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Look into my eyes and tell me I’m unelectable

Joe Hildebrand

by Joe Hildebrand

17 Feb 05:30am

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Filed under: Kristina Keneally, Labor Party, Nsw Alp, Nsw Election 2011

117 comments

At the heart of the ALP’s election campaign advertising is a single, profound and powerful message: “You wouldn’t hit a girl would you?”

Her Government may be a disaster, but the woman can pull of an ad.

Indeed, it almost seems inhumane to use someone as sweet and appealing as Kristina Keneally as the poster girl for the truly horrible carnage that will be visited upon NSW Labor on March 26.

It’s a bit like lashing a fair maiden to a tree and then sitting around and waiting for the dragon.

Of course that was the whole strategy behind putting Keneally in the top job in the first place. She is all but impossible to hate. Just as voters are rolling up their sleeves to give the State Government the belting of a lifetime, Keneally flashes her megawatt smile, flicks her hypnotic hair and suddenly they pause for thought.

Having said that, it’s all too late for that now. Once you’ve had a couple of MPs done for corruption, a minister caught in a gay sauna, another minister surfing web porn and a minister’s husband scoring pingers on the mean streets of the Inner West, even Julia Roberts couldn’t win an election.

But still it seems so cruel. The ALP ads that have been bombarding lounge rooms since the weekend show an immaculately coiffed and groomed Kristina with sad Bambi eyes that seem to say not so much “please vote for me” but “please don’t hurt me”.

The ads are also shot inside a soft-lit lounge room in an effort to place Keneally right in the family home. It also makes her seem even more vulnerable - no desk, no flag, no power suit.

The image is only slightly undermined by the fact it looks like no one lives in the house and the television in the background appears not to be a plasma, meaning it clearly doesn’t belong to anyone who lives west of Ashfield.

But notwithstanding the fact the Premier may or may not have broken into a display home, the picture is one of absolute pathos. Even the tagline “Not a promise, it will be the law” is infused with sad desperation.

It reminds the audience not just that the Government hasn’t kept its promises in the past, but also that there is no way they’re going to be in any shape to pass legislation in the future. It neatly says all in one sentence: “We were crap and now we’re screwed, so just go easy on us would you?”

Because the problem for Labor is that a scorched-earth annihilation of the scale predicted by virtually every pollster, analyst and bookmaker means that even three terms from now Labor could still be trapped in the wilderness.

This isn’t an election about whether Labor can win in 2011. It’s about whether it can win in 2023.

Labor Party chiefs know that voters are gearing up to kick the dog even though it’s down. But maybe if Keneally bats her puppydog eyes, they might just quietly take it off to the vet.

Most commented

431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
336Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
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231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.
231Craig Thomson speaks. Meanwhile, in Australia...

117 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • S.L says:

      04:52am | 17/02/11

      Every commentator is righting off the NSW Labor Government on March 26. The saddest fact (even more so than Labors respective scandals) is the O’Farrell lead NSW Lberal opposition offers nothing in return. Mr O’Farrell has offered no alternative policy and just sits back and lets conservative media commentators do the dirty work for him.  Ms Kenealy has an uphill battle we all agree but even though Mr O’Farrell has trimmed down, had a shave and lost the specs to me he’s still a fat guy with a beard and glasses just making up the numbers….......

      Reply

    • Jedi_T says:

      06:18am | 17/02/11

      SL
      Not true, not by a long shot. NSW Labor have failed to deliver any thing to the state for years. And just as the article has outlined, look at how corrupt and pathetic it’s members have become (though not sure why it matters about the gay sauna!).

    • SD says:

      07:21am | 17/02/11

      Simple answer Jedi_T. Campbell used the front that he was a family man, with family values, wholesome, etc, etc. Instead he was scum betraying his wife and family in a gay sauna. His word is therefore worthless and he deserved to be nailed.

    • Jedi_T says:

      07:40am | 17/02/11

      SD,
      Still seem more personal than political, but I wont try and draw any lines, so fair call.

    • Tubesteak says:

      08:04am | 17/02/11

      Not entirely true.

      Fatty O-Barrell does have some policies.

      One is making more houses out in the middle of nowhere so bogans can have a McMansion and spend 90 minutes getting to work.

      The other one is handing planning power back to local communities which will just give NIMBYs a free ride again which means nothing will ever get done.

    • Ryan says:

      08:38am | 17/02/11

      @S.L: at least we know he cannot possibly be as incompetent as Labor both state and federal.

    • NicoleG says:

      09:02am | 17/02/11

      I’m sorry S.L, but NSW Labor couldn’t run a chook raffle. And that’s a fact. Seriously, do you think it was a really, really, good idea not to charge anyone for a marriage certificate, for the next twelve months? Yet another 2 million dollars wasted.

      But do I read this correct, Mr O’Farrell is a fat guy with a beard and glasses, so you base your vote on that? No wonder this sate is FUBAR!

    • Andrew says:

      10:04am | 17/02/11

      “righting off the NSW Labor Government”.....“righting off”..... Freudian Slip?

      I also think it is a little bit of a stretch to call NSW Labor a government.

      Anywho, Labor look like picking up 13 seats out of 90, frankly they don’t deserve the 13.

    • Adam Diver says:

      11:18am | 17/02/11

      Sorry Nicole whilst I agree with your point don’t hyperbolise your argument. We know the incompetence of NSW labor already, hell they do themselves they have apologised on numerous occassions. But

      “I’m sorry S.L, but NSW Labor couldn’t run a chook raffle. And that’s a fact.”

      Is this truly a fact? Is their legislation or evidence as to why they can’t run a chook raffle?

      Just stick to the real facts, they are already stranger than fiction.

    • NicoleG says:

      11:57am | 17/02/11

      Adam, challenge them to do it. I bet I’m right.

