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102 responses to “The election called,”

  1. arleeshar

    Howard used his speech to laud the Federal system as providing a system of checks and balances…

    LOLLERSKATES

  2. Ptobias

    I heard a rumour that some of the Labor front-benchers are former union officials. Pass it on.

  3. Wolves Evolve

    The Australian has the gall to offer a video called “Your Views” interviewing a collection of Howard Voters (and people thinking-but-worried about Rudd).

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22459634-5013871,00.html

    I rather like the British system of Party broadcasts. You get 2% of the primary vote last time, you get to broadcast one hour of television. Then everybody gets to laugh at you.

  4. Phil

    OMG! Julia Gillards boyfriend has a past, pass it on.

  5. Guido

    Phwew!

  6. jimmy

    about fricken time, fricken.

  7. Wolves Evolve

    A thought: what will Tim Blair and the Baroness Janet Albrechtsen do should Labor win?

  8. Max Soy

    Well looks like that our Chiang Kai-shek had to do it eventually before he truly runs out of options.

    That said, a single bomb and everything can change. I’m nae gonna count my ducklings yet.

    The Byrds’ “Turn” is playing on my PC tho.

  9. Nahum Ayliffe

    Bring it on. The fat lady sang and went to Rome. It’s time. May the stench of Howard not linger. Bennelong Voters, over to you.

  10. Lefty E

    November 24 it is.

    For anyone needing a hype-up, I still find this one rousing!

  11. Paul Burns

    I think I lost a post because I’m on dial-up and somebody rang me.
    Five weeks six days to go before we’re rid of this evil little man and his toadies for good.
    Provided:
    ALP doesn’t shoot itself in the foot.
    There’s not a major terrorist attack somewhere.
    There’s an environmental disaster soewhere.
    GWB doesn’t declare war on Iran.
    George Pell doesn’t tell Catholocs not to vote ALP.

    Cany any of you think of other ways this might stuff up?

  12. Phil

    It should be remembered that he’s said that he’ll keep going for another 18 months should he win, but I think we all know that he’s never leaving if he does. C’mon voters of Bennelong, make our day!

  13. clarencegirl

    Thanks heavens! Let’s hope election results show there is some sanity left in the Australian electorate – may John Howard et al lose.

  14. Lefty E

    Well, speaking of Bennelong, this is pretty funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zulGddP6o

    Thanks to someone at pollbludger for the link.

  15. judith m melville

    Finally, after 24 November we may have a Federal Government which offers more than bread and circus.

  16. Aurelius

    I think Labor threw away Wentworth by supporting the pulp mill, as it was quite unpopular in Bass and Braddon, so why support it and draw the attack away from Malcolm on the environment? No guts, no glory for Labor on that issue!
    Libs could hold on in Braddon or Bass ( but not likely both) as a result.

    Loss method 2:
    Select idiot candidates like M/s Cornes in Boothby, who can’t tell an AWA from a common law contract and don’t know the difference between $75,000 and $100,000 as a threshhold – how many Labor party branch members would have stuffed that up?
    If they’ve consistently picked dopes like this all over the country they can certainly lose!

    The well-oiled machines of the ALP state branches, assisted by substantial union support ( sending the organisers on the hustings via the Your Rights at Work Front) should do it, ably assisted by Work Choices.
    WINNING POLICIES
    Kevvie should promise a cut in petrol excise – could be justified as reducing the cost of transport and other goods thereby, thus not be as inflationary as income tax cuts, with less effect on overall demand, as petrol is an ‘inelastic’ good i.e. rises or falls in price don’t bring corresponding rises or falls in demand.
    Kevvie should promise to re-imburse the States for cuts in payroll tax, which is what the GST was supposed to replace, which is just a tax on jobs and econonomic activity.

    And the finale: Massive funding of Community ( not for profit) and workplace-based Child care centres ( to the tune of at least $500 million per year – sounds a lot, but not much whilst surplus is so large. The FBT tax break for workplace-based childcare is not enough.
    Place a cap on fees these can charge as a condition of funding. ( Yes, I’m a bureaucrat, but don’t let public servants run the services, just supervise the operators -and don’t let a DOCS-type Department administer the scheme. Can be done centrall from Canberra – even these little NGO’s have computers – and think about excluding church-based charities from the mix – stand up to Hillsong Kevvie, or they’ll eventually eat you alive!!

