NationStates Jolt Archive

Johnny Howard.

Or is it...




































Yes.

Looks that way at the moment. The Coalition looks like they will have a greater majority than last election.

It's only been Oct. 9th in California for 4 hours, and you all are done with your election? Wow, we lag........why you in such a hurry?

We prefer to minimise the bullshit over here and get down to business. ;)

Not only that, but it looks like he's got control of the senate as well. Kind of defeats the purpose of having one in the first place.

Australia has spoken! :D

Australia has fucked itself.

Australia has fucked itself.

Crying into your beer just ruins a good beer. 3 more years!!!

Crying into your beer just ruins a good beer. 3 more years!!!

Shows what happens when you force every idiot in the country to vote.

Shows what happens when you force every idiot in the country to vote.

Democracy's a bitch isn't it. :D

The idiots in the country aren't forced to vote, they're forced to get their name marked off at a polling place. Unfortunately, most of the idiots are too idiotic to realise this. And so the country is screwed. Say goodbye to the rest of your services.

Can anyone else hear a high-pitched whining noise in here?

Can anyone else hear a high-pitched whining noise in here?

As you have the right to gloat, they have the right to whine, but dont sink to insulting others eh?

Shame Latham lost but eh, the majority spoke. I for one will be glad I'm leaving the country, at the end of the year now.

Dam and here I was hoping Howard was gonna get kicked out, he never went on rove...I don’t trust anyone who looks like the guy of the Mr. Sheen bottle

Who did I insult? The only thing close to an insult was the insinuation that Australians were idiots because Howard won.

well I think we are idiots because howard won :P But either way, it wasnt just aimed at you, I was too lazy to click the post or two above since it was well out of my scrolling range.

Good news for Australia :)

Didnt expect such a big margin

Didnt expect such a big margin

I don't think anyone did.

Australia has fucked itself.

The imagery of that is wonderful.

No the winner is George Bush. Didn't people see those strings attached to Johnny during his speech? :p

Australia has fucked itself.

Myrth, you're now my favourite mod.

Congratulations to the Hon. John Winston Howard, MP on his fourth consecuative term. The Australian People bloody well deserve him.

Who did I insult? The only thing close to an insult was the insinuation that Australians were idiots because Howard won.


I feel the same way.

Which is bizzare since I know very few that support the Libs....

It's not that bad. At least you don't have Bush.

I feel the same way.

Which is bizzare since I know very few that support the Libs....

My guess it's the people who fell for the pre-election bribes and feel very comfortable under Howard. Low interest rates, booming economy and low unemployment helped the Libs.

Some forget about the state of our health system, education system and US-provided foreign policies. No mention of our increasingly bad foreign debt and high household debt percentages either.

We prefer to minimise the bullshit over here and get down to business. ;)

No, your people just know how to read a flippin' ballot.

My guess it's the people who fell for the pre-election bribes and feel very comfortable under Howard. Low interest rates, booming economy and low unemployment helped the Libs.

Some forget about the state of our health system, education system and US-provided foreign policies. No mention of our increasingly bad foreign debt and high household debt percentages either.

Or that horrible ad campaign that the Libs ran... that was disgusting. I ran out of the room whenever they started that 'Under an ALP government, rates will go up to 24%' or something like that.

WE NEED A CHANGE!

Well, we can't despair too much. After all, all of the states are under Labor control at least. I'm a bit worried about the senate, however.

Or that horrible ad campaign that the Libs ran... that was disgusting. I ran out of the room whenever they started that 'Under an ALP government, rates will go up to 24%' or something like that.

You're a liar

liar

liar liar liar liar liar!

lol oh wait, that was Latham's story.

You're a liar

liar

liar liar liar liar liar!

lol oh wait, that was Latham's story.

