Seems some of thou people wanteth a shakesphere night
Is our australian speech not good enough f’r thou?
The sooth hath rear’d it’s ugly headeth. Some of youse art all closet monarchists pining f’r the speech of mother England.
Abbott supp’rt’rs thou be. hoping that he will conf’r a knighthood ‘r damehood upon thy heads.
BB and nyself art gravely dissapoint’d in youse but if this is thy wisheth f’r the night so be it.
Thy raffles will be runeth as ingraft if ck can und’rstandeth thy wishes.
I will siteth in the c’rn’r and drinketh a few ales and bemoan what mineth po’r establishment hath becometh.
Geteth stuck in and begineth thy tales of good and bad,evil and delighteth.
I hopeth thou enjoyeth this fine evening and best of lucketh.
THE PUB 
Puffy,
Fair enough.
Perhaps the party will learn from this, who knows.
But to blame the “debacle” of the WA rerun on Bullock and the right wing of the party is a bit too simple I think.
The event was unique and any number of factors and combinations could have been at play.
Lot more votes to be counted and labor may well get a second seat.
A bit early to jump to any conclusions just yet I think.
Cheers.
REally time to go for me.
A great day to all.
“Current Australia wide polling has labor in a very good position at a federal level.”
doyley…You know my commentry, you have, no doubt read BB.’s commentry and leones and others..i wont speak for them, but I can say that we here on The Pub are a hard-core mob of Labor people….now, reading MY comments…do you think I am stupid?…does the Labor hierarchy think we are all stupid?…some sort of effing idiots?….sure, we few don’t win or lose elections for them…but we ARE the inducive voice of a greater mass of opinion…and while the mass never goes online to voice it’s concerns, the Party would do well to look toward the “safety-valve” of social media voices to do it’s polling rather than some pathetic, insular focus group!
It is polling good at a federal level because many people still base their hope in fair social policy which they expect only Labor can deliver…and we all live in hope……but there is doubt there….there is doubt!
A very insistent interviewer on ABC-24 was trying to have Gary Gray unload on Labor.
He pointed out to her that if Labor wins a second Senate seat, then they’ve done pretty well, actually.
Yet this was the “official” ABC-24 tweet:
Try as she might, she couldn’t get an old campaigner like Gray to shit in his own nest.
When you think about it, Gray has a point: bums on seats in the Senate is what this by-election is all about. There’s more than one way to skin that particular cat.
IF Labor gets that extra seat, via Greens or PUP (or both) preferences, then, for the next six years (and certainly the next three), that’s the way the numbers will fall, where it counts… in the Senate.
I take it said ABCette was doing what passes for analysis in that august body these days.
I think the media is at fault just as well as Bullock. While he was an idiot to say things like that at any time, the fact is that he said it back in November and the media sat on the story until 2 days before the Senate election and then gave it saturation coverage when it was too late for Labor to do anything decisive about it (Bullock’s name was already on the ballot papers, and if they kick him from the party then Labor would have won 0 senate seats if Pratt misses out).
Murdoch is still acting as Abbott’s Propaganda Minister and is probably sitting on many more stories like this that will be released to protect him. It’s honestly making me sick and I don’t know how it can be effectively combatted. An evil man covering the arse of another evil man and both have real power.
But still, I’m waiting to see how the postal votes go. If Bullock’s bollocking up is really the cause, then the postal votes would be better for Labor and Pratt might get over the line. If they don’t, then that’s somewhat worse news because Bullock would then not be the main cause of Labor’s miserable vote as he was largely out of sight until this week, and also Pratt will most likely lose.
I tend to agree with Doyley in this argument, jaycee, but accept that none of it fits into a simple equation, and there is plenty to support both sides. Even Rudd, the most poisonous factor in the whole argument, is not simple.