  17. Ken Lovell

    I’m backing a conservative to be the next PM.

  18. Juz

    aurelius, you cut church-run childcare centres from the mix, you cut a lot of the NFP section of that industry…

    Paul Burns: Pell (slightly) endorsed Rudd about a week ago – over WC, Iraq and refugees IIRC.

  19. George Darroch

    I’m predicting a neo-liberal party that supports logging old growth forests and expanding the coal-mining industry wins.

  20. Katz

    I’m predicting that after the election we pomo, inner-city, latte-drinking, moral vacuums can resume our self-hatred without guilt.

    Isn’t democracy grand?

  21. Peterc

    Lefty E, good video.

    And here is Howard’s last ditch election pitch video [link]

  22. Down and Out of Sài Gòn

    Lefty E: I agree with the sentiments expressed in “It’s Time”, but its production has dated pretty badly. It needs a quick and dirty cover version – the dirtier the better to appeal to the 18-29 demographic. I would be happy to crank it out with me bass, but definitely not for the ALP campaign. Rudd will micromanage himself into making TEH NEU TOON sounding like Foreigner or Chicago.

    For inspiration, Lefty, I prefer this Nicholson Animation.

  23. Don Wigan

    Sorta right, Ken.

    The main thing is the radical neo-cons will be defeated.

  24. Phil

    Rudd looked hesitant in his speech and why the heck didn’t the ABC follow the Q and A like they did with Howard?

  25. Lefty E

    They did Phil – Im watching it now

  26. Phil

    Are you in Sydney Lefty E? It ain’t on here in Sydney, I’m on free to air digital and all I can see is a derigible.

  27. Phil

    There you go, right on cue and out of the block to a fast start.

    THE Howard Government is considering banning Islamic scarfs at Australian airports, senior government sources have revealed.

    The security measure would see even the most inoffensive Muslim scarf, the hijab, which covers the hair and neck, banned, along with several other types.

  28. Lefty E

    As Rudd predicted, negative campaign ahoy.

    I assume that will apply to flying nuns too.

    In Melbourne Phil, got it right through to the end on ABC.

  29. Katz

    Photo of Islamic Terrorists in Disguise

    Be alert, but not alarmed, Deo gratia.

  30. Phil

    Ok, must have been a Sydney decision, the Hindenberg and the history of the derigible is more important. We’re different like that up here, all hot air and fireworks. How’d he look?

  31. Alex on a Bus

    I agree with the sentiments expressed in â??Itâ??s Timeâ??, but its production has dated pretty badly. It needs a quick and dirty cover version – the dirtier the better to appeal to the 18-29 demographic.

    While the fact that two of them now work for the ABC might cause a few issues, surely the Frenzal Rhomb boys would be happy to crank out a punk cover of It’s Time.

  32. Ken Lovell
  33. Phil

    I liked this from Rudd.

    The greatest risk for Australia’s future is for the Coalition to return and nothing changes

    Counters the experience line Howard is running and taps in to a mood for change.

  34. another outspoken female

    I guess now really is a good time to turn off the television.

  35. Lefty E

    Oh the humanity…oh the Shananity!

    OK, cue TEH NARROWING, and load TEH BOUNCE, Igor.

    All yer campaign tropes are belong to us!

  36. Darlene

    Julia Gillard’s boyfriend has a past?

    Fancy a middle-aged man having a past?

    Happy election everyone.

  37. doug

    I’m predicting that after the election we pomo, inner-city, latte-drinking, moral vacuums can resume our self-hatred without guilt.

    I am so looking forward to it :-)

    Listening to the world end while sipping a chilled white wine on the verandah of my ivory tower and watching the unionists thugs put the rich up against the wall and shooting them and sending their wives and children to the gulags.

    What simple joys.

    All this shall come to pass if that Nice Mr Howard is not there to keep you safe in your bed at night, mark my words!!!!!

  38. Darlene

    Sorry not sure why I put a question mark on that second sentence.

    I’m wondering if anyone is thinking about the impending demise of the Democrats at this point. Given all the work the Democrats have done over the years, it’s a shame that they’ve come to this. Gives people who don’t want to give a vote to the less compromising Greens little choice.

  39. Darlene

    “I’m predicting that after the election we pomo, inner-city, latte-drinking, moral vacuums can resume our self-hatred without guilt.”

