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OZ VOTES 3
ABC reports John Howard has phoned Kevin Rudd to concede defeat. Current predicted Labor margin: 24 seats. Nick Minchin says result is “tragic for us on the conservative side of politics”. Julia Gillard says Howard will be remembered with “respect and affection”.
UPDATE. Jeff Kennett: “Not only are the Democrats gone, but the Greens achieved nothing, after all that effort ...” Not entirely - they did hand over the usual bunch of preferences to their ALP pals. Overall Green vote up only 0.6% on 2004, despite big early numbers.
UPDATE II. Pronounced by Julia Gillard, “ably” contains three syllables. Peter Costello is claiming that, just like Liberal leadership rival Malcolm Turnbull, he’ll achieve an improved vote - against massive national trends.
UPDATE III. John Howard arrives at the Wentworth Hotel to concede.
UPDATE IV. Howard congratulates Rudd on “very emphatic victory”. Says it has been a privilege to be Prime Minister of “this very beautiful country ... the Australian people are the greatest people on earth, and this is the greatest country on earth.” He’s leaving on some perfect notes. Australia will miss this bloke more than it knows. Howard also, as did Mal Brough, urges that Labor support ongoing intervention in wretched Aboriginal areas. Thanks staff for putting up with a “sometimes cantankerous” Prime Minister during the past few months. Lots of smiles. Final words as PM: “I wish the government elected by the people of Australia the very best in the years ahead.” Nick Minchin describes it as “a great speech from a remarkable man.”
UPDATE V. Kevin Rudd advances on the stage in Queensland. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT MUSIC?
UPDATE VI. Rudd: “Today Australia has looked to the future ... we as a nation will move forward ... we will write a new page in our nation’s history.” Promises to “always govern in the national interest”, which is a relief. Vows to “forge consensus” on issues of common interest. Veers towards template campaign speech at midpoint. Thanks “life partner” Therese.
Audience enthusiasm seemed to trail off a few times, particularly when Rudd mentioned “the worst drought Australia has ever suffered” (crowd applauded, hesitantly) and when he described the suffering of a long-time staffer: “He’s had to put up with me for FIVE YEARS!” (crowd applauded, nervously). Phrase “You know what?” used three times. “Working families” once.
Would I be right in thinking it is only a 5% swing back into power?
Posted by surfmaster on 2007 11 24 at 07:20 AM • permalinkor is 5% the interest rate rises that will get us back into power?
Posted by surfmaster on 2007 11 24 at 07:21 AM • permalinkHalf an hour ago I heard Marius Benson on News Radio interviewing Alexander Downer. MB seemed fixated on the idea that Mr Downer would toss away his retained seat and quit politics because Downer wouldn’t want to be back in Opposition.
Downer handled him expertly, of course, but the repeated questions along those lines said something about Mr Benson’s way of thinking.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 11 24 at 07:25 AM • permalinkOnce again the so-called Green coming-of-age has proved to be a damp squib. And Kerry Nettle’s gone. Yay.
The Greens = Biggest bunch of political poseurs since the Australia Party.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:27 AM • permalinkAnd Cid, thanks for the good wishes.
There’s a couple of new trolls running loose around here apparently of the mind that we will all curl up and die here at Tim’s site. What a waste that would be of all the good material that Kev & Co are going to provide.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 11 24 at 07:27 AM • permalinkI don’t think we will, but it’s hard to be sure. Fingers crossed they won’t do anything too crazy!
Don’t you worry, those yanks will soon elect Hillary! and Kevin will have found his soul mate.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:27 AM • permalinkI think I shall enjoy being a supporter of the Opposition for a while. Having observed the Left over these last years, there are some things I’ve sworn that as an Opposition Supporter I will never do. They include the following:
- say ‘I’ve lost faith in the Australian voters’
- refer to the Prime Minister as anything other than ‘the Prime Minister’, ‘Kevin Rudd’, or ‘Mr Rudd’. I will not call him a worm, a c***, a f***wit, or anything else that requires substituting stars for alphabet characters
- pledge to move to another country, and then not do it
Bolta reckons Turnbull will be Opposition Leader. Surely Costello would be a more likely choice - with Turnbull in charge of the Shadow Treasury?
Posted by Villeurbanne on 2007 11 24 at 07:31 AM • permalinkSwinish
There’s a couple of new trolls running loose around here apparently of the mind that we will all curl up and die here at Tim’s site.
