No news is no news (open thread)

Newspoll on hiatus, plus not much else to relate.

Four weeks now without a fresh Newspoll result from The Australian, making it clear that recent disruptions at YouGov have caused it to be suspended for the time being. This comes after Campbell White, head of YouGov Asia-Pacific’s public affairs and polling unit, and Simon Levy, its senior research manager, left the company to go it alone. It would thus seem that Newspoll will be on hiatus until either YouGov gets its house in order or The Australian finds someone else to conduct it. We are about due for a new Resolve Strategic poll from Nine Newspapers, which should probably be along tomorrow this so, likely to be followed one of its bi-monthly results on state voting intention in Victoria.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

422 comments on “No news is no news (open thread)”

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  1. Following the untimely death of Mary-Louise McLaws its worth asking how many lying bullshit ani-vaxers like JFKjr & Musk benefited from being vaccinated as children… I’m guessing at least 100% of them

  2. Confessions:

    Had she just called him an idiot, I might agree with you. But she didn’t. She called him a “truly horrible person.”

    And for what? Some snark that one could argue was misjudged and in poor taste, likely provoked by frustration with its target’s relentless posting habits. That makes someone a “truly horrible person”? Really?

    And it’s hardly the first time she’s thrown that bit of personal abuse at Nath either, often for nothing more than saying something critical about a Labor politician or policy.

  3. Mr Squiggle
    Qantas employees are often asked to represent the brand, in-flight attendants, people on the desks etc. I hope they dont feel compelled to represent a view they don’t agree with

    As do I. But as far as I know, that has not happened.

    The company I work for (not Qantas) has thrown its support behind ‘Yes’. I support ‘Yes’, but that is not because I have been told to. It is possible that the company’s support for ‘Yes’ has more to do with virtue-signalling than any deep-seated convictions. But I am a cynic.

    Some of my co-workers have made no secret of the fact they will vote ‘No’. The company does not care – which is a good thing.

  4. Sqiggle. Bad behaviour by companies is a daily issue for workers. Power for workers to change things is a very lop-sided contest.
    Voting in a referendum is sort of equal power.

  5. Enough Already:

    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:08 pm

    [‘Mavis, what awesome power you seem to have imbued me with. It must be all those style notes I’ve studiously taken from you.’]

    Please stop being a smart arse; you’ve taken up so much space on this site as to bore – I know, as most do, the plight of Ukraine.

  6. Asha @ #352 Monday, August 14th, 2023 – 9:25 pm

    Confessions:

    Had she just called him an idiot, I might agree with you. But she didn’t. She called him a “truly horrible person.”

    And for what? Some snark that one could argue was misjudged and in poor taste, likely provoked by frustration with its target’s relentless posting habits. That makes someone a “truly horrible person”? Really?

    And it’s hardly the first time she’s thrown that bit of personal abuse at Nath either, often for nothing more than saying something critical about a Labor politician or policy.

    When you sit on the sidelines calling people names you don’t get to cry foul when others pay it back at you.

    Sorry, but nath is a shithead who arrived at PB dredging up comments of others from yesteryear and casting aspersions. He has shown he hasn’t evolved despite William asking him to pull his head in.

    No sympathy from me.

  7. Whataboutism:

    “The technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue.”

  8. “Which Australian footballer scored 8 goals in a World Cup Championship game? No one will get this btw.”

    This feels like either a netball or women’s basketball question and the two netball/Aflw crossovers I know didn’t play shooting positions in netball, so my blind guess is Erin Phillips.

    If the type of football involved is thugby then I never had a chance of guessing it.

  9. “No sympathy from me.”

    I’m going to go out on a long limb here and guess that Nath isn’t looking for sympathy from anyone here.

  10. Arky says:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:34 pm

    “Which Australian footballer scored 8 goals in a World Cup Championship game? No one will get this btw.”

    This feels like either a netball or women’s basketball question and the two netball/Aflw crossovers I know didn’t play shooting positions in netball, so my blind guess is Erin Phillips.
    ___________
    Sorry, and it’s neither code of Rugby either.

