Pokies farce is Gillard’s biggest stumble yet

acotrel says:

07:37am | 29/01/12

Common sense prevailed in the pokies deal.  The fact that ATMs are present right within pokies venues, is the biggest single factor in problem gambling.  In Tasmania it is even possible to gamble with money straight from your credit account ! No wonder Wilkie is all fired up ?
Julia GIllard proposed limiting withdrawals from club ATMs !
Good work, Julia !

AdamC says:

07:56am | 29/01/12

Too true, Erick. The Pokies lie is just the latest in a consistent pattern of cynical deceptions. The only difference with this one is that it has excited the lefty gallery set. (Lefties hate Pokies.) Out in punterville, the PM’s carbon tax lie is still the blue ribbon example of Gillard’s dishonesty.

Joan says:

08:48am | 29/01/12

Gillard track record indicates , ,conniving, backstabbing, lying, deceit, doubledealing   - and no common sense.  She plain doublecrossed Wilkie and I don’t believe a word she says on Hodges- who   looked like he was her right hand man on the day as seen in the pics and fact he was at restaurant. Once again she uses manipulative language to excuse and justify the indefensible.  Day after day with her gutter politics she debases Australian government - one day the rest of Australians will wake up that they have been taken in and doublecrossed like Wilkie. The Aborginals at tent embassy found out too late that they were just pawns in Labor gutter politics . Gillard office a disgrace as it has taken Australian race relations back to 1972 - much worse and hurting more people than   Wilkie pokie doublecross.  How about Gillard follows the same standards she sets for Murdoch with respect to staff action.- I expect her to know what Hodges was up to.

John the Zombie says:

08:48am | 29/01/12

acrotel I still dont get pokies reform. I come from WA and the only pokies there are those in the casino. I did during the course of my travells got from different states and met few friends and saw the addiction to these machines but I also saw the addiction to gambling. One example was I watched a friend who was 500 up when I told him I recon you should claim your wins and lets just chill. He refused and continued to play. I left him there and went and hanged out with other friends. It wasnt till later that night I found out that he was now 1000 out of pocket. He had lost in total 1500 when I left. So I understand the problem that pokies and gambling cause.

The only issue I had with this pokie reforms is that the gambler would set there limit no one else and I know for sure that these people will set high limits.

Bertrand says:

08:50am | 29/01/12

@Erick and acotrel:

You are both right to an extent. The pokies reforms may have been the result of the deals that were made in response to the hung parliament (and let’s not pretend that Abbott wasn’t trying to make deals in order to secure government), but, as acotrel points out, despite the reason pokies reform came on the agenda, it is still the right thing for our communities.

It has massive support in the wider-Australian community (but not in marginal seats in outer-suburbs, where it counts), and is a valid response to the enormous social harm being causes by pokies.

But, as Erick points out, Gillard’s decision to walk away from the written deal she made with Wilkie in order to secure herself the Prime Ministership, does little but feed into the discontent in the community regarding her dishonest nature and her willingness to use people in order to secure and maintain power.

As the article pointed out, Gillard’s best bet would have been to actually show some leadership by trying to establish herself as a conviction politician who can stare down opposing forces and sell a policy on its merits. Instead she chose to use Wilkie to secure power and cut him loose when he was no longer necessary to her ambitions.

Her political nous is clearly fairly minimal, as any idiot could have foreseen that walking away from a signed agreement that was made in order to secure government was only going to feed the idea that she is cunning and untrustworthy.

Poa says:

09:09am | 29/01/12

Gotta laugh at Wilkie believing her. after the No carbon tax bit her credibility is shredded.
also the ALP/union clubs in the ACT are a big contributor to election funding for them.
give that up?Never!
As for polled being Gillard’s biggest stumble.
You’re kidding!
The no carbon tax bit is only justifiable if you really really wanted the bloody thing regardless. Justify conning Australia.
Or this whole Gingerellagate mess.One of her 4 senior media advisors gets sprung in political assassination attempt on the Opposition Leader with more ALP figures involved and you say pokies is her biggest mess?
Nope. her biggest problem now iS no-one will believe her denials .