Good friend, then those of that mind, need a new one..
Now off, before the threesome that are my partners in committing golf, club me with sand wedges.
Wouldn’t mind if ‘they’ were pastrami on rye, but they are not…:).
I think Bolt is of the opinion Costello has no bottle for the leadership - he deferred to Downer, he deferred to Howard, then he wouldn’t challenge.
Still, Costello/Turnbull is quite plausible, particularly with the good showing he had in Wentworth.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:33 AM • permalinkJohn Howard doesn’t disappoint - as gracious a concession speech as I expected. A real statesman.
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 07:42 AM • permalinkInteresting….Coalition still holds 34 seats in the Senate. Labor will need Greens + Family First + Anti-Pokies guy to pass legislation.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:44 AM • permalinkOh wait, still 6 undecided. Scratch that.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:45 AM • permalink#22 - And the Senate won’t change until next year so the Coalition still has complete control until then.
Posted by Villeurbanne on 2007 11 24 at 07:45 AM • permalinkLet to rot begin. Being economically protected in Canberra, watching the Australian economy nosedive will be like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I hope none of the great people in this blog become casualties of the next few years of potential green-socialist mismanagement.
Entertainment for the future: Counting Rudd’s backflips, watching the green and union factions tear each other apart, blogging leftards back into submission (this job starts now).Posted by CanberraNeoCon on 2007 11 24 at 07:46 AM • permalinkApple 77 - Howard is a gem. There’s more class in his little finger than the entire weight of any other politician around.
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 07:50 AM • permalinkJust where the hell is this man when you really need him?
Posted by surfmaster on 2007 11 24 at 07:51 AM • permalinkLet’s wait till we get another criminally incompetent ALP government, rather than one with just the potential to be incompetent.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 07:53 AM • permalinkPogria, I’ve been a fan of Howard’s since his previous concession speech in the 1980s. I was absolutely stunned by his good grace and decency. Then Hawke or was it Keating came on and crowed and skited like a jackass. The contrast could have been greater.
And now, being unable to bear such a contrast again, we’ve switched channels to The Empire Strikes Back…
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 07:58 AM • permalinkPIMF - ‘couldn’t’ have been greater…
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 07:59 AM • permalinkThat was without doubt the best concession speech I have ever heard. Howard is certainly a gem and it was deeply saddening to see Channel 7 flashing up “The Howard era is over”.
Too right, Howard, we’ve given Labor a country in it’s very prime, the greatest nation and people on earth. If there is any justice on earth, Howard will go down as our greatest Prime Minister, Curtin included.
Did anyone else think of Gettysburg with Lee’s speech to the remnants of Pickett’s Division when they watched this concession speech?
33 - I was thinking the same thing. Lightning probably won’t strike twice, but ‘tis a bemusing image to contemplate.
Posted by Simon Darkshade on 2007 11 24 at 08:02 AM • permalink# 46 I am not familiar with that one, but the speech by the German officer at the end of Band of Brothers comes to mind.
Posted by surfmaster on 2007 11 24 at 08:02 AM • permalinkI’m with you lotocoti.
I’m sooooo looking forward to seeing Costello unleashed.
To Costello, Australia’s PM 2011.
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:02 AM • permalinkHere comes Kevin.
This should be interesting
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:04 AM • permalinkWhat’s with the porno music at Rudd’s speech?
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 11 24 at 08:06 AM • permalink#53 Well, it’s because we’re screwed.
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:07 AM • permalinkBow-chicka-bow….
To all those who said the strip club wasn’t a meaningful sign….
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:07 AM • permalink“Australia, it’s time to get it on…and did I mention my opposition to contraception? Bow chicka wow!”
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:08 AM • permalinkSo Kevin is going to be a Prime Minister for all Australians.
What about those of us who don’t want him and his socialism?
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:10 AM • permalinkKevin will do this, he will do that, he will always have an open door.
“I want to put aside the old battles of the past, the old battle between business and unions,... between federal and state….”
He’s wanting a revolution methinks.
He’s also not saying anything much about the Party.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:13 AM • permalinkAny takers on how long it will be before the new Federal Government is in crisis?
I’m thinking when they hand out portfolios.
—Nora
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:14 AM • permalinkLOL He wants the Great Australian Fair Go to have a future and not just a past.
And he wants to keep the economy working so it delivers to Working Families (TM)
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:15 AM • permalinkCrap but I wish 10 would get back to The Empire Strikes Back. Kevni has the acting talent of a porn star too.