    As an inner-city coffee drinking somewhat pomo moral vacuum, I say surely we never stopped the self-hatred.

    If Rudd wins it’ll take five minutes before the radical left are complaining about his lack of radicalism (as if radicalism wins elections).

  40. Phil

    The Libs have posted the announcement on Goo Tube.

  41. Hampden

    The SMH had an interesting graphic on their main website page …
    it had a picture of both Howard and Costello alongside a picture of Rudd.
    Just the expression and angle of Costello’s look, and the way they have positioned Howard to the side and partially cutoff made me laugh…
    SMH – Howard,Costello v Rudd

    … well it was there for a little while ….
    Someone must a made a quick phonecall …
    It’s now been replaced with this:
    Howard v Rudd

    So much for the “TEAM” :P

  42. Graham Bell

    Everyone:

    Thank goodness. That means that all those everywhere who are interested only in celebrities and circuses can run off and gawk at the celebrities and circuses …. while those who are interested in politics can get back to robust and informative discussions of politics without all the clatter and chatter.

    Several times now, I have expressed doubts that the election would be held — expecting some deus-ex-machina stunt or another to delay/suspend it; I offered to eat Humble Pie if it was actually held. Well, the table has been laid, the Humble Pie prepared and the oven turned on. Dinner will be served very late on Election Night and not a minute beforehand. :-) .

  43. nasking

    Murdoch press going after Gillard’s partner eh?…gimme a break!…how low can this lot get?

    Howard & his media enablers are rolling out like the Luftwaffe’s bombers…it’s “attack, attack, attack & to hell w/ who gets damaged in the process!!!”…but methinks Rudd & the minor parties have got their own brand of Spitfires to take these radical Neo-Con supporters on.

    Great news conference by Rudd…i thought he seemed confident & fired up. I’ve had my problems w/ some of his tactics & views…but he sounded on top of his form today.

  44. su

    I’m wondering if anyone is thinking about the impending demise of the Democrats at this point.

    There was a good interview with Andrew Murray on Radio National this morning; he was trying to sound hopeful about a SA senate seat. He mentioned that Nick Xenophon may get more than a quota and that may help. The interviewer was sceptical.

  45. Bingo Bango Boingo

    Graham, you’re quite right to hold off until election night. As Max Soy says, a single bomb may be all that is needed. Where d’ya reckon it’ll go off? I’m thinking Circular Quay.

    BBB

  46. jinmaro

    Beware of police provocateurs who bang on and max up talk of bombs going off.

  47. Mercurius

    I agree with the sentiments expressed in â??Itâ??s Timeâ??, but its production has dated pretty badly. It needs a quick and dirty cover version

    How about

    “It’s Time, Bitch.”

    ?

  48. Darlene

    “Thank goodness. That means that all those everywhere who are interested only in celebrities and circuses can run off and gawk at the celebrities and circuses …. while those who are interested in politics can get back to robust and informative discussions of politics without all the clatter and chatter.”

    Is life really so either/or, Graham? Someone had a go at me not long ago for being all about bread and circuses, but the fact is most people are interested in a diversity of things. I did a double major in politics, and was a member of the ALP for six years, but I could think of nothing more boring than having nothing but “robust and informative discussions” about politics. Besides, there are many ways to be political, with electoral politics just one of them.

  49. steve

    Beware of police provocateurs who bang on and max up talk of bombs going off.

    Was very active and nasty around APEC too.

  50. Dylwah

    I was really excited this morn, it seemed that it really was about to start, and then i remembered just how boring these elections can be.

    Thanks for the bennelong rock link LeftyE it pumped me up some

    i propose a injunction against anyone called Don having an election night party.

  51. Bingo Bango Boingo

    Far out steve, you try and ridicule this stuff and you get accused of maxing it up! Please tell me you haven’t pegged Graham as a police provocateur…

    BBB

  52. nasking

    Just watched Newspoll chairman Sol Lebovic on Sky News…he’s still promoting the pathetic idea that voters are temporarily parking their support with Labor. He spent the final part of the interview stating that Australian politics had become much more ‘presidential’ (how typical of someone from the Murdoch camp to define Australian politics by using American-based terms)…& Sol also made it clear that King John was on the ‘right’ track w/ his political strategy of promoting ‘strong, right (Wing?) leadership’…yet Lebovic conveniently avoided commenting on Rudd’s ‘fresh, new leadership for Australia’ strategy.