Bev says:

09:34am | 29/01/12

Bertrand says:09:50am | 29/01/12
As the article pointed out, Gillard’s best bet would have been to actually show some leadership by trying to establish herself as a conviction politician

I remember John Howard selling the guns buy back.  There was a poly who got out and sold the message and convinced people of the measures needed. It was not popular and there was a well organized/funded oposition.

rudy says:

10:48am | 29/01/12

@Poa -‘political assassination attempt on the Opposition Leader’ - never one for understatement are you? Let alone truth. Even the most hysterical Liberals aren’t portraying this event as an assassination attempt. This is typical of the biased rubbish you always post. A sense of balance and proportion wouldn’t hurt you.

rudy says:

10:54am | 29/01/12

AdamC 8:56am I’m not a lefty and I HATE poker machines. What’s not to hate? Are you inferring that there’s something admirable about pokies? I’d love to see your defence of them.

thatmosis says:

12:06pm | 29/01/12

The trouble is Bev that nobody believes a word she says anymore. Once she opens her mouth people tune out as they are sick and tired of the spin, lies and that voice. To get your message across you need to connect witht the people and she cannot do this as nobody is listening.

nihonin says:

12:19pm | 29/01/12

nossy says:

  10:08am | 29/01/12

  @nihonin   a BIG payheck or you this week from the Libs nihonin - you have worked your bloody heart out fella!  Top stuff!

Thanks nossy, no unfortunately the Libs won’t be paying me, nor do I expect Labor to pay me, when the Libs are ever in government and they are stuff assing around blaming everybody but themselves, when the shit hits the fan.

but at least I know you and your fellow acolyte of the Labor party, acotrel well be paid your casual wage by Wayne week for sure, boy you two are trolling your little hearts out.

Stay dry fella, as the rain here in Queensland , isn’t the only thing pouring down at the moment.

Bertrand says:

12:25pm | 29/01/12

@Bev - spot on with Howard. You may or may not have liked him, but you knew what he stood for. It always annoys me to see supporters of the Carbon Tax use the GST as an example of Howard lying. He certainly changed his mind on the issue, but took it to an election. You knew where he stood on the matter.

Of course, he did invent the phrase ‘non-core promises’ to justify election promises that he broke. Any reasonable person would accept that politicians on both sides need to do this in reaction to changed circumstances. This is how I view the broken carbon tax promise, as it was a reaction to changed circumstances. Furthermore, Gillard’s qualification of the promise with the words ‘I won’t rule out an emissions trading scheme’ means that it was more of a policy adjustment than a policy reversal.

I can see why people are angry at the broken promise, but I’m sorry, I don’t think it was the lie to end all political lies, as many of the Juliar name-callers like to think.

nihonin says:

07:59am | 29/01/12

Oh may goodness gracious me, please don’t come again then.

acotrel says:

07:48am | 29/01/12

Who organised the truck protest?  You know, the one in which Abbott got up in front of the noisy rednecks, and tried to incite them !  Was that OK, but this latest doesn’t conform to the LNP rules ?

Erick says:

08:06am | 29/01/12

The truck protest? Oh, you mean the one that wasn’t violent, and didn’t result in the PM being bundled out of a restaurant like a sack of beans?

I don’t know who organised that, but they sure did a better job than the violent thugs who attacked Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott on Thursday.

Who organised the race riot? It appears to have been instigated by a senior member of Julia Gillard’s staff and a top union official.

nihonin says:

08:11am | 29/01/12

acotrel, I see the words but all I’m reading is blah blah blah.  Do you have proof the Liberal party organised the truck protest?  I would like to see it, as this could be the vital piece of information that just might (unlikely) swing the non aligned back to the Labor party.

philip says:

08:40am | 29/01/12

acotrel the carbon tax lie protest was organised by the truckies themselves not the liberals, if anything what happened on australia day was and will be remembered as the day that juliar’s office has lost any credibility it had.

nossy says:

08:40am | 29/01/12

@acotrel   are you reffering to the “Convoy Of NO Consequence” acotrel? Wasnt that a hoot - 10,000 supposed to turn up to hear Dr NO and only 300 arrived - now thats a dud in any mans language!

Bomb78 says:

08:41am | 29/01/12

acotrel: you really need to take a prospective pill.
I can’t remember seeing the PM hauled off by her security during the truck protest. Yep, there was plenty of noisy rednecks, but they didn’t leave their protest site, seek out the PM and physically threaten her.

