Eanie, meanie, minie, mo

Seano says:

08:05am | 20/08/10

Personally I think it’s a stupid stunt. Most people know that anyone who works that long without proper breaks functions far below average. Hmmm but you lot are the people who forced work"choices” on workers so perhaps you don’t.

fehowarth says:

09:21am | 20/08/10

Maybe he suffers from ADHD or the following;-
Hyperactivity
Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated are expected.
Runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness).
Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
Appears “on the go” or acts as if “driven by a motor.”
Talks excessively.

This might explain his manic and frantic behaviour during the campaign, especially the last couple of days.  Even at the first debate, he could not stand still. He rolled back and forward during Ms. Gillard address.  A person who has to be on the go all the time is a worry.

fairsfair says:

09:57am | 20/08/10

My sister is 30 years old and according to your definiation is Hyperactive. She is fit, tidy, considerate, an extremely hard worker and would do anything for you. She is extremely efficient and carries out the role of two people within her organisation due to the level of her output. She exercises to wind down and loves nothing more than a chat and a glass of wine on the verandah at the end of the day - the difference is, she spends half an hour there - not three or four. Taking this on board I don’t look at her and think “people like you will be the downfall of this country”. That is a very broad generalisation fehowarth.

dancan says:

10:06am | 20/08/10

It is a boring election Rosie.

That the polls say it’s still a 50/50 split at this point is just an indication of how little interest there is and how poor both parties are.

Macon Paine says:

10:12am | 20/08/10

Ahh good old Seano, still got your needle stuck in that groove I see!
We all know Julia could never withstand that 36 hour marathon, she’d probably have to get one of her body guards to stand in for her, wouldn’t be the first time either would it Seano?

fehowarth, fehowarth, fehowarth! Belittling people who suffer from ADHD, tut tut tut fehowarth not your finest contribution there!

Renata says:

03:40pm | 20/08/10

Abbott started to act like a fanatic lately,he is irrational and I would not vote for men or women that act this way.
With his idea of no sleep or rest for 40 hours ,it total lunacy.
I know he might feel desperate ,but this is not the way for future PM to act.
Our neighbor has bipolar disorder and he was sucked into watching ABC 24 news day and night,no sleep didn’t wash himself and didn’t eat, just cigarettes and coffee.
It was like this for more then a week,we started to worry as we didn’t see him in shops or outside,when we went to check on him it was shocking,the smell,the dirt and he looked dehydrated and didn’t make any sense at all.
We had to call ambulance and now he is safe in hospital,were he will make his vote tomorrow.
As to Tony Abbott hipping up this madness of no sleep for so long just getting high on Red Bull it send very bad message ,and this men want to be next Prime Minister .
I did give him too much credit.
T;hose are no action of responsible rational men.Malcolm Fraser was right when he said that they are no ready to govern.
Grow up Tony.

acotrel says:

05:23pm | 20/08/10

There is a link between industrial democracy, and workplace safety which workchoices neatly ignores.  While Tony is setting an example, he might stretch himself beyond the limit.  Faith in God,and your prayers might not be enough!

acotrel says:

05:32pm | 20/08/10

My son who votesfor the coalition says ‘the story isn’t complete yet’, he expects TA to meet a sticky or medical accident end!

Seano says:

08:31pm | 20/08/10

@Macon - I like the irony of backing your “needle stuck in a groove” comment with yet another silly right wing rant. Well done.

