Australian elections - Bush ally Howard re-elected

[AussieDave]

The counting is still continuing, but the conservative Government of Bush's "man of steel" John Howard has been returned with a static or even increased majority. The issues were mainly domestic, centering on the economy and the environment.

Also an issue was the perceived inexperience of the Labor opposition leader, Mark Latham, who once described George W. Bush as "the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memory" and "flaky".


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1216569.htm

(Oops - sorry for no link - wasn't sure this was the forum for this kind of thread.)

[Moderator]

1. Post a link please

Thank you

[Andrushka]

2. Looking like it, unfortunately

AussieDave: here's a link for you mate

"Howard on track for 4th term"

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/09/1097261858180.html?oneclick=true

Can't post in Latest Breaking News w/ no link.

Looks like the Greens have picked up a lower house seat - nice! Too bad that is the only good thing about tonight. :cry:

[Matilda]

3. Not the only good thing ...

The Green vote has increased enormously, and it's expected they'll
pick up at least two more seats in the Senate. As long as the
Coalition doesn't add to their numbers, the Greens will hold the
balance of power and be able to stop the worst excesses of another
Howard government.

It looks as if Australians have fallen for the scare tactics of
Howard that interest rates would increase under Labor, but they
don't really like or trust him, and Bob Brown and the Greens do
have their trust - unlike the Democrats, who look like losing badly,
and deservedly so.

[AussieDave]

5. That's it in a nutshell -

Howard is a master at the scare tactic, and his pledge to save Tasmania's forests undercut the Opposition's policy and cost it two seats it couldn't afford to lose. Hopefully the Greens will indeed hold the balance of power in the Senate.

[Andrushka]

7. two in the senate?

Good stuff! They have one already in Tassie, I see. Nice if they can get another.

(this is in 'reply' to the post below)

[Matilda]

4. Not the only good thing ...

The Green vote has increased enormously, and it's expected they'll
pick up at least two more seats in the Senate. As long as the
Coalition doesn't add to their numbers, the Greens will hold the
balance of power and be able to stop the worst excesses of another
Howard government.

It looks as if Australians have fallen for the scare tactics of
Howard that interest rates would increase under Labor, but they
don't really like or trust him, and Bob Brown and the Greens do
have their trust - unlike the Democrats, who look like losing badly,
and deservedly so.

[AussieDave]

6. Thanks, Andrushka

I'll get the hang of this one day..............

[Andrushka]

8. Actually,

scrap what I said about the Green seat in the lower house - looks like Labour got that one in the end.

[AussieDave]

9. Yes, the Greens won that one in 2002

but have lost it today - it's normally safe Labor anyway.

[Andrushka]

10. Latham conceding now

Sad to watch...:-(

[Andrushka]

11. Not the post I wanted to be posting today...

Howard returned for historic fourth term

John Howard has won a fourth term as Prime Minister and he will return to government with an increased majority in the Parliament.

Two thirds of the vote has now been counted.

The Coalition's primary vote is up to nearly 47 per cent, which is nine points ahead of the ALP.

The Greens are polling more than 7 per cent, giving them close to the one million votes they predicted they would receive.

After preferences, the Coalition is ahead by 5 per cent.

Labor appears to have lost four seats, including the two northern Tasmanian seats, the Sydney seat of Greenway and the South Australian seat of Wakefield.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1216662.htm

Looks like there's a lot of Aussies who will fall for lies and scare tactics over all else. Very sad. :scared:

We couldn't get rid of a deputy warmonger; here's to getting rid of the chief warmonger next month!! Sorry world - we tried!

[happyasaclam]

13. It's the first time

I have ever been embarrassed to call myself Australian.

This is a prime minister who has lied and misled the Australian public, who has been nothing more than Chimpy's lapdog, and the leader of a party which ran a disgusting scare campaign based around interest rates and terrorism.

That he has been re-elected with an increased majority is so sad I think I'm going to cry.

[Demeter]

52. My Condolences to All Australians

Please keep America in your thoughts as we attempt to remove the Wart in our system. We are going to need all the help we can get.

[Matilda]

53. You just have to hope that the majority of Americans

are not as stupid and short-sighted as the majority of Australians.

