Politics Super Thread - keep it all in here

[Tiger_Watto]

I reckon we do it again… Do another Election in 4 weeks...

This way all the Donkey Voters and the Swing Voters who were protesting, have time to realise there vote will count for something this time???

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I reckon we do it again… Do another Election in 4 weeks...

This way all the Donkey Voters and the **Swing Voters who were protesting**, have time to realise there vote will count for something this time???

They won't learn until they get bitten. They'll happily vote for them until they pass their carbon tax through _and then_ they will have the hide to complain until everyones ears fall off about how electricity is so expensive.

 

[hammertime]

It still means 56% voted for against them. It's not a FPTP system so primary votes are only part of the picture. In a preferential system 2PP is the more important stat. Doesn't matter if you get 43-44% of the primary vote if you lose the 2PP. Ask Darren Jameson…

it's the 2PP which has us in the deadlock…

 

[hammertime]

Two thoughts on Abbott's actions:

1\. Is he extremely confident he will get the ex-national independents to join with the Coalition or;

2\. A bit left field, but does he even want to form a government? He has assurred his place as Opposition leader till the next election after clawing back at Labor's majority, but does he want to have to negotiate with the Independents? Could be easier to sit on the sidelines for the next 1-3 years and hope cracks start to appear and widen. This would be in the hope he could secure a majority at the next election.

I think it's 3 mate..

that if we have to go back to the polls, he doesn't want to have anything negative to come out in between. So he is trying to minimize the ways that Labor can attack him.

 

[Geo]

I reckon we do it again… Do another Election in 4 weeks...

This way all the Donkey Voters and the Swing Voters who were protesting, have time to realise there vote will count for something this time???

Are you bonkers????????

Waste another 2mins of my Saturday…...No Thanks!!!!!

 

[Yossarian]

I reckon we do it again… Do another Election in 4 weeks...

This way all the Donkey Voters and the Swing Voters who were protesting, have time to realise there vote will count for something this time???

Are you bonkers????????

Waste another 2mins of my Saturday…...No Thanks!!!!!

Just get a postal and fill it during half time!!!

 

[Yossarian]

It still means 56% voted for against them. It's not a FPTP system so primary votes are only part of the picture. In a preferential system 2PP is the more important stat. Doesn't matter if you get 43-44% of the primary vote if you lose the 2PP. Ask Darren Jameson…

it's the 2PP which has us in the deadlock…

Well that's just the way it is. First time in 70 years so no need to get too excited

 

[Yossarian]

Two thoughts on Abbott's actions:

1\. Is he extremely confident he will get the ex-national independents to join with the Coalition or;

2\. A bit left field, but does he even want to form a government? He has assurred his place as Opposition leader till the next election after clawing back at Labor's majority, but does he want to have to negotiate with the Independents? Could be easier to sit on the sidelines for the next 1-3 years and hope cracks start to appear and widen. This would be in the hope he could secure a majority at the next election.

I think it's 3 mate..

that if we have to go back to the polls, he doesn't want to have anything negative to come out in between. So he is trying to minimize the ways that Labor can attack him.

That's a fair assessment. It would be a house only election though (apart from the territories I presume) so it's hard to know whether having an ALP/Green majority in the Senate is an opportunity or a problem for Abbott.

I also think he'll have a harder time not getting Treasury costings over a longer campaign. Gillard will just run on that until Abbott cracks.

Who knows what's going to happen? Katter and the others may demand Rudd returns as PM to back the ALP and then we're back to where we were a few months ago and Julia is back to the sidelines. Unlikely but not totally out of the question given the Mad Katter's comments earlier this week.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

NBN Co has suspended recruitment pending the outcome of the election. They were happy to take applications for various positions right up to election day. Wonder if they know something.

It's treated the same as if a company is purchased, recruitment is frozen until a decision of ownership is made.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

As to Abbott's reaction, there is no doubts he wants to still lead the country, what he is doing is banking on the fact he has stood his ground, given little information that could cause him some trouble in the future. Further to this the majority of people don't really value the independents he won't cause much trouble for those guys due to the margin in which they own their respective seats. So really what does he have to lose? Yeah sure the chance to win government but realistically if he wins 1 independent over we go for a re-election, if he doesn't then who would want to realistically lead in the current environment that faces whoever is in charge - it will be very difficult to get any policy through as you would like to without alot of comprimise or additional cost of other policies.

