Victory for the Rednecks

[Frodo]

That includes Victoria who swung against Labour. Nationally the biggest two party swing in 35 years. John Howard wins a third term and goes down in history as such.
Did the Liberal party win it? Or did Labour lose it? I think maybe the latter is more true. Since the 1998 election Labours omly policy has been 'anti GST'. Six months ago it was enough, Labour was 20 points ahead in the polls, we were in a recession, the GST had hurt small business and pensioners, petrol was over a dollar a litre. The Ryan byelection was called and Liberals got slaughtered. That was the turning point. The budget addresses many of the concerns of the Country and by the time of the Astin by election the labour lead had dwindled. The writing was on the wall. Yet Labour had no new policies, still just rely on the anti-GST feeling. Yet the Liberals knew that Labour would not scrap it and what's more they had the 'union party' scare tactic in their pocket to play. Tampa and Sept 11th changed things. Howard was seen as strong and gained popularity along with most Western leaders. He had some luck. Now he didn't need to win a third term. Labour had to do the winning. Liberals had a commanding lead. Just like in 1996 Liberals didn't have to do much. In that year people voted against Keating rather than for Howard. This year he only had to stay strong and keep attention focused upon international issues. It was Labours job to wrest the initiative and focus on domestic issues. But Labour only started to unveil new policies five weeks ago. And then it was a tame rollback of GST, a fairytale of knowledge nation without substance and a gaggle of suspiciously funded handouts. At the end it was clutching at straws with it's vote for Howard and Get Costello ads and, it's push polling and left wing trade unionists suddenly visiting margina seats where they were unwanted and only served to rally the Liberals more.
In Kim Beazleys 'defeat speech' he showed what a good orator he was. He may well have proved to be a good Prime Minister based upon that speech, the best I heard from him. So if he had that ability then why did the Labour party machine leave him for so long without any policies? Surely they must take a hard look at themselves and have a cleanout. Crean as leader in the next election? After a year of Costello as PM and election sweetners what sort of chance does Crean have? Buckleys IMO.

Well at least tonight I can sleep thinking that for the next three years we will have some stability.

 

[kirky]

Originally posted by Frodo
That includes Victoria who swung against Labour. Nationally the biggest two party swing in 35 years. John Howard wins a third term and goes down in history as such.
Did the Liberal party win it? Or did Labour lose it? I think maybe the latter is more true. Since the 1998 election Labours omly policy has been 'anti GST'. Six months ago it was enough, Labour was 20 points ahead in the polls, we were in a recession, the GST had hurt small business and pensioners, petrol was over a dollar a litre. The Ryan byelection was called and Liberals got slaughtered. That was the turning point. The budget addresses many of the concerns of the Country and by the time of the Astin by election the labour lead had dwindled. The writing was on the wall. Yet Labour had no new policies, still just rely on the anti-GST feeling. Yet the Liberals knew that Labour would not scrap it and what's more they had the 'union party' scare tactic in their pocket to play. Tampa and Sept 11th changed things. Howard was seen as strong and gained popularity along with most Western leaders. He had some luck. Now he didn't need to win a third term. Labour had to do the winning. Liberals had a commanding lead. Just like in 1996 Liberals didn't have to do much. In that year people voted against Keating rather than for Howard. This year he only had to stay strong and keep attention focused upon international issues. It was Labours job to wrest the initiative and focus on domestic issues. But Labour only started to unveil new policies five weeks ago. And then it was a tame rollback of GST, a fairytale of knowledge nation without substance and a gaggle of suspiciously funded handouts. At the end it was clutching at straws with it's vote for Howard and Get Costello ads and, it's push polling and left wing trade unionists suddenly visiting margina seats where they were unwanted and only served to rally the Liberals more.
In Kim Beazleys 'defeat speech' he showed what a good orator he was. He may well have proved to be a good Prime Minister based upon that speech, the best I heard from him. So if he had that ability then why did the Labour party machine leave him for so long without any policies? Surely they must take a hard look at themselves and have a cleanout. Crean as leader in the next election? After a year of Costello as PM and election sweetners what sort of chance does Crean have? Buckleys IMO.

Well at least tonight I can sleep thinking that for the next three years we will have some stability.

It was the biggest two party preferred swing by an incumbent government. Not the biggest swing - 1975 and 1983 were bigger but government changed hands.