[Demeter]

55. Then We're REALLY In Trouble!

Thanks, Matilda!

[happyasaclam]

14. sorry, double post

[jerryman814]

34. It's a sad day...

looks like I'm going to be pissed off all day at work now.

I was looking for Howard to lose, but, as it's been said already, if you inject enough fear into any society, you can control much of it...

[wildeyed]

12. f**k

I guess aussies are drinking the koolaid, too.

[no safe haven]

19. What exactly is the context of koolaid drinking?

Jim Jones or Dr Timothy Leary? I know what it means, but it's the image that has me stumped. If it's Timothy Leary, it can't be all that bad, no?

[wildeyed]

22. Jim Jones

making you believe things that aren't true.

[no safe haven]

23. Thanks for that n/t

[aquart]

51. Koolaid laced with fatal poison.

Tastes good, and your leader tells you to drink it and all will be well. So you do. And you die.

[AgadorSparticus]

69. they do have Faux and Murdoch to make the koolaid go down faster.

ugh. it's all in the media. heaven help us.

[Cha]

15. I'm so sorry! I hate howard for the lyin '

dog that he is.

[no safe haven]

16. Despite the Labor loss in the House of Reps

and in the Senate, some positives have to come out of this. Opposition parties will need to consolidate their efforts against Howard's conservative policies. Perhaps more critical mass is needed before the Australian public opts for socially progressive issues rather than falling for lies and cheap bribes. With the medicare, education, environment, industrial relations cutbacks that are sure to follow this election, people will be well pissed off over the next 3 years.

Howard will probably retire before his term expires, leaving his treasurer Peter Costello as PM. Peter Costello will appoint Tony Abbott his 2IC, which means Australia will have the comedy team of Abbott & Costello to lead us into the future. :silly: Not a good image.

Ex Midnight Oils frontman Peter Garrett won a seat in the House of Reps. What I'd like to see is is Garrett and Latham form their own band, go on tour and rock this country into the 21st century.....

But for now, I'm crying in my beer.

[AussieDave]

17. It's the result I've dreaded

- three more years of the same lies, scares and asslicking. However I don't agree that Howard will retire during this term - the only way he'll leave is either an election defeat or feet-first in a pine box. He's fought too long and too hard to get the job he's always dreamed about, and he ain't going to go voluntarily.

The richest irony will happen when Kerry wins next month - whose deputy sheriff will Little Johnnie be then ???

[rooboy]

18. Disagree - I think Howard will retire during the term...

and it will either be due to the economy collapsing (which I predict will happen) or he'll get shoved out by Costello and others.

The liberal party can't survive this bullshit-laden course without totally obliterating itself.

[AussieDave]

24. It's certainly possible, but I'll believe it when I see it

- it would take some serious outside influence for him to retire. His legacy is too important to him.

[rooboy]

25. He has his eye on Bob Menzies' record in office...

and he's also developed a taste for the fine wine and leather seats. He doesn't mind getting prime seats to the football and cricket, either.

Nothing more than a pampered old fool.

[no safe haven]

27. Well, Howard is certainly emulating Menzies

in the sucking up department. Bob spent most of his time arse licking the Queen's royal butt the same way Howard has his head up *'s arse. The Libs need a colonial overlord to give them legitimisation. Labor leaders can stand on their own two feet without grovelling and whoring this country to the lowest bidder.

[Matilda]

29. God, I remember when Whitlam taught us to stand up and be proud

to be Australian.

How far away those days seem now.

[happyasaclam]

20. At least if * goes

and little Johnnie has no one to suck up to, he might actually retire earlier.

The only problem then is it is left as the abott and costello show.

[no safe haven]

21. I like the pine box option myself n/t

[Polemonium]

26. What a crappy day

Things seemed so positive while handing out how to vote cards, at least the greens picked up a senate seat or two, but man that sucked. So much for the idea that compulsory voting is a good idea, good grief.

[Matilda]

28. It's hard to accept that Australians have voted for greed in a big way.

The overwhelming reason for voting for Howard seems to be interest
rates. Forget about the privatisation of our universities, forget
about well-funded state schooling, forget about our formerly world-
beating universal health scheme. And we can kiss the ABC goodbye -
hello Rupert, welcome home!

