Oz Federal Election 2013 - Discussion and Comments

[Buzzard]

- Leigh Sales is starting to show some promise after learning the ropes from Chris Uhlmann.

Perhaps a little OT but I like Leigh Sales. She looks pregnant to me (no offence intended if not) so I suspect she might be going off air in the not too distant future. I for one will miss her style.

 

[Moody]

The Australian puts it pungently:[/FONT][/COLOR]

I presume from this that you wanted to highlight the right-wing bias that The Australian has settled into like a comfy armchair? I suppose we should be thankful that they have not succumbed to the dumbed-down messaging of the Telegraph, but it is a prime example of the corruption of journalism that is happening globally.

How both parties let such a monopoly of media control come about is a mystery to me, but I suppose in some way it parallels the rise of Eddie Obeid. Everyone knew he was a ratbag but didn't have the guts to properly kick him out because of the influence he held. At least Eddie will now be dragged through the courts (and if there is a skerrick of justice left in NSW he will be jailed), but Rupert is not so easily deposed and as he gets older he grumpier and more brazen.

Phone tapping scandal - I'll just close the paper down and let my minions take the fall.
Two-faced lying esposed by one of the aforesaid minions - I was just quoted out of context. Now shut-up before I bring your government down.
Open hostility to Labour called out - simply deny it like we are all morons and let the Coalition defend the appalling bias of "Vote this mob out"

Is there anyone on this forum that doesn't think The Australian is firmly on the right? I have a roomful of mirrors on stand-by for them .....

 

[Skyring]

What an excellent misrepresentation of my point.

Not at all. If one cannot accept the flip test, then there is bias revealed, surely?

If there are "nutbags" on the right, as you insist, then surely they must be present on the left as well?

 

[markis10]

It will be interesting to see how Beatie goes, while he was popular in office, its also fair to say he left many ticking time bombs that blew up in his parties face down the track.

 

[drsmithy]

Not at all. If one cannot accept the flip test, then there is bias revealed, surely?

If there are "nutbags" on the right, as you insist, then surely they must be present on the left as well?

Why ? Some sort of Yin-Yang thing inherent to the universe ?

It's not hard to find fairly far right-wing opinions in the mainstream media (eg: extremely low or flat income taxes, eliminate minimum wages and other basic workers' rights). It's difficult to find similarly extreme left-wing opinions (eg: arbitrary nationalisation of industry, centralised wage fixing).

It's not unusual to see people with a strong Libertarian philosophy in media. When was the last time genuine communist opinions were being advocated in a publication akin to the AFR ?

The political debate - particularly economics - has drifted substantially rightwards over the last 30-odd years.

 

[drsmithy]

How both parties let such a monopoly of media control come about is a mystery to me, [...]

To deliver the message that they both agree on - people have to choose between Team A or Team B, because all the other options are dangerous extremists.

You see the same thing in America for the same reason.

It helps entrench the two-party system.

 

[Skyring]

It will be interesting to see how Beattie goes, while he was popular in office, its also fair to say he left many ticking time bombs that blew up in his parties face down the track.

I always liked Peter Beattie. He was and is fair dinkum. A pity he didn't continue his Federal career.

 

[Skyring]

It's not hard to find fairly far right-wing opinions in the mainstream media (eg: extremely low or flat income taxes, eliminate minimum wages and other basic workers' rights). It's difficult to find similarly extreme left-wing opinions (eg: arbitrary nationalisation of industry, centralised wage fixing).

Medhead, when you said

Right wing nutbags are too wrapped up in their blind delusions to realise that criticism of the objects of their affection does not mean support of the objects of their blind hatred.

were you talking about the mainstream media, as drsmithy believes?

I formed the impression that you were talking about "nutbags" in the general community - for example, here.

I think we may find one-eyed supporters of both left and right here, but I wouldn't call them "nutbags". It's long been an article of faith with me that most people have something - a sporting team, a computer brand, a political party, a religious faith - which transcends logic and wisdom. At least in their public utterances.

 

[Pushka]

Perhaps a little OT but I like Leigh Sales. She looks pregnant to me (no offence intended if not) so I suspect she might be going off air in the not too distant future. I for one will miss her style.

I think she's great too.

 

[Alanslegal]

What a fruitcake?!?!?!?!!!!

Stephanie Banister Channel Seven Interview, One Nation Candidate INterview

 

[QF WP]

If that is the standard of One Nation candidates, then Rankin is safely not going to elect her.

 

[markis10]

I always liked Peter Beattie. He was and is fair dinkum. A pity he didn't continue his Federal career.