Brad Price says:

08:08am | 20/08/10

I disagree. There has been a larger number of people falling into the swinging voter category over the last 30 years. The percentage has gone from 5-10% to now being as high as 35%. This indicates that children aren’t following their parents voting patterns and are making their minds up on policy.
Now this is were i think a lot of the crap has started in elections now. The so called “rusted ons” don’t care about undelivered promises or poor performance as they see that as collateral damage. The “swingers” get the poo’s and are either motivated to punish their previous support for undelivered promises and poor performance or they just happen to like what the others are promising. Campaigning now is about securing the whimsical vote of swinging voters, then delivering enough to get them to support you next time the election comes around.
Exactly the thing that happened with Howard’s battlers in 2007. What we see now is that they are pissed and not happy with KRudd/Gillard/Labor, the undelivered promises and poor performance.

fairsfair says:

09:30am | 20/08/10

I am going to have to agree totally there Brad. I was tired of John Howard and being only 22 in 2007, got caught up in the idea of Kevin Rudd. I am careful to not say Labor - because it was definately Kevin Rudd that won me over in 2007. Might I add also that that comment was in no way intended to imply that I have issues with the way that Kevin Rudd was deposed.

I just listened to the man speak, thought he seemed really down to earth and had a good sense of humour. I felt that the public could relate to him. He said all the right things and when petrol was nearing record prices we all wanted to hear that someone was going to try and do something about it. We didn’t want to hear Johnny bang on about global economics and the reason for the hikes and that it was likely to come down of its own accord - we just wanted something done. He said he would do it.

Three years later I am fairly certain that my vote will be punishment in response to the fact that the climate Kevin Rudd promoted has not in any way come to fruition. I have always labelled myself a swinging voter, but with a couple more years under my belt, more understanding of the system and a good chunk of exposure to council, state and federal labor - I am clearly starting to stay on the conservative side of the fence.

My parents Vote Katter (“because the rest don’t matter”) and I believe his success is due to his personality. Yes he can come across like he has a few roos loose in the top paddock - but the man gets stuff done and he has charisma. He has his electorate’s back and if you go to him for help, be it financial, physical or emotional - he comes through. I am not in his electorate, my members lack ‘Katter Factor’ and so do our two prime ministerial candidates.

Spin aside, Real/Fake aside, Gaffes aside, poor speach aside - I am making my decision this election based on policy, the party as a whole and previous track record. This has made my decision really, really easy.

Jolanda says:

10:00am | 20/08/10

@Fairsfair - Problem is that Policies are not worth the paper they are written on.  They are just spin as there is no obligation for the Government to actually adhere to the Policies and they can interpret them whichever way they like without question or challenge.  They keep promising but then they have been crying poor and they usually don’t deliver anyway.  It doesn’t add up. 

Without any independent or impartial avenue for the people to hold the Government to account for their failure to do as they promised, or for their incompetence, cover-ups, corruption and misconduct we can only ever go backwards. 

At the end of the day Policies are just guidelines and those that should be abiding by them have discretion and they can do what they want.  Our Public Servants are above the law.

In reality something needs to be done about the way the general public is treated as we have no rights or protection and as a result we are not valued or respected.  In this environment and set up the ordinary person will continue to go backwards whilst our Government employees will continue to laugh all the way to the bank with all their entitlements and protection. 

The most serious thing is that Labor is failing in their duty of care to the children through DOC’s handling of issues through their treatment of the Disabled, through the failures of the Department of Education and by their failure to deal with bullying and neglect.  If they don’t protect children as they are too busy protecting themselves then what good are they?

Education – Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/

Heath Karl says:

10:12am | 20/08/10

@ Brad. Thats a very charitable view of swinging voters. I have a different view.

Swinging voters are the least intelligent voting bloc. They lack the most elementary notions of parliamentary democracy, like the chasm of ideological division between left and right. The swinging voter arrogantly believes they alone have separated from all the historical encumbrances of partisanship, of “rusted-on” support, and, like the only enlightened figure in the room, vote solely on “policy”.