    The News Ltd & other Corporate news camps’ bias is just so obvious. We must demand alternative 24 hour news’ channels to compete w/ Sky News. For the good of our Democracy.

    Foxtel is a valuable pay television system…but it requires more diversity in the Australian news area. The fact that the ABC hasn’t been permitted to run news 24 hours on the cable system tells us everything about this Federal Govt. Tho i imagine once they’ve got the ABC under total control, if gawd forbid! they win another election, we’d see the roll out of an ABC 24hr news channel…but how much do you bet it will be riddled w/ Corporate ads & Government bias?

  53. Bingo Bango Boingo

    nasking, was just watching Howard on the Channel 10 news. At the end of the piece the presenter said that Rudd had declined an invitation to be interviewed. A new, and I would have thought odd, approach to overcoming systemic bias: simply refuse to participate.

    BBB

  54. jo

    if only it was on next saturday…. five more weeks of liberal smears, dog whistles, scare campaigns and pork barrelling to endure….

    on the other hand, i’m really looking to seeing the next round of ACTU tv. adverts. they will work like a dose of salts and flush out the trans-fat sludge that was barbara and her bullshitters…

    how high can the yoof vote climb? 73% – unfriginbelievable!

  55. silkworm

    i’m really looking to seeing the next round of ACTU tv. adverts. they will work like a dose of salts and flush out the trans-fat sludge that was barbara and her bullshitters…

    Love it.

  56. David

    nasking, was just watching Howard on the Channel 10 news. At the end of the piece the presenter said that Rudd had declined an invitation to be interviewed. A new, and I would have thought odd, approach to overcoming systemic bias: simply refuse to participate.

    Why odd? Makes a lot of sense to me. Rudd’s tactic now should just be “avoid any risk”. He’s got it in the bag.

  57. Liam Vows: No Sleep 'Til Poll Day

    I agree with the sentiments expressed in â??Itâ??s Timeâ??, but its production has dated pretty badly. It needs a quick and dirty cover version

    Let’s pass an extra-large top hat around to hire Flava Flav for the duties. He can run around chasing politicians through shopping centres yelling “What Time Is It”, scaring the hell out of small children and confusing the Canberra OPCs.
    Hey, it’s not like he hasn’t totally demeaned himself already.

  58. Bingo Bango Boingo

    Small-target is fine as a strategy, David. But you really ought to take your chances to yell ‘me too’!

    BBB

  59. Cliff

    The media tart refused an interview? He must be on the patches now… good for him, but they give you nightmares.

    But seriously… giving an interview on Channel 10′s 5:00 news is more of an opposition leader than a Prime Minister sort of thing.

    Things that will happen on November 25:

    - Piers Ackerman finally forgets about the Heiner affair, and goes on to other, equally ridiculous causes.

    - Unions suddenly cease to be evil bogeymen and resume their existence as perfectly ordinary, though far from perfect, organizations found in every nation with a healthy civil society and that isn’t terrorized by a totalitarian dictatorship.

    - You guys continue the list. I couldn’t be buggered right now.

  60. nasking

    how high can the yoof vote climb? 73% – unfriginbelievable!

    i wouldn’t trust any of these polls that show sky high support for Labor…some manipulating Corporate pollsters might be setting up for a convenient lowering of support at a later date to create a certain perception…remember the newspoll that was right out of whack a few weeks ago, showing Fed Labor way ahead?…& then even tho the next Newspoll basically reverted to the figures that have been fairly consistent in other polls, the results were hyped & used by News Ltd & the Howeirdians to suggest the Federal Govt. were on a roll, the comeback team.

    trust nothing from a Corporate media that has a lot to gain from the likes of John (Bend over backwards for Corporations) Howard.

    I can’t blame Rudd for avoiding certain interviews. Plenty of Dems in America avoided Fox News in the 2006 mid-term elections…they knew what they’d be served, bias spitballs…& it sure didn’t hurt them.

  61. Lefty E

    - Things that will happen on November 25:
    You guys continue the list. I couldn’t be buggered right now.

    - TEH BOUNCE will arrive at LNP HQ, hungover from the Rudd victory pissup.

  62. Phil

    Things that will happen on November 25: You guys continue the list. I couldn’t be buggered right now

    I won’t be blogging conventionally any more and I can hardly wait.

