[Bigdaddy75]

So when Howard steps up and calls it which way are the Aussie members here going to vote?

[dicknose]

Im busy working on the election - Im doing the computer systems for Seven and Sky News. So Im sort of happy that he hasnt called it yet - more time to get ready.

Im also in Howards electorate - so that will be interesting, see if the PM loses his own seat.

As for which way - Im leaning to the ALP mainly because Rudd has come out and said he will try to bring in fixed terms and a fixed election date!
That would be so good!!! I booked my Phillip Island tix months ago knowing if the election was on this weekend Id have to tear up the tickets.

[Bigdaddy75]

Well mate I hope they don't work you too hard! Your in for a busy time - was it true the Liberal website got hacked today? I heard it on the radio.

Anyway, Howard is clever, the longer this drags out the more time Rudd is exposed to errors and he's making a few, they are still the labour party. At the end of the day and I hope the Australian public is smart enough to see that. Julia Gillard? Seriously??? No way from where I sit, she's got about as much appeal as gravel rash and Rudd is a nice guy but he's a light weight and I hope they can expose it before election time.

[dicknose]

The problem for the Libs is that while they have a good reputation on economic matters they are behind on other issue - now the economy has turned a bit, interest rates are up, people start to think that the other guys cant be any worse (they can! not saying they are, just that people often make funny assumptions)


It will be an interesting election and is certainly to be a big swing back to Labor. Could be anything from the Coalition scraping home to an ALP landslide.

[Surffrog]

As not too many Ozzies have engaged on this topic, I'd like to. From the news we get over here (Asia Pacific, BBC, Fox) it seems that although Rudd can for the most part get his point across clearly and succinctly, he does't do it with any gravitas. I could imagine him back-peddalling with another head-of-state and would wonder if he was getting the best deal for his country.
Howard, on the other hand, has at least some gravitas but, in addtion, that sort of small man complex-like drive that makes you think "I might not like him but I know he'll get the majority of what he's fighting for."

[dicknose]

I definitely agree on Howard - while he might not be liked I think most people think he is good at the job and has shown to have what it takes to be a leader.

[Bigdaddy75]

Some of those TV ads are pretty good, a lot of people who will vote this election don't know what a big mess the unions made of Australia. Not to mention the fact the Rudd rhyms with Dudd and I think the man is as soft as butter and green and St Pats day. And Gillard??? Every time she opens her mouth I expect a forked tounge to slither out. Every time Labour gets in they make a big mess for the Liberals to clean up. You can't put a soft pussy like Rudd on the world stage and expect Australia to be taken seriously. There are so many reasons not to vote labour...

[dicknose]

Then again how big a deal is it to have a leader who is a player on the world stage? (or even thinks he is a player!)

And I think Rudd and the Labor party have moved far more towards the centre - actually both parties are moving towards each other rather than further apart.

Anyway - watch Seven or SkyNews and see my numbers go to air!
Just dont blame me for the actual look - Im not the graphics artists, just the computer and number cruncher guy!

[Bigdaddy75]

Originally Posted by dicknose

Then again how big a deal is it to have a leader who is a player on the world stage? (or even thinks he is a player!)

A pretty big deal I think. You know, international trade, defence and all that important stuff. I don't agree with everything little John has done it's just that alternative sucks. As for work choices it's a better alternative than unions. I will keep an eye out for your numbers

[sheepofblue]

I don't get a vote but I love when y'all politicians just come out and say the truth. The spineless girls we have over here either babble for a while without actually saying anything. If not they do the "politically correct" thing which also generally is void of content.

[Bigdaddy75]

Mate ours get stuck right in to it - And the TV ads are just a big mud slinging fest. "I've known Kevin Rudd for 20 years and he could'nt go 3 rounds with Whinnie the Poo" - And we the tax payers are funding this crap fest.