  11. Asha @ #352 Monday, August 14th, 2023 – 9:25 pm

    Confessions:

    Had she just called him an idiot, I might agree with you. But she didn’t. She called him a “truly horrible person.”

    And for what? Some snark that one could argue was misjudged and in poor taste, likely provoked by frustration with its target’s relentless posting habits. That makes someone a “truly horrible person”? Really?

    And it’s hardly the first time she’s thrown that bit of personal abuse at Nath either, often for nothing more than saying something critical about a Labor politician or policy.

    Now you’re just ignoring the factual basis to my comment to nath. You’re ignoring the effect his constant niggles have on people, or you just don’t care about him doing it, but DO care if anyone says something as absolutely inoffensive as he’s a horrible person. You do realise how biased you are? Don’t you?

    Also, just so you get it this time, I was pointing out that it was a horrible thing to do to target someone, Boerwar, with a debasing comment, who has recently had to have a break from the blog due to the relentless way he was mocked and belittled by people like nath. Boerwar is not a Labor politician. Boerwar is a human being. Whose feelings you also don’t seem to care one whit for. Well, Confessions and I do. And we have every right to. Despite you thinking that nath should be a protected species.

  12. “Whataboutism:

    “The technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue.”

    “But China …” ”

    10/10 no notes.

  13. Lars Von Trier says:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 6:52 pm
    Kirsdarke – thats the counter argument. No sign of this though.

    I would say the Russians could easily mobilise another 300,000 men in the next 6 months. Ukraine is already fully mobilised – it doesnt have another 300,000 to mobilise.

    Secondly the fabled Land Bridge to Crimea is about 100km in depth – and largely devastated land. It may very well be that the internal decay in Russia is such that at some future point UKR can regain its land.

    Sending young men to die in a campaign that appears stalemated ( remember 200sqm) is another thing.
    ———-

    Given that it’s all so simple and clear for Russia it makes me wonder what’s taking them so long then.

  14. C@tmomma says:

    Also, just so you get it this time, I was pointing out that it was a horrible thing to do to target someone, Boerwar, with a debasing comment, who has recently had to have a break from the blog due to the relentless way he was mocked and belittled by people like nath. Boerwar is not a Labor politician. Boerwar is a human being. Whose feelings you also don’t seem to care one whit for.
    _________
    Boerwar has just spent the best part of the last 2 weeks mocking and belittling P1 about her eco resort.

  15. C@t:

    Oh, poor Beorwar. This is the guy who regularly includes a list of posters he dislikes (including Nath!) in his listicles as examples of everything wrong with the world, needles Rex repeatedly with that pathetic “Integrity” nickname, needles P1 repeatedly with the constant eco-resort jibes, and deliberately baits out angry responses from people with oh-so-innocent musings on interning Chinese people and the virtues of the Hiroshima bombing and then acting all surprised when people react negatively, of course he’s the victim. Not to mention his flagrant disregard of standard internet etiquette by just endlessly posting, which will always result in annoyance and mockery and desperate pleas to just shut up for a moment whenever anyone does that on any internet forum.

    Have you ever considered how being constantly brought up as a terrible person by numerous people here and being the target of hysterical conspiracy theories about his true motives affects Nath’s mental health? Or does that not matter, what with him not barracking for the right team in the right way?

    If a person can’t handle a bit of well-deserved mockery on occasion, they might just be a narcissist.

  16. Nath:

    Boerwar has just spent the best part of the last 2 weeks mocking and belittling P1 about her eco resort.

    That’s different. Beorwar supports the Labor party. (Well, except for that one time.)

  17. nath @ #367 Monday, August 14th, 2023 – 9:41 pm

    C@tmomma says:

    Also, just so you get it this time, I was pointing out that it was a horrible thing to do to target someone, Boerwar, with a debasing comment, who has recently had to have a break from the blog due to the relentless way he was mocked and belittled by people like nath. Boerwar is not a Labor politician. Boerwar is a human being. Whose feelings you also don’t seem to care one whit for.
    _________
    Boerwar has just spent the best part of the last 2 weeks mocking and belittling P1 about her eco resort.