The increase in the Green vote is good, but the reality is Howard
now has more control than he's had over the past eight years.

A dull, grey leader for dull, grey people.

[Polemonium]

30. It is sad, but it's not just Rupert

Australian Idol, had more viewers than the debate here. The majority of Aussies seem fairly unconcerned and disconnected from the political scene (not suggesting we're any better), but it was sad to see "a fair go" get totally lost in greed and apathy.

[no safe haven]

38. Sadly, I think the "fair go" ethos is becoming a thing of the past

Smells too much like *gasp* socialism to Howard, who likes to privatise every asset this country has.

[AussieDave]

31. And if they get control of the Senate

through the stooges of Family First, Telstra will be sold off - hello, timed local calls. Whoever mentioned the Kool-Aid was dead right.

Appalling.

[happyasaclam]

32. It appears as though they will either control

the Senate or need 1 independant/FF senator to get legislation through

[rooboy]

33. You got that right...

the Australian people are about to be punished big time for their ignorance. Once they've figured out that they can't afford their mortgage or health insurance and that their superannuation won't cover them, it will be too late.

Idiots.

[Matilda]

36. You nailed it - unbelievable stupidity.

Watch them squeal as they suddenly realise that a Howard government
in full control is going to cost them big-time. But once Telstra's
sold off and Medicare's gone, there'll be no going back.

Thanks, morans.

[0007]

46. Jays'us save the Queen!

Three more years of bloody John Howard, how depressing.

Obsolesce is now facing pure ignorance. Who was it that said, "The people deverse the type of government they have?" Or something to that effect, LOL!

[ladybugg33]

35. 5 will get you 10 that the main issue was immigration issues.

The anti-immigration forces controlled this vote much the same as here in the US. Racism is the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. When you clear away all the dust of US debates and "hot button" issues like abortion and schoold prayer, it's pure and simple racism that lies beneath the surface. Belive me, there would be no debate on abortion right now if the issue didn't involve public funds for abortions of poor (mostly minority) women.

[Wright Patman]

39. Man, that is a confusing message

Both parties support, either explicitly or by inaction in terms of enforcement, open borders in the U.S. The anti-immigration forces are constantly marginalized and ignored. Look at Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), who is persona non grata at the White House.

But if there is this huge xenophobic wave cascading across the country, why wouldn't abortions for pregnant illegal immigrants be a hugely popular program and a vote-getter? There is a bit of cognitive dissonance when you throw that issue in.

[no safe haven]

40. No worries, Howard solved the immigration "problem"

by building concentration camps in the middle of a desert where the Brits used to explode nukes in the 50s and by excising islands off the coastline and using them to detain people who just happened to be seeking refugee status. Not a problem any more. Howard has it covered. What a clever man. (extreme sarcasm)

[rooboy]

43. Actually, no - immigration and Iraq were both off the table...

The Australian media is very similar to the USA in one respect - there is a large contingent of right wing editors. Howard set the economy as the issue and the media played dutifully along. He used the big lie that only his government could keep interest rates low, and with most of the country up to its eyeballs in mortgages and personal debt, the public bought it.

And he sent checks to every Australian family ($600 per child) just a few weeks ago. And this was the second time he'd done it this year.

Nothing makes you want to vote for a fella more than when he sends you your own money and tells you it's a gift...

[Violet_Crumble]

58. Hey, I never got that second lot of $600...

The first bribe turned up in my bank account smoothly, but the second time there's been nothing. Maybe I have to do my tax return first before I get it? Think I'll be ringing Centrelink on Monday to find out...

I turned in early last night cause I was feeling pretty despondent and had one too many drinks to try to drown my sorrows, but one bright point in this whole exercise displaying the stupidity and selfishness of many Australians is that here in the ACT Labor picked up the second Senate seat from the Libs. And if I encounter anyone who tries to blame us Canberrans for the twits they send here to govern us, I'm not going to politely ignore them anymore. If the rest of Australia had followed the lead of the ACT, we'd have a Labor government...

btw, did you see The Chaser Decides on Thursday? They did something on the interest rates scare tactics...

