Canberra – recriminations edition
As the Liberals take power, let the recriminations begin. There’ll be bloody hands monitoring the shredder in Spring St this morning.
The preference decision was key. When the Liberals decided not to go with the Greens, they not only got clear air, they made it a two horse race. And now we’ve got Ted.
This will make a few Canberrans very nervous this morning, particularly in the ALP. Victorian’s were the most progressive state in the Federal Poll, and while there’s a danger in inferring anything federally from State polls, we can say this.
The ALP admitted throughout the campaign that they weren’t too sure what they believed in. The Liberals stood for reducing crime. It’s pretty simple.
Everything seems to be going backwards in Canberra this week.
The government is going backwards in the polls, the opposition’s fighting battles that have already been lost on the BER and the NBN, and Howard’s made a comeback, with an appearance on qanda tonight.
In terms of the polls, the Government is still losing support to the left and the right on the same issues – asylum seekers, environmental management and the war on Afghanistan still very unpopular.
The big news out of Canberra this week, as the Parliament sits back down, is that there is going to be a great debate on the war in Afghanistan.
After dissing foreign affairs as something Kevvie07 did to stay out of Canberra, now we’re getting in Paul McDermott and Andrew Denton as a part of the “great debate” of the new paradigm.
Who will be affirmative and who on the negative? Who knows – both the major parties are pretty much the same on this issue.
There’s nothing like a grand final to make grown men cry and grown women dance on the ceiling.
The AFL definitely won the pre-game entertainment versus the League, and while it will be a tough year ahead for all those who aren’t a little a little pie-curious.
Now they’re over, and people can sober, time to settle in for the long stupor of summer with the cricket.
If only politics captured the nation’s attention in the same way.
So, it’s the first week of the new paradigm.
While the AFL GF has left everyone feeling a little flat, fans should consul themselves that one of the teams for next week’s game is not trying to destroy the MCG – as would appear to be happening in politics.
However it’s easy to see how after a bruising encounter, both teams could throw their hands up and declare the management a joke.
So, the last week of the election begins. For the pundits, exhaustion sets in and it’s only the crazy brave and the well organised who dare to rest.
The remaining time is counted not in sleeps, but in news cycles.
From last night, it would appear the ALP would go into their launch today without the ghosts of their past causing further instability. Latham’s a lunatic, and even if he’s right, so what. And Kevin came off as a self-serving Kim Hughes Bob Hawke- style loser who you think we should be glad is gone.
This is grand final week in politics. The parties are going for the bogan vote and the ‘don’t knows’ are coming in from the cold.
Strangely, in politics, it’s the bogans who come in at the last minute. While in football, the people who know who they’re voting for often don’t pick a team until the final week.
After the eliminations and recriminations, this is the week of the parade, the special breakfasts, a cross dressing footy show and when everyone goes hell for leather on election day.
26
Doddcast: Monday, July 26
Canberra Report: Monday July 26
27 days, 14 and a half hours… but who’s counting?
This week we’ll continue the water torture election, leaders will fly around the country, announcing announceables and kissing children for photo ops limping toward Aug 21.
Dripping into Brisbane this week the Opposition’s campaign heads north, while Gillard’s will head to Launceston as they criss-cross the country.
Canberra Report: We have a contest
Like people turned around in a leaky boat, with the engine and all the passports cut, the Government seems a bit out of its depth on the issue of people fleeing asylum from war.
Although ‘6 months in a leaky boat’ may as well be lyrics to a crowded house song, a week on the policy was enough to almost sink her.
Gillard’s got a gun, and it’s on a boat, but the finger on the trigger seems a little shaky as she sets the sights for an election. Talk is she could go by Thurs before the Bill Shorten’s mother-in-law goes o/s for some d/t.
What is clear is that the ALP is framing this election as a choice.
A choice between someone who understands that asylum seekers are no big deal, and a choice between someone who wants to get the navy to shoot them in the face.
A choice between someone prepared to do something about climate change and someone who is going to listen to the communities concerns that the whole thing is a beat up.
A choice between someone who is going to slug the miners so we can invest in everyone, or someone who can do a respect and appease the miners.
A choice between Julia Gillard and Julia Gillard.
And no one is being racist.
Except Tony Abbott. He does like races, but he’s definitely racist. He hates women too. And holidays. And baby animals.
Climate change action will be on the agenda this week with Bob Brown’s at Press Club and it being the outstanding item on the government’s to do list.
The rub in the media is announcements on climate change and an election on the weekend with Aug 21 or 28.
Stand firm people, Paul Howes is no Paul the Octopus and Abbott’s still a chance in this election.
Pig’s arse, I mean John Elliott, Chris Evans Minister for Immigration and the lovable poodle Christopher Pyne are on Qanda.
As we continue to lose the troops in Afghanistan, at least we are starting to win at sport again.
Mark Webber who according to some can’t turn left, won in Silverstone GP, and Cadel Evans, the biggest whinger in sport is winning the tour.
And Spain, who are broke, won the World Cup.
While few of these things actually happened in Canberra, would you rather hear about the Raiders next weekend?
Election speculation. Election speculation. Election speculation.
How can Sepp Blatter go on?
Will Howard hang on when there seems no hope of winning, especially when the people voting for him don’t want him?
Can Kristina Keneally really get elected just cos she’s hot?
Right now the media in Canberra is focused on one thing: the timing of the election.
But despite all the speculation, finding the answer seems obvious – ask an Octopus.
Yeah that’s right, Octopi may well be the new way in research, given that Paul, the genius psychic Octopus in Germany, is a tipping freak having nailed five out of five German games in the World Cup.
This hot tipping streak could be useful in Canberra this week as freezing cold temps and uncertainty about an election debate pervade the landscape.
The mining tax now buried off the front pages, the Government has to work out what to do with the ad spots it can’t cancel.
Having declared that she has ‘anxiety’ about boat people, expect Gillard to throw the issue of asylum seekers overboard this week in preparation for an August election. Thursday marks the end of the three month period in which Sri Lankan and Afghanistan asylum seekers were refused acknowledgement so expect something before then.
Just a thought: Perhaps we’d be more welcoming if people trying to come ashore claimed to be attempting to circumnavigate the globe, rather than simply seeking asylum.
Funnily enough, Gillard came in a boat – as did many of our forebears – and therefore we may want to think about some of the ‘anxieties’ we’ve caused those before us – given that it is NAIDOC week.
And speaking of undue levels of anxiety, Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry is in the Press Club on Wednesday. So much anxiety. Whatever happened to our relaxed and comfortable country?
Tony Burke, George Brandis, the Crabb, and Graham Morris are on QANDA tonight, with former Democrat’s leader and Gareth Evan’s confidant Cheryl Kernot – who will no doubt remind you that if you get in trouble, change sides.
If you want answers, ask the right questions. If you want the right answers – ask an Octopus.
“He must be sacked”.
“We must send a group of former factions to see him and tell him that if he doesn’t change the game plan – then he has to go.”
“This team is meant to embody the spirit of our nation and the performance we’ve put in is not only unpopular but it’s a disgrace to our whole nation,” he said.
“You can’t blame the players, they didn’t have a plan that they believed in or even understood what it was.
“PM doesn’t understand us, he doesn’t understand our fighting spirit. Read more »
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