Martin Ferguson complains about Labor being preoccupied by factions instead of ideas, in a column preoccupied by factions instead of ideas.
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Bruvver Martin complains of people being shoved onto members!
how many preselections has Bruvver Martin faced?
NONE!!!
This is quite similar to what happened to the liberals in 1989
It’s also worth noting that on all the policy issues Ferguson cites in his 3rd last and 2nd last paragraphs, he basically agrees (either explicitly or in code) with the opinions and prejudices of Bill Shorten and his allies in the Victorian Right who the column attacks(again in code) over their push against his mate Crean.
Oh, and lest we forget:
(a) Tom Uren’s autobiography, Straight Left, contains an interesting account of the Ferguson Bruvvers’ attempt to withdraw Left support for him in favour of Laurie Ferguson in the preselection for Reid. When challenged to indicate any policy issue on which Uren had let down the Left, Marn said “Policy’s got nothing to do with it. You don’t have the numbers… The family will decide.”
(b) Marn himself was parachuted into the safe seat of Batman by ALP National Executive fiat in 1995 (although it could be mentioned in his defence that Batman apparently has a reputation as one of Labor’s more stackable Federal seats).
Bah, only the authority of winning an election can quell factionalism in either major party.
What policy Paul?
All Australians want a return to “community” and the community values that Labor has always put first.
Nothing here but a cliche.
The best thing Labor can do for its supporters is to occupy the Treasury benches. But to remain electable, we must broaden our base and our appeal. At the previous election Australians told the Labor Party loud and clear that economic credentials count.
Economic credentials count! Yeah Marn. Doh!
They want tax reform that rewards effort, that puts incentive in the system and more money in the pockets of hard-working Australians. They want fair health, welfare and education policies. They want good environment policy that doesn’t decimate Australian prosperity.
So, we don’t want tax reform that punishes effort; nor do we want unfair health, welfare and education policies; and we want balanced development. The man’s a policy genius.
They want an Australia that’s inclusive, that doesn’t see business as an enemy but as a vital part of the economy, that doesn’t pit private schools against public schools or the environment against jobs. They want a government that can be relied on to deliver sound, balanced public policy and an Opposition that can offer equally sound alternatives and hold the government to account.
Brilliant. The ALP needs to suck-up to business, avoid the emphases in the last education and forest policies, and be sound and balanced blah blah. That takes care of the ideas department. Full steam ahead to those treasury benches.
of course what Ferguson is saying may be cliche, and utlimately overdue, but at least its out in the open and people in some sort of influence are saying it!
We say a little more here at http://weekbyweek7.blogspot.com/
Marn Ferson: Labor’s brightest intellect.
I must admit I am with CS on this one. Polls prove that Howard is not ‘popular’ but they vote for him because they feel he can keep the economy going.
Labor is not going to be back in government by expousing the sort of glib platitudes that my local member has done in that article.
Why have a bad copy when you can have the original?
But there are issues that should be addressed, but I think the impression that Labor is lacking an overall narrative to give voters reason to switch votes.
Ten years, ten years, ten years, ten years
All sing along now . . .
Ten more, ten more, ten more, ten more . . .
Martin Ferguson via David Lynch:
“I am not an animal! I am a union being!”
So what Ferguson is saying, in effect, is that to beat the Liberals they must BECOME the Liberals, in everything but name (and even then, it’s the same letters). Was there anything he said in his proposed policy that isn’t actually already Liberal policy?
I’d much rather a party that at least CLAIMS to be right wing than one that claims to be left wing and most patently isn’t.
Wouldn’t that be the (already tried, already failed) “small target” policy?
Maybe they are trying the “third time lucky” small target strategy….
Cl is correct when it comes to Bruvver Ferguson however he did put it all over John Anderson.
Which says….
If labour takes up my platform of small government partial redistributionism after a time they would bring in new voters by the bushel.
Stand for preselection, Comrade!
I’ll need a lot of advice. And a lot of encouragement.
And a lot of supportive local branch members, or better yet, a union secretary on side.
Professional vagrants like Bob Ellis are forever pressuring the ALP for cash handouts to mediocre talents like himself. When all’s said and done, Ellis and his entire latte set goat tribe give sensible Australia the shits. The ALP won’t ever win again until they dump them.
Hang on, chairman. Bob might not be too flash with his fact-checking, but he’s often a beautiful writer.
“Comrade Graeme, receptive branches await you. Friendship with union bosses is best avoided though. The future is grassroots (not that there’s any evidence of that, but I can dream).”
That’s the encouragement I was after. You got it then. I’ll join the labour party.
God help us all.
Mister CS (if I may) our standards are clearly different.
My standards in art, and female beauty, are very high.
Often they’re the same thing.
I’m just jealous of Bob Ellis because MsFits has a crush on him.
You can get any dame you want Markus.
“My standards in art, and female beauty, are very high.
Often they’re the same thing.”
What, you frame them both and put them in a cool, well-lit position?
That’s hard to do when they’re moving.
No, I follow them around.
The new president of Argentina kept Eva Peron’s embalmed corpse in his rooms for years.
I can understand that.
Well, I had a dream about MsFits. Perhaps I’m disclosing too much!
That’ll do. Go back to your politics.
I have to go out. For some viewing.
She dreams about you too Markus: a wild night in Paddington.
Been years since I had a wild night in Paddington, R.H. I’m in New Farm now.
Back to work.
Yes, I heard about that. The New Farm Scandal. Very hush hush.
Say no more.
New Farm is a scandal!
Ok, Chairman, nice to chat, got some work to do.
What a laugh, he calls it work; getting paid for the same gab he utters in Paddington cafes.
RH
How was the wknd. Dazzling chicks around he big smoke. Someone told me you settled for a 7 1/2. True?
Well look here old boy you’re gonna get Uncle RH in trouble. His IRRESISTABLE ROMANTIC STYLE is off topic here.
And besides, I am LOATH TO DISCUSS IT!
Okay?
Right. Now then, here’s how it went. At eight o’clock she looked a seven and a half. At ten o’clock she’d jumped to a a nine.
-And Oh my goodness!- at midnight she looked like a twelve!
You see? That’s what booze does to you.
Right.
So watch out.
RH
I keep getting this spam crap from this guy on how to pick up “dames”. He trying to sell a system and tells that it is fail safe.
Is that you?
Or if it isn’t can you share with us some of your proven ways. There’s lot’s of lonely guys on the web and need your help. Please! Help them.