Second Tampa threatens to bring unwanted interest rates to Australia

John Howard looks likely to be re-elected this Saturday after a boat arrived off the coast of Australia carrying hundreds of unwanted higher interest rates. The Government has taken a hardline stance against the rates, which John Howard has promised will not enter Australia unless Mark Latham is elected.

The rates have terrified Australians that they will have to pay more on their mortgages under Labor despite the advice of independent economists, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank, and basic common sense.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/chaser/txt/s1215633.htm

[rooboy]

60. You don't get the other $600 unless your tax return is done...

so I didn't get mine either.

The Chaser's very funny - I hope they revive their old CNNNN show after this. God knows we need some humour.

[Violet_Crumble]

74. Oh, bum!

I've been holding off doing my tax return because instead of getting a refund, I get a hefty bill due to my HECS. Getting another $600 isn't even going to put a dent in that one :(

Violet...

[tlcandie]

37. So, sorry to hear this...

I had really thought and hoped that all the fear-mongering was mainly limited to the US. :cry:

Very sad to see Ozland has fallen for the same propaganda and fear/scare manipulation/control tactics.

:grouphug:

[Polemonium]

41. Another silver lining?

Interest rates are going to rise, it is inevitable, and when they do they are going to bite Howard in the ass. He won the campaign on interest rate fears, let's make damn sure he looses the next one based on the coming rise in the interest rates.

I guess that's not such a silver lining after all. I'm off to bed, it's late here, and I've got to cry in another beer or two.

[Matilda]

42. And people will hate timed local calls,

and they'll resent having to pay through the nose for decent medical
care, and wring their hands when they realise they can't afford to
put their kids through university. And they'll worry about their
sons and daughters being drafted to follow the US into whatever
war it goes into next.

And the Libs will be voted out next time, but Howard won't care,
because by then he'll have grabbed his huge pension cheque and gone
off to sit on the boards of a few big corporations. And we won't
be able to put the broken pieces of our national icons back together
again.

I think I'll be wearing a black armband for the next week.

[blondeatlast]

44. This is a sad day for Australia and the world.

My heart goes out to you, friends.

[jazzfan]

64. Not a sad day for the war pigs.

It will be a sad day when Jesus W. gets re-selected.

[donsu]

45. Australian Black Box Voting?

from what I gather, Australians were against Howard. so how did he really win? someone should look into their voting system. you know, it's not who votes, it's who counts the votes.

[Matilda]

47. No - generally our system is pretty safe from tampering.

The Electoral Commission oversees the whole thing - no question of
party hacks being able to interfere. We have paper ballot forms
which can be cross-checked and recounted if necessary. No voting
twice, and no-one can remove your name from the electoral roll. I've
never heard of any slip-ups.

Unfortunately, talking to people already many admit to admiring
Latham and his policies, but stuck with Howard because of the
promise of financial security, not because they particularly like
him. They just failed to think about what it's going to cost them
in the long term - and it will cost plenty.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

48. Well Austrlians can't complain about Bush anymore.

[sleipnir]

49. Damn. I thought the good guys would win this one.

What's going on down there??? It was a total Howard blowout. I don't understand the mindset down there, as I thought Australia was a progressive country. I believe I'll have to re-think my opinions on Australia now.

At least Chimpy didn't win the popular vote, his daddy's five friends gave him the office.

I'm still in shock over Howard winning.

Well, to all our DU friends and progressives down under, keep the faith and don't give up! Best wishes for the next few years.

[Matilda]

50. We were quite progressive, once.

Under Howard, we've been going backwards towards the fifties, the
timewarp he's stuck in. It's really quite extraordinary.

It seems that for the majority, the fact that we're doing well
economically is enough - people really don't care that he's lied
over and over, nor do they care that a large section of our society
is getting progressively poorer. There is a very "me-first"
attitude here now. I have to be honest and admit it started in
the Hawke-Keating years - Howard is simply finishing the job.

[no safe haven]

57. The popular vote is pretty evenly spread

between progressive and conservative votes. With 77% of the vote counted as of Saturday midnight, ALP had 3,671,119 votes; Liberal Party (liberal conservatives) had 3,861,383.

Factoring in the next highest votes on the progressive side: Greens 669,276 votes = 4,340,385 total progressives. Second runner up in the conservative vote: National Party, 556,479 = 4,417,862 total conservatives, with a popular vote lead of only 77,477.

