Word on Twitter is that Newspoll has the Coalition’s two-party lead out from 56-44 to 59-41, from primary votes of 27% for Labor (down two) and 51% for the Coalition (up three). But for a 26% result in the September 16-18 poll, this would be the lowest primary vote Labor had ever recorded since Newspoll commenced in 1985. The two-party figure ranks as the Gillard government’s equal worst result, along with the poll of September 2-4. Newspoll hasn’t always reported two-party preferred results, but my own calculations tell me there remain unbroken records from the respective honeymoon periods of Rudd (63-37 in February/March 2008) and Howard (60.5-39.5 in April 1996). Julia Gillard is up a point on disapproval to 63% and steady on approval at 28%, while Tony Abbott is down two on approval to 33% and up one on disapproval to 55%. Tony Abbott has widened the preferred prime minister lead he gained in the previous poll, from 41-39 to 41-36. As always, the sample for the poll was around 1150, with a margin of error of 3%.
Puff
I saw that somewhere too. After all the expenses were deducted there wasn’t much donated cash left for charity. It seems Abbott thnks his ego is a much more deserving charity.
lizzie
Schnappi5
Gary
[Why does Morgan bother?]
That is an excellent question, IMHO.
mari
so good to hear that a fellow traveller gets the doona cover trip.
Like you, can’t understand how those other people just do the “flick in” stuff.
have a great holiday heading north for the winter.
BW
Ta!
It is.
puff@6240:
That’s strange. I spent a lot of time and thought (and money, of course!) on my bike, which is a pleasure to ride. I simply would not want a supplied bike, thank you very much.
A bike should be set up, tuned for a particular person, with just the right handlebars, forks, wheels, tyres, lights (I like to be seen by cars coming up behind me), brakes, clips tuned for your particular shoes, and so on. It takes quite a while to get that right, but when you do it makes a huge difference to the riding experience.
A supplied bike would not cut the mustard.
I would have thought that Abbott would be the same, he pedals a lot.
Lyndal Curtis has Access economics on. So sensible commentary. For an economist.
[The best fiscal outcome for Australia would be to take advantage of the extensive assistance other governments afford their defence industries and obtain a new fleet from an overseas manufacturer.]
Also from Mr Keane. That would be my preferred option.
[Kezza2
She never once got his coffee!
And he’s quite a well-known former minister in Labor Victoria.
He often got hers.
*fk I miss her*]
Doesn’t get any easier I know, I feel for you
The piece by Eric Palmer in Crikey is a must-read, IMHO. Devastating stuff.
I just wish Abbott would not display advertising from very aggressive bio pharma companies on his bike Lycra.
It is a huge conflict of interest. 🙁
BW
Those subs of the Russians are formidabble. British Aircraft. Pity they not make the Harrier anymore that was a handy plane. American warships.
The Drum doing Thomson and Slipper.
Palmer links to
http://elpdefensenews.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/collins-sub-commander-fighting-enemy.html
hellsbells.
Sydney media reporting on Carlton
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/warnock-injury-denies-kreuzer-afl-rest-20120504-1y3zj.html
Bloody hell: (link supplied by Crikey)
http://elpdefensenews.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/new-2013-defence-white-paper-failed.html
[Thanks. I will maintain the rage on this one. I aim to pursue this one to the bitter end.
I’ll keep Bludgers posted.]
Good on you for doing what is right, Boerwar.
kezza2
Yeah.
I miss him so much.
Every single day.
Oh gawd. I can’t believe Hockey is saying that the Govt. won’t get submarines right cos they couldn’t get pink batts right!! It is truly comedy hour on telly this arvo.
[i did wonder who is paying for this junket…. lunch at ricardoes, i guess dinner at cassegrains…so it goes]
leone – I was stunned to read a couple of weeks ago that the Pollie Pedal ride donations amounted to over $200,000 but by the time the hire of bikes, equipment, etc. for Abbott and his mates was paid out the final donation to the Cancer fund was only about $70,000.
[I just wish Abbott would not display advertising from very aggressive bio pharma companies on his bike Lycra.] unless it’s a suitable product like,um …..say anusol.
Another one fresh from george.
http://tinyurl.com/8xkganp
Lyndal Curtis mentions Mal Brough.
Schnappi
When I clicked on that link I went stright into the ordinary Twitter and it told me I was already signed in.
What you’ve linked to is this, I think
[Curiosity Rover @MarsCuriosity NASA’s next mission to Mars. I’m currently en route to the Red Planet. Arrival anticipated Aug. 5, 2012.]
It looks as if it’s just one of the addresses anyone can follow, and you’re actually into real twitter.
Go up into the Search box and put in randlight + ENTER and that should bring mari’s tweets up for you.
BK
That would be the demure Ms O’Dwyer with her mouth open?
BK
Enjoyed a good giggle at that one.
George is a genius. I just love George Brandis with that 70s perm. All he needs is a bit of lippy and some blue eyeshadow….
[ Why does Morgan bother?
That is an excellent question, IMHO.]
The problem is that he didn’t bother.
[Boerwar
Posted Friday, May 4, 2012 at 5:28 pm | Permalink
The most amusing coverage of the government’s decisions came from a froth-mouthed Greg “I never met a dictator I didn’t like” Sheridan, who declared it “the worst day for Australia’s national security since the fall of Saigon in 1975”. Why Sheridan (“George W. Bush may well be judged, ultimately, a great president”) stopped at Saigon isn’t clear; what prevented him from declaring it our blackest day since Gallipoli?
Keane of Crikey echoing my comments upstring about Mr Sheridan; but with more verve.]
The most inane, overblown, introductory sentence to an article I’ve ever read. Greg Sheridan take a bow. A bloke who never saw a day’s action in Vietnam, who never went to Vietnam during the period Australia was there, a bloke who graduated from Sydney Uni in 1977. has the gall to make such a pronouncement.
He should digest a first-hand (primary), on-the-ground account.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/pilger/pilger25.html
Greg Sheridan has used his position at News Limited to denigrate John Pilger.
Yet, it is the John Pilgers of this world who have the courage denied a desk-revisionist like Sheridan.
Ever seen Sheridan reporting from a frontline anywhere?
Greg Sheridan is not only a RW suck, he’s a coward.
But BH,
they did get the “batts” right. The difference with Rudds “batts” and Howard’s earlier “batts” was less deaths pro rata under Rudd. The difference was the ALP Opposition didn’t crucify Howard over the deaths because they understood the responsibility lay with managers of the installation firms. With Rudd’s largely more successful installations we saw a rabid opposition playing it “dirty” for pure political purposes and aided and abetted by Murdoch’s clearly biased press and the media that blindly followed them…. And some say “don’t blame media coverage” for the ALP’s problems.
mari
Hi and thanks for asking. Stiff and sore. I realised this morning that in the fall I “killed” my fire service pager.
I hope you all have a good time at your PB luncheon next week, How many starters?
Someone takes Joe Hockey’s baseball bat comment literally.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/broken-baseball-bat-teeth-recovered-as-two-bikies-bashed-at-luxury-address-on-gold-coast/story-e6freuyi-1226347119647
son of foro
Yes that is Kelly with trademark mouth agape.
[BH
Posted Friday, May 4, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Permalink
Oh gawd. I can’t believe Hockey is saying that the Govt. won’t get submarines right cos they couldn’t get pink batts right!! It is truly comedy hour on telly this arvo.
i did wonder who is paying for this junket…. lunch at ricardoes, i guess dinner at cassegrains…so it goes
leone – I was stunned to read a couple of weeks ago that the Pollie Pedal ride donations amounted to over $200,000 but by the time the hire of bikes, equipment, etc. for Abbott and his mates was paid out the final donation to the Cancer fund was only about $70,000.
]
Same thing happens with a lot of those $1000 a head charity dinners.
The guests get smothered in luxury for a night. The charity might be lucky to make $100 per guest.
Guests spend $1000, and are doing it more for good publicity and networking that true charity.
True charity is sans dinner and giving $1000 straight up anonymously.
Can Do Newman sure Can do, he has just raised the height of residential buildings to 12 stories in West End. Now what was that claim before the CMC?
ausdavo – unfortunately nobody believes that Labor’s plan was better than Howards and now Labor doesn’t think the tale needs to be resurrected. I think they are wrong.
LyneLady – after my little sojourn watching Contrarians and a couple of tweets there is continuing story which I will tell you next week. A pity I can’t put it here – sorry, folks but I’m a bit too loyal even to DH labor pollies.
BK – just found out about your ‘trip’. Take care, the cricket team and the firies need you.
[Yes that is Kelly with trademark mouth agape.]
Probably interrupting Sam the butcher.
[BK
Posted Friday, May 4, 2012 at 5:58 pm | Permalink
mari
Hi and thanks for asking. Stiff and sore. I realised this morning that in the fall I “killed” my fire service pager.
I hope you all have a good time at your PB luncheon next week, How many starters?]
Pleased to hear that, can you get a massage (no smart comments anyone) great for stiffness and soreness
RE PB Sounds as though it is going to be good, Only Grantplant unfortunately has to go to Brisbane on that day for work. So we have 5 PBers plus about 4 “lurkers???
lizzie
Seems to have worked and clicked follow on a couple of others,thank you for help
Great vid on the Baillieu budget: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzuvzNK7nQs #springst #auspol
BH – me too! Same with the schools program – the cost over-runs percentwas shown to be less than most businesses anticipate. After years of under-spending on our government schools this program was a huge success. How so many parents have lost their appreciation of the improved facilities for their children I find bewildering (plus the benefits to all the tradies who stayed in work)!
[Can Do Newman sure Can do, he has just raised the height of residential buildings to 12 stories in West End. Now what was that claim before the CMC?]
This could be another reason why Abbott is desperate for the Govt. to fall. CanDo, BOF & Failleau will collectively make mistakes and in 16 months’ time the voters may not want to give Abbott such a huge vote.
Altho William dispelled that ubeaut theory by showing the latest polling for Barnett – he’s made heaps of mistakes but still well up.
Schnappi Ok have followed you back and sent you a tweet , you are on a roll. Have a look at my followers and you will see a lot of PBers follow them and I am sure they will follow you back, then we will get going. Would have liked to had you on board this afternoon after a battle
Boerwar
[I know that it is banal, trite and nonsensical but I just love the surname. If he takes off policitally, no doubt he will get the nickname, ‘Whoosh-Wilson’.]
Could be worse.Check out this poor academic’s name 🙂
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sideswipe/news/article.cfm?c_id=702&objectid=10803345
Schnappi chappie, am following you now…
Puff
[I miss him so much.
Every single day.]
Heart’s with you.
Big time.
May I tell you a story of grief?
The protagonists:
My late sister and one of my best friends.
My sister had lost her husband, my friend had lost her son (to suicide)
The scene:
A campfire, late at night, many drinks imbibed.
The two of them were so overcome with grief for each other, and both kept telling each other the other’s grief was greater. It was dreadful.
I tried to intervene to say that both griefs were equal.
They both turned on me – as you do – (because I couldn’t possibly understand) and I left them to thrash it out together.
There’s a certain unreality about loss and grief that none of us understand, and even when it touches us, as it inevitably does, it’s going to be different for each and everyone of us.
I can’t imagine your grief, even though I hope you think I understand.
.
mari +zoomster,
Think I now understand what twitter is
[Altho William dispelled that ubeaut theory by showing the latest polling for Barnett – he’s made heaps of mistakes but still well up.]
I don’t think Gary Morgan’s exercise in WA could be called a poll.
ausdavo @ 6278, not only were there fewer deaths per installation under the ALP’s HIP program, there were also fewer fires – not that anyone would guess that from the Coalition-media coverage.
deflationite @ 6282:
True charity is sans dinner and giving $1000 straight up anonymously.
Couldn’t agree more.
son of foro
she has a most unfortunate mouth…. reminds me of a contortionist
Mari, why would it be a smart comment to suggest to BK that just about everyone here know of a nice young chappie who does a mean massge?
😉
Ausdavo – I had a great day yesterday. Got into discussions re refugees, school halls and pension payments. Unfortunately for the other people I had some facts and whacked them off to them as soon as I got home. Replies from 3 of 4 which said the usual ‘I didn’t know that’.
The Comedy Panel on Sky this afternoon ranted on about Labor never getting a message out as usual. I perplexed about the answer to that because the MSM and it seems most other panellists (even the decent on on Capital Hill today) says it is Labor’s fault. Mega says the same.
Is tht right that Abbott will be on 7.5 again tonight?