TM says:

08:45am | 29/01/12

Boy, you never cease to amaze me you deluded old fool!

You tell me who organised the Convoy? Your answer, if you have the guts will be interesting. Abbott did not incite anyone to do anything. Your post is a pathetic attempt to justify Gillard’s office serious transgressions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdreJ75_mqo

Nilbog says:

08:48am | 29/01/12

Why are we taling about the truck protest…?

Did those protestors attack the PM? I can’t remember…

Denny Crane says:

08:51am | 29/01/12

acotrel - do you find it ironic that the root cause of both these protests was the lies told by the PM herself or the lies told by her office.

The truck protest came about becauseof the carbon tax that Gillard promised NOT to introduce. I cant remember anyone being physically threatened,can you?

The Australia day riot was caused by Gillards office being deliberatley deceptive (in other word straight out lies) trying to paint Abbott as a racist. It was a grubby dirt ploy and in no way similar to the Truck protest. Other than, of course, the labor lies.

All labor supporters must be very proud of their party today.

Not.

John the Zombie says:

08:59am | 29/01/12

actualy acrotel the truck protest was organised from the grass roots not from the liberal party and no liberal member was out there giving flase information. There was no assualt that occurred unless you are calling beeping the horns and assualt. On top of that Abbott went out and spoke to people and the group had asked Gillard to come out and talk to them which she did not. Another difference was this group did not burn the Australian flag.

Acrotel the house of cards is falling. The aim of this was to have Abbott harmed nothing more. Lets call a spade a spade. The fact and this is fact that a Gillard staffer called and told person x a ACTU secretary that Abbott had said the embassy should be torn down, this person then inturned informed the people at the tent embassy. Even blind freddy knew what would occur. Tempers were already boiling and a lie was made. Noticed how now even the tent embassy members are saying they were used.

Even you acrotel are guilty of incitng harm to be done to Abbott. Did you not forget the comment you made about Abbott been burnt. You are the same as the people from the convoy who had signs such as Gillard the B@tch.

Also acrotel I know your game well. You are good at misinformation making me think that you are on the Labor payroll. Part of the a group that trolls sites to try to counter attacks on the labor govt by blaming the liberals. You let this cat out of the bag in your comments about how you heard a guy yelling at his wife for not booking the taxi early. Been someone who has drive a taxi and understands the taxi system I knew your comment was BS. At no point does the dispatcher ever transfer the customers call directly to the taxi driver.

nossy says:

09:08am | 29/01/12

@nihonin   a BIG payheck or you this week from the Libs nihonin - you have worked your bloody heart out fella!  Top stuff!

Tim says:

09:10am | 29/01/12

Erick,
If Gillard had have adressed the convoy she would have been in danger.
The anger shown at both protests was exactly the same, the one on Australia day just had a target.
Both groups were full of fringe loonies who should be ignored.

Joan says:

09:27am | 29/01/12

Poor Acotrel living in the past - the truck protest and worse still talking about last election -which as we know was the worst outcome for Australia and for Wilike electorate who didn’t get a hospital but got a doublecross from Gillard. The truckies protest with a bit of name calling was a butchers picnic compared to Labor orchestrated violent racial protest. on 26th.

Bertrand says:

09:30am | 29/01/12

The thing about the truck protest is that the stated intention of the organisers was that they were going to blockade Canberra until the democratically elected government resigned. For a number of reasons this never occurred, but it is a dangerous idea to be associated with, as if it were successful it would have set a dangerous precedent that anybody who is unhappy with a government has the right to use force to bring a change of government.

The Convoy of No Confidence was about more than simply protesting a policy people were unhappy about, it had the stated intention of forcing the resignation of a government. Abbott should have known better than to associate with people trying to force an undemocratic change of government.

Matt says:

09:35am | 29/01/12

What cover up? Julia Gillard came out within a few hours of getting knowledge of what happened told the nation.

The person responsible has lost his job.

What is you definition of “cover up”?

jf says:

10:34am | 29/01/12

acotrel says: 08:48am | 29/01/12

“Who organised the truck protest?”