Well, can you conclusively prove that interest rates would indeed go up 24%? (Haven't seen the ad, I don't watch much TV)

i dont think they put a % on it, didnt they just put ?% ?

but I thought you may have picked up on the sarcasm to having Howard's negative campaign called out when Latham spent weeks calling Howard a liar.

Don't know. Like I said, haven't seen the ad.

And yeah, I do think Labor ran a pretty shitty campaign.

Well, can you conclusively prove that interest rates would indeed go up 24%? (Haven't seen the ad, I don't watch much TV)

Actaually it was to 17%... I was exaggerating a little.

Apparantly if it did that in the 80's, it would HAVE to be like that under the ALP. I loved the way that none of the major parties released a policy that would benifit people aged 18-25. They must assume everyone in this age group votes Green.

Actaually it was to 17%... I was exaggerating a little.

Apparantly if it did that in the 80's, it would HAVE to be like that under the ALP. I loved the way that none of the major parties released a policy that would benifit people aged 18-25. They must assume everyone in this age group votes Green.

Uh, well, I did. But then, I live in a safe labour seat anyway :p

Though I find it interesting that Labor refuses to call attention to the fact that it was them who floated the dollar in the 1980's, saving us from hyperinflation during the Asian Economic Crisis....

Most of the older members of my family voted Liberal except me.
They are social conservatives and so was I when I was younger.
From now, the Coalition comes last in any election.

The election was too much like US election. Dirty and no regard for truth (like pollies know what that is). The Liberals (who aren't Liberal) employed Bush-like tactics which worked.

My worry is my local member talked up using the NT as a nuclear waste dump then recanted it. Looks like he got back in (!@#$%^&*), and now the Coalition is returned we'll probably get one.

I voted -gasp- Australian Democrats!

Greens came 2nd...

I voted -gasp- Australian Democrats!

Greens came 2nd...

Good work. As long as it wasn't a vote for Howard, you get my respect :)

(Not saying i wont respect someone who did vote Howard, it just means you'll have to work harder :p)

You've got to love the left. They lose the fourth straight election and still refuse to acknowledge that their election platforms miss the mark. Instead they rant on about the people of Australia being stupid or falling for scare campaigns.
Only when they finally look at the real reasons for their emphatic defeat will Labor go forward. A government that provides a strong economy, low unemployment and consistently low interest rates is 75% there as far as being re-elected. That makes them hard to budge.
If you run a campaign against them that involves overturning health and education systems people smell trouble, someone upsetting the apple cart. If you try and create a wedge between the "middle class" and the "working class" you give people the idea that you will create instability. If you create legislation that panders to one group at the expense of another (Tasmanian forests) then you cut off one group entirely. Howard was smart and made a compromise that untimately delivered him 2 seats in Tasmania.
Ultimately, voters look back over the past 3 years and settle for the stability that they know. Labor needs to rethink its methods instead of blaming scare campaigns (which they are equally guilty of).
Those that oppose Howard for whatever reason need to lose their arrogant opinion that all conservatives and those that vote for them are idiots that "just don't get it". Instead it is time to look at yourselves and ask "why is it that no-one gets us?".

Well, if Bush wins the entire world will rant that Americans are stupid.

Well, if Bush wins the entire world will rant that Americans are stupid.

No if Bush wins I am going to the Phillipines.

Those that oppose Howard for whatever reason need to lose their arrogant opinion that all conservatives and those that vote for them are idiots that "just don't get it". Instead it is time to look at yourselves and ask "why is it that no-one gets us?".
I have to agree with this - especially the arrogance of the left. Most of the swinging voters I know voted Liberal, and an importat reason for this was theat they loathed the way anyone who disagrees with the left on any issue is viciously insulted - not argued against (this would deserve respect) but yelled down with trite slogans.

If the Liberals put in ALL their promises, the country will probably go broke.

Same goes for the ALP, it wasn't an election campaign, it was a vote spend-a-thon. Both major parties are gulity of this.

If the Liberals put in ALL their promises, the country will probably go broke.