    • S.L says:

      07:18pm | 17/02/11

      What I love about these debates is other people reading between the lines. Three people have mentioned NSW Labor couldn’t run a chook raffle. At no time did I give an opinion on their form as a government! No one has objected though to the “vote for Barry!” campaign run by the usual suspects in the NSW based media. I let this article go for 15 hours to see what if any opinion would be given either for or against my argument. As I suspected people with a different political opinion to me have come out to defend something I haven’t written against. Besides why did Mr O’Farrell get a makeover? To get elected? Many of you seem to think otherwise….....

    • acotrel says:

      05:04am | 17/02/11

      If Kennealy smiled at me, I’d vote for her! If Abbott smiled at me, I’d throw up, and buckle on my kevlar vest!

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      06:52am | 17/02/11

      Well this explains a good portion of the 22% primary vote Labor still holds. People like Acotrel who are swayed by stupid things like this.

    • Macon Paine says:

      07:24am | 17/02/11

      Well she’d have to do a lot more for me if she wants my vote, if you catch my drift….

    • Jack says:

      07:25am | 17/02/11

      So you would pick surface looks over capability. No wonder this country is in such a mess with Gil_liar_d, who also heavily played the “you wouldn’t hit a girl” card for all it was worth.

    • Bruce says:

      08:18am | 17/02/11

      Jack: Unfortunately, there are many voters who just vote for a “smiley” face and not substance. Generally, this is the limitation of their political knowledge or interest. With this attitude it is little wonder we have a poor quality of politicians in Australia.

    • Muttley says:

      08:44am | 17/02/11

      Tim B and Jack, grow a sense of humour for goodness sake. Or didnt you get a sense of humour in your liberal party show bag?

    • TimB says:

      09:14am | 17/02/11

      Muttley, I’d have laughed if I thought it was a joke.

      Know Acotrel, his post is most likely to be deadly serious.

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      09:22am | 17/02/11

      @ Macon Paine

      Uh Huh. 
       
      We’d swap her for Rann any day. They’re both completely hopeless ALP premiers but she looks better.

    • Jack says:

      10:12am | 17/02/11

      Sorry Muttley but you have incorrectly pigeon holed me. I didn’t get the liberal party show bag, I pick up the “sick of incompetent and corrupt ALP destroying NSW” show bag. My concern for this state excluded the humour option.

    • logo says:

      12:20pm | 17/02/11

      That explains Joe’s obession with Kristine. She’s hot mysterious woman. Hey joe?

    • Against the Man says:

      05:58am | 17/02/11

      The question that all the ALP supporters won’t answer is why KK and the ALP will lose in NSW? Simple. They haven’t done a good enough job. People have given they chance after chance after chance to make amends but they make things worse.

      Look at Federal Labor. They are making the same mistakes. What we are getting at the Federal level is a amplified version of NSW Labor. Gillard is not going to change her ways.

      Australians are paying the price for voting Labor.

      Reply

    • Jedi_T says:

      06:33am | 17/02/11

      Spot on AtM!
      Problem is you have 33.3333333 repeater % of Australians that will disagree & continue to disagree until they are out of a job, cant pay for their home and cant afford to eat because of bad Labor policies!
      Luckily 66.6666 repeater % of Aussies are not so foolish!

    • Dildo Faggins says:

      06:40am | 17/02/11

      Kenneally, Gillard, Iemma, Rees, Rudd, Carr, Keating, Whitlam, Bligh, Beattie - with Labor (with the possible exception of Hawke) it’s always a case of the same shit in a different bucket. They are a truly regressive, unoriginal party whose power base (the unions) hold a level of power that is hardly commensurate with their inherent irrelevance.

    • acotrel says:

      07:18am | 17/02/11

      Australians are paying the price of Tony Abbott twisting the truth.  And making statements ahead of the game.  Gillard is guilty of responding to his silly self-advancing games! The politics of NSW are largely irrelevant to what happens at a federal level.

    • acotrel says:

      07:39am | 17/02/11

      ‘Kenneally, Gillard, Iemma, Rees, Rudd, Carr, Keating, Whitlam, Bligh, Beattie - with Labor (with the possible exception of Hawke) it’s always a case of the same shit in a different bucket. ‘

      Also Curtain, Chifley, Gorton,  Fraser and Turnbull?

    • HappyCynic says:

      07:44am | 17/02/11

      Oh come on.  Federal Labor have a looooooooooong way to go before they sink to the levels of ineptitude that is NSW Labor.

      You must be delusional (and completely ignorant of NSW politics) to think that Federal Labor can even come close to matching the stunning levels of corruption, cronyism, scandal and broken promises that has been NSW for the past 14 years.

    • Jedi_T says:

      07:48am | 17/02/11

      acotrel
      Beg to differ. The only reason Gillard has her spot is because of NSW Labor tactics.
      And hey Abbott wasn’t the one caught telling big green fibs!

    • TimB says:

      07:53am | 17/02/11

      “The politics of NSW are largely irrelevant to what happens at a federal level.”

      What a horrifyingly naive statement.

      Exactly who do you think was behind Rudd’s removal?

    • Mal says:

      08:07am | 17/02/11

      Why do we only get responsible government from the conservatives?  Why do ALP governments spend most of their time attacking the opposition.

    • Seano says:

      08:47am | 17/02/11

      And why have the voters of NSW given the ALP “chance after chance”?

      Because the opposition has been and remains awful. That Liberals in NSW are going to win is hardly victory, more a case of voters with no option but to jump from frying pan to fire.

    • Jedi_T says:

      09:27am | 17/02/11

      HappyCynic
      I think it’s you who underestimate how pathetic our Federal ALP Govt is and what levels they have and will sink to.
      Its just they have the best of best who know how to cover their a**** better.
      I could list there ineptitude, but i would be then inundated with pathetic attempts of justification.

    • HappyCynic says:

      10:05am | 17/02/11

      @Jedi_T

      I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is. 

      You cite the worst cases of corruption, cronyism, scandal and broken promises of the current Federal Labor government (no cheating and using past governments) and if I can’t cite an example from the current NSW Labor government that’s far worse I’ll concede your point.

      You can’t win though smile

    • Jedi_T says:

      12:34pm | 17/02/11

      @ HappyCynic
      It may appear i’m about to get schooled! But hey always up to a challenge so let me give it a whirl!