However, the Nationals form a coalition govt with the Libs, giving Howard, essentially, a majority of the popular vote and electoral seats. So Labor has to consistently outperform the coalition to form a majority govt. This time Latham failed to do so, even though the ALP vote was increased by a small margin.

This does not, however, excuse the idiots who voted for Howard, the "lying rodent". This is the second time Howard has used scare tactics to get over the line, and it's shameful.

www.abc.net.au/election

[David__77]

54. Labor shouldn't have crapped on lesbians and gays.

How could many progressives or thoughtful people see Labor as a good alternative when they, under Latham, parroted the right's anti-gay positions regarding strengthening marriage inequality. They played that one horribly.

[struggle4progress]

56. Pooh!

:(

[interupt]

59. Time to Clean House

It was a hard fought campaign with absolutely no media prescence by Labor. As a result it looks like the Libs gain the Senate with a Family First Senator which is a more terrifying prospect for 3 years of a direct Assemblies of God influence.

Screw this positive campaign! Latham needs to fire his political advisers and do the following.

- Announce an alternative party platform EARLY so people can get to grips with it.
- Go the negative campaign. Its rough and dirty but the "Learner Latham" and the "Interest Rates Scare" WORKED on the avaerage idiot even though it was a lie.
- Go after the primary vote! Attack the Greens (sorry Green voters) Attack the Family First Party (screw you FF voters) the post mortem will indicate that the Libs won ALL the One Nation (Faaaaar right) vote and most of the Aus Democrats.
- Go for the governments weak issues. Labor did sod all with International issues or indiginous issues or any of the stuff that could have hit the govt. Instead Medicare....sigh
- TV PRESCENCE!

Need to find a "Dont blame me I voted Labor" sticker so when people start whinging about their interest rates they can understand what they have really done

[Violet_Crumble]

61. Attacking the Greens...

I'm a former Labor voter who voted Green in both houses this time round (only after ensuring that my preferences went to the ALP). Rather than attacking the Greens, the ALP should be doing a lot of soul-searching over the reasons why disgruntled Labor voters are now voting Green and do something to fix up their policy to get these voters back into the fold. There's no way I'd vote for a party that supports a ban on gay marriage, has a policy on refugees that's really no better than what the Libs have to offer, and who won't come out strongly against our involvement in Iraq...

Violet...

[happyasaclam]

62. I totally agree

I also voted for the Greens this time in both houses for those very same reasons, and I know a lot of other people who did the same thing. All of these people have been long time supporters of the ALP, and in a seat which has been held by labor for the last 98 years.

[Polemonium]

65. I agree attacking the greens does not help

First, the greens preferences helped win some tight races for Labor in NSW. Further, despite the media spin it was not the greens or the forest policy that caused two seats to be lost in Tasy. Three seats were projected to go liberal three weeks ago, and two were lost.

Green preferences help the ALP, and attacking them will just further alienate the left (that will not help the ALP). A working relationship with the greens is the way forward, it's OK not to agree with the greens on everything, but it needs to be acknowledged that the greens represent the feelings of close to a million Australians (7% of voters), and government is about inclusion.

I would add that something has to be done to get the media to be more balanced. The media focused on the timber industry protest on the same day that 6000 people were marching against Howard in Sydney (the march in Sydney didn't even make the news here).

[Matilda]

81. I also switched my lower house vote from Labor to Greens

when I discovered (alerted by Djinn) that they were preferencing
Family First. That was a really dirty piece of politicking, and
stupid to boot.

On the ground, amongst real people, Labor and Green supporters have
no problem with the idea that the two parties can work together
against the rabid conservatives. When is Labor going to wake up,
get rid of its stupid and outmoded factions, and put the best people
up, regardless of whether they're left or right-wing, and work with
the party that has more in common with their idealogy than any
other party in the country. The FF senate candidate in Victoria
looks like getting in on Labor preferences - if anything is likely
to piss off Labor supporters, that's got to be it. We have nothing
in common with these religious fundies - we do have a lot in common
with the Greens.

In fact, as a result of the deals done this time around, I'm signing
up my whole family as official members of the Greens.