Same goes for the ALP, it wasn't an election campaign, it was a vote spend-a-thon. Both major parties are gulity of this.

I agree that the election was without any real political agendas and as such was sterile. This played into the Liberal's hands as people then settled for another three years along the same road.

I voted -gasp- Australian Democrats!

Greens came 2nd...
Must be about the only person left voting for them in the country.

I voted Labor. Mind you, I live in a very safe ALP electorate. I'm now thinking about moving to New Zealand, or the UK (dual citizenship) or somewhere else. In 3 years this country won't be worth living in.

I was suprised that Iraq and National Security was not an issue for any of the major parties. If the ALP made more of an appeal the the protest to the war in Iraq, it would have shown that they were a real alternative.

The ALP really need to stop pretending to be the Librerals, and start aiming towards people who want a change.

I voted -gasp- Australian Democrats!

Greens came 2nd...

While I dislike the Greens as much as I do the ALP (sell-out, worthless idiots) the Liberals (a party that is truly a disgrace to such a name), One Nation (Sieg Heil!) and Family First (even their name implies copious amounts of wankerishness)....

The Democrats thing makes you, imo, a patriot sir.

Stupid Australian democracy: why the hell can't we get a party with the Liberal's economic policy- with a far greater focus on Education and health, the Democrats social policy (practically classic liberalism, not pandering to fricking parochial, intractible conservative christians) and the Democrats foreign policy (work on regional ties, don't blindly follow the US when it ain't in our interests).

*drools at the thought of such a party, especially with some decent funding (being right-wing and all it would be good for business*

I'd call it "The Neo-Liberal party" or "The party which actually is liberal, you fucktards".

Maybe both. (sorry if I'm ranting now, very late night and all)

While I dislike the Greens as much as I do the ALP (sell-out, worthless idiots) the Liberals (a party that is truly a disgrace to such a name), One Nation (Sieg Heil!) and Family First (even their name implies copious amounts of wankerishness)....

The Democrats thing makes you, imo, a patriot sir.

Stupid Australian democracy: why the hell can't we get a party with the Liberal's economic policy- with a far greater focus on Education and health, the Democrats social policy (practically classic liberalism, not pandering to fricking parochial, intractible conservative christians) and the Democrats foreign policy (work on regional ties, don't blindly follow the US when it ain't in our interests).

*drools at the thought of such a party, especially with some decent funding (being right-wing and all it would be good for business*

I'd call it "The Neo-Liberal party" or "The party which actually is liberal, you fucktards".

Maybe both. (sorry if I'm ranting now, very late night and all)


The Democrats died the day they sold out on the GST. The party that swore to "keep the bastards honest" sold their soul.

I was suprised that Iraq and National Security was not an issue for any of the major parties. If the ALP made more of an appeal the the protest to the war in Iraq, it would have shown that they were a real alternative.

The ALP really need to stop pretending to be the Librerals, and start aiming towards people who want a change.

The ALP was too intent on attracting niche groups and ensuring they got Green preferences. In doing so, they misread the electorate and distracted themselves from really attacking Howard.
Honestly, Howard had been in power for three terms, more than enough time to piss everyone off at some point yet Labor still missed the mark. How? The ALP need to have a long hard look at the reasons why because they will continue to fail unless they do.
Their insistence in the media today that the "interest rates scaremongering" was the reason for their loss is typical of their inability to see the real reasons. Love him or hate him, Howard has managed to maintain a steady and responsible government for 3 terms. He has had to deal with the introduction of the GST, the illegal immigrant situation, 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. Yet, he just gets stronger. Trying to pin one issue as the reason for the ALP's failure is bordering on the delusional.

The Democrats died the day they sold out on the GST. The party that swore to "keep the bastards honest" sold their soul.

Which is why Meg Lees' party got a 'huge' total of 1831 votes in the Senate (from people in NSW).

http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateStateFirstPreferencesByCandidate-12246-NSW.htm

John Howard won again?

