The Independents
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Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I'm with Scarfy on this one.
I know a few people who went to Uni with Barnaby. They would strongly dispute any assertion that intelligence resides anywhere in his being. Cunning, at times, but intelligent, no.
Tony Windsor has always appeared to me to be a man of integrity and his electorate has elected him with a significant majority. If he runs again, I'd be surprised to see Barnaby waltz into power.
I know a few people who went to Uni with Barnaby. They would strongly dispute any assertion that intelligence resides anywhere in his being. Cunning, at times, but intelligent, no.
Tony Windsor has always appeared to me to be a man of integrity and his electorate has elected him with a significant majority. If he runs again, I'd be surprised to see Barnaby waltz into power.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Says someone who votes for a party led by Bob Brown.
After the last 3 odd years of a government run by spin and the daily news cycle, if you can't see the benefits in having more honest and up front people involved in federal politics, then there is no hope for you.
And that's exactly how John Howard ran things. I think you need to check your glasses they appear to be tinted rose.
I'm in the Barnaby fan club on this one. I like what he offers, a breath of fresh air if you will. He occasionally resides on the lunatic fringe, but then again he represents rural Queensland so he is just mirroring the persona of his electorate. But most of what he says is sound and logical and he is one of the most 'in touch' politicians around.
One of the few people in politics I would want to have a beer with.
One of the few people in politics I would want to have a beer with.
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chief
Guest
Come on Scotty, don't need to make it personal.
No doubt a vote for the Greens is a protest vote from Labor, people are dissatisfied. Plus Scarfman is an academic I believe, which in Australia is a secular business, you don't see too many academics voting for the Liberal Party, especially Cultural and Film academics after Howard trashed their funding.
As for Spin, the Coalition are using the biggest form of deceptive behaviour I've seen in months. I'm talking about their "Direct Action" plan, which has no backing of anyone, because it's a joke of a policy. They are making the old Howard battlers, think that this policy somehow has their interests at heart, and it's going to protect the earth. The shadow Environment Minister Greg Hunt, I may say is one of the good ministers, but he even wrote an article back at University on pricing carbon, the policy's a joke it has no backing, no credibility, and no legitimacy. In fact a lot of the Liberal Party still believe a carbon price is the right thing to do. In fact John Howard even believed in pricing carbon did he not.
No doubt Bob Brown's an opportunist politician, I like some of the things he stands for on social issues, and I believe in climate change and I believe both major parties have let us down on that issue.
Yeah Barnaby's upfront, but he would scare the hell out of me as Deputy PM, and sure I wouldn't mind having a beer or two with him, probably with Bob Katter as well (not at the same time). Brown over Barnaby every day.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Rudd took it to a new level a level that up to American standards. The Labor party has even admitted as much and attempted to get away from that type of politics. If you were honest, you'd probably also admit it.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
How is what I said any more personal that 'there is no hope for you'?
I hope you aren't a referee - you seem to let only one side play.
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chief
Guest
"Says someone who votes for a party led by Bob Brown."
I probably used the wrong words, I'll admit that, the word "personal" wasn't the correct word. But the word defensive certainly would be, and why not get defensive. So apologies there.
Yeah I won't lie, I'm pretty Left wing, and tend to passionately disagree with you and on occasion discard your arguments.
I might also add, the Greens got more votes than the Nationals.
sevenpointdropgoal
Larry Dwyer (12)
Discussion of the personality and intelligence of politicians amongst ideologically disparate company often ends up as a case of the proverbial one legged duck.
Gnostic
Mark Ella (57)
As an Alumni of the same Uni I will atest to this. I have also met Tony Windsor a few times and he has always struck me as an honest person.
Cutter
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
The thing that surprises me about you spdg, is that, for someone who is clearly thoughtful and intelligent in respect of so many things, you nevertheless support Southern Districts.
liquor box
Greg Davis (50)
Wouldn't the greens have run in more seats though?
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chief
Guest
Indeed they would have. But the Nationals votes in inner city seats is very low. Say in the seat of Lilley in 2001 I think it was something like 1000 or so votes. Pretty minor.
Aussie D
Dick Tooth (41)
Would you expect anything else considering their main constituents and most of their policies are centered around rural Australia and farmers? They would be doing very well to pick up 1000 votes in the inner city.
chasmac
Dave Cowper (27)
What is the role of an independent?
The independents have been getting alot of money spent in their electorates. NBN, hospitals, Dams, Roads, and other infrastructure projects have been approved since the election. If this is the role of an independent with the balance of power then they are doing their jobs very well.
My understanding is that the independents were given only a 3 month guarantee from Abbott if they formed a minority gov't at election time. Given that Windsor in particular has trod this path before (Balance of Power in Nick Greiner's state gov't in the '90's) they were never going to run with Abbott. Greiner was thrown out at the next election and it seems he expects this will happen to Oakshott, himself and Wilkie at the next election.