      1. I dont recall anybody dying in a failed NSW ALP govt policy (Pink Batt Insulation ringing a bell?)
      2. BER - the complete and utter rort & waste associated with this program. (Example; February 17, 2011
      THE nation’s most powerful building union has called for a federal government inquiry into a string of corporate collapses on Building the Education Revolution projects, which have left 300 sub-contractors with about 1000 employees owed about $20 million)
      3. NBN - need I say more!?
      4. The removal of an elected PM shortly before an Election.
      5. Carbon Tax (one big green fib)!
      6. East Timor Solution - scandalous. The unelected PM tried to tell the entire nation it would be the solution without even consulting with East Timor. Then tried to bribe them.
      7. Flood Levy - the bailing out of their state counterparts due to negotiating a deal to fund cover for natural disasters, effectively allowing QLD to dump its insurance.
      8. The fact that all of the above have big $$ tickets and effect the entire nation and not just one state, I believe can be constituted as far more devastating. Couple with the fact they’ve only been going for a few years and still retain enough power to hide most of their faults. Like I said they have the best of the best at Federal level.

      So School Me Cynic!
      I’m never afraid to learn something new.

    • HappyCynic says:

      01:51pm | 17/02/11

      @Jedi_T

      School starts now smile

      - Twice changing of premier without an election (Iemma -> Rees, Rees -> Keneally)
      - Wollongong corruption scandal, referred to ICAC (Wollongong Council is still in administration)
      - Orkopoulos convicted of paedophilia, with the whistle blowing staffer sacked (I’d say paedophilia is a fate worse than death for victims)
      - McGurk tape claiming to have evidence of corrupt Labor politicians (came out after McGurk was shot and killed)
      - Ian West charged for assaulting a property developer
      - Karyn Paluzzano scandal - lying to ICAC, falsifying pay forms
      - Ian Macdonald - multiple scandals, including taxpayer funded trip to Dubai, free updrades not declared, making favourable decisions to friends
      - Joe Tripodi referred to ICAC, multiple times, including favours for friends claims
      - Paul McLeay caught surfing the web for porn (resigned from cabinet)
      - Proroguing Parliament 3 months before the election for the sole purpose of preventing an inquiry into the midnight sale of NSW’s electricity for a fraction of its true value

      And this is just in the last 2 years, I haven’t mentioned Campbell because even though he was a useless minister his resignation was unwarranted nor have I mentioned the 22 pollies too afraid to stand for re-election.  Then there was the failed carbon credit program in NSW (killed off years before Federal Labor even tried to start one)

      Sure the scale is bigger on a federal level but almost all of which you’ve mentioned is based on ineptitude, not on corruption.  Ineptitude is usually accidental, corruption is always deliberate and so is much worse.

    • Jedi_T says:

      02:32pm | 17/02/11

      @ HappyCynic
      Side Note: Is it just me or do you get the feeling we are arguing the same points just at different levels?
      Main Point: I do agree that corruption is worse than ineptitude, however in this caseit is responsibility that counts. They are responsible for their actions regardless of why they fault. Therfore they should be judged on such.
      So scale,  $$ and area of effect matter most. Apart from NSW ALP killing and/or rorting the entire state, nothing they can do will be of the same magnitude as that of Federal ALP. It just looks worse because its so concentrated.

    • Against the Man says:

      02:56pm | 17/02/11

      OMFG!

      JediT and HappyCynic! Between the 2 of yous, you guys have defined the ALP whether at State/Fed level as incompetent, perverted, Godless, selfish, soulless, brainless, liars, cowards who have screwed Australians again and again and again and again….............. LOL this is the best post ever guys, made my day!

      The usual ALP zombies must be sh@*ing their pants because everytime they defend KK or Gilltard and friends they are supporting the corruption of Australia’s future!!!!!!!!!!!! HaHa this can’t get any sweeter!

    • ibast says:

      03:04pm | 17/02/11

      I think there is no doubt they deserved to loose the last election and they have effectively been a lame duck government since then.  The coalition had the last election in the bag but at the last minute people started to ask questions about who was pulling the strings in the state Liberal party.  The answers that started coming back cost them the election.  Clearly to avoid any repeat the opposition are not saying a thing this time.

    • Jedi_T says:

      03:31pm | 17/02/11

      Glad to return the favor AtM.
      Your posts yesterday were well written and concise, and made my day!

    • Seano says:

      04:15pm | 17/02/11

      “The usual ALP zombies must be sh@*ing their pants because everytime they defend KK or Gilltard and friends they are supporting the corruption of Australia’s future!!!!!!!!!!!! HaHa this can’t get any sweeter! “

      You’re not quite sane are you?

    • Against the Man says:

      05:40pm | 17/02/11

      Oh Seano…...do you need some wipes for doing a bad poo poo? You couldn’t deny the facts so I’ll thank you for agreeing with me that the ALP is incompetent and evil smile Always good to recruit a member to the cause.

    • Gerard says:

      09:08pm | 17/02/11

      HappyCynic,
      it is the policy of the Federal Labor Party to censor the internet. This is nothing more than a thinly-disguised attack on free speech. Even NSW Labor doesn’t have a policy this Stalin-esque.

    • Seano says:

      07:39am | 19/02/11

      AtM I don’t think we needed further confirmation of my contention that your sanity is shaky but of course you provided it anyway.

    • Graham The Great says:

      06:51am | 17/02/11

      There’s only one way you could convince me to consider voting for you Krissy.  However Krissy in ain’t all your fault, as I keep hammering; it started all the way back with neville wrong!

      Reply

    • Harry says:

      07:59am | 17/02/11

      No, the fault is just inherent in the full on Unionist/Labor DNA, very selfish, self serving and little vision (to the consequence of their actions). PS, I am an independent supporter so you Labor dominions can forget the “born to rule” tag that only supports the tall poppy (low self ego), socialist and low life traits of the Labor DNA.

    • Benny says:

      07:27am | 17/02/11

      ALP has done a bad job, the Libs have no policy. looks like poor old NSW is F@#$d!