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:16 AM • permalinkOkay, so he’s finally getting around to saying something about the ALP.
How long did that take>?
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:17 AM • permalinkKruddy’s new theme song.
you may have to substitute a few words, but the essence is the same.‘supported by the great Australia trade union movement’... man but it didn’t take long for the mask to come off.
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:19 AM • permalinkI don’t know about you guys, but when I’m at a great party I always go straight to the computer and comment on blogs.
Rather than, you know, socializing.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:20 AM • permalinkAnd now we’re sucking up to the unions.
Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence here in Bogan Central.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:20 AM • permalinkFor those commentators in the earlier thread that were taking comfort in the fact that they were commonwealth public servants, I would counsel you to speak to anyone who was in the Qld public service when ruddy came in as head of cabinet. I was. To quote Rowan Atkinson “Bend over Blackadder it’s poker time”
Posted by Just Another Bloody Lawyer on 2007 11 24 at 08:20 AM • permalinkLiberal sycophants…
Show half the humility in defeat that Howard has just demonstrated.
You may not have voted for Rudd but a majority of Australians have done so. Respect that and let it play out.
Labor has a mandate to rule for 3 years. Like it or lump it…but whatever you please stop your whining.
And for the record I am a swinging voter. I voted for Howard in 1996. I am considering voting Liberal in the next NSW state election,
People just came to believe that the economic good times were the normal state of affairs. Tomorrow their education will begin.
Posted by Harry Buttle on 2007 11 24 at 08:21 AM • permalinkLike it or lump it…but whatever you please stop your whining.
What? Since when are we not allowed to complain about our elected leaders? They must be praised without question? Since when?
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:23 AM • permalinkOh and for me, the Bar believes that we are last into a recession and first out. Now why did that come to mind tonight?
Posted by Just Another Bloody Lawyer on 2007 11 24 at 08:24 AM • permalinkJust Another Bloody Lawyer - too right. I was there too.
—Nick
Life partner? ‘And y’know something? She’s had a tough year as well!’ More than a year.
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:24 AM • permalinkThe disgusting thing is that no fewer than five seats are recording swings in excess of ten percent. There were losses in there that should never have ended up in that category.
Still, looks like the Lib’s actually came ahead in the West. Its just all those east siders who are the problem. Too bloody many of them.
#96 agile, after all the bile that the lefties have been dumping on John Howard and co for the last umpteen years, and especially the last couple of weeks, I think we’re allowed to speak freely.
We are still in a free country, aren’t we?
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 11 24 at 08:26 AM • permalinkre 96.
“Liberal sycophants…
Show half the humility in defeat that Howard has just demonstrated.
You may not have voted for Rudd but a majority of Australians have done so. Respect that and let it play out. “
FMD, that was quick! we ‘liberal sycophants’ put up with leftist whining about everything in the world being Howards fault for 11 years straight. get used to it sister, we’ve bought and paid for the right to return the favour.Posted by Harry Buttle on 2007 11 24 at 08:26 AM • permalinkPeople have genuine concerns on how he is going to govern, with question marks over things like union influence. I don’t see how being troubled by such things is “denying the will of the people”. Yes, the ALP won convincingly. No one is denying that. There’s a lot of people here who didn’t vote for him, however, so there’s no surprise there are elements of Rudd, the ALP or its platform not to their liking. I see no reason why they can’t air them without getting lectured and pretty much told that they are “ungracious” for airing their opinion.
Pull your head in, agile.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:28 AM • permalinkIn other words agile, the term “liberal sycophants” was totally uncalled for. People are allowed to prefer one side or another without it making them “sycophants”.
Are ALP voters “Labor sycophants”?
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:31 AM • permalinkYeah well agile, if you come into a thread and throw around terms like “sycophant” and start preaching to people about how terrible and ungracious they are, you’re likely to get it thrown back in your face.
Be gracious to people and they’ll do the same to you in return.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:33 AM • permalinkJust another lying leftie troll pretending to be what he ain’t…
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:33 AM • permalinkRighto agile, away with you and your kindergarten approach to politics.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 11 24 at 08:36 AM • permalinkFor what it’s worth, I thought Rudd’s speech was excellent. Good for him.
When he was reciprocally gracious towards John Howard, I was unimpressed in the extreme by the member of his audience who shouted “Howard’s a wanker”.
May Rudd root out such arseholes from his base, and send them back to the fringe.