But they are mistaken. Policy is a reflection of ideology, not a replacement for it. Consider any policy and what is clear as day to the partisan is mystifying to the swinging voter. The ideology has determined the policy. Take education funding. The Greens believe in public education, the ALP/LIBS believe in private subsidy. A “rusted on” supporter sees the implementation of ideological belief through action, or policy. They are happy if the policy reinforces the ideology. Not so the swinging voter. All they see is personal opportunity. If they have kids in public school, they reason the Greens policy will be most beneficial to their situation, and support them. Swinging parents with kids in private school will support the ALP/LIBS policy. Maybe the swinging parent in public school has been told public school is in fact better looked after by the private subsidy system. Here they vote ALP/LIB. Still, their personal situation, the opportunity for personal enrichment, is what has made their mind up for them. Like a weathervane, they point to where the wind is blowing. If the swinger moves their child from one system to the other, their interests move in the same manner. Where once they supported public school, now they have made the ascension, they cannot understand why anyone would support the public system. They have risen, so the foremost thought in their heads becomes the opportunity to rise.

The “rusted on” partisan sees things as they are. The conservative is irate at the Greens school policy, because they see it as an attack on their group ideology, which it is. The Greens are irate at the ALP/LIB school policy because it offends their deepest beliefs, which it does. Reactionary and revolutionary alike understand this, the irreconcilability of their beliefs, and seeks to impose their superior will on the other. This is the nature of politics, it is the very nature of our dichotomous society. Only the moronic, selfish swinging voter fails to see this.

fairsfair says:

10:17am | 20/08/10

agree again Yolanda and also appreciate that everything Kevvie threw at us in 07 was his ‘policy’. But track record has me. I don’t doubt what TA says as much as GJ and actually scoffed today at the headline news that she promises to deliver a price on carbon within her first term. It is deja vu. I have heard it before and I don’t want to be sitting here in twice as bad a position in 2013 with her saying the same things. Third time lucky maybe? I understand that there will never be a candidate that represents me entirely so I guess we have to develop a system of best fit and take the good with the bad. There has been more bad in the past three years than I can remember.

Heath Karl says:

10:27am | 20/08/10

@ fairsfair. What an excellent description of the machinations of a “swinging” voter.

You got ‘tired’ of the old leader.
the new bloke ‘seemed’ down to earth, you ‘felt’ you could relate.
He said ‘all the right things’
You heard the old leader ‘bang on’ about an essential truth, but ‘all you wanted to hear [was] someone [who] was going to do something’.
The local you support ‘has a few Roo’s loose in the top paddock’, but atleast he ‘has charisma’ and ‘the electorates back’, even if you just need him to ‘come through’ with some ‘emotional’ support.

And your a ‘swinging voter, who is basing ‘his vote on policy’,
who stays ‘on the conservative side of the fence’ and who is using his vote as ‘punishment’.

May God have mercy on us all.

Michael K says:

12:13pm | 20/08/10

Heath Karl - and to all of the other people replying to Adam - you have articulated a considered response; it’s great to see. However, I am always very wary of attributing ideology to the machinations of Australian politics. Historically, Antipodeans have never demonstrated a strong inclination towards ideology in politics. The 1930s is a perfect case in point: fascism and communism were on the rise in Europe yet both ideologies failed completely to gain a foothold here (CPA membership barely peaked above 2,000, while Eric Campbell’s quasi-fascist New Guard was nearly forgotten after Jack Lang’s dismissal). Instead of ideology as the driving force I would be more likely to agree with R.G. Casey’s assessment of Commonwealth politics: “Our approach to political problems has been the typically British one of taking each question on its merits as it comes, rather than trying to force it into a pattern.” There is no ideological fervour in Australian politics.

The foundation of Australian politics then is utilitarianism. For the major parties at least policy is dictated by popular opinion or practical concerns. For instance the debate over immigration and assylum seekers is primarily about practicality, e.g. processing refugees. We do not have a ‘bill of rights.’ The widening of police powers are not met with widespread protest on the grounds of civil rights. Federation was dominated by purely practical concerns such as rail gauges, measures for cooperation between the states and defence concerns. And even if you do subscribe to Paul Kelly’s view on the Australian Settlement there is no doubt that these ‘ideological’ foundations all but disappeared after the Hawke/Keating era. Policy in the Australian political sense then is not truly a reflection of ideology, but a reflection of practicality and opportunism.