      Reply

    • Fred says:

      07:47am | 17/02/11

      Hard to have policies (which they have) when you don’t know that you can keep them due to the absolute mess and creative counting we KNOW that the Liberals will finally uncover if they get into power. Their answer that they need to analyse the situation is one of the most truthful statements I have heard from a poly in a long time in NSW.

    • shelagh says:

      11:28am | 17/02/11

      we know exactly how you feel benny down here in tassie- people were fed up with labor, but many of them voted green instead of liberal, then the libs wouldn’t do a deal with the greens as you’re probably aware, so labor remained in power and continue to drive people bonkers.  i find that at the moment voting -both state and federal - isn’t a case of choosing ‘the best man for the job’ but a process of elimination.

    • Justin says:

      07:37am | 17/02/11

      Labor will lose thanks to the psychology of negative reinforcement. My example is:

      - Monday morning: Scheduled bus doesn’t appear. Next bus arrives 3 mins early with the previous bus in tow. They proceed to tic tac along the route (which has twice the number of bus stops it should), but even that gets messed up as the other driver kept leaving the tail of his bus out at stops forcing our bus to wait. Ended up being 5 mins late for an appointment that I should have comfortably made. Bus for the return journey was 8 mins late.

      - Tuesday morning: Missed a train that was 1-2 minutes early as I was stuck behind head scratchers at the ticket machine. Following train was 3 mins late. Connecting train was 7 minutes late (was one of those rubber band trains on the board that went 8 mins, 6 mins, 5 mins, 7 mins, 8 mins, etc.), having already missed the previous connecting train. Connecting bus was missed due to late train. Thankfully the afternoon commute was fine.

      I’m a regular, usually off-peak, public transport user & I would average a problem 1 out of 2 traveling days. Late, very early, or non-existent buses. Broken down buses. Subtly late trains that cause missed links.

      And every time I travel on 2 forms of transport back to back, when buying/using that second ticket, I wonder how Adelaide could have had 2 hour trip integrated ticketing for 30 years, yet it’s too hard here. My Zowwwn? My A***!

      Reply

    • Mike says:

      07:52am | 17/02/11

      Personally, I LIKE Kristina Keneally, but she was never going to succeed with the dead albatross of the labor party dragging her down into the mud with them.  They are bunch of total no-hopers, and as someone else said, even Julia Roberts (or Elle McPherson) couldn’t make them electable again.

      Reply

    • Tom says:

      04:57pm | 17/02/11

      Are you saying that Julia Roberts (or Elle McPherson), would be OK running a state? We are talking about running a state, not a hair salon ... aren’t we?

    • Gerard says:

      08:55pm | 17/02/11

      I’m pretty sure Julia Roberts or Elle McPherson would do a better job of running the state than either Barry O’Farrell or Eddie & Joe’s puppet…

    • Tom says:

      09:28am | 18/02/11

      @Gerard, “pretty sure” are you? Or just taking the piss? “Julia Roberts (or Elle McPherson)”? Perhaps, Elvis or Billy Ray Cyrus?

      Don’t worry, there are a lot of low IQ, media-trained bimbos who actually think like that. To his credit, Joe H is calling that scary scenario for what it is. I wonder if any of his media buddies will wash his mouth out with soap and water?

    • Tubesteak says:

      08:01am | 17/02/11

      You can’t hit women but you can sleep with them and never call them again because you know they don’t have much else to offer you.

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      08:32am | 17/02/11

      She must have known what she was getting herself into.  She inherited a wreck.  Ultimately she’s the fact of the party.  If she didn’t want to be the proverbial maiden-tied-to-the-tree, she shouldn’t have taken the job in the first place.  Silly woman.

      I’m not fooled.  I can’t wait for Eviction Day.

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      09:16am | 17/02/11

      Grrr… *face.

    • The Cricket says:

      05:15pm | 17/02/11

      Nice! wink

    • BobM says:

      05:35pm | 17/02/11

      She just wanted the very generous pension of an ex premier which we, the NSW taxpayers will be paying until she falls off the perch.

    • Ryan says:

      08:41am | 17/02/11

      Pity the Labor party are using her as a human shield, hardly surprising considering the party though.

      Reply

    • Grumpy says:

      08:47am | 17/02/11

      I dont like her because she is American. Go home and fuck things up in your own country.

      Reply

    • HappyCynic says:

      10:41am | 17/02/11

      Actually she’s Australian.  She was only born a Seppo smile

    • Against the Man says:

      01:28pm | 17/02/11

      What a cruel thing to unleash on Americans! Wouldn’t wish her on any country.

    • AdamC says:

      08:51am | 17/02/11

      Good article, and good call re Keneally. I do feel a little sorry for her. At the very least she seems, unlike so many of her Labor colleagues, to have some heart and soul. And she knows it, and is using it as her best defence strategy. That’s smart politics. How about Kristina for Canberra? I recall an article about Garrett’s seat ...

      Reply

    • LJ says:

      08:58am | 17/02/11

      “...it almost seems inhumane to use someone as sweet and appealing as Kristina Keneally as the poster girl for the truly horrible carnage that will be visited upon NSW Labor on March 26”

      Sweet and appealing? Listening to her voice is more painful than having a car battery dropped on my balls.
      In the same way when O’Farrell gets on the tv, I strangely become exhausted and lethargic.
      Keneally is a classic example of the Peter Principle. She, like many state politicians (who don’t have the nouse to get to Canberra) are underqualified, petulent
      I can’t believe both leaders have so little to offer. O’Farrell has a BA and has worked in Liberal Party Head Office his whole life and Keneally has a Masters in Theology, which screams good governance.
      This is not an endorsement of the Greens either. Perhaps, our politicians should have to pass some academic test or have chalked 10 years of proper life experience before entering politics and its vassal professions (unions, lobby groups, consultancies, ministerial advisers, electorate officers, etc…)
      I can’t believe how much of a bimbo she is.