    Two wrongs don’t make a right. So he probably shouldn’t do it. However, I hadn’t noticed Player One needing to take a break from the blog because of it. And THAT is the point nath. Don’t kick a person when they’re down. Player One, otoh, continues to plow on every day, unaffected by it, as far as I can see.

  18. There was a Socceroo I think his name was Archie Leach, who scored a ton of goals again PNG if I recall. Was a World Cup qualifier. I think.

  19. Travel helps make people open-minded. Which is why so many racist bogans live their entire lives in neighborhoods that they never want to leave from. They feel threatened by people who come from different backgrounds. That and they generally come from cohorts that aren’t very educated, and therefore lack opportunities.

  20. C@t:

    Boerwar is a human being. Whose feelings you also don’t seem to care one whit for.

    Does he care about the feelings of the people he includes in his listicles? (One of whom is Nath!) Does he care about P1’s feelings when he makes the eco-resort jibes? Does he care about Rex’s feelings when he endlessly accuses him of being a bot and a troll and makes up infantile Trumpian nicknames for him?

    Stuff Boerwar.

  21. I am going on a limb here for Nath’s question and say Brian Clark, someone who without any sense of irony claims to have played Australian rules at an international level for 8 countries.

  22. White knighting is irritating. If you don’t have anything to add to a discussion between two people, you should get the can of ‘shut the fuck up’ out of the cupboard, and give yourself a good ol spray.

  23. Oakeshott Country says:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:47 pm

    I am going on a limb here for Nath’s question and say Brian Clark, someone who without any sense of irony claims to have played Australian rules at an international level for 8 countries.
    ____________
    No. Sorry. But kinda close. The person is Brian Taylor, Collingwood Full Forward who kicked 8 games in an exhibition match in Miami in 1988, between Collingwood and Geelong, billed as the Fosters Cup World Championship! If you can believe it.

  24. Pi says:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:49 pm
    White knighting is irritating.

    __________

    You are mostly safe. Not much opportunity to do it around here. Very testosterone heavy 😉

  25. Mavis @ Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:31 pm:

    “… I know, as most do, the plight of Ukraine.”
    ===========

    And the culpability of Russia. You know that too, right?

  26. Sceptic at 8:45
    I know it’s a typo but RFK Jr is the cooker
    JFK Jr staged his death to avoid being assassinated by Hilary Clinton and will likely be Trump’s running mate next year.

  27. “White knighting is irritating.”

    That led to the most disappointing visit to urban dictionary I’ve ever had:

    “white knighting
    In forum parlance, it means rushing to the aid of another poster for whatever reason. An accusation typically reserved for when a poster is being hammered by another poster(s) and the accused leaps in to defend them, usually without thinking things through as to why the person is being attacked.
    Poster A:
    Poster B: Shut up, douche.
    White Knight: Hey, leave him alone. Why are you all ganging up on him?
    Poster B: Quite white knighting, douche.”

    Well it was until I read past the first definition.

  28. Oakeshott Country says:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:55 pm

    I don’t have any difficulty in believing anything about “International” Australian Rules.
    ______
    Collingwood are still the World Champions of AFL and I don’t think our 1988 title will ever be taken from us.

  29. Asha
    I agree with your comments in defence of Nath. I don’t share his politics, but I like his quirky sense of humour and willingness to state his own independent view of things, despite those who would like to silence him. He is certainly not the Ogre that some here would like to paint him as.

  30. Asha @ #368 Monday, August 14th, 2023 – 9:41 pm

    C@t:

    Oh, poor Beorwar. This is the guy who regularly includes a list of posters he dislikes (including Nath!) in his listicles as examples of everything wrong with the world, needles Rex repeatedly with that pathetic “Integrity” nickname, needles P1 repeatedly with the constant eco-resort jibes, and deliberately baits out angry responses from people with oh-so-innocent musings on interning Chinese people and the virtues of the Hiroshima bombing and then acting all surprised when people react negatively, of course he’s the victim. Not to mention his flagrant disregard of standard internet etiquette by just endlessly posting, which will always result in annoyance and mockery and desperate pleas to just shut up for a moment whenever anyone does that on any internet forum.

