So, we've got the Eurovision song contest, the federal election, and the last episode of Game Of Thrones, all happening on the same weekend. Jesus Christ; when it rains it pours, doesn't it?
Since I haven't got anything better to do, feel free to join me here, at any point between about 6AM Saturday and midday Sunday (Oz time). After Eurovision finishes, I imagine I'll probably flip back to the ABC for Insiders, before hitting the sack. I might also try to squeeze in an hour or two of sleep prior to Eurovision, but we'll see how that goes.
Speaking of Insiders, I caught it this morning, for the first time in a while. My word, isn't Lenore Taylor looking good these days? Malcolm Farr, not as much. Oh, and what d'ya reckon are the chances that Crabby Ann takes over hosting duties when Bazza McCraggyFace retires?
And in other news, I took the Vote Compass quiz over on the ABC website. Generally speaking, I have nothing but contempt for these kinds of tests. Most of the time, I want to give very nuanced and multi-faceted answers to the questions, but all they give you to respond with is a sliding scale.
Anyway, they have this map, with the major parties arranged in (basically) a straight line, with the Greens in the top left, being both socially and economically left wing, and One Nation in the bottom right, being both socially and economically right wing. I was way off in the bottom left corner of the map, apparently being socially right and economically left. I suppose I'm not too surprised by that. 30 years ago, your average punter wasn't overly keen on privatisation, deregulation, outsourcing, immigration, and pursuing equity for sheilas, poofs, and abos; so I guess it's fair to say that the political centre has shifted a long way to the left on social issues and a long way to the right on economics—and I just happen to have been somewhat left behind in both instances.
Interestingly, even though my map-position was technically closest to the Liberal party (for fuck sake), the website reckons my views are almost completely aligned with One Nation … Lovely. Do I even need to mention that it'll be a cold day in hell when I vote for that narcissistic, orange-haired cunt, and her pathetic little band of followers.
Have you taken the test yet? How did you fare?
32 comments :
Here in Melbs we are really looking forward to this weekend. ABC's election coverage is always exellent, and we have a bottle of french champagne in the fridge for if Abbott and Dutton both lose their seats. And then there's Eurovision. I can't wait.
I've already voted in a postal ballot because we expected to be away from home this weekend and we just thought it would be easier. When I did the Vote Compass thing I was was surprised it put me closer to Labor than the Greens. I've come to realise that I'm a dirty socialist who would re-nationalise almost everything if she was dictator for life. I'm happy for mining companies to mine, manufacturers to manufacture, etc, but public services like electricity, gas, water, phones etc NEED to be in public hands. Especially schooling. No schools that aren't public secular schools. The current system entrenches privilege. Most CEOs (or was it board members of companies?) are appointed because of who they know - guess where that starts? I'm over it. My first preference went to the Victorian Socialists.
You're not going to get much of an argument from me Suze—though I noticed there were no questions on the Vote Compass survey relating to the state takeover of critical services and infrastructure. At least not when I did it, anyway.
And thanks for reminding me, I should probably grab some beers. I'm going to want them if The Mad Monk gets excommunicated.
Curious to know if youse fellas down south have been buried in Palmer United propaganda like we have up here in QLD? Cunt must have spent a fortune.
Also, here's a thought: All the smart money's going on a narrow ALP victory this morning; but as we know, Sorten isn't, and has never been, a popular leader. If Labor does get up, will he make it to the end of his first term, and if not, who will be our PM when the next election rolls around?
Yeah, we've got fucking Clive everywhere too. On the telly, on billboards, on FB ads, on our fucking phones. He's spent a lot of money on advertising. And he can fuck right off.
Shorten, though not popular, will still be PM if he makes it into the job. The rules of appointing leaders have changed since Rudd rolled Julia. Rudd changed them. Basically if the leader is to be deposed, it has to go to a vote involving the whole ALP member base, not just the MPs. So it's a much bigger deal. Bill could resign of course, or be forced to, but he can't be forced out without his consent while PM.
Good point. Now that you mention it, I do remember those changes, and the ensuing election campaign between Shorten and Albow to become opposition leader.
Do you reckon Hawkey's demise will swing any votes, or is the just something the media are preoccupied with?
We've been going less than half an hour and already Greeny sounds like he's losing his voice. Actually, he's not looking all that healthy in general.
Interesting. 10% of the vote counted, and the results are, so far, the inverse of what the polls predicted.
Also, nation-wide, both major parties are down, with Greens and One Nation up, and Palmer up by a huge amount. Seems that all that advertising is paying off.