      Reply

    • MAX says:

      10:14am | 17/02/11

      LJ…For me you aint got balls

    • LJ says:

      11:40am | 17/02/11

      Only one way to find out…

    • Jane says:

      12:55pm | 17/02/11

      Completely agree LJ. They want Police Officers to have life experience, so why don’t we expect the same of our politicians? We need more people like Malcolm Turnbull (who might be a bad example but the first one that came to my head!), who’ve had a life outside playing power games or working for a union to then go into politics. Sick of politicians not knowing what real life is about!

    • Gerard says:

      09:02pm | 17/02/11

      Jane, the problem is that most people who vote are idiots who don’t know and don’t care whether or not politicians are qualified to run a state. The only way to improve a government is to improve the intelligence of the electorate.

    • Steve says:

      08:59am | 17/02/11

      Joe,  you are so right - the men in NSW had better harden up and grow a pair. 

      The women won’t be so fooled.

      Reply

    • Seano says:

      09:01am | 17/02/11

      “This isn’t an election about whether Labor can win in 2011. It’s about whether it can win in 2023.”

      And this is the scary thing for voters in NSW. Obviously the ALP must be removed but it all seems rather pointless when the opposition are seemingly going to take their place as incompetent incumbents.

      Personally I think the best thing that could happen for NSW is a succession of short term governments until both sides lift their game and start governing in the best interests of people NSW rather than their own.

      As someone who typically supports Labor but wants them gone in NSW I have two criteria for O’Farrell to meet before I will vote his party. The first was that he stand up to the far right of the party and not can ethics classes. This they’ve done (and hopefully they wont backflip on the backflip because of pressure from Christian bigots).

      http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/nsw-opposition-backs-down-on-ethics-class-20110203-1aehh.html

      The second thing O’Farrell had to do was come up with some policies to fix the state. So far nothing. He’s seemingly presenting a small target because he’s going win anyway and I don’t think that’s good enough. NSW does not need more of the same.

      I might look at the minors, hopefully many others will too.

      Reply

    • Mike says:

      09:21am | 17/02/11

      Depends on the minors’ preferences…

    • Seano says:

      09:58am | 17/02/11

      @Mike - Well true. But I’d like to point out firstly that the Greens aren’t preferencing Labor. Secondly part of the reason NSW is in the mess it is, is because of the two party formula. Neither side has to deliver, merely wait for their turn. The only way to break the cycle of mediocrity is if enough people look elsewhere.

    • Sandy says:

      10:10am | 17/02/11

      “the minors” eh Seano? ....  LOL.  Good Hawker Britton stuff.

      You mean “minors” such as the Greens (who always support Labor) and the independents (who always support Labor).

      Anyone who votes independent or Green after the last four state and federal elections needs to understand that they are a vote for Labor.

    • AJL says:

      11:12am | 17/02/11

      Sandy, NSW has optional preferences, meaning you can vote 1 for a Green or Independent and leave it at that, or you can go through the list of minor parties and independents and preference them as you wish and ignore the two majors.  And if you wish, you can decide that NSW Labor deserves to go and preference the Coalition in front of them.

    • Seano says:

      11:44am | 17/02/11

      Thanks AJL. And Sandy you should also note that even if you do assign the Greens your preferences they aren’t passing them to Labor this time around.

      Something that you may have missed in the Federal election was that sitting member for Melbourne is now a Green. If disatisfied voters had not moved away from the two party system that would never have happened.

      Faced with the threat of more members being elected from the minors and more independents do you think the majors are going to pull their socks up or roll over?

      For the record I’m still giving O’Farrell a chance to provide some policies. After that I will look at the Dems first then maybe the Greens. Although I’m not particularly keen as I I hear from my accountant friends that the Green’s tax polices are…flawed (not the word they used)

    • barry says:

      09:32am | 17/02/11

      Joe,

      You have a point she is a fox and has my vote….

      Reply

    • Roger Vector says:

      10:32am | 17/02/11

      Let’s see,
      I have come to the conclusion that regardless of who you vote for, it will be business as usual in NSW. The only difference is which wheels will get greased. With this in mind, I am left with a choice between two parties that stand for the same things (themselves).

      I can vote for this hotty who will light up my screen every day and bring some sunshine into my living room, or I can vote for some dude with an Irish name and shiny pants.

      No brainer really - She’s got my vote

      Reply

    • Flexo says:

      10:35am | 17/02/11

      The way I see it is that the ALP in NSW has no idea how to do things in a logical manner. Let’s look at health:
      http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/8855815/doctors-blast-rns-hospital-upgrade-plan/
      This is a disaster for NSW! And what do the mighty Federal duo of Gillard/Roxon have to say about this? Nothing.
      Waste, waste and more waste.
      When people say Abbott cut out money/funding from health (which really isn’t true) they don’t acknowledge that Roxon when she boasts about spending on health by herself and her State counterparts it is all an optical illusion - she really means they have wasted more money than Tony Abbott has spent. There is a difference between spending and wasting money.
      Personally, emergency waiting times have worsen in the last 3 years and hospital stays haven’t been pleasant when all they want to do is kick you or your loved ones out because they need the bed for someone else.
      Incompetence is why the ALP hasn’t had any success at the State and Federal level.

      Reply

    • JR says:

      10:35am | 17/02/11

      I would like to spank Kristina Keneally, and then vote for her.

      Reply

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      10:57am | 17/02/11

      Comment of the year ...

    • Aitch B says:

      11:07am | 17/02/11

      To use an expression once used on the Question Time blog (MarK?).....

      She’s hawt!! smile

    • Bemused says:

      01:11pm | 17/02/11

      To borrow a line, “Please Explain” in graphic detail.

    • The Liberal Loafer says:

      10:45am | 17/02/11

      Your comment:
      Labor is serious about this State Election.
      Labor is aiming high .
      Labor wants to either win this NSW State Election or lose all its seats in the NSW Legislative Assembly.
      With Labor, things are not just election promises.They will be the law.

      Reply

    • Fed up with BS says:

      11:25am | 17/02/11

      Labor is gonna lose in NSW. It’s gonna lose in Qld and it’s gonna lose the Federal elections. It’s a party who cannot provide good Gov. and just plain lies its way around….Not good enough!