Goodnight comrades.
Well, I just dropped two gorillas on this clusterfuck of an election.
Now at least I can sit back and watch this gang of two bob socialists self destruct over the next three years, and nod wisely and say “I told you so”.
Thanks to a wily and cunning accountant, I have protected myself against the impending raids on my wallet that will begin when the Gubbmint trough starts to dry up.
Graceful in defeat? Fuck that. The war just started.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 11 24 at 08:36 AM • permalinkAgile, why is standing firm to a set of ideals ‘rusted’?
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:38 AM • permalinkHow lame. The first act of Rudd’s Prime Ministership should be to sack his current speechwriter and hire John Howard.
Posted by Alex of Canberra on 2007 11 24 at 08:41 AM • permalinkAny bets on how long it will take for Labor to stuff the country?
Posted by Guardian_Angel on 2007 11 24 at 08:41 AM • permalinkJust received this by SMS:
The Labor party today announced it is going to change the Australian emblem from an Emu and Kangaroo, to a condom. This is because it reflects the Labor party’s political stance more correctly.
A condom allows for substantial inflation, halts production, destroys the chances of the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks and gives you a strong sense of security while you are actually being fucked.
Nice.
It’s going to be entertaining when everyone else does what Kevvie did in the House of Reps.
He deliberately turned his back on Howard, Costello and all ministers and scribbled in a fake notebook. The left of labor will give Rudd the same treatment.
As of this evening, I’m returning the insult.
John Howard is a fine man, and Kev can’t shine a dim light on him.
We live in a democracy and we accept the decision of our majority, but Rudd is a twit who will be bounced out of the nest before long.
Thank you so much, Mr Howard, for all your efforts. We, due to your work, now live in prosperity. You leave with grace and integrity. Thank you Mr Howard, I believe that you and your team have made my family and myself more self assured. Sir, though I am hesitant to note this, you do leave with more creditability than some of your noted predecessors. To you and your family, may God smile with good fortune. Thank you.
I just came from a Liberal Party function in Perth. Also present was that ex ABC, now “60 Minutes” talking head/show pony Liam Bartlett.
The ponce could barely contain his excitement when JWH conceded until he looked around at all the party faithful surrounding him and it sank into his beautifully coiffed head that he should perhaps show a little restraint if he wanted to escape with his teeth intact.
No bias in the meeja, oh no.
Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 11 24 at 08:48 AM • permalinkAgile, indeed, you’re right that safe seats cop something of a screwing in terms of pork barrelling on either side - they get nothing. But it isn’t ‘what’s in it for me’ that defines how I vote, it’s what’s in it for the majority, what’s best for the greatest number of us. I believe the right is best and that’s why I lean right. As a childless couple, Nora and I get very little from any govt - a good economy and certain values are all we ask for.
I see you’re 31 and you said do the maths. Well, you were 20, voting in your first Federal Election when Howard came to PM. The Americans say a Republican is a Democrat who’s been mugged. Well enjoy your mugging over the next few years.
Now, we tired and off to bed. We have a child’s confirmation to attend in the morning so don’t flatter yourself that you’ve won the debate old chap.
—Nick
Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 11 24 at 08:51 AM • permalinkI wonder if this has been a Kennett election. How many people are thinking ‘oh, shit!’
Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 11 24 at 08:55 AM • permalink#95 I know heaps of people that worked for Rudd inthe Goss Government, I know on onee (1) that thought he was good. She was a typist. Anyone invovled in policy or Cabinet processess reckon he was attila the hun.
I had a laugh at Plibersek getting all excited onthe telcast. The poor woman thinks she is going to have a sya in policy!
This is my forecast: Rudd will greatly expand PM&C, with for example, a special climate change office to actually run environmental policy with Garret as a figurehead minister. In fact most ministers, with the exception of useful ones like Swan, Smith and Emerson will have tog et permission from the PM&C to fart. Gillard will be the exception because her job will be to keep the ACTU from scaring the
votershorses.PM Rudd managed to convince enough people, especially those bored with change, that the ALP could be a safe pair of hands. His Prime Ministership will be short lived if he doesn’t live up to that promise.
Many, many thanks to John Howard ans his government for leaving the nation with 4% unemployment and for the first time in over a generation, a realistic prospect of achieving full employment (if we’re not there already).
And that’s in addition to sustained low inflation - even if every pet shop galah does want to get into a flat spin because inflation is nudging 3%.