His media-based, one-man-band approach alienated more of the Right powerbrokers than the Left, but it was not a black-and-white issue and included a few from the Left. Despite the well-informed Piping Shrike’s views, I think it was a lot more complex than just Rudd cutting out the powerbrokers. Once the media turned there was the very real prospect of being turfed out after one term, with bugger-all achievement to show for it all. There were the lesser powers of junior ministers, caucus and the public service all pissed off or excluded from the process.
The leaking bombshells in the 2010 campaign forced the situation where JG had to negotiate a minority government. She eventually turned that into an asset because it brought out her great skills in negotiating and getting consensus. And over time she achieved great things for the nation. But holding government by a hair’s breadth, and being subjected to Rudd’s media undermining … forced a close alliance with people like de Bruyn, Farrell and the shoppies. Her need of the independents, however, meant that she wasn’t totally beholding to them.
I’d agree with billie that she was of the Left, albeit her strongest supporters were from the Right, and she herself was a pragmatist committed to reforms. Rudd was from the Right in origins, but his strongest support was probably from the media and the Left.
As to the loss, I apportion the largest share to the media and their backers, as our friend Andrew Elder has so consistently chronicled. Never had there been such an embargo on reporting anything good about Gillard or in questioning anything Abbott asserted; and in pandering to Rudd’s little games.
Within the Party, the most openly treacherous were people like Fitzgibbon and Bowen, who were part of what might be called the Entitlement Right in NSW. Bowen frightened me a little. According to C@tmomma, who knew his father locally, Bowen’s only motive was to become Treasurer and supporting Rudd seemed to be the way of achieving that. But we should never forget that Albo and the Left remained steadfast for Rudd even when working closely with Gillard.
If we hadn’t had the media sideshow, if we hadn’t had the Rudd distraction, the government might just have had enough oxygen to explain its policies and achievements. Its economic and employment record was better than most governments in our history, and that should have been enough alone to justify re-election. The reforms, if allowed to mature, would have made it one of our great governments.
Now we just have to pick up the pieces after the Abbott wrecking ball has finished.
Some things in life come complete.
One daughter with husband in tow (he’s a big bit of kit).
Walking down the local Mall I see some strange dudes and flick a left arm at her.
A Strong wrist grip and a tucking in behind.
We’ve done this on the London Embankment many times.
Worth the money.
Kirsdarke 10.45
Comment on Lenore’s piece at the Graudian to the effect that a distraction from Sinodinos was required, to which I added my modest voice in agreement.
The MSM created the Abbott phenomenon & will defend him for a long time yet, as they’re defending their creation & therefore themselves.
The MSM’s blood lust kicks in, almost depite themselves, occasionally, as witness the head wobble moment. And Arfur was too good to pass up plus it would have been difficult to ignore. But what Robert Manne called in another context “the relentless drumbeat” of the MSM continues. Labor = Bad, Had Its Day, etc.
Something is rotten in the State of WA.
All those here crapping on about the ALP dumping the ‘right wing’ need to wise up.
Not at all defending Joe Bullock who I feel is a shocking candidate but to infer the ALP would of done better with someone like Louise Pratt at the top of the ticket is utter rubbish.
There is no way Pratt would gain any of the traditional ALP vote, might be harsh but a lesbian who has a transgendered partner and seems to care more about issues such as ssm and refugees does not represent the views of many traditional Labor voters. Especially from a state like WA.
Just as Bullock is too far right for many, Pratt is way too left for a huge proportion of WA voters except for those who would vote green anyway.
We need less candidates like both Bullock and Pratt IMO.
Big plans for Queensland. Pity about the environment.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-06/5369388
Sorry , GD….it’s Jay and The American’s version for me.
Well, Todd’, GD. and others…even YOU doyley’…I suppose I was coming on a tad strong about it all…and i agree with Todd on his analysis..but I do wish that Labor would “stabilise the boat”, hold policy and forge ahead….and for chrissake do some indepth study on preselection candidates.
Watching insiders and just heard Cassidy stating that the media WON’T allow Labor to run a scare campaign on the GST.
With that statement Cassidy sums up once and for all what a bias bunch of fuckwits he and his journo mates have become!
