Election
Barack Obama was always going to have a tough presidency. He set the bar so high for himself during the arduous two year lead-up to his election that he was always at risk of sailing right under it when it came time to start enacting the “Change we can believe in”.
Indeed, back in 2008 there were times when it seemed his strategists took their cues from Napoleon Dynamite’s Pedro, as he essentially promised the electorate: “vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true”.
In the nearly three years since he took office, he has made some important steps – passing a (slightly watered-down) health care package, most notably – but so many of his promises have gone unfulfilled and, although it pains me deeply to say it, his presidency thus far has been a bit of a wet firecracker.
Continue reading "Can Obama win the election? Yes, he can. Maybe." »
Few people are more loathing of Tony Abbott than my amicable husband, Max.
An Australia under Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull? Maybe. But Tony Abbott? He’d rather have his eyeballs waxed.
So it came as a shock this week to hear him suggest it was time for an election.
Continue reading "An early election might bring us some peace" »
Latest 2 of 242 comments
View all comments-
Paul says:
So many words wasted. Just send him to his room without any supper and tell him he’ll stay there until he stops. Read more »
-
brett says:
In a country that is over 200 years old it is amazing how the media has made the political frenzy of a minority government. Italy has minority governments for years and it’s been around for thousands of years. If the ‘majority’ of australian electors wanted the coalition to be in… Read more »
The hung parliament experiment has failed. Prime Minister Julia Gillard must call an election immediately.
Ms Gillard famously told us before the election that “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”. The Prime Minister has been accused of lying. In my view we have never seen Gillard actually lead this government.
Today all of the Prime Minister’s policies are owned and operated by the cross benchers while those who actually voted for Gillard have been forgotten.
Continue reading "This puppet Prime Minister must call an election" »
Latest 2 of 190 comments
View all comments-
Adam says:
This is an excellent article, and one beautifully written. Read more »
-
Peter says:
Gillard come to power with no policy other than Rudd was not up to the job. Having taken over Rudds policies she is even less up to the job but has succeeded in her wish to be PM. Australians deserve better than that. Read more »
The basic thrust of the strategy for Labor to escape the March 26 NSW election with a respectable loss is to put the focus on the Opposition and away from the Government.
Well, that’s coming along nicely, isn’t it?
On the day that MLC Tony Catanzariti revealed he would be the 22nd Labor MP to quit at the coming poll, and news reports rehashed charges against a senior public servant and minister’s husband for allegedly buying an illegal drug, it remained an academic exercise.
Continue reading "O’Farrell presents a small target, Keneally flounders" »
Latest 2 of 36 comments
View all comments-
Daniel says:
I think the Piers Akerman crowd have moved in here? Read more »
-
Graham The Great says:
Hey Krissy girl, use the only thing you got left, get your gear off for all labor election posters! Face it sweetheart its the only chance that might even hold your own seat. You gone girl, gone, gone, gone! Next state election should be one where you just don’t tun… Read more »
Summer’s not over yet but those of us lucky enough to have secured a decent break over Christmas/New Year are mostly filing back into work this week or next.
Joy!
So too our politicians where at the national level, a snap poll theoretically can be called at any time.
Latest 2 of 62 comments
View all comments-
Louise says:
persephone, you certainly reinforce what a “fake, false & forged” show pony Rudd is. Funny, I thought you were a Rudd supporter. It’s good to see genuine Labor voters are waking up to this neo-liberal tool in Peter Garrett stage gear. Read more »
-
D'oh says:
@ persephone Funny how you casually dismiss the lists I produced and then go after E’s somewhat less comprehensive list. It was a long list (achieved in a record time of 2 years mind you) and I would expect a long response. Bring on the 5 pages I say, Rudd’s… Read more »
For those who might have been pondering the issue, I can today tell you that Health and Ageing Minister Nicola Roxon has great breasts.
This is not my personal rating. I have taken the advice of an expert. Two Fridays ago mother-of-one Roxon gave a speech and then took questions from an audience in Canberra. A woman rose to compliment Roxon on the number of ministerial tasks she was managing. Slightly embarrassed by the praise she replied, “I have broad shoulders.”
“Yes,’’ continued the voice in the audience, “you do have broad shoulders. And great breasts.”