Taxpayer says:

12:31pm | 20/08/10

You lost me Adam. I dont have parents and if I did, they would be in Europe-not here.Have you written old and us older who build this country to what it is today, off? I certainly dont live my life by statistics but common sense and 2 hands. And especialy not by US or UK statistics,God forbid! One needs to step back, observe what is relevant to our country and our people. Go and ask parents and partners of the sadly lost young lives over stupid sensless governemnt sceeme. I almost know what will they say to you and it is not printable,
Go away.

Gregg says:

01:27pm | 20/08/10

Well Adam, you could well get very tired of generalisations I imagine and no doubt tire yourself on that basis.
And isn’t it lovely to have possibly an ideologist banging on about how swinging voters can be the least intelligent because they do not relate policy to ideology.
Well a Karl Marx society we do not have and it might just be that those voters who are not dyed in the wool rusted on supporters either side of the great chasm that is not so great anymore will actually be looking at a number of things and hopefully how a government has governed and how they have handled key issues along the road of what they have been able to achieve for a country are to the fore.

Fairsfair, you’ll not be alone in having been suckered in by fresh face Kevin and that was eviodent in his high popularity rating.
Myself, I could never understand that for to me there was always something false about the guy.
Like he is a family man and certainly would have some good traits like most family men and women but something did not just gel for me, perhaps it being some sort of a sense that develops with age.

But enough on history and despite what ideology a government has, it’ll still be far more important to review how they have performed and from swinging myself, there will always be one or more key issues that you may feel strongly enough about that will determine how you vote.

A confirmed ideologist may say that ain’t intelligent or you swing because of having the poo but another way of looking at it is that you are not prepared to overlook that there are alternative ways.
That does take some effort and intelligence.

fairsfair says:

02:30pm | 20/08/10

thank you Gregg and others for your thoughts. You may find it hard to believe by my response to Heath Karl a couple of hours ago was not published probably because it contained a couple of choice words preceeded by condescending.

I was merely trying to communicate that I have graduated from swinger to conservative and because I didn’t use the word “Ideology” (perhaps not the appropriate discourse for the likes of Mr Karl - yes I know big words too) I am branded a Moron.

I guess it takes all types to make this world go round (which is a good thing) and I very much eagerly await the outcome of tomorrow.

Randal says:

03:26pm | 20/08/10

@Heath Karl

Ah the arrogance of the intellectual, not only does he know what every voter thinks, he is of course far more intelligent and knowing than the morons he glares down upon from his lofty heights.

If only Heath Karl the true intelligentsia could determine who has the right to vote, and all those “morons” could be kept from the ballot box, how much better this world would be.

How dare those nasty home owners and parents make decisions on policies that best suit their lifestyles and the future that they seek.

Democracy must really suck for you, the thought of all those moronic swinging voters casting a vote that carries the same weight as an intellectual giant such as yourself.

acotrel says:

05:39pm | 20/08/10

Would the people who vote for Katter, be the same lot that used to vote for Bjelke Petersen? Some people just love fruit cakes!

acotrel says:

07:23am | 21/08/10

The Australian voter w ill always be told what to see.  This election campaign has been a litany of fabrication.  There is no way Peter Garrett is responsible for enforcing state OHS laws, or controlling the contacts between homeowners a nd GRUB contractors!  The BER ‘rorts’ consituted wastage of about 6% over all contracts, which is probablt about a verage for industrial contracts involving our entrepreneurs.  Asylum seekers make up about 3% of all immigrants, so the ‘illegassls’ are a non-issue except when the Liberal party gets up to its disgraceful tricks.

Taxpayer who pays tax and volunteers in case moron says:

08:16am | 20/08/10

Don you seem to be person who will walk around someone lying on the ground and it gives me shivers.Read my comment on corruption and is this is how you are running your life, I do hope you get caught. Thats why labor should not be elected.By the way, I did vote labor and regreting ever since. Labor is for handouters,treehaggers,Greens and Browns and unfortunately most of the judicial system votes labor.

