Last weekend’s Morgan face-to-face survey echoed other polls conducted at the time in showing little change on earlier polling despite Labor’s leadership turmoil, though as always it failed to echo other polls in having Labor’s primary vote several points higher. In this case Labor’s primary vote was up half a point on the previous week to 37.5 per cent, with the Coalition also up a point to 42.5 per cent and the Greens down 3.5 per cent from an anomalous 14.5 per cent last time. As usual with Morgan (though not Nielsen), there was a substantial difference between the two-party preferred results as derived by respondent allocation (52-48 to the Coalition) and using preference flows from the previous election (50-50).
NOTE: Due to server upgrades which will hopefully put an end to Crikey’s notorious technical gremlins, comments will be closed through the entirety of Sunday morning (i.e. about midnight to about noon).
http://t.co/FtYkUjTc
[Malcolm in the middle
Author: Lenore Taylor
Date: 03/03/2012
Words: 3789
Source: SMH
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald
Section: Good Weekend
Page: 10
He has been called many things – brilliant, arrogant, hot-headed. But Zen? Lenore Taylor talks to Malcolm Turnbull on the pain of battles lost, lessons learnt and, of course, big ideas.]
Clive Palmer, a national treasure?
😆 what a joke!
How embarrassment for fellow intelligent Queenslanders.
Swan is the World’s No.1 Finance Minister – FACT
Clive Palmer would be best served to ensure that he pays his fair share of taxes.
Without being sexist ageist etc, I am sure the 14 year old girls were not chosen by Menzies House for the strength of their convictions
[C’mon Desert Fox admit it! The Labor Party are not travelling too badly at all if your mob have to dig so low to find something so ridiculous to criticise them about.]
The media went for the sexier story, the one that had Gillard on the ropes only 24 hours after the leadership challenge, and they got it wrong.
They are now writing pompous tomes concerning the nobility of the journalistic profession, defending their complete misinterpretation of the real story, and for good measure blaming the victim.
The new standard seems to be that if a story is partly true, then this is good enough, even though the conclusions were completely wrong.
[Wayne Swan is a national embarrassment. No sooner does he bag Clive Palmer then Palmer is endorsed by ordinary Australians as a national living treasure! ]
Are you that big of a tosser? Since when did ordinary Australians endorse Palmer as a living treasure?
Awwww, but straw men are so much easier to argue!
[Without being sexist ageist etc, I am sure the 14 year old girls were not chosen by Menzies House for the strength of their convictions]
Many paedophiles claim their obsession is merely one of free speech.
Disgraceful beatup? It just confirmed (again) what a liar Gillard is, not to mention Carr’s deceit. Everything she says is a lie. If you want to find the definition of lair in the dictionary there’s a photo of Juliar! She can’t even remember whether she’s lying about the truth or truthfully lying. It’s Taronga Zoo btw.
[He has been called many things – brilliant, arrogant, hot-headed. But Zen? Lenore Taylor talks to Malcolm Turnbull on the pain of battles lost, lessons learnt and, of course, big ideas.]
“Lessons learnt” nearly always preclude a leadership blue.
Turnbull wasn’t too kind towards Bob Carr, and that was probably before Carr was named FM.
[If you want to find the definition of lair in the dictionary there’s a photo of Juliar!]
My dictionary shows a lair as being
[noun
1.
a den or resting place of a wild animal: The cougar retired to its lair.
2.
a secluded or hidden place, especially a secret retreat or base of operations; a hideout or hideaway: a pirate’s lair.
3.
British . a place in which to lie or rest; a bed. ]
I think you need to invest in a new dictionary.
with apple sauce and roast vegies.
BB
There is only one way for the Fibs to recalibrate their policies. A new leader. MT would cause the Libs and Nats to have a fist fight. Bring it on I say!!
Menzies House main web page includes advertising for a body which uses a touched up photo of Pamela Anderson.
Otherwise it is all blokes.
Craig Emerson serving it up to the three big miners and Tone.
Desert Fox, don’t be ridiculous, thisis PB.