[foreigncorrespondent]

67. Oh come on!!!

Instead of blaming the Green voters how about placing the blame where it is truly needed, on the ALP themselves!

They turned their backs on the LGBT population of this country, now I, like all my queer brothers and sisters are second class citizens in our own damn country. Latham and the ALP should never have supported Howard's bigoted plans.

Latham failed to produce a decent plan for the old growth forrests. Howard released his, and even though he may of lied about his intentions (who knows?) his plan was better, so Latham loses Tassie. As soon as I heard Howard's plans after Latham's earlier this week, I realized it would all be over for a Labor victory this election.

The ALP used Medicare as their draw card! Hello! There are far bigger issues out there, that they needed to keep harping on about, but they stuck with Medicare.

I'm sorry mate, but it isn't the Greens fault Latham lost yesterday. It is the ALP's fault they lost yesterday!

[interupt]

72. I agree with you.

Its absolutely Labors fault...cannot agree more. Perhaps "attacking" the Greens is too strong a word, but more Im saying - as is demonstrated by some posts here - Labor is losing the Primary vote and relying on Green prefs, which is the wrong tactic....all parties need to attract the primary vote.

Ignore Andrew Bartlett about saying the Greens prefs cost them the election because it pushed Labor too far left...he is an idiot who has no political savvy.

Labor needs to go back to its core values, and stop trying to appeal to everyone and big business, and small business, and every other lunatic fringe because it confuses people and as commentators said last night, the undecided pool was huge until the last minute and "better the devil you know."

Bob Brown (Green Leader) is a very political savvy person who can take a side and get media exposure (for the right or wrong reasons) The Greens are now the minor party at the expense of the Democrats. Its stunning that Labor cannot see how Bob attracts voters.

It was a bitter loss for me, but as someone said this morning when interest rates rise, petrol becomes $1.50 and the FTA explodes the Liberals have to explain how good their economic management really is.

I will say though that Family First need to be exposed for the right wing nut cases they are. They were very careful during interviews last night not to reveal their agenda. The Greens and Labor need to join forces to destroy this party.

[no safe haven]

75. You're right about FF

This country needs an imported fundie group (FF = Assemblies of God) holding the balance of power in the Senate like it needs....well, John Howard. Amen, good night, lights out.

Check out Crikey
http:/www.crikey.com.au/politics/2004/09/21-0001.html

[Violet_Crumble]

76. Family First = Aussie Taliban...

The scary thing is that I'm pretty sure most folk who voted for those extremists know exactly what their agenda is, and approve of it. Considering one of the National Party pollies called them a bunch of lunatics, it's good to see not all those on the Right are embracing them the way I'm sure Johnny Howard will...

Violet...

[no safe haven]

77. Johnny did a preference deal with them

FF agreed to preference all their votes to the Libs, with the exception of Warren Entsch, Lib Member for Leichhardt in Queensland because he supported gay marriages. Hold onto your hats folks, we're in for quite a ride.

[Polemonium]

78. The Democrats were preferencing FF

Now please explain how in the hell the Dems have so completely lost the plot.

[no safe haven]

80. Death throes

of a totally irrelevant political party, Bartlett a non-entity, years of in-fighting and back stabbing, selling out Australia by casting the winning vote for the GST, having no political platform whatsoever, Greens taking over as social conscience of the country, ring-in for the Libs.........just for starters.

[jazzfan]

63. GREAT DAY FOR WAR/BUSH LOVERS

Well cross that country off my list.

[Chicago Democrat]

66. From the land of people like Mel Gibson...

Ugh

[foreigncorrespondent]

68. Funny that!

Mel was born in Peekskill, New York!

[crossroads]

70. Too bad!

:eyes:

[struggle4progress]

71. Bartlett says Greens deal may have cost Latham

The preference deal between Labor and the Greens may have cost Opposition Leader Mark Latham the election, Australian Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett said on Saturday night.

Senator Bartlett said it was not clear how many Senate seats the Democrats had lost at the election.

But he said the Opposition's Tasmanian forestry policy and preference deal with the Greens may have pushed Labor too far to the left.