Hamish says:

03:31pm | 20/08/10

Shane, not that I care, but it was warmer in the time of Jesus.

Macca says:

09:45am | 20/08/10

Also, that the Labor movement is a One-trick pony. WorkChoices, WorkChoices, WorkChoices. What a bunch of lying thugs.

Andy W says:

10:15am | 20/08/10

I think Labor running on the return of WorkChoices is fair game considering the opposition leaders nickname is “weathervane Abbott’ and he described the policy in his book as one of the greatest achievements of the Howard government.

TimB says:

08:48am | 20/08/10

“Because you NEED me, Australia.  Your guilty conscience may
    force you to vote Labor, but deep down inside you secretly
    long for a cold-hearted Liberal government to lower taxes, brutalize
    criminals, and rule you like a king.  That’s why I did this: to
    protect you from yourselves.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a
    country to run.”

...with apologies to Sideshow Bob

Bob H says:

09:12am | 20/08/10

The Simpsons say it all so much better,  cartoon insights are far superior to the media punditry and religious texts.  Note, South Park’s “turd vs Douche” sums our selection options very accurately

Macon Paine says:

10:24am | 20/08/10

@ Bob H
Yep southpark has a way of just succinctly summing things up:

“Lets get out and vote! Let’s make our voices heard!”
“We’ve been given the right to choose between a douche and a turd”
“It’s democracy in action! Put your freedom to the test.”
“A big fat turd or a stupid douche. Which do you like best?”

Gregg says:

02:35pm | 20/08/10

Some good logic there Bob that you may want to take a bit further and one I imagine usual Labor voters find very hard to visualise.
I’ve voted Labor myself occasionally but more because of a principle like the Iraq invasion and in also having had some good exposure to work place efficiency or lack of it and all that goes with it, I have no doubt at all on any decent future lying in being competitive and you can take that principle to just about any sphere of society you like.
Even Gillard does not shy away from it in some areas like her favourite education and yet will fail to realise that her party’s fiscal approach wil lead to ultimate failure on all fronts.

JT says:

02:54pm | 20/08/10

I always likened Rudd’s rise to power to that of Homer’s in the Simpsons when he ran against Steve Martin’s character for the head of the sanitation department (or similar).

Martin offered experience and reliability (like John Howard) while Homer made huge, wild promises that he could never deliver to win over the voters (like Rudd).

Eventually, Homer bankrupts the town by spending all of his funding in a matter of only months (similar to Rudd’s spendathon).

Funny case of life imitating art.

Gregg says:

06:33pm | 20/08/10

That needs to go on a memorial plaque somewhere JT.
And then we can look for suitable deputy one too.

fairsfair says:

09:38am | 20/08/10

Rob, if my vote was still up for grabs I may have taken you comment onboard, until you said “rAbbott”. Grow up champ. Totally agree with Adam up top - pathetic and it absolutely smacks of desperation and fear.

MarK says:

09:43am | 20/08/10

Not for long they wont.

It will be a pretty quick caucus for the Labor opposition in NSW come March.

It doesn’t take long to count 11 votes.

Point of order too. NSW Labor right is noe the power in federal Labor.

“WHEN former NSW Labor Party boss Karl Bitar was made national secretary of the ALP in October 2008, Frank Sartor sent him a pithy text message.

“Congratulations on the new job, now that you have f ... ked up NSW, you can go and f ... k up the country,” it read.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/election/on-the-right-path-to-political-oblivion/story-fn5zmod2-1225902721316

One and the same. The similarities in tactics and form are scary to be honest.

Super D says:

09:54am | 20/08/10

By making joint transport announcements with their State Labor mates the Federal Labor Government very stupidly demonstrated that they different arms of the same beast.  Indeed the same powerbrokers that installed Gillard - Arbib and Bitar, also rolled Iemma and then Rees.  There is not a great deal of brand differentiation between NSW Labor and Federal Labor.  Both are associated with knifing leaders, broken promises and wasteful spending all wrapped up in a pile of spin.