4 peunile issues that you can only criticise PM Julia with:
1. Carbon tax – promise to price carbon honoured. TICK!
2. East Timor Solution – Malaysian Solution proposed. TICK!
3. Agreement with Wilkie – More action on problem gambling than ever before by a PM. TICK!
4. Bob Carr – Party processes take usual course. TICK!
Your mob are a JOKE!
The worst opposition in the history of this country led by a
When are your mob going to show a bit of credibility and replace the Monkey with Turnbull? 😆
At first blush I was surprised they were delaying swearing in Bob Carr, but I guess there’s no particular rush to do so (whether Craig Emerson is nominally “acting” Foreign Minister, and Bob Carr Foreign Minister designate, is all arbitrary – Bob Carr will be the one talking with authority on the international stage), and they don’t want to leave even the possibility of BO’F trying to be tricky and delaying the appointment.
I know the constitution seems fairly strict on the timeline for Senate replacements, but it would be murky constitutional waters, and BO’F and the Libs might not be able to resist the opportunity to create a bit of constitutional chaos if they could spin it as ALP/government instability.
[Disgraceful beatup? It just confirmed (again) what a liar Gillard is, not to mention Carr’s deceit.]
She said several times she wouldn’t be commenting on the reshuffle, as it was private business, so the journos cobbled together a story of bullying and backstabbing which was wrong. She said this story was completely untrue, which it was.
Then they blamed her for their own mistakes. Gillard and Carr were under no obligation to sub-edit the journalists’ stories for them, or to correct them line-by-line. On Tuesday, when asked Bob Carr said there had been offer made by anyone, Gillard or her agent. This was true. The stories of monumental cabinet mutinies were also untrue.
Seeing as the pundits abandoned the interesting but hardly world-shattering story that Carr had been in talks with Gillard, for the much sexier “Gillard Rolled!” story, Gillard was perfectly within her rights to say the story they chose to run with was “completely untrue”.
Shanahan’s second sentence claimed she was a lame duck because her cabinet colleagues had heavied her. This was patently untrue, as events proved.
Murphy today claimed it was obvious that Carr had been offered the job by Tuesday. No it wasn’t obvious, and no it wasn’t true either.
jackol
BOF has already made the comment that Bob Carr was a good appointment for FM. Cant see BOF causing any problems
The journos are asking about policies. Shock horror!
It looks like the nurses have got DF back into his straitjacket.
The NSW Parliament has to have a joint session to confirm. I understand the BOF has said he’ll facilitate this happening.
Meanwhile, as Jackol says, things are being taken care of.
Jackol
This article hints at a joint sitting happening tomorrow or Wednesday for Bob Carr
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/star-recruit-carr-has-to-wait-to-take-his-place-20120305-1ubot.html
[with apple sauce and roast vegies.]
Ducks take their revenge?
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-back-on-track-with-health-and-education-but-trails-on-economy-and-boats-says-newspoll/story-fn59niix-1226288854206
[Labor back on track with health and education, but trails on economy and boats, says Newspoll
BY: SID MAHER From: The Australian March 05, 2012 12:00AM 23 comments
JULIA’S Gillard’s government has regained its dominance over the Coalition in Labor’s traditional strengths of health and education, but continues to trail on economic management and is failing to dent Tony Abbott over his refusal to sign up to the Malaysia asylum-seeker solution.
A Newspoll survey on major issues, conducted exclusively for The Australian, shows that while the government has narrowed the Coalition’s lead on economic management, it still trails by 12 points, down from the Coalition’s 19-point lead in October.]
Rest behind paywall, we all know how to get around The Australian’s paywall by now, right?
http://resources.news.com.au/files/2012/03/05/1226288/879613-aus-file-120305-newspoll.pdf
Graphic. Note this is from the poll a while ago, not first part of a new one from this weekend.
[I think “I will be the next PM” from phoney Tony will go down badly with voters in general.]
Here are his actual quotes as reported in:
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/i-will-be-pm-tony-abbott-20120304-1uap3.html
[Opposition leader Tony Abbott has told Queenslanders he is confident he will be the next elected Prime Minister of Australia.