    Have you ever considered how being constantly brought up as a terrible person by numerous people here and being the target of hysterical conspiracy theories about his true motives affects Nath’s mental health? Or does that not matter, what with him not barracking for the right team in the right way?

    If a person can’t handle a bit of well-deserved mockery on occasion, they might just be a narcissist.

    So are you saying nath is a narcissist because you know his mental health has been affected? Interesting.

    Or, it hasn’t? In which case, why play the sympathy card for him?

    Nevertheless, I get it about the ‘Integrity’ nickname for Rex Douglas (btw, Boerwar’s not the only one who does call him that), and the Eco Resort jibes at Player One (even though Player One gives as good as, and more, than she/he gets). However, and I’m not quite clear about the following: the virtues of the Hiroshima bombing. Was that said in the context of it being successful in helping to end WW2? Well, if so, I wouldn’t call it a ‘virtue’ per se, but I am able to see it from a perspective that could have a positive spin put on it.

    And may I just add that this is a tad hypocritical, considering the amount of posting you, yourself have been doing lately: his flagrant disregard of standard internet etiquette by just endlessly posting. Have some consideration for people who are virtually housebound and need an intellectual outlet! Although I do agree that seeing the same names, over and over and over again, has a tendency to be irritating. Especially if you are on the blog yourself all day. Which is why I have taken the decision to throttle back my own rate of posting. And I feel so much better for it.

    So, yes, maybe others should too. 🙂

  31. Bystander @ #389 Monday, August 14th, 2023 – 10:00 pm

    Asha
    I agree with your comments in defence of Nath. I don’t share his politics, but I like his quirky sense of humour and willingness to state his own independent view of things, despite those who would like to silence him. He is certainly not the Ogre that some here would like to paint him as.

    If you’re talking about me, I don’t want to silence nath. I simply want him to take a moment to consider people’s mental health who have been outed as having had problems in that area. It may be humorous for you to read it, but you’re not the butt of the joke.

  32. Well, back in the day, the Chairman of the Board and all Board members were prominent Liberal Party identities

    If you were on the way up you were expected to be seen at formal Liberal Party functions particularly during election campaigns

    There were plenty of stories

    And who Chaired the Cormack Foundation – and a major Australian bank?

    Politics and business, hey?

  33. Anyway, I’ve said way more than I ever wanted to. I simply wanted nath to reflect on the effect his pointed barbs may have on people.

  34. This place is at totally its best when the topic of conversation is other board members and not literally anything else. /s

    In all seriousness, I’d take long, deep dives into Australia’s submarines, heated quarrels over eco-tourism, detailed minutia of cricket matches, weirdly aggressive Anglo-Australian rivalry, and prescriptivist policing of the English language over it.

  35. The United States have been the reigning Olympic Rugby Union Gold medalists since 1924
    (I do not count Sevens as Rugby Union)


  36. Confessionssays:
    Monday, August 14, 2023 at 9:17 pm
    My god it gets worse!

    When asked about the comments, Adler said he would not apologise for them.

    He said he could not recall the remarks about Thorpe.

    “I asked a question; I haven’t made any accusations. I was given material and there are many people who have said that [Grant’s] complexion has changed,” Adler said.

    “I am 100 per cent zero racism. I have Aboriginal friends, the most prominent being [leading No campaigner] Warren Mundine, and you’ll see photos of me with him.

    “Could it be insulting to [Grant]? That’s certainly not the intent. He’s a public figure and he’s put himself very prominently into debates on Aboriginal matters.”

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-figure-s-stan-grant-lidia-thorpe-comments-labelled-disgusting-grotesque-20230814-p5dw9m.html

    It’s not me, it’s those other people over there asking questions!

    Weak.

    A Trump defence from Adler. Sad.

  37. French coach Herve Renard: “I won’t allow you to say the French team were not good enough. Not true. The girls were exceptional. We played a quarter-final against an entire nation.”

    How good is that.

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