Truckies. People who used to form the heart and soul of the ALP before they got fed up with the lies and deception of the current government and particularly the lie that no doubt lead to a lot of them voting for the ALP because it promised to not introduce a policy that threatened their livliehoods.

If I were you I’d now shut up about it: it only reminds people what a deceptive, dishonest Government this is.

rudy says:

10:44am | 29/01/12

Truckies were never the heart and soul of labor/ They’re as conservative as they come, especially the owner/drivers. And as for who organised their convoy of no consequence, the mega-rich human megaphone Alan Jones had a lot to do with it. This ultra-conservative man is the new truckie’s friend, even though his interests & lifestyle have little in common with them.

rudy says:

10:51am | 29/01/12

@Viti, the aboriginal protest story doesn’t have legs unless someone can demonstrate Gillard knew of and/or approved of the move to get the aboriginals to stage the protest at the cafe in an attempt to embarrass Abbott. I doubt they can, this was Gillard’s event that was disrupted and I reckon she’s telling the truth when she says she didn’t want it disrupted. The story will be dead within a week.

Martin says:

12:45pm | 29/01/12

I see the the Labor dummys are at it again, telling lies and distorting the truth. This episode has Labor’s and the Unions grubby hands all over it and the stupid, ill informed and deliberately misleading gibber from any Labor supporting idiot on here is of no consequence.

This one will never be lived down, this one along with the miriad of Labor stuff ups will rear its head at election time and will do no end of damage to Labor. So be it, they brought it upon themselves.

Super D says:

01:08pm | 29/01/12

Hilarious.  The ALP - wanting to make Abbott the story - trigger a race riot and their rusted on supporters still only want to talk about Tony Abbott.

Bev says:

01:46pm | 29/01/12

Matt says:10:35am | 29/01/12

What cover up? Julia Gillard came out within a few hours of getting knowledge of what happened told the nation.

She said she didn’t know Kim Sattler.
Wrong pictures in media of them together.  They were both Emilies List members and had attended the same functions. Seems Juliar has trouble remembering her past and who she associated with. The list is long and getting longer.

She lied about what her staffer told Kim. As confirmed by Kim.

We have not heard the last of this yet.

Andrew says:

01:50pm | 29/01/12

Truck protest, truck protest, now I wonder, who might have organise a truck protest. Im guessing Truckies but hey who am I to knock a good conspiracy Theory on the head.

Karen from Qld says:

03:56pm | 29/01/12

@Matt - the reason she “came out” was because Ray Hadly (of all people) received info that a staff member(s) had passed on the whereabouts of Tony Abbott to the TE people and that they should “liven things up”. He also announced that he would reveal all on his show on Monday morning.She had no choice but to take the minimal steps that she did before her cover was blown.

acotrel says:

08:03am | 29/01/12

@Mack
What does Tony Abbott stand for ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sKeIKZJdcA

Craig says:

08:37am | 29/01/12

I read the dog was sent back to wherever it cam from? Correct me if i’m wrong.

Joan says:

08:54am | 29/01/12

I thought it was a `show` dog - one for the cameras to make Julia look more human.  I feel sorry for the dog .

Bev says:

09:46am | 29/01/12

acotrel says:09:03am | 29/01/12

What does Tony Abbott stand for ?
He wouldn’t have to stand for much to be more unstanding than Juliar as she stands for nothing, ziltch, zero, nix, 0.  Possible the most backstabbing, lying Prime minister we have ever had.
Makes the feminist article of faith that if women were in charge we would have a kinder, more caring, more inclusive governance.  I guess that one belongs with other feminist articles of faith.  In your localblack hole.

rudy says:

10:57am | 29/01/12

@Bev - perhaps your post would have more effect if you attempted to answer the question - what does Abbott stand for? I’d really like to know. Gillard is unpopular, we get that, but who is this bloke who looks set to get her job, and how do we know he won’t be worse?

Chris says:

01:53pm | 29/01/12

@Bev… how do we know what Abbott stands for????
Well… whether you agree with him or not - we know quite a lot about him. He has written a book you can go and buy and through his formative political years he wrote extensively in The Adelaide Review - dozens of articles some of them essays - and he is a reasonably good writer.
Of course, lots of people might disagree with him on lots of issues… and lots more might just not be bothered to read his stuff… but he has a lot more of his thinking on the public record than any other politician in the current parliament by a country mile.