Addressing the Liberal National Party’s 2012 Queensland state election campaign launch in Brisbane on Sunday, Mr Abbott said senior Labor frontbenchers Stephen Smith, Bill Shorten and incoming foreign affairs minister Bob Carr also stood a chance of snaring the top job.
‘‘But I think I will be the next elected Prime Minister of Australia,’’ he said.]
(I posted last night about this but it has disappeared into the ether so will respond again with my opinion to eric’s comment made this morning.)
Abbott’s comments feed into two memes that seem to resonate with many voters and is duly beaten up by the MSM:
1. Gillard is an illegitimate PM. She deposed the electorally popular Rudd by “knifing him in the back”. We, the public, voted for Rudd not Gillard. We the public elected Rudd not Gillard.
2. The leadership instability within the ALP continues. Gillard will be toppled by Shorten or another contender before the next election. When the public votes in the upcoming election, he – Tony Abbott, will have been elected and therefore will be a legitimate PM rather than one installed by the ALP caucus.
It was not hubris on Abbott’s behalf. Abbott knew his words would be reported widely. He tailored his message accordingly to fit with the prevailing memes.
I am not as confident as some that Abbott’s comments will be viewed in a negative light by large sections of people in voterland.
Unlike some here, I do not underestimate Abbott.
I was mainly just saying that the ALP were just heading off any risk by not swearing in Bob Carr today, that’s all. Playing it safe and not even opening up the possibility of any funny business.
I’m sure it will all proceed as planned.
The small risk was just around the 3 month window that is very clear in the constitution if they had sworn him in today – by not swearing him in this is no longer an issue.
BB
Blaming the victim is par for the course for rapists, and the Murdochracy has surely raped our democracy. The only reason they havn’t cut its throat is it is still might have some use for him.
MT will never be Lib leader again. He would have to rethink his support for the carbon tax which would be ridiculous. He is incredibly popular amongst Labor voters – enough said.
Will Craig Emerson serve it up to George Soros as well??? I think not! (After all he’s a ‘good’ billionaire)
How about some goss about Emerson sleeping with Juliar??? (While he was married mind you. Imagine how his wife must have felt?) It’s no wonder he was promoted!
http://inside.org.au/parallel-worlds/
[Parallel worlds
The transition from state to federal politics is rarely smooth, writes Norman Abjorensen. But Bob Carr could be one of the exceptions
04 March 2012]
I see the tone of PB juts got reeeeeal classy all of a sudden.
[BB
There is only one way for the Fibs to recalibrate their policies. A new leader. MT would cause the Libs and Nats to have a fist fight. Bring it on I say!!]
I’m with (I think) Lenore Taylor and George Megalogenis: the longer Lib leadership festers, the longer they’ll continue with their Stunt-A-Day substitute for policy development. Leave it to go gangrenous, I reckon. The longer the better.
As long as Abbott has his side believing they can get into government through the bathroom window, or have an election tomorrow without any policies, the Libs are ultimately sunk.
This dream of imminent election has been dragging on for over a year now. 2GB and similar shock jock radio stations are absolutely infested with it. Coupled with this has been a comprehensive talking-down of the economy, a softening up process designed to make the natives restless. And it’s worked, except that the natives aren’t going into their shops or buying their newspapers anymore, because they’re so depressed.
The talking-down strategy has worked too well. They have shot themselves in their own two feet, ruining their own businesses in the service of an Abbott Prime Ministership, one man’s vanity (as shown on TV last night from the Brisbane LNP launch) that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen in the time frame envisaged.
How long they can keep up the failure of their “bathroom window” strategy, in the face of patent reality, is anybody’s guess. You can only promise things like that for so long. However, if I had my way, I’d like to see it strung out longer. The longer the better. As long as possible.
[‘‘But I think I will be the next elected Prime Minister of Australia,’’ he said.]
That guys I.Q is lower than I thought, with his popularity and eighteen months out from a election that statement indicates he is an idiot!.
At the moment it seems that journos can write anything that pops into their minds, regardless of the truth. And if their story is not denied ergo it must be true.
You’re in top form this morning, Erwin. Real quality stuff.