Thankfully Labor will be gone in NSW in March, they will be gone federally too in either this election or the next (my bet).  This is not all bad, the party will have a chance to get rid of the numbers men and the spin doctors, lose the union baggage and get back to representing working people and not inner city progressives.

Zac says:

09:47am | 20/08/10

Uh hello? Tony Abbott knife Turnball in the back remember? And why was that? Because Turnball was far too rational and wasn’t corrupted by the influence of the pro-stuff-the-world-for-money lobby.

Abbott isn’t just a risk, he’s THE risk. Tony Abbott is to Australia what George Bush was to America.

N says:

11:52am | 20/08/10

Care to elaborate on that view Zac? Labors policy of spend incessantly and cut taxes at the same time seems much closer to Bush fiscal policy. Just out of interest, how many times had Labor changed leaders in opposition during the Howard years?

Zac says:

01:09pm | 20/08/10

Spend incessantly? Absurd. Australia’s debt is tiny, governments of all persuasions have responsibly and reasonably borrowed to money to build necessary infrastructure or to boost the economy, all of a sudden if Labor does it it becomes irresponsible and wasteful. Abbott spending promises have skyrocketed during this campaign, if you’re looking for incessant spending look at the Liberals. What is it, a billion a week?

Exaggerating government spending is at the heart of the Liberal campaign, and it is utterly and profoundly dishonest. No reasonable person with an understanding of the economic position of Australia would argue that we have a debt problem or a problem with over spending.

Take a closer look at the spending, the Liberals have promised to GIVE AWAY $6 billion for an NBN illusion, that will never deliver anything. An NBN that will eventually be rolled over for a ‘proper’ NBN at some point at twice as much expense as well as opportunity costs. It’s money straight down the plug hole. The Labor plan is a lot more money, but the taxpayer owns the asset and it will generate returns, it’s an investment. But the constant story from the Liberal camp acts as if the government has set fire to a big pile of $43 billion dollars. It’s a totally dishonest characterization, you may as well set fire to your house if you think investments are a waste of money.

Bush was profligate in his spending and tax cuts even though debt was out of control and the similarities between Bush and Abbot are obvious. Both are tied to the energy industry, both consider the rich their ‘base’, both deny the existence of climate change in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, both are cowboys that shoot from the hip without thinking, both induce nationalistic fervor to political advantage, both have the favor of Murdoch, both are happy to hand over public money to private industry for no return, both find the economy “boring” and both are prepared to do or say anything to get elected.

Just out of interest, how many wives did Henry the Eighth have?

Cassio says:

02:20pm | 20/08/10

Zac, Abbott gets to overthrow Turnbull; he’s in opposition, we don’t vote for that. But Gillard shouldn’t be allowed to overthrow a leader that we elected. It’s one step away from a coup.

N says:

03:15pm | 20/08/10

Zac; surely you must be of political elk to answer a question by posing another? My point, as Cassio put it, is that turnover of opposition leaders is of no consequence to the general public, unlike the ousting of the PM who was elected via the people. Some will say that we don’t directly vote for the PM, but the members of the party, which is fair, however it is the PM who rallies that party and the people see as the forefront, therefore they are in fact voting for him/her when they enter the ballot booths as that PM candidate entails the principals of the party.

Juila is a blatant liar in this affair, claiming on the Sunday that she was more likely to play full forward for the Bulldogs, than take over as PM. Two days later, she’d booted Kev out and taken the Labor party reigns herself.  Now if there was no undermining, backstabbing, whatever, why is it that the details of the 48hrs leading up to Kevs royal booting, was not made public? The honesty value here would be worth a bundle of votes had it been as Kocher as she describes.

The NBN, I will agree with you and it is a rather annoying crossroads I’m at in this instance. As an owner of a large IT company, I see the massive benefits of the NBN. However I also know that $43 Billion is the tip of the iceberg. Labor themselves even re-doing the figures when it was first budgeted at <$10 Billion. Termination of fibre is not a simple job that your ordinary Telstra guy can do; it requires skill and specialist tools. The cost to physically terminate into every home doesn’t seem to be added to the 43 Billion and when pushed on pricing, Labor can’t give any estimates.