  63. Dylwah

    Things that will happen on November 25:
    You guys continue the list. I couldn’t be buggered right now.

    my head will hurt

  64. nasking

    And I have to say that setup fluff piece on the ‘Sunday’ program today was outrageous. It demonstrates that the ‘Reconcilliation’ announcement is just another election tactic…nothing bona-fide. Framing ‘Custer’ Brough as a tough, “no reconcilliation symbols required, just get on with the job” ocker but compassionate conservative…& comparing him to the ‘new & suddenly caring about Aboriginal reconcilliation’ Howard…to make it look like the Coalition have got both sides of the debate covered…no wonder Howard said he’d spoken to noone apart from Costello & Vaille…a strategy to ensure that it looked as tho Brough & the others knew nothing…let them off the hook w/ their racist voters (plenty of whom were wheeled out to air the same old prejudices & myths…accompanied by shots of the most poverty stricken Aborigines they could find)…SHAME!

    Every election this government feeds the xenophobes, bigots & racists their daily meals…but gets sneakier & sneakier in how they do it. Too clever by half. The Corporate media are complicit. And I would be very wary of any Labor candidate they promote. The money maker’s ‘Sleepers’ are everywhere.

  65. snorky

    According to Brendan Nelson (on the Insiders this morning), one thing that will happen on November 25 is that if we do what the polls say we’ll do, we’ll all lose our homes. I for one am terrified at the prospect of the grim reaper appearing at my door bright and early (although I do hope not too early), locksmith in tow, saying ‘You were warned …’

  66. Casey

    Im voting for Paul Keating. Who is with me? (don’t nobody rain on my parade)

  67. Mark

    I’m so with you!

  68. Liam Vows: No Sleep 'Til Poll Day

    Heh. If we can vote for non-candidates, I’m voting for Latham.
    And on November 25, I’m putting on about 50 kilos, and coming around to your suburban dressmakers with my union thugs and shutting down the lights.

  69. jinmaro

    It hasn’t really been explored very much, but I do feel the space has opened now somewhat to ponder the following question:

    What has been the configuration, makeup, balance of forces – social, economic, ideological, spiritual – that’s created what’s been the most anti-democratic, callous, sadistic, lethal, craven, provincial, divisive, irresponsible, profligate, mean-spirited, destructive government in Australian history, and which has lasted for 11 years. Possibly longer.

    It would be a shame if the eternal present syndrome allowed this question to remain on the margins or ignored as we go into a 5-6 week election campaign followed by another electoral outcome.

  70. Shaun

    I watched the first 5 minutes or so of Howard’s press conference after visiting the GG and he look tired. Also there was a distinct lack of conviction in his voice and mannerisms. He looks beat.

    I had a yarn to my folks this evening who live in Grafton, whose hospital Howard has promised $18 million providing that a board is elected to run the hospital. This has been tried before and was a disaster. The board was stacked with political appointees which did not help.

  71. Anthony

    Nasking said:

    “Murdoch press going after Gillard’s partner eh?…gimme a break!…how low can this lot get?”

    Better still Guy Rundle’s piece in the Sunday Age:

    “Investigative digging reveals that potential deputy prime minister Julia Gillard is a woman”

    “Further digging reveals Gillard has been a woman for more than 40 years”

    “Barry (formerly Julia) Gillard apologises on orders from Rudd, saying that being a woman was something everyone was doing in the 1970s”

  72. Ken Lovell

    … whose hospital Howard has promised $18 million providing that a board is elected to run the hospital.

    Isn’t this latest idiocy just the biggest laugh? In the twilight of his years, John Howard converts to communitarianism. We’re going to have community boards running schools, and technical colleges, and hospitals … why not just turn everything over to the local councils and be done with it? Oh that’s right, it would be harder to run them from Canberra.

    Like you imply Shaun the ‘election’ would be a complete joke. All positions will be filled with only one nomination … the local ambitious party apparatchiks and assorted allies. Plus the odd harmless eccentric to provide colourful stories in the local newspaper. Oh well, it will make lots of work for the various state anti-corruption commissions, unless Howard removes their jurisdiction.

  73. nasking

    :) …Anthony, gawd forbid if we got a woman PM in Australia oneday, the sky would fall in…

    ummm…unless she was a Neo-Liberal & war-monger eh?…i guess that would be more palatable for the Corporate media…gotta have our wars & rollercoaster markets to make mega bucks on.