"It looks a bit like Bob Brown delivering John Howard back with the prime ministership in the same way that (US Greens 2001 presidential candidate) Ralph Nader got George Bush into the White House a few years ago," he told reporters. <snip>

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/09/1097261860584.html

[interupt]

73. Would you like another drink Andrew?

tool.

[Polemonium]

79. Democrats have lost the plot

After preferences going to family first, and loosing all or most of their seats. Andrew decides to strike out at the greens. Keep your eye on the ball or go have another drink you drunk wanker. Andrew and the dems have lost all credibility.

[Matilda]

82. Speaking of the Dems and the wonderful job they did with the GST

does anybody know if Meg Lees lost her seat?

[AussieDave]

89. Yes, Meg Lees has lost her seat

and good ridddance to her, too. The havoc she has wreaked will long outlive her.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200410/s1217074.htm

Now that Australia has seen fit to be fearful and greedy and short-sighted, here are three predictions now that Howard and his minions will have control of both houses of parliament for the next two terms (Labor has lost the next election as well – too much ground to make up):

1. Medicare will be destroyed – Howard has always hated it, now’s his chance;
2. Telstra will be sold off – timed local calls are only a matter of time; and
3. The GST will be extended to include EVERYTHING, including food.

I’ll bet our “aspirational” mortgage-belt voters didn’t think of the consequences – let’s see how they like sucking on THESE particular lemons……

[Tempest]

83. This could be good news

Howard was re-elected because of domestic issues, not the war on terrorism.

Bush doesn't have the economic record Howard has, so he can't win on his.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

84. what type of new voting machines does Australia use, Diebold/ES&S???

[foreigncorrespondent]

85. We don't use voting machines at all...

...ElsewheresDaughter. Our ballots are all paper ballets, and you pencil in your votes.

[Matilda]

86. Australia has developed an electronic voting system -

trialled in Queensland, I believe, during their last election. But
it has a voter-verified printout as well. But I don't believe it's
been used since its first trial.

[Gyre]

87. labor failed to make Iraq an issue

And, not a single aussie soldier has died, and their economy is supposed to be doing really well.

Gyre

[Amigust]

88. Mr. Latham sounds like the boy who says the emperor has no clothes.

They call him inexperienced. Maybe the kind of experience they are promoting is the kind that blinds them to the simple truths.

Mr. Latham sounds like a breath of fresh air.

[Matilda]

90. And when the dust has settled

will Howard keep his promises and send the economy into deficit,
or will he fall back on the old line of "non-core" promises that
didn't mean a thing beyond winning the election.

This election even more than the last was a triumph for dirty
and deceitful politics.

[ausiedownunderground]

91. Christian Taliban in control????

The Ozzie election result has gone pear shaped for Liberal democracy. Not only did the conservatives hang on fairly comfortably in the Lower House but it looks more and more likely that the "Christian Taliban" will sneak a senator from Victoria in to the Senate. This will be enough to get Howard over the line in both houses of parliament - but at what cost??? What will the Christian Taliban want from Howard in return for their vote??? This could be scarey!! Gays,refugees,athiests,single mums,abortion rights,muslims,buddhists,public education,special tax breaks for "fundies" and their organizations,media rules,ABC and SBS,closer relations with The "Bush" gang and all that that entails ( although we're pretty close to being accepted as the 53 state after Israel and Britains applications have been processed) and the list could go on and on - All are likely to be vulnerable to the "Christian Taliban's" gunsights!!
This election result has unfortunately swung OZ into the Rethuglican sphere of influence and all the scarey stuff that comes with it. The funny thing is, that i don't believe most OZZIE voters truely understand what they've done. Only time will tell, but by then it will be to late!!!! Its going to be a scarey 3 years!!!

[Matilda]

92. You're right on all points.

I find it hard to forgive Labor for preferencing Family First -
these people have nothing in common with left-leaning people's
hopes and aspirations. A case of the movers and shakers being
out of touch with reality.

And all those people who thought only of their mortgage and life-
style will start screaming when they begin to find out that they
have precious little else, and will pay through the nose for their
phone calls, their doctors' visits and hospital care, their
childrens' education. As for those idiot woodchip workers in
Tassie - they deserve what they'll get when Howard brings in his
new industrial relations policies.

Unfortunately, the rest of us will suffer along with them.