They see this as their time to implement / veto / support and influence gov't until the next election. Hopefully the policies they vote on are sensible and forward thinking.
Similarly - and I am opposed to their policies - the Greens are in an unprecedented position starting on July 1st. They will hold the balance of power in the senate. Couple this with their power in the lower house and I feel we are in for a very wild ride over the next few years.
The independents have been getting alot of money spent in their electorates. NBN, hospitals, Dams, Roads, and other infrastructure projects have been approved since the election. If this is the role of an independent with the balance of power then they are doing their jobs very well.
My understanding is that the independents were given only a 3 month guarantee from Abbott if they formed a minority gov't at election time. Given that Windsor in particular has trod this path before (Balance of Power in Nick Greiner's state gov't in the '90's) they were never going to run with Abbott. Greiner was thrown out at the next election and it seems he expects this will happen to Oakshott, himself and Wilkie at the next election.
They see this as their time to implement / veto / support and influence gov't until the next election. Hopefully the policies they vote on are sensible and forward thinking.
Similarly - and I am opposed to their policies - the Greens are in an unprecedented position starting on July 1st. They will hold the balance of power in the senate. Couple this with their power in the lower house and I feel we are in for a very wild ride over the next few years.
Swarley
Bob Loudon (25)
Chief, no offense mate, but you've got to be kidding me when you say the Coalition spin media more than the Labor party. Even the most Left-wing orientated voters should be able to see that the media (especially ABC, 7 and 9) are incredibly biased towards the Labor party- and will do almost anything to spite the conservatives. The Four Corners report on exported cattle mistreatment is footage from nearly 5 years ago in a privately owned abattoir. 7 tried to paint Tony Abbott as the country's number one enemy over the "shit happens" saga, for which 7 are undoubtedly guilty of defaming Abbott's character. Kerry O'Brien is unashamedly socialistic and it sure as hell shows judging by the nature of political content on the ABC. I don't know if anybody saw the interview with Bob Katter and Greens senator Scott Ludlum, but right throughout the anchor would interrupt Katter, laugh at him whilst supporting the contradictory, illogical arguments of Ludlum. I remember when Lawrence Springborg was campaigning many years ago after massive electoral redistribution, and the ABC reporters were airing answers to questions from other press conferences in an attempt to show Springborg negatively. It's absolutely rubbish, there's no way that the Libs spin the media more than the government.
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chief
Guest
The Channel 7 "Shit Happens" interview was a joke by 7. I have no doubt that ABC and 7 lean left, no doubt at all. Even the Government said Abbott meant no harm. As for Channel 9, I can't say I ever bring myself to watch it.
I can't say I saw the Ludlam, Katter interview but I heard about it, and I think the interviewer was Lyndal Curtis who is left wing herself. You only need to watch an episode of Q&A and you will see the Tweets accepted by the producers are ALL Left Wing. As for O'Brien being a socialist I touched on this just today in a separate thread. O'Brien nailed any politician he could. He cared for his ego and not really his ideology. He was still the best interviewer in Australia, the only one close now is Fran Kelly on AM.
Not once have I said Labor spin less than the Coalition. All I've said is that there "Direct Action" policy is a con, and is spun by Abbott has some . In fact I would rate the Direct Action policy in the same league as Kevin Rudd's jokes of the year; Fuel and Grocery Watch. Tony Abbott refuses to answer questions on it.
If you just watch Question Time, all you will see is Labor spinning and refusing to answer questions. Labor's front bench is full of numerous people who have not a shred of principle, and who are dishonest as all hell.
However, the Rupert Media are unfair particularly the Telegraph and Courier Mail have been nothing but biased towards the current government. If you saw the Telegraph's post budget special, it was blatantly unfair and biased.
ACT Crusader
Jim Lenehan (48)
Swarley - Channel 9??? Maaatee they are far from left leaning IMO. Laurie Oakes and 60 Minutes case in point. Fitzy's wife tries to be hard hitting towards Abbot, but her interviews are quite frankly a bit of a laugh.
ABC and 7 agree in general.
One point I will say though is that with the advent of the ABC News 24 channel there are alot more shows that have panelists from different political divides - the Drum, Capital Hill, Insiders (despite Barry Cassidy's political past), Q&A. It's no longer just the individuals like Kerry O that set the ABC tone anymore.
ABC and 7 agree in general.
One point I will say though is that with the advent of the ABC News 24 channel there are alot more shows that have panelists from different political divides - the Drum, Capital Hill, Insiders (despite Barry Cassidy's political past), Q&A. It's no longer just the individuals like Kerry O that set the ABC tone anymore.
Scotty
David Codey (61)
Channel 9 and 7 are private organisations. They can lean whichever way the damn well like as far as I'm concerned.
The ABC is funded by our taxes. I doubt it is even legal for them to lean a particular way, and it really annoys me when they do.
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