    Peace & harmony doesn’t bring in the cash enuff…need the live carnage shots & the fear-invoking rhetoric…& the ups & down of the markets analysed minute by crazy minute…

    gotta keep the viewer’s pulse racing, keep their eyes glued to the screen…& the ads.

    Julia Gillard types might actually spend their days repairing the health system, making education affordable & progressive…they might actually focus on the corruption of the multi-national big wigs & how their raping & pillaging of the environment…& exploiting & screwing over average workers, farmers & small business people…how boring eh?…

    & terrifying if your a media mogul who spends every moment of the day working out how to cover the tracks for the bad Corporations & getting the politicians that benefit them & their mates into power to keep the good times rolling for the CEOS & their Enablers.

  74. tigtog

  75. Tiny Tyrant

    i’m SO ready to become a Rudd-hater.

    f*ck a John Howard. if we all do a full flush in unison, we’ll finally be rid of this nasty little floater.

  76. Shaun

    Like you imply Shaun the ‘election’ would be a complete joke. All positions will be filled with only one nomination … the local ambitious party apparatchiks and assorted allies.

    Exactly Ken. The boards would just be a playground for local political hacks (for any party). It would not be a solution to the current problems.

  77. Graham Bell

    Max Soy:

    “Well looks like that our Chiang Kai-shek had to do it eventually before he truly runs out of options”.

    And just as Chiang Kai-shek [Jiang Jieshi for all you pinyiners] traded space for time as he retreated from the Japanese Imperial Army, our very own “Chiang Kai-shek” traded Australian jobs and resources and opportunities for a pat on the head and a kind smile as he reacted to the opening up of international trade.

    One was a brilliant military strategist in the Second World War; the other is the fantastic manager of Australia’s wonderful economy. Yeah, right. :-(

  78. Graham Bell

    Jinmaro, you said of comments by Max Soy and BingoBangoBoingo:

    “Beware of police provocateurs who bang on and max up talk of bombs going off”.

    Beware too of a desperate and ruthless Prime Minister or his surrogate appearing on TV with a doleful face and delivering a solemn statement that authorities [unspecified] are concerned that an organization [unspecified] is considering a threat [unspecified, naturally] to cause serious harm [again, unspecified] to Australia and Australians and therefore it is with deep regret they announce a very temporary delay in holding the election. Isn’t your safety and the safety of your kiddies ["What about the kiddies"?] far more important than going to all that bother of having a vote? [There, that didn't hurt, did it?]

  79. Frank Calabrese

    Here in Perth we have had our annual Telethon which raises money for Children’s Medical Research. Each Year, the WA Govt donates $100,000 to the appeal which they did, but because it’s the 40th Anniversary, the Carpenter Govt donated an additional $1,000,000.

    At the end of the Telecast, there was a recorded message from the PM, which he used to announce that the Federal govt will donate $500,000.

    To the best of my knowledge, the Feds have NEVER made a donation to Telethon.

    So it looks like howard has done his first post Electiuon Calling piece of Porkbarrelling, only to be out manouvered by the WA Govt about an hour or so earlier.

    WA Government Announcement of their donation..

  80. Frank Calabrese

    Thanks to the mods for moving my post- but yeah it was weird for the Feds to donate – wonder if Kerry Stokes owning 7, and being a major donor to the Libs via the 500 club had anything to do with it ?

  81. Lefty E

    Newspoll 56-44. Beautiful set etc…

    So much for Shanahan’s ‘momentum’ nonsense!

    I ask you, does his arseclownitude know no limit?

  82. Phil

    Kevin07 has finally uploaded Rudds speech.

  83. Brian

    You’ve got to wonder about the MSM. This morning they are saying everywhere that Rudd is in trouble in Qld because he needs 6 seats here and he might only get two.

    Well, hello! On the election pendulum there are only 2 Qld seats in the first 16 seats Rudd needs to win. In fact you have to go to 24 to find the third (Herbert). In the text they say:

    The poll, of 800 residents in the marginal, Liberal-held seats of Bonner (0.5 per cent), Herbert (6.2), Longman (6.7) and Moreton (2.8), found Labor on track to pick up just two of these seats.

    But they are in striking distance of another six or seven.

    Sounds good to me.