Thats exactly what he is doing after a hiatus, and he was popular because he was a show pony that talked a lot, worked a crowd well but didnt actually achieve much (remind you of another QLD pollie). Its pretty easy to stand up and take credit for all the mexicans moving north and making the locals rich from the housing boom, meanwhile the roads cannot cope with the traffic, we came close to running dry from poor water reserves and during the coal boom could not move the coal when it was at a good price.

I think Heather got the message that the public had not forgotten when she did not succeed in gaining enough votes to become a councillor (perhaps unfairly), I suspect putting Peter in a marginal seat will have the result of making it no longer marginal for the sitting member who will be reselected!

At least we got our first real police helicopter yesterday, so we are slowly catching up.

 

[QF WP]

I always liked Peter Beattie. He was and is fair dinkum. A pity he didn't continue his Federal career.

Surely you forgot to add words (adjectives) after "he was and is far dinkum" (allow me to add mine - tosser, media tart)

As a Queenslander under Beattie, well he left Anna Bligh a number of unexploded issues which sure didn't help her time as Leader. He made a number of significant blunders (desalination plant on the Gold Coast, INHO, the biggest one that I can recall).

Opinion was fairly divided on ABC Radio this morning - polarising debate between the voters in the electorate who would for anyone that ran under Labor and those that wouldn't. There were a few Labor supporters that fely very sorry for the current sitting (Labor) member - who has 2 huge billboards on the M1 (still there this morning) with KRudd. I also feel sorry for him - whether he stood down for his own reasons or was asked to stand down or was pushed, so that Peter could parachute into the seat, one can only speculate.

 

[tgh]

Hugely entertaining piece... strange that it passed the ABC content filter.
The exec summary is below .

Will Beattie make Queensland the shameless state? - The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

When Rudd and Beattie campaign together today in Brisbane, prepare to go into Shamelessness Overdrive, as the man who wants to be elected to fix the federal messes he created meets the man who was re-elected several times in Queensland vowing, in effect, to get tough on himself.It's audacious. It's desperate. It's opportunistic. It may not work.And God help the universe if it does.​

 

[QF WP]

Exactly tgh ^

Hopefully enough in the electorate (which spans a diverse cross section of socio-economic section of our community) recall how and what he did to our economy and vote "No". On a lighter note, how do (and would, heaven help us) two media tarts do a joint media presentation together...we'll see on the News tonight

So now Beattie is back, in a decision that must override his 2007 prediction that his wife Heather would actually murder him if he re-entered politics.

Heather are you going to make good on your promise?? If not, what could he have offered you in recompense??

 

[Moody]

What a fruitcake?!?!?!?!!!!

Stephanie Banister Channel Seven Interview, One Nation Candidate INterview

This is the problem with politics and commentary in Australia. Whilst is is easy to say that she is young and uneducated, the sheer level of ignorance and borderline racism is appalling when this person is put forward as a potential MP.

 

[markis10]

Opinion was fairly divided on ABC Radio this morning - polarising debate between the voters in the electorate who would for anyone that ran under Labor and those that wouldn't. There were a few Labor supporters that fely very sorry for the current sitting (Labor) member - who has 2 huge billboards on the M1 (still there this morning) with KRudd. I also feel sorry for him - whether he stood down for his own reasons or was asked to stand down or was pushed, so that Peter could parachute into the seat, one can only speculate.

I wonder what the Labour die hards in that electorate think of another example of the faceless men turfing out an incumbent nominated rep. BTW it's a LNP seat:

http://www.tallyroom.com.au/aus2013/forde2013

 

[Skyring]

This is the problem with politics and commentary in Australia. Whilst is is easy to say that she is young and uneducated, the sheer level of ignorance and borderline racism is appalling when this person is put forward as a potential MP.

I dunno. I reckon you could pick young candidates from any party and cheerfully tangle them up in knots over Jewish and Islamic and Christian dogma.

In a half hour interview you'll get a good minute of hilarity, especially from those who attend neither church nor temple nor mosque.

 

[Skyring]

Another glorious front page: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-08/front-page-of-the-daily-telegraph/4872546

 

[QF WP]

BTW it's a LNP seat:

Correct , I was confusing the sitting member [Bert van Manen] with Des Hardman (the Labor member who had been pre-selected to run against Bert). He's the one who's been right royally shafted.

Can't wait to see the voter backlash preditions of disgruntled Labor moving to vote for any other candidate (whatever their party) or the donkey vote. There was a fair bit of animosity towards "Peter Perfect" on ABC radio.