I suspect unemployment has now bottomed out. Employers will now be having a long, hard look at their more marginal employees with the view of giving them the arse before 1 July 2008, which is the earliest Labor’s IR rollback legislation can pass the Senate.
Posted by Young and Free on 2007 11 24 at 09:00 AM • permalinkEven when the ALP win they can’t let go of their conspiracy theories. Over at Webdiary one of them reckons Malcolm Turnbull must have rigged his vote.
Madness.
Posted by Villeurbanne on 2007 11 24 at 09:07 AM • permalink#166
Yeah, Junia, we have had 11 years of exceptionally good government. It is actually healthy for the system of government we have to change government every two terms.
As for the office staffers, just say that the bar KRudd and the Komrades have to reach to equal Howard is about an 8% improvement in their personal wealth every single year.
Personally, my area of work is safe from Krudd (well, according to ALP policy) and I have a good backup option.
But it will be odd feeling sympathetic to people in the public service when Krudd’s razor gang comes to cut their throats - because most of them voted for him.
He did this in Queensland.
MarkL
CanberraThings could turn interesting next year:
the drought is ending. The drought has caused a drag on economic growth of about 0.7 percent for nearly seven years. A bumper summer and winter crop will cause growth to bounce up, and we are already running at four percent.
tie that in with a possible US recession and the potential for the construction and other left wing unions to play a bit of catch up and we could catch more than a cold.#171: It’s called a parliamentary system - the country elects the lower house of the Parliament, which in turn “elects” (rather, closer to appoint) the executive.
The head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor-General, in this case) can decide when to call for the elections, often on the advice of the Prime Minister or the lack of confidence in Parliament. But an election must be called every three years in the case of Australia.
The benefit of this is that you don’t have campaigns for the next election starting almost immediately after an election, as in the case of America. There are other benefits, like the stability of governance (policy doesn’t change as drastically in parliamentary systems as they do in presidential systems).
#170
Entropy, your comment on PM&C is probably on the mark. This will make dealing with them an interesting experience, they will have to keep slipping out of meetings, mumbling, “sorry guys, I gotta go, it’s my turn to take Minister Garrett walkies and feed him his tofu… where’s that bloody muzzle and leash!!?!”MarkL
canberra#186 still fighting political battles from 2003?
Iraq didn’t get a run in the campaign because when it really got down to it, Rudd isn’t really pulling out of Iraq, with the exception of the sharps that are there to protect the blunts. I expect even that postion to get watered down even more too now he is actually responsible.
#171 and #173, The next election must be held three years from the previous one though there is a buffer of three months after that date (somebody correct me if I’m wrong). However, the prime minister can ask for an early election if the circumstances are favourable, ie. polls point to a win.
An election may also be called early if the budget or an important piece of legislation keeps being blocked by the Senate. This is known as double-dissolution and, as well as the House of Representatives, the whole of Senate goes us for re-election.
#183 MarkL, I work in the non-profit sector - which relies on donations from the public to be able to fund its programs.
So I voted Liberal because (among other reasons) I know not to bite the hand that feeds me. My co-workers have forgotten that the public will only be generous donators when it is financially secure.
Thus the irony - a non-profit organisation mostly staffed with lefty types who disliked the coalition intensely, yet were able to do so much in terms of program delivery because of the economic climate delivered by the very government they despised.
Voicing that during the next few weeks will give me some small satisfaction.
G
hey maree, an anyone else who I may have inadvertally offended in ma stupip stupor -rum induced. jus wanna say, u is dead right to feel pissed - mothers what din give their boobies fer john ain no muthas of this here proud nation of oZ. no i aint been funny or ironic, I’m sayin ifn u din vote Howard u vote nullity - n fuk u
Personally, I think the reason John Howard lost was the people wanted a change after 11 years of leadership. Even eleven years of
goodgreat leadership. That’s an awfully long time.Sad as it is to see a great PM leave, it will give us many opportunities to make fun of the left. I had a great time during the Bill and Hillary years.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 11 24 at 09:39 AM • permalinkThe Ruddles government.
The Ruddlings.
The only danger is if Ruddles and Co think Australians voted for them and their policies, rather than against an old government.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 11 24 at 09:46 AM • permalinkHoward gave a great speech. It has been obvious that being Prime Minister was a job that he absolutely loved and he gave it his all. He is the only PM that I have seen that has not aged quickly over the years, look at the effect it had on Hawk and Keating.