Randal says:

03:16pm | 20/08/10

Breath Zac, just breath…

I know it’s hard to face up to the fact that the ALP are in their current predicament all of their own doing.

But look at the bright side, the Libs will win sort out the books and then your mob will get another crack at the spend-a-thon, then get booted and the Libs can fix it all again.

I know it’s hard and just be patient as the ALP’s time will come again and just think of the money that the Libs can save for the ALP to waste in another decade or so.

See every cloud has a silver lining!

Jolanda says:

11:03am | 20/08/10

Maybe we should call it crap instead.

Education – Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/

mitch says:

02:13pm | 20/08/10

That is grotesque.  What happened to a fair go? Is it now only a fair go if you happen to be born into a rich family? Isn’t it typical of the Liberals to take away people’s opportunity for advancement and then blame them for being poor.

Ben81 says:

08:34pm | 20/08/10

Sneak what under the radar, CK?  You can read about it yourself in their policy announcements along with their reasoning, but without a scary and misleading headline!  Instead of getting your information in an Age article intended to make the Coalition look bad and without a right of reply why don’t you just read for yourself what it’s all about? 

http://www.liberal.org.au/~/media/Files/Policies and Media/Education/Higher Education Policy.ashx

Page 12 and 13 is where you should start.

Jolanda says:

01:16pm | 20/08/10

The Punch is pretty good Joe.  99.9% of posts I have written have been published.  I also write on the online DT newspaper and they moderate heavily many of my posts do not get posted and Maralyn Parker also does not allow many of my posts to go through despite the fact that I am never rude or insulting.  I guess they just don’t like what I have to say because it doesn’t fit in with the outcome that they are aiming to achieve.  But the Punch is in my opinion good in this regard and that is why I like them.

I wonder if others have the same experience?

Education – Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/

MarK says:

01:59pm | 20/08/10

Funniest list of old news I have read in a while Joe.

If you like we can over some of the claims later.

Thanks for the link.

Barbara says:

05:42pm | 20/08/10

Your spot on Jolanda.  I don’t recall ever not being blocked here.  Maybe because I don’t swear or belittle anyone I don’t agree with.  I have given up trying to post on news.com They seem to block email address’s of people that don’t tow their party line.  If I enter bogus address’s some of those get through.

James1 says:

01:57pm | 20/08/10

And at least one Basil Marceaux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2jAv6y6y8M&feature=related

Barry says:

01:37pm | 20/08/10

Paul Howes has his Union members out in force of course stacking the crowds for Gillard, after all he’s going to look like the real d@%#khead in all of this if she loses.

Ken says:

02:09pm | 20/08/10

I don’t hear anyone asking Abbott about WorkChoices, only Gillard keeps talking about it. And on Boat People, it’s the journo’s who won’t give it a rest, today at a press conference they hammered on and on about boat people, question after question was about boat people.

James1 says:

02:18pm | 20/08/10

Ken,

I meant Gillard hammering on and on about workchoices in interviews, and Abbott going on and on about stopping the boats in his advertising.  You must have missed all those ads, you lucky, lucky man.  How I envy you right now.

Gerard says:

06:52pm | 20/08/10

Don’t forget “The internet filter will not be used to obstruct political comment”.

marley says:

04:24pm | 21/08/10

Re the NBN - do you actually have any confidence at all that a government of any colour will be capable of getting it up and running at a reasonable cost?  Not a chance.  Civil servants aren’t businessmen or engineers, they do not understand cost-effectiveness and they do not cut through red tape, they generate it.  Look around you - rail and highway systems that don’t work, hospitals that are top-heavy with administrators but short of doctors and nurses, an aboriginal housing initiative that has delivered virtually nothing at massive cost.  What on earth makes you think the government could do any better at establishing the NBN, especially when the responsible minister hasn’t got a clue about IT?