We were never in recession, what sort of clap trap is that.

It was a tame rollback because the finance cupboard was bare (thanks Peter C) and they didn't want to incur a deficit otherwise that would have been seen to be irresponsible. Pray tell, what election sweetners will we have, haven't you seen the forecast budgets for the coming years - there will be now election sweetners and if we do go into recession (given the US will enter it shortly) then the deficit will widen.

Still as a Labor supporter I remain fully confident that the Labor will return to the government benches in 2004. We have gotten rid of some baggage - read Cheryl Kernot. The benefit is next time there will be no international crisis.

The positive - at least the senate will remain controlled by the Greens and Democrats. That should keep the bastards honest!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I find it interesting that Labor have been riding the crest of a wave in Victoria and Qld in the last 12 months but that did not translate federally. Could it be that people are actually considering the issues on an election by election basis? I guess we'll start seeing the Coalition returned in a few State Government's in the next couple of years and then Labour will land the federal poll in four years. The cycle will continue. Interesting how Howard was considered a poor treasurer, a poor leader when Hawke was beating him and now he will serve longer than Hawke did because Labor could only throw up Keating and Beasley against him.

 

[kirky]

That does not bode well for the Libs in SA. State Election issue on privatisation.

 

[MGREG]

What do you know? Every time the LIbs win a Federal election (they havent lost since Port have been in) someone predicts a recession for Australia.

Sour grapes methinks from the Labor rednecks.

And loving it!

 

[Dry Rot]

Who is predicting a recession in Austraila?

 

[MGREG]

Who is predicting a recession in Austraila?

IN the other threads on here.

 

[demon_dave]

What do you know? Every time the LIbs win a Federal election (they havent lost since Port have been in) someone predicts a recession for Australia.

Sour grapes methinks from the Labor rednecks.

And loving it!

never trust a redneck who judges time by when a football team has been in,out or won anything, uneducated slanted insular view on the world

 

[DaveW]

It was the biggest two party preferred swing by an incumbent government. Not the biggest swing - 1975 and 1983 were bigger but government changed hands.

A classic case of lies and statistics. The only thing it reflected was how badly the coalition did in 1998. Who wins an election with only 49% of the TPP?

Just had to get that off my chest. I hated the way that misleading statistic was flogged at the time.

Why was this thread dredged up anyway?

 

[MGREG]

never trust a redneck who judges time by when a football team has been in,out or won anything, uneducated slanted insular view on the world

Just shoews you how lon they havent lost for. Even you had a sense of humour then, before you were cleaning bed pans of drug addled losers.

As for uneducated, any qualifications you have are on a par with an Arts degree, that is, they are worht nothing.

BUt thanks for your uneducated view.

 

[demon_dave]

Just shoews you how lon they havent lost for. Even you had a sense of humour then, before you were cleaning bed pans of drug addled losers.

As for uneducated, any qualifications you have are on a par with an Arts degree, that is, they are worht nothing.

BUt thanks for your uneducated view.

before you start slagging people off about education you better learn to spell and at least i have qualifications unlike you who collects money off your hero the rodent

 

[MGREG]

before you start slagging people off about education you better learn to spell and at least i have qualifications unlike you who collects money off your hero the rodent

Typing maybe. Slagging off about eduation is what you did, and from a glass house as well.

I dont get paid by Medicare buddy, You are sponging off the low lifes of this world.

Come back when you have several degrees in your pocket and a thesis or two.

Until then keep your ignorant comments to the smoko talk with the other dweebs where you work.

 

[demon_dave]

Typing maybe.

I dont get paid by Medicare buddy, You are sponging off the low lifes of this world.

Come back when you have several degrees in your pocket and a thesis or two.

Until then keep your ignorant comments to the smoko talk with the other dweebs where you work.

I have degree's but I'm yet to hear what yours are and they don't give degree's for loitering at toilet blocks

 

[MGREG]

I have degree's but I'm yet to hear what yours are and they don't give degree's for loitering at toilet blocks

So what, you have a degree for felatio?

I have two degrees. One from Monash Uni in 1981 and one from Uni of Melbourne in 1986.

 

[demon_dave]

So what, you have a degree for felatio?

I have two degrees. One from Monash Uni in 1981 and one from Uni of Melbourne in 1986.

so you admit to loitering??

 

[DaveW]

Getting tiresome, guys.