He has devoted his entire life to politics and remember he is 68 now. Surely he has earnt a long and restful retirement after such a massive effort in the most stressful job in the country.
Time will tell how Kevin handles the pressure, I doubt if he will do it as well. We shall see.
#201 I hate that kind of thing. The people voted. Look forward to the fun and mirth of the likes of Peter Garret actually having to deliver. Wait for the grief from the left when they discover PM Rudd really is Howard lite. He has to be or get voted out next election.
I’m with Maree, the new PM didn’t even wait for his speech to end before getting boring. And I am sure that speech was cut out from the less interesting bits from Hawkie and Howards’s earlier victory speeches.
On the bright side, it’s been raining up here.
13mm on Thursday night.
59mm in a storm on Friday.
steady rain all day today took it up from 71mm to 109mm.
That’s 4 inches in the imperial measurement.Good news. And it’s been falling on the dams. Some parts of the valley I live in had 100mm in the storm yesterday.
Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister.
Waaaaaaaaaaaah.It’s OK, I’ll be all right.
As others have said, it will be very interesting to watch.
Like a train wreck.
This is the first time I’ve watched the results on Channel 7 - couldn’t bear the idea of sitting there watching Kerry O’Brien cover this on the ABC.
I don’t know about all of you, but my consolation prize is finally seeing the Dems consigned to the ash-heap of history. Oh, and the Climate Change Coalition (led in NSW by Patrice Newell - wife of aging buffoon Phillip Adams) got about 26K primary votes. This is good - it underpolled the Christian Democrats, the DLP, the Shooters Party AND the Pauline Hanson ticket. Hopefully the olive rancher will run a blog over at the Australian on Tuesday so this can be pointed out.
I can only echo Pedro supra -
“Graceful in defeat? Fuck that. The war just started”Posted by Renegade Lawyer on 2007 11 24 at 10:33 AM • permalinkSomeone said, while we were counting, that soon we’d be using electronic voting.
I said, “You’ve got to be kidding. If people burr up about using a bloody pencil, I can’t see them accepting electronic or mechanical means of voting.”
Strewth. I had a punter burr up about using a pencil. FFS. As if we’re going to hang around in the polling booth and change their bloody votes by erasing them!!!? If there was something shonky surely it’d be that papers would be substituted or “lost”.
I noted at the counting stage that many of the ballots marked with BIRO not pencil, were for the ALP.
How unusual.
The left and labor may be very surprised that the rest of us will disengage from politics for a while and go on to other things. Like having a life.
Personally, I’m going fishing. I have rigged up a nice bream rod and will be testing out a new kit of soft plastics this morning.
Anyone close to us here in Newcastle is welcome aboard. The fish are biting and I’m over KR big-time.
speechless sorry, all I can think to say is ‘fuck fuck fuck God help us’
was at Mal Brough’s- everyone veering between anger and depression. The journos there don’t know how close they came to being lynched.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 24 at 10:51 AM • permalinkThe saddest thing is that Kev will become an embarrassment over the next few months/years as people realise he has not got a lot of substance about him. He was just brought in to do a “me too” and push labor over the line and that does fine until you are left all alone to make your own decisions. Let the fun begin.
hey egg, you up?-thought I was the only one.
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 24 at 11:05 AM • permalinkHow many “Coalition of the Willing” leaders does that leave?
Well, considering they’re all leaders of democracies, where the people are averse to electing the same man in perpetuity, I’d say they had a pretty good run. How long were Blair and Howard in power? Berlusconi was done in by his own corruption, and Aznar lost because the Madrid bombings spooked the Spaniards.
In addition, Canada, France, England and Germany elected pro-American leaders, and with the exception of England, those were all an about-face from the previous leadership.
Were you trying to make a point? Or is it just a rhetorical question?
don’t want to go to bed- I’ll wake up with a hangover and have to face the fact I’ve just witnessed a coup. Better to stay awake and drunk for the time being
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 24 at 11:09 AM • permalink#223 Maree, I’m just a few beaches south of you, here at Cape Three Points. Blame the great explorer James Cook for the cryptic but easily referenced locale.
Maybe it’s what I grew up with, but I reckon there’s no better table fish than bream, pan sizzled in butter. If you can catch ‘em with soft plastics, I’ll hold my breath and hide in the bottom of your live bait tank for as long as it takes, just to see how it’s done!