      Reply

    • Joombi O'Flaherty says:

      07:23pm | 17/02/11

      Yes, your first claim is without a doubt. Your second, I wouldn’t be so sure about - I reckon it’s still 50-50 in Qld regardless of the current polling; and third federally we’re still 2.5 years out from the next election - it can’t possibly be a “gonna lose” situation

    • Edward James says:

      11:28am | 17/02/11

      Joe you know people like to complain about Labor getting away with all sorts of things and in two months many of the same people will be complaining about the Liberal Coalition getting away with all sorts of things. At some point voters need to understand wandering down to the polling booth every four years and casting a vote based for the most part on bad habit or alternately the big doe eyes of Bambi who is standing in the seat of Heffron, and not every seat in the state. Is never going to get them honest representative government. I know we must keep after politicians like a dog with sheep. Without constant oversight our politicians soon forget why we voted for them. This MP is not likable she is a Labor grub like any other who as Planning Minister presided over the states acceptance of land bribes relating to developments at Cathrine hill Bay. And her office of Premier and Cabinet which includes all the Labor Ministers is still ignoring years of published allegations identifying systemic corruption, and more importantly often published photographs and information which allows any reader of the Peninsula News and Gosford Central Community News   http://bit.ly/EJ_PNewsAds  to understand Gosford City Council did mislead the Coroner during his inquiry into the deaths of five people at Piles Creek Somersby.  Spurious reports all these published allegations are simply defamatory are more than silly because that is a decision to be made by a court. The bottom line in all this is the information is accurate and informative or it is contempt of court either way, it is material which brings the poor personal values of politicians into consideration. John Robertson Minister for the Central Coast has been photographed reading these ads as has John Hatzistergos the States First Law Officer. Political inaction on these often published court of public opinion allegations actually brings the Labor Party into disrepute. Edward James 0243419140

      Reply

    • TEZ says:

      11:30am | 17/02/11

      K. K. is the P.I.L.F.
      But that doesn’t mean I’d vote for her.

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      11:37am | 17/02/11

      The Minister for the Central Coast John Robertson is hoping to slip into Paul Gibsons seat at Blacktown has been ignoring his responsibilities to constituents on the Central Coast. His silence is indicative he has no answer to the months of hard hitting and instructive ads, several of which point out the Coroner was mislead by Gosford City Council during his inquiry into the deaths of five people in a ditch at the bottom of Piles Creek Somersby.
      These political attack ads which run in the Peninsula News and Gosford
      Central Community News   http://bit.ly/EJ_PNewsAds  are easy to access…
      Edward James 0243419140 is constantly asking in public forums identified
      above and elsewhere how much longer will it take before John Robertson and
      The Office of Premier and Cabinet take to act to address what I have discussed with John Hatzistergos. What I have publicly alleged is either true or contempt of the court. Either way what a growing number of my people and journalist are
      reading, use the link above to inform yourself. Is important because it regularly raises questions about the personal values of politicians like John Robertson and
      John Hatzistergos, and the Premier who are busy trying to get re elected by
      constituents whom they are actively duding in the court of public opinion.
      Edward James

      Reply

    • Ryan says:

      11:56am | 17/02/11

      And if you haven’t learned your lesson from the federal elections, here it is again “A vote for the Greens is a vote for Labor”.

      Reply

    • Tripper Smurf says:

      02:48pm | 17/02/11

      Obviously you are one of the multitude that does not fully understand the vagaries of optional-preferential voting, or the ‘advisory’ nature of the ‘How to Vote’ cards.

    • Matthew Ross says:

      11:59am | 17/02/11

      I am not voteing for Kristina Keneally, I am not voting Conservatives either I am voting for my local member who does a good job and yes hes in the ALP. I refuse to base my choice alone on what I read and see in the media I watch State Politics and get an informed view, if you are silly enough to join the band wagon thats your choice, but if makeing that choice on what others say and that person you vote for is incapable of doing a better job it is your own choice, and mistake for your community where you live. Being new does not mean better not knowing what there doing and not caring in some cases,just because they want power is something your going to have to weight up. Be it facts or be it what the other galars tell you. PLEASE THINK before you vote, I dont care if you vote Labor, Liberal, or Greens if you think the person does their job and you jump ship because the flock squawks maybe in 3 years time you may be in the same flock that will be squawking lets get the flock out of here.  Think for your bloody self and stop worrying about puppy dog eyes and what the flock says.

      Reply

    • Harquebus says:

      01:03pm | 17/02/11

      Your local member represents the Labor Party, not you.

    • Jedi_T says:

      02:47pm | 17/02/11

      Matthew,
      A truly naive statement.
      My basis for that statement is thus.
      That if your member is doing well by your electorate that is good for you, but at what cost to other electorates?
      Is his good will for you paid for by the lack of support for your neighbouring electorate?
      Its this attitide that has lead to a pathetic govt holding power for much longer than it should!
      A question you might ask your local member, if you ever meet him, pick one good thing in the community he is done and ask what it cost someone else’s!
      And harquebus is right, if he runs as ALP he represents the party and their ideals in your electorate. Everything he does must be done by their rules, not yours!

    • Gerard says:

      09:32pm | 17/02/11

      Harquebus is right. Any member of a party will represent the interests of that party first and foremost.

      I would argue with Jedi_T though, about the interests of neighbouring electorates. If the neighbouring electorate declines to elect a free-thinking independent who will protect the interests of their constituents and instead elects a major party puppet, then surely they deserve all they get. If Matthew’s electorate shows the initiative to get a representative who stands up for the rights of their constituents (obviously an ALP member doesn’t qualify, but this is a hypothetical), why should his electorate be disadvantaged by its neighbour’s stupidity?