Andrew says:

01:59pm | 29/01/12

Rudy, how do you know he wont be worse. You dont, and you never will until he is PM. The nfact of the matter is that you dont have a bloody clue what sort of PM someone will be until they are PM, stop listening to all the BS. You know Gillard and labor sucks so why the hell would you vote for them again, if a government is rubbish vote them out, if the new government is rubbish vote them out 3 years later. If you vote rubbish governments back in they think what they are doing is right and they keep doing the same things, they never change, have a look at NSW.  By the way I would like someone to tell me what is so scarey about abbott, exactly what is it that you think he will do if he becomes PM that scares you so much.

nihonin says:

03:21pm | 29/01/12

‘By the way I would like someone to tell me what is so scarey about abbott, exactly what is it that you think he will do if he becomes PM that scares you so much. ‘

Andrew, the answer to your question is, nobody does, but if you’re a Labor member or supporter or acolyte, it’d be because he isn’t Labor.  But that seems to be enough foe them.

Against the Man says:

06:47pm | 29/01/12

Gosh I love watching the super minority ALP crowd like acotrel struggle and I mean really struggle to spin their BS. So bloody entertaining really. Poor guy doesn’t realise we are laughing at him .......too funny hahahahahaha ;0

Luke says:

07:55am | 29/01/12

Allowed herself to be blackmailed? hahahaha
If she was a strong leader and believed it was a stupid deal she should have just said NO!
Proves she’s not PM material.

Denny Crane says:

08:18am | 29/01/12

Gillard did that all by herself. Nobody forced her to agree to Wilkie’s terms so it appears that it is Gillard who is trashing democracy. She stole the election with a lie, she won the trust of Wilkie with a lie, even yesterday she stood there lying about the involvement of her office in the lies they told about Abbott to set off the riot.

Nobody copuld do as good a job of trashing our democracy and the office of PM as Gillard has done. She is a national shame. The only way we are ever going to recover is by an election. And soon.

Bertrand says:

09:05am | 29/01/12

@Tim - Clearly you don’t understand how a representative democracy of the Westminster tradition actually works. Abbott was involved in the exact same deal-making and compromising. If he had been able to form government would this deal-making have made his government illegitimate? Of course not.

If you are going to make the argument that this government is illegitimate because it is a minority government, you may as well make the argument that any coalition government is also illegitimate, as under a coalition government the Prime Minister requires the support of members from at least 2 parties, and often the support of members from 3 or 4 parties.

Tim says:

09:14am | 29/01/12

Luke and Denny, she simply succeeded in bargaining where Abbott failed. If you believe that Abbott and the Liberals weren’t trying to buy off the independents in the same way then you are severely deluded.
Scumbags the lot of them.

rudy says:

10:59am | 29/01/12

@Denny Crane - before you convict Gillard of lying about her part in this aboriginal protest, maybe you should produce some evidence. I sure hope you never do jury service. An open mind seems beyond you.

Tim says:

11:14am | 29/01/12

Betrand,
Can you point out where I said the government was illegitimate?
I personally don’t think minority government like we have at the moment works. That would go for any party in this situation. The government should never be beholden to one or two members or independents.

Denny Crane says:

12:07pm | 29/01/12

So what your saying Tim is that while Abbott refused to committ to Wilkie’s hairbrain scheme, Gillard accepted his terms and by default government. She cooned Wilkie. Abbott did not. It really is as simple as that. Abbott refused to promise what he could not deliver, Gillard did whatever she had to do to obtain power, including lying to Wilkie.

Even a person of limited mental capacity can see that.

Tim says:

02:00pm | 29/01/12

Yes Denny,
Only a person of limited mental capacity would think that’s how it went down.
Abbott was just as willing to deal as Gillard but Wilkie’s dislike of the Libs was hard to overcome.

jf says:

04:11pm | 29/01/12

Tim says:03:00pm | 29/01/12

“Abbott was just as willing to deal as Gillard but Wilkie’s dislike of the Libs was hard to overcome.”

Regardless of whether he was willing to deal or not, the fact is he hasn’t broken a solemn promise made in order to become Prime Minister.