  84. amused

    I recommend ignoring the GG and all ‘insider’ gossip and election spak filler for the duration, and simply do what lots of people have been doing since about April 2005. Find and talk to, the people who live in the seats that have to be won, get them active in talking to their friends, and stick to the topic.

    Everything else is a waste of time. The ‘investment’ that the government supporters in the world of media, celebrity, finance and ‘Insiders’ generally have in the whole boiling that has been ‘relaxed and sedated’ since 1996, should be ignored. They have access to ‘voice’ and ‘reach’ that cannot be matched by any blog. Just watch what will happen as things get even more ‘willing’ towards the final two weeks.

    The best place to be, is with the people who will determine what happens, because their views of how the world is supposed to work, as opposed to how it has now been designed to work, is, in reality, a galaxy away from those who are paid a lot to tell everyone what they should think and feel about everything that really doesn’t matter.

    The punters know it. They have stopped listening to the rodent, but now they need to listen to what they must do about how p*ssed off they are about how things are working out. Good bye and good campaigning. See ya all later on.

  85. Ambigulous

    Look can I just say, Kerry, that as I’ve moved around this great nation – and – ya know – there isn’t any better place to live or to raise a family – working men and women are telling me that they’ve been pretty impressed by the Workchoices ads the ACTU has been running, and of course I’ve outlined Labor’s policy on that [click, click] which is fully costed and some very interesting modelling by the Frank Crean Institute, although they’e a touch too neo-Hayekian for mine, shows that the under-28 demographic in all states bar WA, and may I just say that as a Queenslander I have quite a soft spot; and Pastor Niemoeller in the 17th volume of his Collected Works published I think you’ll find originally it was 1962 [click, whirr] in Braunschwieg, makes the point, quite forcefully for a pacifist pastor you’ll indubitably concede, that as far as my front bench is concerned, well what do we know of the Coalition? just that John Howard won’t serve out his full term, ya know Kerry, there’s a few of us wondering what strategic policy options should be workshopped out of DFAT [click, click, low buzz], because quite frankly we haven’t had a whole lot of sense from Mister Downer on this one, kong hee far choy; indeed as Julia and I and sWayne Wann [low beep, whirr], Treasury spokesperson, Kerry, Tony, Fran [whirr, click] …………………

  86. Ambigulous

    ach, Gott im Himmel!

    Braunschweig

  87. adrian

    What amused said.

    Don’t know about anyone else ’round here, but I’m getting bored senseless with the carping negativity regarding Rudd. Maybe some of you need a reality check:

    1. Rudd has to get elected. If you have a better strategy in a highly conservative country, please advise.
    2. Rudd is our only chance to get rid of the worst government in Australia’s history. If Howard gets re-elected, then youse all will have plenty to whinge about.
    3. Nobody knows what Rudd will be like as PM, so let’s to our best to get him elected and see.

    If you have an alternative to ridding ourselves of Howard, please advise. Otherwise your complaints are meaningless self-indulgence IMHO.

  88. Paul Burns

    I’m voting for Doc Evatt. Something to do with civil liberties and freedom of speech.

  89. Cliff

    Things that will happen on November 25:

    The nation prepares for a suite of by-elections as Government ministers, long accustomed to the trappings of power, consider life in opposition and decide to bail.

  90. Ambigulous

    Brian @ 8.18am

    Sounds like they’ve fallen to bickering over the SIZE of the Ruddslide

  91. Paul Burns

    A horrible thought: Rudd wins but by a slender majority. Lineral losers have a series of by-elections therteby winning Govt. Howard returns.
    Plesase tell me I’m just losing it.

  92. steve

    About time the coalition released its ‘Minchin Special’ IR Policy too.

  93. Brett

    It’s ok, Paul, I think you’re losing it :) If sitting Liberal MPs start resigning after an election loss, then the Liberal Party can’t actually increase the overall number of seats: it can only lose ones it already held at the election. So the most likely result would be to increase Labor’s majority; it certainly couldn’t decrease it.

    Unless I mistake your meaning?

  94. Cliff

    I may be jumping the gun here, but it seems there’s going to be a major change in personnel in the coalition after they lose. Is there going to be a talent vacuum, or are we going to see a new and talented generation of liberal leaders in opposition? Will they tear themselves apart like they did in the 80′s?

  95. steve

    Looks like the drunken sailors have launched their first ‘fistful of Dollars’ noncore Tax cut promises.

