Forget that system of running the place.
Latest figures show RiotACT gets 50K visitors a month. That’s surely a decent enough proportion of Canberra’s population to mean the Territory should be governed by us here, isn’t it? Surely we wouldn’t be able to do a worse job?

the hungry piker8:08 pm 28 Sep 08

From Alistair Coe’s website:

Alistair works for one of Australia’s largest community groups as an adviser where his focus is on issues impacting ex-service men and women.

It’s the RSL national office.

He’s a good bloke. At least he grew up and lives in the area. We need some young new talent in the assemby.

disenfranchised5:57 pm 28 Sep 08

Bitter Lib , you are right. As much as I would like to see strong Liberal (read Opposition)representation in this electorate, it isn’t there. Further to my comments in “Candidate list for 2008 election”, I see Ginninderra as a key electorate for the Liberals. In my view the Liberals are in deep trouble now that Stefaniak is not running, as Bill got them over a quota in his own right. His large vote helped get Dunne up last time. Dunne and Coe are both right wing conservatives, who aligned themselves closely with Mulcahy when he was a Liberal. I predict Myers will get in ahead of Dunne. It will be extremely difficult for the Libs to win 2 in this electorate.

Mechanical question, but election would throw up politicians who are less likely to do this job well. Some kind of appointment (Federal Minister, Assembly committee, whatever) with a veto by the Assembly might do the trick. There’s probably other or better ways. The idea is that these chaps/chappesses could light the fires of enthusiasm under the ACT bureaucracy. They would act generally at the direction of the Assembly but would be allowed to fill in the blanks on detail. A side benefit would be to discourage decisions based on the effect of a single issue causing pain to a single member of the Assembly.

As to people to do the job …. some Commonwealth agency heads (retired), business, professional and community people could do the job in about an hour a week, so a fully paid job would attract a wider field. Yes, it would be radical – in some respects an appointed ministry – but there are several models (eg the US or the wide powers of town clerks in some Australian local government areas) where this kind of thing already happens.

Jonathon Reynolds5:55 pm 28 Sep 08

Which of the Candidates is going to admit to having a gun license and hunting moose?

VicePope said :

I’ll go back to option 1. Seventeen or whatever councillors paid a modest expenses fee for meeting once or twice a fortnight. Allow public sector employees to be on the council. The real work done by three full-time commissioners who have some competence in something.

Would these commissioners be elected or appointed? So power back in the hands of the Fed Min for Local Government? If you’re talking about putting ACT bureaucrats in charge I’m not so sure. Anyone else dealt with the numbskulls in the CMD?

D-Man said :

Funny how there’s no mention of Andrea Takaji at all in there. Has she pulled out or something?

She is tall, really tall !

Why would anyone vote for a bogan whose website boasts about being barred from licensed premises repeatedly for excessive intoxication and antisocial behaviour? If I thought they had any chance of winning government I’d be worried.

I fear that it’s not just the Libs (though there are some unusually florid shockers there) or Ginninderra. Who in his/her right mind would want to jeopardise a real job/career for the sake of a few years in the democratic equivalent of a petting zoo?

I’ll go back to option 1. Seventeen or whatever councillors paid a modest expenses fee for meeting once or twice a fortnight. Allow public sector employees to be on the council. The real work done by three full-time commissioners who have some competence in something.

OliverCromwell4:43 pm 28 Sep 08

Be fair HateMachine, it’s not like they have the grassroots membership to wage any other sort of campaign. Without the stacks on the books they’d be running in the ungrouped column with the Democrats for lack of members.

D-Man said :

Funny how there’s no mention of Andrea Takaji at all in there. Has she pulled out or something?

She was at Union Court in ANU during the week – surrounded by a bunch of dorky young lads with yellow ‘Zed instead’ tshirts and poor posture. Take a leaf out of Andrea’s book boys, stand stall and be proud of it!

jakez said :

Personally, I think it’s sad that a person (Matt Watts) is attacked for having a website with personality. This just reinforces the current move towards plastic fantastic US style politicians. Shame.

If anyone is moving towards plastic fantastic US style politics it is the cheeseball known as ‘Z’. It is obvious that the Canberra Libs are running a purely American style campaign. You have the brand known as President Zed Bartlett furiously sucking up all media. You have idiotic slogans instead of policies. You have tens of thousands of campaign dollars going into poisonous personal attack ads against Stanhope rather than talking up your own vision for Canberra. The Canberra Libs are a triumph of style over substance.

OliverCromwell4:35 pm 28 Sep 08

Yes, jakez is correct about Alistair Coe.
He’s more of the religious sort and it’s quite likely that his mysterious community organization is related to this.

The strip club story really is hilariously untrue.

D-Man said :

Oh yeah, I’ve seen her ad. She was the one that had the city news front page after setting up a desk and unconnected phone in a paddock in Gungahlin. LOL

That’s Giulia Jones. She’s a candidate for Molonglo, thus the ‘public service offices in Gungahlin’ desk thing in GUNGAHLIN, which is part of Molonglo.

Personally, I think it’s sad that a person (Matt Watts) is attacked for having a website with personality. This just reinforces the current move towards plastic fantastic US style politicians. Shame.

Also, the Alistair Coe strip club story isn’t true (hilariously untrue if you knew the guy). However, what’s wrong with that anyway? I’ve been to a strip club (oh no my future political career down the drain).

Oh and by the way, ‘Scores’ of politicians have visited strip clubs.

*sits back with a self-satisfied grin’

Oh yeah, I’ve seen her ad. She was the one that had the city news front page after setting up a desk and unconnected phone in a paddock in Gungahlin. LOL

Still advertising on tele

She’s tall dontcha know…

With a certain Ayn Rand quality which terrifies me.

Funny how there’s no mention of Andrea Takaji at all in there. Has she pulled out or something?

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