Bertrand says:

04:25pm | 29/01/12

@Tim - hmmm… my response to your last post seems to have disappeared. Will try again.

Your statement that “democracy was trashed ” seemed to imply that you see the government as illegitimate. Nonetheless, you are right, I shouldn’t have put words in your mouth.

To me the issue of a minority government, while not the outcome I would like to see in an Australian election, is a small price to pay for the Westminster system of democracy that we have in Australia. While a minority government is not ideal, it is better than a government locked in perpetual political stalemate, or even worse, a government that needs to legitimise itself through violence. To me, for all its shortcomings, it is still the best system of democracy in the world.

For example, the American system has separated the executive and legislative functions of government too much. This means you have the situation that they are experiencing at the moment, in which the government is simply unable to any political or economic reform, despite it being clearly needed.

And one thing to remember about our system of democracy. A minority government only last as long as the government can maintain the support of the floor. The betrayal of Wilkie brings this government one step closer to falling.

Joan says:

09:00am | 29/01/12

Ha—-but I understand Labor gutter politics perfectly it`s on show every day - in the news. Gillard the doubledealer - doublecrossed Wilkie.

acotrel says:

08:09am | 29/01/12

@hawker
‘In her determination to please everyone, she is pleasing noone.’

Are you speaking from personal experience ?  I am ‘pleased’ ! Sorry you can’t accept the fact that the LNP with Abbott as it’s incompetent leader, LOST the last election, and the one before it !

hawker says:

10:24am | 29/01/12

Gee acotrel, it’s a Sunday morning, no need to be so literal! And you misunderstand me. I have never voted LNP in my life. I was glad Abbot lost the last election, my natural inclination being the left on social issues. I am merely voicing my own disappointment (shared by many others BTW) at what I perceive to be Gillard’s lack of conviction on issues such as border protection, gay marriage and now pokies.

This may come as a shock to you, but some people on here can at least try to take an objective, as opposed to “my party right or wrong” view.

nihonin says:

01:31pm | 29/01/12

‘This may come as a shock to you, but some people on here can at least try to take an objective, as opposed to “my party right or wrong” view.’

Hawker,  If you don’t vote for or support labor, acotrel, nossy (says he isn’t, but he sure comments like he is) or any other member of the party immediately label you a Liberal party member.  Quite funny really, shows who are the one eyed voters round here.  Sorry guys but there are actually more than 2 parties in this democracy.

Against the Man says:

06:49pm | 29/01/12

Gillard has no values and does not care about Australia. Now we all have that confirmed it is game…..over….....for….....her….....hahahahahahaha

Joan says:

09:35am | 29/01/12

Wilkie swallowed Gillard`s poison-  and now left doublecrossed and impotent

Tom says:

10:19am | 29/01/12

Equivalence? ICB

Don’t lump Abbott with her or any other Labor grub.

Gary says:

11:43am | 29/01/12

Here we go again, Gillards under fire so time to use “both” again.
It’s not “both”, Gillard is the PM.
When Abbott is PM then you can say “Both”
Abbott is yet to be in the drivers seat, when he is then you can judge him as PM..

Shane From Melbourne says:

02:31pm | 29/01/12

@Gary- Absolute rubbish. Both are “leaders” of their respective political parties and both are incompetent. Doesn’t matter which one is PM- both are pure poison.

Gregg says:

03:03pm | 29/01/12

I’d not dwell too much on what the Shanes, Accas or Nossies come out with Gary for it does not matter what Julia has done or said or what she hasn’t done and yet still stuffed up, you’ll still have the Labor lackies who come out infinitim with the same crap about not wanting to discuss a topic concerning Julia or Labor but lets look at Tony and isn’t he Doctor No.

The patheticness of that shines through all the way from Labor politicians with Gillard leading the way in slanging off in public and resorting to name calling every chance she can get.
They all have no idea on just how stupid they’re making themselves look to the public.

Tom says:

10:44am | 30/01/12

Gregg, problem is that, if these Labor spivs such as Shane are allowed to put lies and propaganda out there unchallenged, some of the more gullible punters might believe it.

Gillard is PM, Shane suck it up and show some responsibility.