    • Jedi_T says:

      06:29am | 18/02/11

      Gerard,
      Perhaps and perhaps not.
      I’d like to think we’d all like to get along and help each other out. You know, Aussie Spirit & such.
      But i was just trying to prove a point to Matthew at the naivity of his statement

    • Achmed says:

      12:10pm | 17/02/11

      I am not afraid to declare that I have dreams of Kristina in a burqa - she should consider running a television advertisement in one to connect better with our multicultural community west of Strathfield. Don’t ridicule this - our society is not just about blue-eyed blondes with healthy figures….look at our Welsh-born Prime Minister for example.
      I will vote for her anyway because despite being an obviously westernised woman (coiffured, make-up and a little too much skin showing), she is a true believer and her religious studies have helped develop her qualities of decency, family, kindness and tolerance - these are qualities not always apparent in Mr O’Farrell who seems to be all business and no humanity.
      Kristina will triumph - Allahu is truly akbar.

      Reply

    • Cate P says:

      12:32pm | 17/02/11

      This is so funny, but so true.  She is beguiling isn’t she?

      Reply

    • Earlwood resident says:

      12:43pm | 17/02/11

      You say: It’s a bit like lashing a fair maiden to a tree and then sitting around and waiting for the dragon.

      Well I’d do that happily and merrily, if that fair maiden was Kristina Keneally, MP Linda Burney or MP Barbara Perry. Three fair maidens who sat back and ignored the NSW Ombudsman report that condemned Canterbury City Council for it’s lack of leadership and unreasonable conduct they vindictively bestowed against an 80 year old pensioner.

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      01:22pm | 17/02/11

      The comment above @ Earlwood Resident touches on the fact that the Member for Lakemba Robert Furolo is the Mayor of Canterbury City Council. Which is why the Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry has a non pecuniary conflict of interest. Which is why when the State Ombudsman Bruce Barbour makes a finding of malfeasance after considering the not months but years of council misgovernance. Which started when a recalcitrant Canterbury City Council refused to do its job and went out of its way to set property owners at one another’s throats over an unstable quarry face. Which the dam council refused permission for trees and other growth to be removed to prevent the rock face at the top of the quarry from braking apart. Council was found to be more than wrong footed by the Ombudsman in fact those of us who read his findings believe their should be an Ex Gratia payment of around $400k to Magda Mallone to wrap it up. But not even a sorry beg your pardon. We are paying attention KK and you and your crew are rubbish Edward James

    • Richard Smith says:

      12:51pm | 17/02/11

      Your eyes are dark brown and you are unelectable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      01:04pm | 17/02/11

      Too right think for your self and back your own judgement. I have first hand experience the Labor Party are just no dam good. I want then decimated on March 26. Then we can start sorting the rest of our elected representatives out. First we use the Liberal Coalition as a broom on the 26 March to sweep Labor Party members and any others close to Labor out of our Parliament. Then we can turn our full attention to the remaining politicians and pull them into line. This election has all the hallmarks of a wonderful change to the way things are done in Parliament. For too long the parties have been a law unto themselves, they our politicians are supposed to represent us not the dam parties. How many times have we seen a rotten political apply be protected by their party? I have not forgotten Milton the Horrible Orkopolous and the way Labor Party closed ranks on that score and that is all the Labor Party including those party members trying desperately to suck up some voter support right now. Don’t be frightened to vote them all out on March 26. If they clean up their act we can always vote them back again in four years. But to do nothing and let the damage continue unabated would be just wrong! Edward James

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      02:22pm | 17/02/11

      Cruel isn’t it? But then she did choose to join the ALP. She did accept the offer of the job of Premier. She knew, as did everyone else, that the ALP was on a hiding to nowhere at the March 2011 State Election.
      Bad judgement? You better believe it.
      If she had had the wit to wait until after the March election & then put on the Leader’s Jersey there is every likelihood that despite the almost annihilation the ALP will suffer she might very well have led the ALP back into office in 2018! With the charisma-less leader of the Liberal Chrissy would have romped home.
      Now she is finished for if there is one thing the ALP, like the Libs, cannot bear & will not tolerate it is A Loser. Never mind that it was the ALP machine & the inept, corrupt former union or party hacks selected to enter Parliament who are entirely responsible for the thrashing Kenneally will get.
      Ambition & Pride are terrible bed-mates. Kenneally allowed them to take over her life & they are going to stab her fair & square in the chest.
      At least she will see the rocket coming for, unlike Julia Gillard’s back-stabbing, disloyal political assassination of Kevin Rudd, Christine will be full-frontal to it when it hits & destroys her once-promising political career.
      Like him or loathe him Kevin Rudd was deliberately & viciously stabbed in the back by Julia “I fully support the PM (Kevvy)” Gillard on June 24th 2010.
      No-one, least of all Kenneally herself, will be able to claim she was betrayed by someone. She did that to herself.

      Reply

    • Old Bert says:

      02:34pm | 17/02/11

      I don’t care about your NSW lame politics, historically rife with B grade movie plots, I just want Kristina. She’s tops. She’s a movie star. She’s done it. I want her. Say no more.

      Reply

    • yousuckthepunch says:

      03:23pm | 17/02/11

      Oh now come on you lot, what you’re expecting is tooo much of this little “democracy”! Don’t you really question if there really is any choice in the matter - it’s either right or medium right? Again, we Victorians are just waiting with baited breath to see what stupidity Ted Bailleau will drop on us?

      From this skinny suburban middle-aged greenie vego, keep an eye on what’s happening and be prepared to discuss and work through it.

      Smile and say hello - in the street and online, make the time smile

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      04:58pm | 17/02/11

      @ yousuckthepunch. Some of us have been working for years to change the face of politics in NSW. Even in Victoria you have a group in Sunshine still fighting for good representative government. i understand democracy is like a community garden and like a community garden we should all take part in pulling out the opportunistic political weeds. While the main stream media do not subscribe to conspiracy theories I do and i believe so many of those Labor grubs who are jumping ship have something to fear from scrutiny of their actions over the years. And i am vindictive enough to hope they all get what is coming to them apart from the indexed pension for life. Edward James Political attack ads   http://bit.ly/EJ_PNewsAds

    • Andrew Credit says:

      03:37pm | 17/02/11

      I actually like this woman. The problem is that her people are totally incompetent so everything she says I don’t believe and I think it is the same for all other people living in NSW. Unfortunate timing for her.