Pegasus,
I do not underestimate him or his handlers. Like the tobacco lobby and the denialist cults I suspect they have (for shame) social psychologists, sociologists and sociopathic bahstards enough on the payroll to fine tune Abbott’s words for the media.
It is a bit like the colour blue. Microsoft Blue is copyright, you can never get a tin of it to paint your shed. It is supposedly designed to elicit the best feelings possible towards the product.
[BOF has already made the comment that Bob Carr was a good appointment for FM. Cant see BOF causing any problems]
Of course he won’t, unless he wants to feel the boot on the other foot down the track. Funny business has a way of rebounding on the perpetrator.
I mean the AGW denialist lobby. I wish PB had an edit facility, even for two minutes.
BB
Agreed. Abbott can stay LOTO for the next ten years!!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-05/inflation-gauge-shows-prices-eased-in-january/3868728?section=business
Will the
crystal-ball gazerseconomists be wrong yet again?Pegasus @ 2576 included [Gillard is an illegitimate PM.] as one of two memes beat up by the MSM.
In one of the many lost postings last evening TomP claimed, as he has often done, that this illegitimacy was a fact.
It is NOT.
Julia Gillard, after gaining the support of some Independents for her Government following the 2010 Federal Elections, was duly sworn in by the GG as PM of Australia.
At all times since then she has retained the confidence of the House. As legitimate leader of this government she has been responsible for the passing of numerous pieces of legislation; that is what a legitimate (and, incidentally, dynamic and successful) leader does.
I find it distressing that the RW such as D Fox continue to peddle lies in order to sustain their narrative.
lizzie
No need to be distressed. Seems like DF is suffering a case of constipation. Poor sod!
[Abbott can stay LOTO for the next ten years!!]
I’ll vote for that. 😆
The Coal should support it. After all, they’re the ones who keep praising Abbott as “the best Oppn leader”. Let’s keep him there.
Is there a reason why the PM should not go Abbott for libel over his “lie” assertion outside of parliament? Or go media for same.
Hawke and Keating got a nice swag from some juicy cases with sloppy media corps. It benefited them besides financially, but I think also from a respect and dealing with the media from a position of strength.
[I find it distressing that the RW such as D Fox continue to peddle lies in order to sustain their narrative.]
Lies are all they have got.
A leader, who asks us to ignore anything he says that is not written down because it may be untrue, has a lot of distracting to do. Abbott thus projects onto Gillard constantly.
David McRae
I sense that the PM will be holding her fire for a while longer. She is giving Abbott and the msm plenty of rope
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/cheaper-holidays-offset-higher-prices-for-fruit-vegetables/story-e6frg926-1226289198599
[Cheaper holidays offset higher prices for fruit, vegetables
BY: ENDA CURRAN From: Dow Jones Newswires March 05, 2012 11:01AM
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size
Print
AUSTRALIAN prices rose a modest 0.1 per cent in February, signalling that inflation remains well under control, according to a closely watched industry gauge released today.
The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge rose by 0.1 per cent between January and February. The inflation gauge rose 0.2 per cent in January, over levels posted in December 2011.
On an annual comparison, the inflation gauge rose 2 per cent, at the lower end of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2 per cent-3 per cent target band.
The annual increase was the lowest rate in two years.
Higher prices were registered for fruit, vegetables, alcohol and tobacco, which were offset by a sharp drop in the cost of holiday travel, furniture and financial services.]
more in the article
[Is there a reason why the PM should not go Abbott for libel over his “lie” assertion outside of parliament?]
I wondered about that myself, David.
People talking about going after Tony Abbott for his hubris or legally over “lies” etc:
Over recent times there has been a change of focus from the government (as called for by various people) to stop talking about Tony Abbott.
The government should be talking about what they are doing. Reject the opposition’s approach, by all means, but that is easy since the opposition aren’t proposing anything new.
So I say stick with ignoring Tony Abbott as much as possible. Don’t be defined by his talking points. Continue creating your own agenda. The government only has a certain very limited bandwidth to the public – using up that small amount of bandwidth talking about Tony Abbott is not a good plan.
Being reactive is only going to lose you the next election.