Moving forward says:

09:29am | 29/01/12

Please don’t remind us of the Gillard-Obama love-in. Just watching her obsequious touchy-feely style towards him made us feel sick. Her love-struck doting expression, the hands-on (imagine female anger if that would have been Abbott putting his hands all over Mrs Clinton at every opportunity).
Gillard is Labor’s worst nightmare come true: a policy incompetent, a dreadful speaker, widely distrusted, transparently conniving, a back-stabber extraordinaire, too close to her union cronies, a puppet of the Green extremists—- and that’s just for starters.
And Rudd, Shorten and Combet are all sub-standard alternative PM material.  Ditch the lot of them, and let us all move forward. 
Move forward, move forward, move forward.

jf says:

10:41am | 29/01/12

“What a perverse and partisan thing to say.”

The partisan ALP supporters have been chanting this for years now.

The only reason they have left to vote for Gillard without looking foolish is they “I just don’t like Abbott for some reason”. They can’t articulate why the won’t vote for Abbott other than that they just don’t like him and are therefore only left with one choice - Gillard.

It allows them a pass from having to argue the case for their vote.

It is truly pathetic.

Mayday says:

11:16am | 29/01/12

Good points there Vivienne.

The article was fine until the last sentence when Lainie found she couldn’t “defend the indefensible” she simply reverted to type and dropped that ludicrous last line!

The Left must be very, very worried about Tony….their fear is almost palpable and yet they really should fear their lords and masters the ALP.

“One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.”  Machiavelli.

luke09 says:

12:53pm | 29/01/12

Vivian I agree with your assessment of this article.

It would be nice to know why Lainie Anderson needed to write, “In fact, the best thing I can say about Ms Gillard today is that she’s not Tony Abbott”  Tony Abbott hasn’t done any of the disappointing things that she wrote about Gillard doing.

Maybe its a gender thing?

Martin says:

12:58pm | 29/01/12

@Vivian, totally agree. They just can’t help themselves, just like old Laurie Oakes got to have a go at Abbott one way or another. It sort of face saving, so when they are down at the cafe at Newtown discussing metrosexual politcal topics no one can say she didn’t have a go at Abbott. Given what has happened in the last few days, ala more damning press for Labor, you really have to scratch your head wondering how can ANYONE support Labor in any way shape or form.

Vivian says:

01:53pm | 29/01/12

“The Left must be very, very worried about Tony….their fear is almost palpable and yet they really should fear their lords and masters the ALP.”

Very true. Abbott has them running scared. They cannot touch him and are so obsessed by him it is scary. the whole “everything is Abbotts fault” has now become a joke. It is hilarious to be honest. Seeing people like Albanese run around spinning like mad against Abbott is just gorgeous.

Unfortunately it also explains the Australia Day race riot Labor incited. They are so obsessed by rubbishing him because of his relevance they will resort to anything. Good sense and proprietary goes out the window, they have lost their moral compass. Isn’t it awesome they are the government and focus on the important things?

nihonin says:

01:40pm | 29/01/12

‘I think it’s now clear that Gillard is a LNP plant who is destroying the ALP from the inside.’

Yes, yes Freeman, I see your point, good call, nobody can actually suffer from “Maxwell Smart Syndrome’ in real life, can they?  That would also explain the rantings of acotrel and nossy as well, they too are plants in the forums from the LNP.  Damn it’s Tony Abbott’s fault again, very clever Mr Abbott.

Mwahahaha

jf says:

10:43am | 29/01/12

More deceit says: 10:53am | 29/01/12

“And this is the mob you right wing rabble get your “news” from here”

As, it would appear, do you.

Nilbog says:

11:54am | 29/01/12

Isn’t the Sun a UK publication? Have some of their employees transferred to Australia?

Or are you tarring innocent Australians due to some guilty Poms?

Surely you aren’t that stupid, then again…

Kgrant says:

12:18pm | 29/01/12

I’m amazed by the fact that people continue to believe what they read or hear in the media.  I haven’t done so for years now.

marley says:

01:27pm | 29/01/12

I believe the Tent Embassy debacle has been reported on the ABC and by Fairfax as well as by NewsLtd..  I don’t think Rupert invented the incident out of whole cloth.