[Surffrog]

Bigdaddy it might well be a crap slinging fest sponsored by you but at least you get some entertainment for your money. It makes me laugh watching it (thanks)
As Sheep said (and it's absolutely the same in the UK), our politicians only offer complete and unequivocal non-commitment or (please excuse me Sheep) following blindly the popular vote like sheep. I'd much rather have politicians say what they feel. Even if I completely disagree with them, I would feel they were more human and in touch with some form of reality (if losely) connected to my own. Brits only laugh at the irony during election time in the UK.

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by Surffrog

Bigdaddy it might well be a crap slinging fest sponsored by you but at least you get some entertainment for your money. It makes me laugh watching it (thanks)
As Sheep said (and it's absolutely the same in the UK), our politicians only offer complete and unequivocal non-commitment or (please excuse me Sheep) following blindly the popular vote like sheep. I'd much rather have politicians say what they feel. Even if I completely disagree with them, I would feel they were more human and in touch with some form of reality (if losely) connected to my own. Brits only laugh at the irony during election time in the UK.

No worries my wooly army is massing on your borders (and NZ). Y'all are the first to fall when world domination starts

[Surffrog]

Not on my borders though!

[dicknose]

Id love to see how someone masses on the aussie border - you would need a few boats!

[robbied]

Don't you hate it how its not clear who is the right person for the job, they each have positives and negatives. I am leaning towards voting Rudd but I don't want to vote for him if the union will greatly influence Labour. If you give the unions too much power they start to think they are the police and law makers which is a scary thought.

On the other hand we did okay with Howard over the years. I am against him slowly eroding our rights and using imaginary terrorism as an excuse. As I understand it he was also responsible somewhat for selling some of our assets overseas which I don't agree with. I also wish he didn't involve us as much in the disaster which is the war on terror (Iraq, Afghanistan). I guess he had to show some support to the U.S. government in case we ever run into trouble down the line; though it is sad that some of our troops and hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed.

Overall I think it could swing either way, I think the 2 key issues affecting the majority of the public's votes will be Howard not staying the full-term and handing over the reigns to Costello and the influence of the unions on Rudd.

[Surffrog]

I think you've got a point, Robbied. Look at France. The unions there are all powerful... Actually, now I think about it, don't bother. That's was a bad example. The French unions are like that with whoever steps into power.

[steven0367]

is Australia the only place on earth where your right to vote is compusary?

[Surffrog]

I've got to admit, I certainly don't know of anywhere else like that. Most 'dictators' stop the whole voting process, so there's no need.
Only joking

[steven0367]

dictatorship! now that sounds like the last 4 years

[Surffrog]

Sorry, I didn't mean to bring you down

[Bigdaddy75]

Rudd = national disaster. Show me a labour govt in the last 20 years that has not left a mess. Whitlam got thrown out, Hawke and Keating left a mess that took years to clean up. It's a black day for Australia.

[Surffrog]

Chin up, Bigdaddy. Thailand's only a short hop for ya. Come over and well sink a few to soften the blow.

[Bigdaddy75]

Mate I've already been talking to my accountant about exit strategies... Just goes to show the stupidity of the masses, I mean look how many people watch "Neighbors" .... So Joe Stupid goes to the booth and pick's up his pencil and puts and X in the "lets screw everything up now" box.... Things are running well now in Australia, external factors like oil prices etc fall outside the control of the PM. I hope I have it wrong but Rudd is soft as butter and he's been ducking anyone in the media who would test him. He went on Rove???? for Fiks sake and Rove is total lighweight. Again I hope history does not repeat.

[Surffrog]

Well there's not a lot you can do about it now. Except perhaps come over and sink a few stubbies. I guarantee you'll forget your worries, for a while at least.

[dicknose]

Well Im happy with the result.
Normally Im a Lib voter but Im sick of the govts morals and creating divisions between people.

[steven0367]

i for one agree with dicknose on the result.

no goverment could have expected to win an election after screwing the majority of the workforce with the industrial relation policy they put in place.
Howard took the rights of workers back to the 1920's .
even his own party disowned their own policy the next day after the election????

[Surffrog]

Originally Posted by steven0367