#225 eeniemeenie, we met Mal Brough earlier this year at a commemoration for Op Bribie. He presented my husband’s looie with an official citation that really should have been a military cross.
Anyway, Brough struck us as a very decent person.
“fuck fuck fuck” is an appropriate reaction.
This country is fucked because idiots are now in charge and people like Mike and myself and the kids have placed our money out of reach,
We will still live here, but we won’t pay tax to this new regime. Just wait until they get the claws into the unwary.
Well, Aussie friends, it couldn’t last forever. Democracies demand turnover. You’ll weather this, as we’ll weather the Hildebeast. Let’s all just batten down and ride it out, and do so with more grace, class and intelligence than the hysterical teenagers on the Left have demonstrated.
Me, I’m going to be entertained by watching the Lefties rhapsodize on how flowers will bloom brighter and rainbows will shoot out of our asses under the benevolent gaze of their enlightened leaders.
#232. splice,
I catch them all the time off the back of our boat at Newcastle marina, but most especially at the gate end of our finger close to the ramp.
Soft plastics are great in my favourite spot.
As for cooking, I gut them and grill them, and eat with lemon.
Mike and I have done this all our lives, never eat fish any other way. We’ve been doing up the rods this week. You’re welcome to join us after the weekend when we have them back on the boat.
We’re just about to put the crab traps out, and our trawler mate is going up the river on Monday week when the prawn season opens.
This is the time to be on the water in Newcastle. Come and introduce yourself at the Albion pub.
Goodbye John Howard, we will miss you. Let’shope Australia has many more ‘wonder years’.
Your friend,
America
Well, this is indeed depressing news to wake up to. What brought this about? Is the Australian economy in the toilet?
It’s almost like a death in the family. You all have my deepest sympathies.
.#234 Dave S.
You’ll weather this, as we’ll weather the Hildebeast.
There’s very little worry about that: no one with as high “negatives” as Shrillary’s has EVER won the White House. No, the danger is that her campaign crashes and burns ahead of the Convention and the Donks have time to nominate someone electable.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 11 24 at 11:40 AM • permalinkWe will miss you John Howard, but all good things come to an end. As Mark Steyn has noted
, all the opponents of the Iraq War, as well as all the supports (except Bush) have now left the scene. Such is democracy.As a Canadian, I am glad that in Harper we now have a leader in the Howard mode. Next year, the United States may not be able to say the same.
The cheezy porno jazz music just confirms what I’ve suspected here in America: in politics, as in the arts, the so-called “progressives” are simply abandoning the 21st century.
And be strong, Australia. If America hadn’t had Carter, we’d never have gotten Ronald Reagan…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 11 24 at 12:06 PM • permalinkhow should we express non acceptance of the Fresh New Krudd coup?
this election was bought. We were outnumbered on the hustings 10 to 1- and they were PAID
Can I get a green card?Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 24 at 12:17 PM • permalinkPretend you’re Mexican and you won’t need one.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 11 24 at 12:20 PM • permalinksplice, if you do come here, you have to help us lay the marks in return for a day’s fishing, and then help pick them up after the race.
Newcastle is now one of the few Cat4/Cat7 offshore ocean racing circuits in NSW.A salute to John Howard. He’s ten times the man Rudd ever will be.
How could this dope ever pretend to be a prime minister?
Look at labor state premiers and now look at rudd, and see what Australia will have for 30 years.
Howard was our last best hope at a federal level. Now, look after yourselves.
#247 ummm,yo exitate Cuba dell Sud con leakante boat et yo quero cerbeza por favor
will that do?
Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 11 24 at 12:25 PM • permalink#219 Kae, I often do the polling officer bit too, up here in teh great White(Cold) North.
The best system I have used is that used for Ottawa municipal elections.
The ballot form has a mcircle for each candidate, which you select by filling in with a penicil or whatever as long as it’s black. The ballot is then placed between two sheets and fed into an electronic scanner.
Thus the three requiremetns are met:
1. Secrecy.
2. Paper trail if required.
3. Efficient and accurate counting.Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 11 24 at 12:30 PM • permalinkThis is like Clement Atlee beating Winston Churchill at the end of WWII. John Howard was there when the civilized needed Australia, and nothing can change that.
Posted by The Sanity Inspector on 2007 11 24 at 12:35 PM • permalink
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Dear Kevin Rudd: please don’t screw up my country TOO quickly. I want to enjoy living in it for another couple of years while it’s still good. Thanks, Nicholas.