Looks like Rabbit might go, but QLD might keep the LNP in power.
Still a long way to go though.
I don't know WTF is going on with this. I'm very confused. I was so sure we'd see a change of Govt tonight and so far it's looking shit.
Except for the Mad Monk losing his seat. We opened the champagne for that one.
Some massive numbers for the Greens in Victoria. The way things are headed, it's only going to be a matter of years before they start winning lower house seats in serious numbers.
Might be a good night for getting pissed either way, eh?
According to my husband it's my fault because I'm from WA. :P
Had a flick through the commercial channels. On 7, thought Julie Bishop had had a face lift, but it turned out it was Michaelia Cash. Bishop was on 9. Seems to be a lot of talk about the possibility of a hung parliament.
And while we may have seen the end of the Mad Monk, sadly it seems, we're still stuck with the Beetrooter.
Definitely getting pissed here.
WA might end up being a major player tonight. They would've only been counting over there for an hour.
Julie Bishop reckons it's a stain on Rabbit's legacy that he didn't step aside for a moderate LNP member, whose views were more aligned with the electorate. Arthur Sinodenas reckons the the whole country has moved on and left Tony and his beliefs behind.
I'm starting to get the impression that his part in rolling Turnbull might have cost him a few friends within the party.
Here's what's bothering me: nobody predicted this. Not even you (and you predicted Trump).
I hope hope hope that Shorten has the sense not to concede until after the postal votes are counted.
I suppose I'll go back to my previous question - albeit slightly modified - who will the next ALP leader be?
I knew Shorten was unpopular and I knew a lot of people were saying they intended to vote for a minor party. I didn't have a sense that there was huge support for the Libs, but I suppose it depends on how the preferences flow.
Albo. Or if we are really lucky: Tanya
Sadly, I don't think Tanya will do much better up here than Bill.
Albo's probably a better bet.
Though I imagine he probably doesn't poll as well in Melbourne and Sydney. Hard to pick someone who's going to appeal across the board.
Dunno if you caught that Suze, but Greeny just explained that the way polls are conducted in Oz has changed dramatically in the last two election cycles - mostly due to the fact that people are getting rid of landline telephones.
Interesting.
Just saw Howard interviewed, and it looks like he hasn't aged at all in the past 10 years.
On the other hand, he's not sounding quite so good. Either he's been drinking, or his faculties are starting to fade.
Would love to see some figures for QLD primary vote (discarding preferences). So far, all I've seen is the national figure.
Looks like massive numbers for One Nation in Northern QLD.
Shorten obviously not waiting for the postals and pre-polls.
TAS:
Andrew Wilkie
QLD:
Bob Katter
VIC:
Helen Haines
Adam Bandt (Green)
SA:
Rebekha Sharkie
NSW:
Zali Steggall (YAY!)
Kerryn Phelps (possible)
The way things are shaping up, it looks like the LNP will have to keep at least a couple members of this motley crew on side. What will they be willing to offer? What will be asked of them? What's the Senate going to look like?
The interesting stuff isn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
***
On a completely vapid note: How cute did Scumo's youngest daughter look tonight? Older one looked like she'd rather be somewhere else. I know how she feels.
According to ABC website, QLD primary vote for the LNP did go down from last time. So it was people switching their votes from ALP to minor parties that preferenced the Libs that caused this massive discrepancy.
They currently list five seats as being in doubt, with the Torries ahead in all of them. They only need two to form a majority govt.
Palmer's $80million has bought him a Liberal govt. Which is all he wanted, because now his coal mines in the Galilee Basin are going to go ahead.
The issue is people voting for PUP and ONP and those preferences flowing to LNP instead of actually voting for change because they were ignorant of how to actually vote for REAL change.
The ALP had a full vision of reforms and I think that was part of the problem. The changes around franking credits - which cost the govt $63 BILLION per year - led to an LNP fear campaign that won votes from retirees (a lot of whom would not see any change anyway, only two of the retirees I know have an actual super account, the rest are dependant on the Age Pension) and those close to retirement.
If I didn't have a hangover from last night, I'd be drinking right now to drown my sorrows.
BTW I went to bed when Dutton came on because I couldn't stand watching anymore.
Imagine what would happen if a party emerged that appealed to those ONP & PUP voters, but wasn't built around an incompetent, narcissistic fuckwit.
At one point, I had hopes that Katter was going to spark something positive, but that's long since faded away.
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