Jaycee, that’s my main point. Both candidates were absolute duds, in fact I firmly believe that here in WA Bullock is more likely to gain votes for Labor than Pratt was.
“…just heard Cassidy stating that the media WON’T allow…” …..and just who the “F” are these “media”…bloody Cassidy!!…I told you we should’ve shafted these bastards like Cassidy!….surely someone out there knows some dirt about the old piss-wreck?…What about that time he was seen in a drunken frenzy rooting the exhaust pipe of Packer’s ‘E-type’ Jag’?
CTar1….A rather cryptic post!…what does it all mean?
Rusted-on voters of any party will just vote 1 above the line as instructed, regardless of who is in the No 1 spot. I betcha most don’t even know who they are voting for. Dracula could get the top spot and would be elected. I’m sorry to say that for most people voting is a chore to done as quickly as possible so they go with the easy option.
Have to chuckle at your response Todraff77. I’ve just been on the phone to a friend who said, almost word for word, exactly the same. Even so, there were several people who stopped by me yesterday and quietly told me “I put Bullock at 77”, information that I do not remember being vouchsafed to me at either of the previous elections I’ve volunteered for.
I think that there needs to be some deep evaluation of both candidate selection and promotion of policies by the ALP, and a review of how the media is ‘fed’ information.
The thing is, there are always more important things to think about in an ordinary life than keeping an eye on what our representatives are doing. But we, as citizens, need to start supervising our representatives more, because otherwise they forget that they are there for all of us and not just for the people who donate (overly generously?) to their cause.
Sometimes real life looks very much like a parody………………………
And more – Julie Bishop checks out Michaelia Cash’s – er – assets.
Hours of teasing went into that hair.
Oh dear! Yesterday morning at the railway bridge near the corner of Flinders and Spencer Streets, Melbourne:
In the past months we constantly heard about the drudgery of having to go back to the polls. I can never understand why it should be such an unpleasant task to actually let your personal opinion be known on polling day. But the media have it so entranched in the minds of people that they believe that a simple walk up or down the road to vote is an unbearable duty.
Today’s Dyson:
The Idiot thought yesterday’s senate election was just a by-election – he kept referring to it as that – and he seems to think his side did really well. This morning in Tokyo Abbott found a few moments between a bike ride and a BBQ to do a presser. Maybe he should have taken a few more moments to get his facts straight. He seems to be talking about an entirely different election.
Afghani women on election day:
Dumb and Dumber, in their unrelenting search for virginity lost, adorn themselves in white robes in the mistaken belief that it will deflect from that which in their souls.
It could also be seen as an unconscious rejection of any coloured race and the belief in the Aryan one.
And the whinging starts –
Australian Sports Party candidate Wayne Dropulich pitches suing Australian Electoral Commission
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/australian-sports-party-candidate-wayne-dropulich-pitches-suing-australian-electoral-commission/story-fnhocxo3-1226875688311
The falling vote for this idiot and his party of hoons and poo fighters might have had something to do with the nasty sexist amd homophobic ‘joke’ he put on his Facebook page a few weeks ago.
Gigilene,
Au contraire, I think it is a highly deliberate rejection – a marketing campaign (aka dog-whistling / subliminal messaging) that’s been in progress for some time. See, for example:
leone
Wayne WHO?
An Australian political one hit wonder.
Julie Bishop really stuffed things up on Insiders this morning. She was asked a simple question abvout Australian aid to the Solomon Islands. She just couldn’t get it right, confused thousands and millions and said 250,000 plus 50,000 adds up to 350,000.
BARRIE CASSIDY: I just want to ask you about the Solomon Islands and the flood that’s going on there because, did I hear it right when I heard that Australia had offered $50,000?
JULIE BISHOP: No, it’s $300,000. On Friday night we gave them $50,000 of – $50 million, sorry, what am I talking about, we’ve $350 million. On Friday evening we gave them $50 million of immediate relief – humanitarian supplies. It’s now $350, and what – $350,000 – I’ve got to get this right.