      Reply

    • The Cricket says:

      05:26pm | 17/02/11

      I think KK is gorgeous.
      But her government is a blight on NSW. If you vote for her, you condemn NSW to another four years of going backwards.
      The Libs will come in with energy and enthusiasm which are two things we haven’t had here for at least a decade.

      Reply

    • James Hunter says:

      05:55pm | 17/02/11

      I realy like her and think she deserves a go particularly as she has been vigoursly weeding the weeds from her garden. None of the last several Labour leaders have had the balls to do that.
      The other problem is this Ofarreel chap. looks like a pawn of his party machine and apears to be a reactor to events not a leader and if there is one thing the state needs it is a leader.
      Go Kristina. Go girl Go.

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      11:12pm | 17/02/11

      @ James Hunter. Kristina K Keneally has been a member of the Labor Party for over eight years.She was for a while Planning Minister.  She has pulled a few weeds, but there are people like me who publicly insist that damage control was not enough.  Consider @ Earlwood resident says: 12:43pm ...  And some of his very instructive work product at .....  http://indymedia.org.au/2010/02/20/nsw-ombudsman-confirms-maladministration-at-canterbury-city-council#comment-1243  The problem ratepayers have when they go to their councilors with problems about council misgovernance is those councilors are like it or not controlled by their party affiliations. The next place someone may take their complaint is the Minister in the Mallone v Canterbury City Council Ombudsman’s investigation the Labor Minister for Local Government is Barbara Perry. And the Mayor of the dud Canterbury City Council is also the Labor Member for Lakemba Robert Furolo, there are other Labor members on the dud council. Labor has a very long history of destroying women who speak out in our Parliament. Do you remember Franca Arena ? Particularly if they are brave enough to expose a male party member like Robert Furolo for bringing the Labor Party into disrepute.The conflict of interest is quite obvious yet nothing has ever been done about it.  Don’t misunderstand me the Liberal Coalition and the Greens are just as conflicted in these matters. We the peoples if we are smart will use the Liberal Coalition to sweep as many Labor party Members from Parliament.on the 26 of March as is possible. We will do this as the first step in ridding ourselves of those who have converted the oldest parliament in this country into a house of ill repute.We the peoples carry an enormous political burden of lazy and corrupt politicians only because we chose to pick it up. March 26 is the time for us to drop them out in the gutter where they belong and not on the opposition benches, by numbering each box and putting every Labor Party candidate last on your ballot you will ensure they do not share the cash reward for attracting over 4% of the vote pool. It will not be easy because after the first clean out in March we as voters must plan during the next four years how we can force by elections and what ever it takes to get rid of any other politician who wrongly believes he or she will tell us what to do. Rather than putting our wishes into law. Liberal right now is the best tool to get the first part of the job done. They know it and they will expect us to keep voting for change and change until we finally arrive at what will be for the peoples a nirvana of honest representative government.  Keep in mind we the peoples are doomed to pay for every mistake a politician makes while acting on our behalf. Please do not just vote and forget about them, pay attention and keep them all in line. Voting is a full time obligation to maintaining our democracy in good working order.  Edward James

    • Bondy says:

      01:36pm | 18/02/11

      Why does she want to create legislation for the purpose of preventing things from happening?  If she was holding government, these things wouldn’t happen unless her government put the bills through parliament to cause these things to happen.  Is this an insurance policy against her government changing its mind, because they can’t trust themselves?

      Reply

    • Dee Why Mum says:

      06:26pm | 18/02/11

      Tubesteak - LAUGH. Have I just caught onto that nickname for Barry?????? Has made my week wink

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      06:36pm | 18/02/11

      @ Bondy she is putting political land mines in place for the Liberal Coalition.  That stupid ad is worded very carefully she is giving assurances only as the possible member for Heffron. And lets face it if her constituents are smart she wont be the Member for Heffron after March. certainly she wont be leader of the government in NSW. Edward James

      Reply

    • Gerard says:

      01:41pm | 19/02/11

      If her constituents were smart, she wouldn’t be the member for Heffron now.

    • Ed Balls says:

      08:40am | 20/02/11

      Edward,I’m moving down to KKK Territory this week to rent till after the election.Can’t wait to vote against the Yank Carpetbagger,and former Minister for Developer Donations.She may be a pretty face,but she’s a blow in trying to change our traditional low density housing to Manhattan style apartments.Of course,donations to the Labor party have not influenced her high density policies,just like the Alcohol industry donations have not influenced her “do what you like policies” where hotels are concerned.

    • David says:

      09:37pm | 18/02/11

      She took the chair knowing how hard it was going to be.  Pardon the blunt club, but who gives a damn about what she says, where she comes from or what she might be able to do in government, if given the chance right now.

      Best chance she’ll have is to remain in opposition and work on curing the virus that’s ruined our state but sadly, that probably won’t happen either.

      Reply

    • Edward James says:

      11:52am | 19/02/11

      What’s left of Labor are making a big thing about having a good hard look at themselves, talking about involving the people in some sort of Americanized pre-polling. It is a sad attempt to limit the damage on the way from an enormous number of very angry people. Many of whom can’t afford electricity to keep the family comfortable anymore. Many of us have heard smart arse politicians tell us, well if you don’t like it make your feelings felt at the ballot box. I worry that election wonk Anthony Green at the moment is telling us Labor may retain thirteen seats. That is way too many we should be going for gold. I must ask why voters still remaining stead fast. Why would you risk only doing half a clean out of our NSW Parliament? There are no good Labor Party members, if there had been, they would have either cleaned the party up or resigned. That truth is self evident!  Edward James.

      Reply

    • Ed Balls says:

      03:44pm | 20/02/11

      Let’s go for gold Edward.I reckon 1 Labor win on March 26 is 1 too many.
      In fact with so few seats predicted,will they sit on the Opposition benches?
      Perhaps they’ll all have to sit in the corner and wear dunces hats

 
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