So, given that it actually occurred, and that there are dozens of photos, videos and reports of the incident from all sides of the media, what would you have us “right wing rabble” do?  Ignore what all the media seem to agree are the basic facts because one of the outlets reporting them was NewsLtd?

nihonin says:

01:44pm | 29/01/12

Kgrant says:

  01:18pm | 29/01/12

  I’m amazed by the fact that people continue to believe what they read or hear in the media.  I haven’t done so for years now.

I don’t believe you, or should I?

Vivian says:

02:12pm | 29/01/12

Sounds fair and reasonable. I am struggling to think of another PM’s office that incited a race riot for party political purposes. Can you supply me the name of one?

alto says:

02:27pm | 29/01/12

‘Wow’. You ‘heard’ this? Made it up, more like, or got it from someone who did. But having read your stuff, that’s nothing new.

Martin says:

01:06pm | 29/01/12

Hahaha very funny. Prey tell what would be worse under Tony Abbott?
Border protection back in place, no carbon tax, no more wasteful spending, no renegging on pre-election commitments, no slimy actions by staffers setting up riots?

As I have said many times, anyone that votes Labor these days is a nutjob.

jf says:

01:44pm | 29/01/12

How pathetic that that is the best that even Gillard’s supporters can say about her.

Kurisu Sonsaku says:

02:09pm | 29/01/12

“It"s thanks to the Prime Minister that things aren’t so much worse. “

Yep, we could have something like the OPMC organising a race riot.

Oh wait…..............

Marilyn Shepherd says:

02:27pm | 29/01/12

Tony Abbott cannot turn away refugee and turning away refugees to their deaths is mass murder and not border protection.

Will the racist bogans here get that through their thick skulls.

As for the carbon tax?  The bogans who whine won’t even be paying it, only the dirty multi billionaire multi national corporations who are destroying the country.

Are you really that stupid Martin.

Martin says:

02:27pm | 29/01/12

He isn’t in government, why don’t you blame the present pack of clowns for any predicament you perceive yourself to be in? They’ve been in since 2007, surely that’s enough time to fix things? Perhaps they are the uncaring persons hmmm John L?

Erick says:

03:13pm | 29/01/12

Welcome back, Marilyn!

Yesterday you said “Gillard had refugees shot”. That’s a direct and literal quote.

Would you kindly inform us which refugees were shot on Gillard’s orders, when they were shot, and what she did with the bodies?

This could be a major story. Your help would be appreciated.

jf says:

03:19pm | 29/01/12

Marilyn Shepherd says:03:09pm | 29/01/12

“It’s the refugee convention.”

And then, presumably Marilyn, once they have achieved a measure of security and prosperity they should be pissed-off back to wherever the came from because, after all, it isn’t their country.

nihonin says:

03:34pm | 29/01/12

I can see you’re whipping yourself into a lather again Marilyn.

‘I know, we can solve the pokie problem, by putting them all on the jetties in Indonesia and the ‘refugees’ get to have a play, while they wait for their boats.  The money can then be used to fund the halfway houses here, that way the ‘refugees’ are already starting to assist the economy, while the government verifies, they are who they say they are.

Vivian says:

04:45pm | 29/01/12

But it is acceptable to build a $50 billion plus NBN with no due diligence or risk management plan/investigation and flaunt their own infrastructure investment rules. Rules they drew up. Amazing. Over to you wantok.

This government and its supporters wear badges that scream Repeat Hypocrite like it is something to be proud of.

wantok says:

05:53pm | 29/01/12

Actually ,Vivian I was talking about gambling and mandatory pre-commitment as I’m not a specialist on telecommunications technology. However, the reports I have heard and read about the NBN rollout so far are very positive particularly in the field of diagnostic medicine and I heard a US commentator recently envying Australia for having the commitment to fibre as they, evidently, cannot get beyong wireless politically.

nihonin says:

05:20pm | 29/01/12

Nah, its current politicians broke Labor with the members support, let them fix it.

RyaN says:

12:08pm | 30/01/12

And clearly you know everything, I mean recommending that people join a party that is only influenced by unions, 99% of the leaders come from unions who previously fell out of university into the union heavyweight roles because of a relative and claiming that they will be acknowledged let alone have any say in how to “fix” the most elitist “born to rule” party in Australia.
Yes lets take that advice, you must know so much.