BARRIE CASSIDY: That’s what I thought I heard that it was $50,000, which is..
JULIE BISHOP: No, no…
BARRIE CASSIDY: …which is nothing.
JULIE BISHOP: That was immediate humanitarian supplies. It’s now $350,000 – $300,000 in supplies: $50,000 plus $250,000. And we have got two RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) flights leaving full of equipment. One will be taking engineering equipment to set up their airport, which has been devastated. So we’ve got lights and equipment and engineers. And then another will be filled with humanitarian supplies and relief workers.
So – $300,000, two RAAF planes, and teams of relief workers and engineers.
And on Friday I spoke to prime minister Lilo. He was very grateful for our support. He said that this is what he wanted – he wanted engineers and relief workers. They didn’t want money at this stage because they want actual equipment and people. But we stand ready to support the Solomon Islands. We have got some RAMSI people there, you know, from the Regional Assistance Mission there, and they’ll also be working with them
So Australia’s a very close friend of the Solomon Islands and we’ll certainly do what we can to support them at this time.
But the $50,000 was just immediate humanitarian relief, as soon as we heard. Now another $250,000 as well as the RAAF, and we’ve also got volunteers – Australian volunteers too, heading over on these planes.
http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2014/s3979316.htm
Also from that interview and Abbott’s earlier remarks it’s clear the Liberal spin on the senate election is “It was just a by-election and by-elections always give a bit of a backlash aganst the government”
It will be interesting to watch the negotiations between Abbott & Co and Palmer. For every piece of legislation Palmer agrees to support he will extract his “pound of flesh”. There will be a condition that benefits Palmer attached to every piece.
fiona
I tried to restrain myself because of the delicate subject of racism. But why restrain myself when it’s so blatantly obvious?
leonetwo
It was bizarre how long Mesma was discombobulated over the numbers. Deliberate ? Look over there ? The numbers are also interesting in that NZ sent actual people BUT they also sent $50,000 in immediate aide to their local diplomat and said they were promising another $300,000 , exactly the same numbers Mesma eventually came up with.
Bishop is rarely articulate when she talks about humanitarian relief or foreign aid. It’s a suject that clashes with her DNA. She’s not known to be generous to the needy.
white is a weird colour to wear for the occasion. White reflects all shades of the light spectrum, and as such says nothing, which to me is the basis of they symbolism of virginity (to be unknowing) and death (the spirit has left the body).
I remember being at a soccer club do back in the 1990’s. In the Ladies about four of us were peering in the mirror touching up our hair and lipstick, I noticed we were all wearing black and white, a popular combination that year. I saw with some horror and a lot of amusement an line of David Jones bags with legs.
I never again wore black or white or b&w without a brightly coloured scarf or other accessory. I wear black and pink sometimes but I cannnot help the feeling I looked like a licorice allsort. 😆
NEW POST. Comments here will close soon.
White doesn’t always mean virginity. It can imply sterility, coldness, isolation or aloofness. All those things give a totally different meaning to the choice of white by Liberal women.
gigilene
[But the media have it so entrenched in the minds of people that they believe that a simple walk up or down the road to vote is an unbearable duty.]
Damn right. But of course promoting such attitudes suit certain un-named media owning , to quote Talcum, ” demented plutocrats”. I am a kiwi who is against compulsory voting. but been here so long that I must vote or get nasty letters from the AEC.. I’d vote compulsory or not but for anyone to complain about voting as some sort of drudgery is pure shite.
For what it’s worth, I don’t give a fig for left/right rubbish. I firmly believe Labor is Labor and am of the opinion that candidates selected should agree on oath that they will never ever stoop to dissing the party or fellow colleagues to the media. Should an MP or Senator make public statements such as Bullock did, then the penalty is immediate expulsion. Any dissent about the party, its leader, or colleagues, must be kept in-house and not used as a blackmail tool by taking it to the media.
I am all for compulsory voting. Democracy is too precious to be undermined by sheer laziness.