 

[citizen_cub]

If Liberal had a better leader at this election, they would have won quite comfortably. With the turmoil Labor were in just 2 months ago, any good leader would have put Labor to the sword, and captilised on issues like the Mining Tax, Carbon Tax, School Halls programme, Border Protection policy etc. So much ammunition and so little bullets fired, he didn't push his case, he didn't convince the public he was the man for the job and hence why we are in the situation we are today. Liberal should really take a better look at the candidates on offer, surely there must be someone better than Abbott

Completely agree Cub. Hockey is the man to lead the Liberal to the next election. He would have done a much better job than Abbott, he is far more real and likeable.

Abbott is a Rhodes Scholar so he has the smarts to do a good job, but he just doesn't come across well.

In other news, they have done a poll on the independents electorates to see who they would support..

http://www.news.com.au/features/federal-election/support-tony-abbott-voters-tell-independents/story-fn5tas5k-1225910138530" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yeah Hockey is more up front than Abbott and as you said more likeable. I also wouldn't mind if Turnbull returned to the job, he's still a member so he's still active on the political scene. However, he was in favour of an ETS which would work against him if he came back. Win, Lose or another election, Abbott's been the winner this election, he's resurrected the Coaltion from a dysfunctional, unstable party to a party staring down the thought of an election victory, not bad if your a Liberal fan like myself :wink:

 

[Yossarian]

Looks like final numbers (assuming Libs hang on to Brisbane) will be:

Coalition 72
WA Nationals 1
ALP 72
Green 1
Ind 4

Unless they can convince Crook or an indie to be speaker that leaves them with 71 on the floor against a potential 74 left-leaning votes (ALP+Wilkie+Brandt). So they'd need Crook and all 3 independents to vote with them to win 75-74\. If any one of those 4 voted against they'd lose 74-75\. That's a tough slog over 3 years.

On the other side Labor would have 71 floor votes against 72 Coalition votes (73 if you include Crook). Add the Green and Wilkie and they're up to 73-73 so they'd need 2 out of the three independents to support them to win a vote. If we were talking about 3 middle of the road independents you'd say the ALP was in a better position but they are ex-Nats. Still given the hostility between them it may work against them. Crook seems to be hostile towards the federal Coalition as well.

 

[system]

Looks like the worst case scenario has occured and the Family First party will hold some sway in the Senate

 

[stryker]

Its almost got to the stage where you'd feel sorry for whoever wins.

I agree with Watto, lets do it again with a record roll out and get a difinitive winner

 

[citizen_cub]

These Independants are all amateurs. All they're doing is soaking up the atmosphere and are basically sending out the message to the leaders that 'we're in control'. And then you've got this Greens MP who's already committed himself to Labor and is trying to be involved in this as little as possible. All the Independents are concerned about is what's in it for their respective electorates. It's a joke, who'd want to vote for a [This word has been automatically removed]en independent anyway? They've shown over the week what amateurs they are and it sends shivers down my spine to think these people could potentially decide the future of this nation. As Stryker said, let's go back to the polls and we'll almost definitely get a clear winner.

 

[shiretiger]

The independants are effectivly stalling to see who actually:

1\. has the most seats; and
2\. if they finish equal - who has the most votes.

Patience is required. All will become known soon.

 

[citizen_cub]

Bob Katter has to be the biggest redneck in the history of politics doesn't he? Hear what he said the other day, 'all I'm concerned about is getting back to my electorate', shows how disinterested he is in committing to either side and reaffirms my point about having another election. Why have guys who are 'Independents' as their name suggests, deciding who governs? Those type of comments also are the type on which city people make presumptuous comments about country people i.e. what a bogan, what redneck etc.. Not sending out a good image about Rural Australia, having experienced both the city and country, this is not typical of country people, they're usually friendly, affable and considerate people, not rednecks.

 

[NJLM78]

Its almost got to the stage where you'd feel sorry for whoever wins.

I agree with Watto, lets do it again with a record roll out and get a difinitive winner

Imagine the amount of time and effort Gillard and Abbott and their respective parties would spend in some of these very close seats (According to last Saturdays election) if we went to another election. Tony Abbott would spend plenty of time around those marginals in Victoria and Julia Gillard would take up residence in QLD. The Liberals would go to all ends to get Wilson Tuckeys seat back and Labor would go hard at that Hobart seat that went to the independant. It would be interesting times.

 

[Student_of_the_game]

"..your kids either have or soon will have a laptop computer"- Rollingstone

That completely contradicts the NBN as it requires people to be stationary…

 

[Yossarian]

"..your kids either have or soon will have a laptop computer"- Rollingstone

That completely contradicts the NBN as it requires people to be stationary…

No, it doesn't.