Jeff Kennett

[Wonaeamirri33]

How about one example Wonae?

I've already picked many...

Know that we shouldn't stray too far into politics on this board, but since we're talking directly about Kennett, I think it's probably reasonable to mention again at this juncture - the closure of over 350 schools and sacking of 80,000 people, including 8000 teachers, the distribution of $33 billion in public assets to private contractors, many of said contractors being Party mates, outsourcing of emergency services call handling to Intergraph (also Liberal mates, as 'donors' of long standing), amongst other disastrous 'outsourcing' decisions, with that particular action directly costing people's lives, his campaign against the Auditor-General for daring to investigate improprieties involving him and his government, and the Crown Casino affair.

And his stuffing around with public transport and the $2 billion CityLink white elephant, amongst other things.

All of the listed actions speak to his character and what he represents.

And these are just from his political career.

That's before we get into all the offensive statements he's made about our club, and others, over the years since then over the course of his involvement with Hawthorn, as part of that anti-social and anti-community agenda he's pursued against smaller Victorian clubs in the AFL.

 

[Spirit of 39]

Okay, I'll make it easier. I'm not trying to bate you btw, I just have next to no interest in politics so only know what I've heard about Kennett from others, which has mostly always been positive.

So, let me make it simpler. How about one example Wonae? Pick your favorite, or least favorite as it may be...

I dislike the man. Arrogant. Big mouth. As a teacher I have every right to. His government, which held power from 1992 to 1999, closed 300 schools and sacked 8000 teachers.

But he is a winner. Under him our club would not be sneezed at or put in the corner. I am prepared to overlook his past failings if he can make us better.

 

[Dez!]

Political views influencing your club allegiances?

Strange, is all I can say. Can't fathom something as trivial as politics ever being more important to me than MFC.

How is it political views influencing anything?

I, like many don't want a dickhead that wanted our club to merge with Hawthorn, merge with North Melbourne and wanted us to relocate to be involved with the Melbourne Football Club.

Why should I want a f***wit in charge of my club when he's wanted nothing but to destroy the club in the past?

 

[Spirit of 39]

How is it political views influencing anything?

I, like many don't want a dickhead that wanted our club to merge with Hawthorn, merge with North Melbourne and wanted us to relocate to be involved with the Melbourne Football Club.

Why should I want a f***wit in charge of my club when he's wanted nothing but to destroy the club in the past?

You do realise that over 50% of members who voted wanted the club to merge in 1996? And that Kennett could not achieve any of the above in the future without our say so?

Our problem as a club? We are always looking back. We have been doing so for 49 years.

 

[Spirit of 39]

It's good that we can debate what is a very sensitive, passionate topic for some in a respectful way.

 

[Dez!]

You do realise that over 50% of members who voted wanted the club to merge in 1996? And that Kennett could not achieve any of the above in the future without our say so?

Our problem as a club? We are always looking back. We have been doing so for 49 years.

That's irrelevant to me as none of those members are in the running to be the president of the Melbourne Football Club, I cannot support anyone who wanted to merge/relocate this club at any stage and I won't support Kennett.

 

[Tulip]

It's the way that Australian Politics works. Labor and Liberal are hardly separate concepts these days, but people go into bat for their side like there's no tomorrow.

I won't thrown in the towel because I don't like the President or the Coach. I'd just be critical, as I am right now over our current incumbents.

 

[Spirit of 39]

That's irrelevant to me as none of those members are in the running to be the president of the Melbourne Football Club, I cannot support anyone who wanted to merge/relocate this club at any stage and I won't support Kennett.

Fair enough. It would be a bitter pill to swallow.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

You do realise that over 50% of members who voted wanted the club to merge in 1996?

Do you realise nearly half of our members were rendered unable to vote at the time, and even many of those votes in favour were proxies from sponsors etc? So much so that it's estimated up to 1000 "yes" votes were from sponsors rather than real supporters?

http://demonwiki.org/Mergers

 

[LouisCK]

Okay, I'll make it easier. I'm not trying to bate you btw, I just have next to no interest in politics so only know what I've heard about Kennett from others, which has mostly always been positive.

Dear god what kind of people do you associate with?

 

[Spirit of 39]

Do you realise nearly half of our members were rendered unable to vote at the time, and even many of those votes in favour were proxies from sponsors etc? So much so that it's estimated up to 1000 "yes" votes were from sponsors rather than real supporters?

http://demonwiki.org/Mergers

I'm aware of that fact. My argument is this: Some are getting into Kennett for suggesting that we merge when many of our own voted to do the same to their very own club. I'm not sure if Jeff is the man for us. But we need to explore all options.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

people go into bat for their side like there's no tomorrow.

While I've never given my primary vote to either major party at any election during the course of my life, I certainly agree there are a large number of other people out there in this country who do act as though political parties are "teams". In my experience, those doing so seem to be within the Abbott camp more often than not. Part of that whole unfortunate American-style "Tea Party" tendency migrated over to Australia with the help of Bernardi and co.

In any case, as many of us have pointed out repeatedly, this goes way beyond political issues and ideological viewpoints associated with that. This is a matter of personal ethics, integrity, conscience and principle. It's about character, and what he represents as a person in all things.

The fact is Kennett's proven over a long period of time that he is not a fit and proper person to be President of the Melbourne Football Club.