    PRIME Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello have announced tax cuts for all Australian wage earners.

    In a surprise announcement on the first full day of the election campaign, Mr Howard said the five-year tax plan would involve major restructuring of the income tax system.
    “It represents and most certainly is a major announcement in a series of announcements which are designed to lay out our plans to improve incentive for workforce participation, to provide the opportunity for people who are feeling cost of living pressures in the community to receive some assistance,” he told reporters.

    Mr Howard said the policy would remind the community of the need for incentive in the tax system – for effort, risk-taking, for workforce participation.

    “We believe work is infinitely preferable to welfare,” he said.

    How far away is the other noncore promise of an increase in the frst home buyers scam and other inflationary spending from this pair? Spend up big because the interest rate rise in November will bring it all undone.

  96. Cliff

    In other news:

    OPPOSITION LEADER Kevin Rudd and Shadow Treasurer Peter Wayne Swan have announced their support for Prime Minister John Howard’s announced tax cuts for all Australian wage earners.

    In a hardly surprising announcement on the first full day of the election campaign, Mr Rudd said the five-year tax plan would involve major restructuring of the income tax system.
    â??It represents and most certainly is a major announcement in a series of announcements which are designed to lay out our plans to improve incentive for workforce participation, to provide the opportunity for people who are feeling cost of living pressures in the community to receive some assistance,â?? he told reporters.

    Mr Rudd said the policy would remind the community of the need for incentive in the tax system – for effort, risk-taking, for workforce participation.

    â??We believe work is infinitely preferable to welfare,â?? he said.

  97. steve

    Seems the Government have updated their budget figures too so they could work out how big the bribe was to be.

    THE Federal Government has offered $34 billion in tax cuts as part of a five-year plan, throwing down the gauntlet on tax policy on day one of the election campaign.

    Treasurer Peter Costello unexpectedly released the mid-year budget review today, upgrading growth forecasts and employment growth from previous forecasts, that will generate revenue which will pay for the tax cuts….

  98. Bingo Bango Boingo

    This new tax plan is nothing less than a full-frontal assault on liberal democracy.

    Now the Filthy Liberal has resisted the temptation to immediately respond with a competing tax plan, preferring to keep it under wraps until later in the campaign. But I wonder how long that strategy can last. Can’t Howard simply ask, each and every day, does the ALP support these tax cuts or not? And if they won’t say, why not? Aren’t the Australian public entitled to know about the Filthy Liberal’s tax plan now? Blah blah blah.

    BBB

  99. Ambigulous

    Cunning Wedge

    In a shock move reminiscent of Malcolm Fraser (pre-Sainthood)’s “Fistful of Dollars” election campaign gambit, the Prime Minister and his Treasurer have set out how they would spend up big using the huge surplus, which commentators have alternately been pointing to and ignoring all year, by returning bucketloads of it to taxpayers, FROM WHOM IT CAME.

    In a shock move, the public, which has been teasing the Government by telling pollsters it wasn’t happy in the confident expectation of consequent bribing, has begun figuring out how it’s going to spend the tax cuts. Pensioners, dole bludgers, single mums and aboriginals haven’t rushed to their calculators.

    In a shock move, commentators said “Gee Whizz, ya never coulda seen THIS one comin’!!”

    In a shock move, the polls didn’t move at all. “More bribes, please!” said the voters.

    In a shock move, the Election Pendulum has gone walkabout, as the swings in various seats were getting so diverse, he risked being torn asunder.

    Shockin’ !!!

  100. Ambigulous

    GG and “Core Data” state of the Housein GG online.

    Look, I dunno if I should admit this here, but I had a squizz at their diagram. Labor 126 seats. Coalition 13. Greens 5. Independant (sic) 0. Others 0.

    Then there’s a map, and the Tassie poll figures have Greens ahead of Coalition (27% to 25%) with ALP on 44%.

    About time the Exclusive Brethren weighed in with some anonymous leaflets, isn’t it?

    GollyGoshJeepersCreepersAllBloodyMightyHellsBellsAnd BucketsOfDirtyWater

  101. Ambigulous

    erm… House in GG online

  102. jethro

    Got a pamphlet in the mail extolling Kevin Rudd’s “New Direction for Australia”.

    I hope he’s not planning on turning that into a soundbite, as it will be pronounced “newd irection”.

    I know Kevvie loves his country, but surely not that much.