Too bad. Australia used to be my fallback position if Reform/Alliance/Conservatives ever won in Canada. Guess I'll have to look into New Zealand instead.

Do you lot have a John Howard Society in Australia? It's hard for me to imagine people voting for a man who shares a name with a criminal rehabilitation society.

(No offense.)

Which is why Meg Lees' party got a 'huge' total of 1831 votes in the Senate (from people in NSW).

http://vtr.aec.gov.au/SenateStateFirstPreferencesByCandidate-12246-NSW.htm

Yes, and also why the Democrats lost everything this election. It is a shame, but they tied themselves to one of the major aprties far too often and lost their status as the party preferred for the protest vote. The Greens, unfortunately, are now the protest voter's party of choice.

John Howard won again?

No, this is a hypothetical thread. Have fun in NZ.

While I dislike the Greens as much as I do the ALP (sell-out, worthless idiots) the Liberals (a party that is truly a disgrace to such a name), One Nation (Sieg Heil!) and Family First (even their name implies copious amounts of wankerishness)....

The Democrats thing makes you, imo, a patriot sir.

Stupid Australian democracy: why the hell can't we get a party with the Liberal's economic policy- with a far greater focus on Education and health, the Democrats social policy (practically classic liberalism, not pandering to fricking parochial, intractible conservative christians) and the Democrats foreign policy (work on regional ties, don't blindly follow the US when it ain't in our interests).

*drools at the thought of such a party, especially with some decent funding (being right-wing and all it would be good for business*

I'd call it "The Neo-Liberal party" or "The party which actually is liberal, you fucktards".

Maybe both. (sorry if I'm ranting now, very late night and all)



I just wanna say, "The Party Which Actually is Liberal, You Fucktards" is the most awesome political party name EVER. The only one close is the Scorched Earth Party.

Yes, there were a lot of promises of increased spending all over the place this year. But almost none of those promises will be implemented. We all know how 'non-core promises' work: they will be completely reneged on within a year, and what was pormised will not happen is guaranteed to happen. The campaign was effectively running for all year, not just the last 6 weeks or so, and most of the policies had already come out from the government, leaving them with just interest rates to attack with. I hope that interest rates skyrocket here, just to annoy a few people away from the Liberal party.

The Senate is where it is really interesting. Here in SA, three of the four people I put last have gotten back in, while the other didn't get re-elected (Meg Lees, of GST-passing infamy.) The one I put first is having to fight for the last spot, but I hope she will get in. I hope that family first and one nation don't get any seats in the Senate. With any one of them, the Liberals will be able to pass anything they want, since the Coalition has exactly half of the Senate under its control.

Australia will be well and truly screwed by the time of the next election. There isn't a chance of a double-dissolution either, with one party controlling both houses.

Yes, there were a lot of promises of increased spending all over the place this year. But almost none of those promises will be implemented. We all know how 'non-core promises' work: they will be completely reneged on within a year, and what was pormised will not happen is guaranteed to happen. The campaign was effectively running for all year, not just the last 6 weeks or so, and most of the policies had already come out from the government, leaving them with just interest rates to attack with. I hope that interest rates skyrocket here, just to annoy a few people away from the Liberal party.

The Senate is where it is really interesting. Here in SA, three of the four people I put last have gotten back in, while the other didn't get re-elected (Meg Lees, of GST-passing infamy.) The one I put first is having to fight for the last spot, but I hope she will get in. I hope that family first and one nation don't get any seats in the Senate. With any one of them, the Liberals will be able to pass anything they want, since the Coalition has exactly half of the Senate under its control.

Australia will be well and truly screwed by the time of the next election. There isn't a chance of a double-dissolution either, with one party controlling both houses.


Good to see you really care about our country enough to wish high interest rates upon us all. Ah, the words of the bitter and twisted....