Continue reading "Women help give Labor breast chance of victory" »
Latest 2 of 20 comments
View all comments-
papabear says:
Today you can get a side of a beef and a skillfill plastic surgeon can turn it in to a “wanking” material. I would preffer our politicians to be selected according to their brain capacity rather then their external attributes. If I , as a computer novice can ferret out… Read more »
-
Trevor says:
There is still a sizeable proportion of the feminist lobby that believes women are superior and that men who are afraid of them suppress their rise to the top. Thank god for the likes of Gillard, Roxon and Plibersek who utterly dispel the notion that women in politics bring anything… Read more »
To put it kindly, Nathan Rees’ Premiership has been a rocky ride.
His own inexperience has been exacerbated by a decaying Labor Government, no shortage of scandals and a selfish bunch of incompetent Ministers who were focused on personal gain rather than the public good.
To make matters worse, he is about to fall victim to the very same process of which he was once a beneficiary.
Continue reading "Rees should do the decent thing and call the Governor" »
Latest 2 of 24 comments
View all comments-
Timmeh says:
To answer you question Charlie the Nats have 18 MPs in NSW Parliament… ...including 7 of the 8 seats on the north coast. Check your facts next time. Read more »
-
Shamim says:
I started drinking and smoking at the age of 19, in 1968 when I started flying. My instructor to introduce me, ” Meet Shamim, he smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish. But I quit both in 1992; when someone pointed out that I was a slave of… Read more »
With lots of talk about Kevin Rudd wanting to have an election before the next budget what are the options?
Most attention is given to a double dissolution – that is an election for both the House of Representatives & all Senators allowed because a piece of legislation has failed to pass both houses of Parliament twice with a gap of three months between rejections.
But he could choose to have a House of Representatives election only and leave the Senate until later. This he can do anytime before the May budget provided he can convince the Governor-General.
Continue reading "So when will you call the next election Kevin?" »
Latest 2 of 17 comments
View all comments-
guenstig uebernachten says:
Discipline Need,panel bad neck on as trial ball mind writer describe object hard first station question cost sexual art degree pay find put sound action apparently last tool drive value cold administration no phone circumstance environmental close fashion arrive balance what express search exercise knowledge can thanks worker version beautiful… Read more »
-
Sanna says:
You’ve done your dash, Bronnie. Make sure the door doesn’t hit your bum on the way out when your party clears you out before the next election. Read more »
Whilst becoming a journalist holds as much interest to me as being a Liberal MP does for Laura Tingle, I find a great deal of attraction in using my inaugural contribution to thepunch.com.au to make some predictions for the next 12 months in Australian politics.
The golden rule for an MP is not to become a political commentator, and long term predictions in politics are a dangerous business.
This high risk indulgence is completely irresistible to our competitive friends in the Canberra Press Gallery. Often they will be based around election timing, leadership and of course who will win the next election.
Continue reading "Libs will win, Rudd will quit, and Gillard will lead" »
Latest 2 of 27 comments
View all comments-
Edos says:
Wow, cant believe he acctually picked it. The odds must have been 100 to 1. Well done Pete. Politics in Australia is joke anyway. The only role for a PM in this country is to piss in the wind which is why you’ll never see me vote till i see… Read more »
-
John says:
Hey Mr Dutton! if you are so confident the Liberals will win the next election so easily, why have you deserted Dickson and tried to get another seat? Have a crisis of confidence, Sonny? Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
You know that Chinese dish sang choy bau? I made Curry choy bau. #yum#fusioncuisinehttp://t.co/dwqxfZWQ
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
We don’t deserve this huge, exciting scientific project
I’d like to be able to say that sharing the world’s largest radio telescope with South Africa…
Mining money talks the loudest in Australian politics
When North Queensland Liberal MP George Christensen got the idea of launching a new political organisation…
Please enter your password
Help! I’ve succumbed to a crippling modern illness that can strike at any moment. Symptoms include:…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
Michael S says:
"A teacher at Geelong Grammar had criticised her for using words that were too long, which had left her confused and had made her doubt her ability to write essays. She became ''quite distressed'' when her English marks began to fall." I can sympathise. My scholastic mentors conveyed to me a causal relationship… [read more]From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
Change Up! says:
I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not… Read more
Latest 2 of 62 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment