When too much of the above is barely enough:
• The Australian Electoral Commission has published preference flow data from the July 4 Eden-Monaro by-election, showing exactly how many of each candidate’s preferences ended up with Labor and Liberal. Of the 6.34% Nationals vote, 77.73% went to Liberal and 22.27% went to Labor, compared with an unusually polarised 87.16% and 12.84% in 2019, and 55.98% of preferences from the 5.34% Shooters Fishers and Farmers vote went to Labor and 44.02% to Liberal, after the party directed preferences to Labor on its how-to-vote cards. More on this from Kevin Bonham.
• Roy Morgan has published an SMS poll conducted in Victoria, which finds strong support for the state’s lockdown measures: 89-11 in favour of compulsory face masks, 76-24 against reopening schools and day care centres to all, 71-29 against relaxing the 5km travel restriction, 75-25 against allowing table service at pubs, restaurants and cafes, and 72-28 against lifting the curfew. The closest result to dissent was a relatively narrow 57-43 against allowing visits to immediate family members, currently allowed only for delivering care or essential services. The poll was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday from a sample of 2110.
• A Pew Research Centre survey global survey finds 94% of Australian respondents believing their country had done a good job of handling COVID-19 compared with 6% for bad, a shade behind Denmark as the best result out of 14 countries. The only two countries that failed to crack 50% positive ratings were the United States and United Kingdom, at 47% and 46% respectively. Australia’s performance on the question of whether the country was now more united than before the outbreak was more modest, at 54% for more united and 40% for more divided, compared with a 14-nation median of 46% and 48%. The United States was a serious outler at 18% for more united and 77% for more united. The Australian component was conducted by telephone from June 11 to July 25 from a sample of 1016.
• The West Australian reports that WA Liberal Party state director Sam Calabrese will not contest the preselection to fill Mathias Cormann’s Senate vacancy, after earlier being considered the front-runner. The list of prospective nominees now seems to consist of Joe Francis, a Barnett government minister who lost his seat of Jandakot in the 2017 state election landslide; Sherry Sufi, arch-conservative party policy committee chairman; and Julian Ambrose, a director at construction company BGC and the stepson of its late founder, Len Buckeridge.
• My coverage of the Northern Territory election count contains with daily updates and live results reporting here. Labor has 13 confirmed wins out of 25 and leads over the CLP in another two; the CLP with six confirmed wins and leads over Labor in one; and the Territory Alliance with a lead over CLP in another.
Confessions
It is my view, if trump wins a second term we are f*cked.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #388 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 9:31 am
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/08/29/scott-morrison-accountability-atkins/
C@t
But the media narrative is that we are all going mad behind locked doors! Dan’s fault, of course.
frednk @ #395 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 7:43 am
Maybe the emergence of the Nutters is a reflection of the mental health issues associated with lockdowns and the other restrictions?
frednk @ #401 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 9:45 am
And it would embolden Morrison to go full bore Trumpist QAnon Authoritarian whackjob.
lizzie @ #403 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 9:47 am
Of course it is! That’s how they create anger among the populace, who can’t get out and see otherwise.
Frednk
A part of me believes that Trump will lose bigly this time.
I better be right.
I’ll throw that one in with all of the other “Expect the poll numbers to narrow very soon” predictions from the last year.
‘Josh Frydenberg and the monumental task that will define him’
SMH online has been running this story under the heading Political Leadership all week.
I wonder if it’s going to stay there until I give in and read it.
C@tmomma
Not having to spend 2 hours in a daily commute can be very relaxing. My son has concluded that with the cost and time it’s worth about 20% of his salary and he would take that cut for a job that was work from home 4 days a week.
Me, I love zoom/team meeting. It saves about 3 hours. Bonus, when they turn to shit you move to another screen and keep working. Not your time being wasted.
In 18th century we moved work form home to factories, I think we might see a movement back. The issue is when we have to start fighting to keep what we have gained.
Although Gladys appears to have a botched debacle bungle on her hands developing……
From what I can see the other States don’t seem to be handling things much differently from / better than Victoria. Everyone uses private security guards for hotel quarantine for example, with some Police backup. No doubt mistakes have been made – not just in Victoria (Ruby Princess anyone? Serious negligence in the privatised aged care system). There was a large element of making it up as we went along at the start of the pandemic in all jurisdictions. This is a unique situation in nearly everyone’s lifetime. Morrison wanted us to go to the footy as I recall, while the States were urging shutdowns.
I think it likely that Victoria has been unlucky. Maybe NSW luck is about to run out too. Possibly also Qld in the next couple of weeks. Other states benefit from their relative isolation. The Virus reached Sydney and Melbourne first. However, no one is out of the woods.
We’ll see.
Victoria says:
Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 9:50 am
Frednk
A part of me believes that Trump will lose bigly this time.
I better be right.
I hope your right. If he wins Morrison and Johnson will be emboldened and the shit is going to get worse. If he loses that may give them pause for thought.
C@t and Victoria
Nutty theories always rush to fill a vacuum and I believe that it is partly because of Morrison’s lack of leadership and also because he is leading the way in attacking Andrews. He could control VicLibs but there is no way he wants to surrender his own position.
In US the nutters have their leader in Trump, unfortunately.
https://twitter.com/ACTCOSS/status/1298828951746355202
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/actcoss-2020-act-election-leaders-forum-2-sep-tickets-117611764955?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=estw&utm-source=tw&utm-term=listing
A very rare three way debate/forum with the added twist of being conducted online instead of face-to-face. Should be interesting!
The NBA players took strike action over the latest shooting of black citizens. This announcement just now…
FLORIDA — NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following joint statement today:
“We had a candid, impassioned and productive conversation yesterday between NBA players, coaches and team governors regarding next steps to further our collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality. Among others, the attendees included player and team representatives of all 13 teams in Orlando. All parties agreed to resume NBA playoff games on Saturday, Aug. 29 with the understanding that the league together with the players will work to enact the following commitments:
1. The NBA and its players have agreed to immediately establish a social justice coalition, with representatives from players, coaches and governors, that will be focused on a broad range of issues, including increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform.
2. In every city where the league franchise owns and controls the arena property, team governors will continue to work with local elections officials to convert the facility into a voting location for the 2020 general election to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities vulnerable to COVID. If a deadline has passed, team governors will work with local elections officials to find another election-related use for the facility, including but not limited to voter registration and ballot receiving boards.
3. The league will work with the players and our network partners to create and include advertising spots in each NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.
“These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community.
“We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together — in Orlando and in all NBA team markets — to push for meaningful and sustainable change.”
If Trump wins the 2020 election, it’s quite likely there won’t be a 2024 election.
C@tmomma @ #398 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 7:43 am
Excellent!
If Donald Trump wins in 2020, thankfully there is a 2 term limit. However, the next Presidential line up is slated to be…
2024 – Ivanka Trump
2028 – Ivanka Trump
2032 – Donald Trump Jr
2036 – Donald Trump Jr
2040 – Eric Trump
2044 – Eric Trump
2048 – Tiffany Trump
2052 – Tiffany Trump
2056 – Barron Trump
2060 – Barron Trump
Yeah, they’re not gonna support Ivanka or Tiffany.
Mike Pompeo is definitely gearing himself up for a shot at the presidency in my view.
Asha Leu says:
Saturday, August 29, 2020 at 10:08 am
It is my view, if trump wins a second term we are f*cked.
If Trump wins the 2020 election, it’s quite likely there won’t be a 2024 election.
Yes, and with Russia, China and the USA being oligarchies, what for Australia, Oligarchy or
Theocracy. Should we be practicing raising our paw to god?
No way does the twenty-second ammendment survive a second Trump term. He’s already been suggesting a third term.
And as pants-shittingly terrifying as the thought of twelve or more years of President Donald Trump is, I don’t know if repelling the twenty-second ammendement would be such a bad thing. Were Obama eligible for a third term, he’d probably still be president right now.
You jest, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the family plan. I’ve seen similar line-ups posted without a hint of irony by alt-right types on other platforms.
Ivanka and Don Jr. definitely have presidential ambitions, at the very least.
“It is my view, if trump wins a second term we are f*cked.”
***
America is fucked either way. They were fucked before Trump and they will continue to be fucked long after he is gone. This is because Trump is just one of many problems that the country faces and replacing him with a right wing war crim will not fix all the others. The lesser of two evils is still evil and until people stop supporting either kind of evil they will continue to be fucked over in this way. People who support the lesser of two evils are part of the problem, not part of the solution (which is of course not to support evil fuckers in the first place).
So, after all that’s happened in aged care in NSW and Victoria, it is, apparently, still not compulsory for staff to wear face masks in aged care facilities:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/aug/29/coronavirus-live-news-cases-continue-to-soar-in-europe-as-victoria-sees-fewest-in-two-months?page=with:block-5f4990d98f08c135b28619e5#block-5f4990d98f08c135b28619e5
Unbelievable.
What is going on?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victorians-are-proving-more-resilient-than-the-rest-of-australia-may-realise-20200828-p55q7y.html
Victorians won’t forget Morrisons attack on our sovereignty, our economy and our well-being at this terrible time.
It’s the reality
Ryan Avent
@ryanavent
·
9h
It sounds absurd to say it, but America is in the process of choosing whether to be a white nationalist fascist state or an inclusive democracy. That’s not hyperbole, that’s just where we are.
Firefox @ #419 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 10:25 am
The Harris-AOC $2T climate plan should get environmentalists into the booths to throw Trump to the curb.
Trump is the end result of Al Gore accepting the decision of the Supreme Court despite the antics of Roger Stone in Florida.
A sane decision of Gore. The failure is that of the Democrats under Obama in not going hard on electoral reform.
When the Democrats next get in they have to stop voter suppression and abolish the electoral college.
This is a lesson for Labor. Some hardball stuff in government needs to be done.
On that issue congratulations to the ACT for truth in political advertising law. No Clive Palmer style advertising there. It may even stop Youtube accepting national advertising and could be a bulwark for the whole country.
I hope other Labor states swiftly follow.
Victoria
Yes. I think unlike in 2016 Trump’s record will get the black voters out that stayed at home in 2016.
It’s no coincidence Mail In voting has become such a big issue. Trump knows he is fighting an uphill battle.
Great pick up from Trioli.
We’ve seen how ‘independent assessments’ have tormented injured workers.
Anything the double dolt Stuart Robert touches is a disaster.
Trump is the end result of a compromise between those who wanted parliamentary-style elections for president and those who wanted the office to be elected by the states (giving the pro-slavery states more power.)
Victoria @ #426 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 10:36 am
You should listen to this podcast, very informative around that question:
https://podcast.thebulwark.com/david-frum-and-sarah-longwell-on-what-voters-dont-care-about
lizzie @ #428 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 10:54 am
Pathetic from Watt.
It’s NEVER Labors fault.
Rex Douglas @ #430 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 10:45 am
I am an NDIS participant, only because it was suggested when I received my hearing assistance dog. However I manage well through the day when I have my hearing aids in. I can see some idiot doing a quick assessment and saying I do not need it. That is despite meeting the hearing loss criteria to receive an assistance dog.
My plan is basically maintenace for the dog and little else – in fact the local office person writing my plan was trying to encourage me to find ideas for myself.
I am lucky in having a good local office, where there are a couple of staff with guide dogs. They know the regulations around dogs for support very well. Some other hearing dog recipiants have had major issues getting their dog recognised and supported.
“The Harris-AOC $2T climate plan should get environmentalists into the booths to throw Trump to the curb.”
***
His woeful mishandling of COVID will be Trump’s ultimate undoing. It has exposed his utter incompetency and has weakened his support among older Americans (those more at risk from COVID).
The war crim Clinton (yes, Senator Hillary also voted to invade Iraq along with her warmongering buddy Biden) would have been a terrible President but I have no doubt she would have handled the response to COVID much better than Trump has.
“The federal government says it has made the “first milestone payment” of a $3.6m grant to Shine Energy, the inexperienced company proposing a coal-fired power station at Collinsville in north Queensland.”
I can see Buce getting upset about this. He is against subsidising power generation.
Rachel Siewert, Greens senator for Western Australia, announces retirement from politics
Greens senator Rachel Siewert will retire from politics at the next election, telling party members it was time for someone else to take up the mantle.
The West Australian senator was first elected in 2004. Her time in politics will be remembered for fierce campaigns, particularly on social justice issues, having been one of the first MPs to raise the alarm on robodebt.
“Being a senator has given me some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life,” she said in a statement.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6900460/greens-senator-rachel-siewert-to-retire-from-politics/
Thank you, Senator Siewert, for your long and dedicated service to the Greens and the left! Legend.
laughtong @ #431 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 10:59 am
If you or anyone else gets into trouble, I’m sure an email to Trioli will bring some heat on the minister.
Firefox
Fortunately you don’t vote in the USA and are thus not responsible in anyway for getting trump elected. Your sins a limited to your contribution to the mess in Australia.
Victoria, it is interesting seeing these nutters acting against the interests of everyone else. Where were these people who believe the unbelievable theories in the old days. I guess they were members of various religions.
Even the old style religions can act against the best interests of everyone. I notice they were vocal in their opposition to a vaccine that used cells harvested half a century ago in a method they didn’t agree with.
Mark Schoofs
@SchoofsFeed
·
1h
Another massive scoop on Facebook, our third one today.
A Kenosha Militia Facebook Event Asking Attendees To Bring Weapons Was Reported 455 Times. Moderators Said It Didn’t Violate Any Rules.
https://buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/kenosha-militia-facebook-reported-455-times-moderators
@RMac18
@BuzzFeedNews
A Kenosha Militia Facebook Event Asking Attendees To Bring Weapons Was Reported 455 Times. Modera…
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the reason the militia page and an associated event remained online after a shooting that killed two people was due to “an operational mistake.”
buzzfeednews.com
Murray Watt is so dopey he refuses to see that Labor can remove the Green wedge and immediately lift Labors primary vote.
Peebee
Healthy skepticism is good.
What is not good, is during a public health emergency,people going against the advice to protect everyone.
It is selfish and very disrespectful to our health workers who are having to do all the hard work.
This alone disgusts me about them.
Firefox did you note that Senator Murray Watt noted Senator Siewert spent her time dealing with issues instead of trying to wedging labor.
Rear enough to notice?
Rex the important thing for the Greens is the wedge. Putting aside the how unpopular they are, accommodating the current wedge would only see it move to something else.
Is Murray Watt in the pocket of the thermal coal cartel up there in Qld ?
Peebee
Healthy skepticism is good.
skepticism based on bullshit is skepticism based on bullshit.
frednk @ #442 Saturday, August 29th, 2020 – 11:27 am
like what ?
Rex
Why are the greens so disappointed Labor aren’t putting policies out years before the election?
Because they can’t start planning wedge politics with the Liberals.
How am I going to be able to guess the outcome of the Green/Liberal election planning.