 

[Tulip]

While I've never given my primary vote to either major party at any election during the course of my life, I certainly agree there are a large number of other people out there in this country who do act as though political parties are "teams". In my experience, those doing so seem to be within the Abbott camp more often than not. Part of that whole unfortunate American-style "Tea Party" tendency migrated over to Australia with the help of Bernardi and co.
.

Do you have a Twitter account mate? Has certainly given a voice to the left of the nation, and they don't always speak pretty.

From the common "**** OFF TONY YOU MISOGYNIST PRICK, YOU HATE EQUALITY" to Ruddy's 'never mind how badly we're going, just don't vote them in because REASONS' - there has certainly been a social media uprising. Messy.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

A president that has no emotional connection with the club, can anyone think of a president that doesn't support the club they preside over?

i think port have ones that don't , could be wrong but i am sure i heard that once

 

[Dory_77]

While I don't personally think Kennett should be president given his comments about the MFC and past attitudes towards the club (I don't know much about his politics so won't comment there) we shouldn't be ruling anyone out too quickly. Much like the process for getting a new coach. Sure we'd all love someone who has won a flag and been a great coach, but if there is a young coach who is genuinely the best for the job then we should take them.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

there has certainly been a social media uprising. Messy.

Well, I'd submit that certain people around the place speaking angrily about Abbott on Twitter in that regard is better than a carefully orchestrated "movement" artificially created by astroturfing, including "Ditch the Witch" and "Bob Brown's bitch" placards, and other similarly breathtaking material, where groups like the Lynden LaRouche cult and One Nation have been a prominent feature, and which includes numerous shelf organisations which all operate in the same opaque, secretive fashion, invariably run and created by the same people, in order to pretend said "movement" is larger than it actually is.

A grouping which often sprouts threats of violence towards those who speak against it, as well as against climate scientists, for instance, and propagates as an article of faith that there's a conspiracy of scientists to take over the world and enslave us all.

And it's somewhat less objectionable than the mainstream media apparatus which backs said 'movement', across all major news outlets, led by a newspaper company who have pledged in previous editorials that their aim is to destroy opposition to the Coalition. Or a talkback radio machine pumping out and otherwise encouraging death threats against a serving PM on a regular basis, along with "opinion" columnists in said newspaper company carrying on in similar fashion.

It's also less concerning than Abbott and others mouthing off with rather amazing abuse on the floor of Federal Parliament during almost every sitting day.

And since Kennett continues to be a prominent Liberal Party identity also, and has sought on occasion to return to political office under that banner, he's made himself a party to such behaviour as well.

 

[Spirit of 39]

W33 and HFF. You blokes are making my brain hurt.

 

[ExTasDeeMan]

Why are we still talking about this?

 

[Spirit of 39]

Why are we still talking about this?

Didn't watch the news tonight? The Jeff Kennett push is building momentum.

 

[RandB]

It was inevitable that the Kennet discussion would get political at some point and we've let it go as it does relate (to some degree) to the ideals and make up of the man. A lot of sentiment towards him has been based on his political history and fair enough.

There is no need to extrapolate the political debate to other politicians though guys.

Keep it on Kennet thanks.

 

[Tulip]

Didn't watch the news tonight? The Jeff Kennett push is building momentum.

I've been holed at the library for the last 6 hours, what's news?

 

[Super Demon]

I dislike the man. Arrogant. Big mouth. As a teacher I have every right to. His government, which held power from 1992 to 1999, closed 300 schools and sacked 8000 teachers.

But he is a winner. Under him our club would not be sneezed at or put in the corner. I am prepared to overlook his past failings if he can make us better.

I am inclined to agree

Jeff is loud, will upset people, but above all - he will get things moving

Don is a nice bloke, a good Melbourne man, but that's about all

Its time for some massive change

I'm tired of being the laughing stock of the AFL

The acquisition of Peter Jackson is a great start, but we cant stop there.

 

[Spirit of 39]

I've been holed at the library for the last 6 hours, what's news?

I've had a couple, but ch 9 reported that he has been rallying the troops and been speaking to some influential MFC supporters behind the scenes. Jeff is certainly interested in the position of president.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Very concerning to say the least.

In any case, as far as high-profile candidates from that particular quarter go, we should be pursuing Ian Dicker, who did the real work in building Hawthorn up to where they are now.

 

[FS25]

This is the bloke who called for us to relocate to Gold Coast 3 years ago and last year called for us to merge with North Melbourne. Now there is talk of him taking over us, and people agree he should, are you ******* serious?

This.

Some people are talking as if it's a question of either taking a risk and pulling the trigger with Kennett, or sinking further into oblivion. But it's not, it's about either....

Getting someone to run the club who fits the criteria (good administrator, gets things done, even taking no shit would be good), stuff that'd be great for our club..

OR

Getting someone to run the club who may fit the criteria above but who is also absolutely ******* dangerous for our club and on the face of it a completely insane choice because of the combination of his specific personality/ego (which would have him lay waste to everything without a second thought) together with his frequently shown deep down ACTIVE DISDAIN for (or at minimum that he couldn't care less about) the Dees...


And no he hasn't changed to suddenly liking our club, this is purely a 'management challenge' for him. I even like the guy anyway and yeah we're doing it tough and it'd even be good to have a celeb that'd turn heads (for the right reasons for once) to our club again but c'mon.. really.. let's get our heads straight, hold firm and not pull the trigger on this one. Neeld on the other hand.. hmmm haha