World Politics

[Cobblestones]

The bold is the essence of what afflicts democracy today, in Italy and Europe, as much as in America. Unfortunately we seem to have arrived at a point of no return in this regard, which means the total prepotency and dominion of capital over human beings. Before that democracy has unfortunately offered no citizens' shield nor sanctuary, while has had to capitulate even any semblance of popular sovereignty to those strong powers that truly govern the world.

In the meantime Italy is without a government. Grillo is perhaps more open to a technocrat solution, than he certainly is to one in which his movement gives support to any of the parties. One of the platforms that he stood upon during his electoral campaign was that for decades the Italian parliament has been high jacked by the political parties (and in this he's correct), which has been reinforced by an electoral law that its own crafstman (Roberto Calderoli of the separatist, Northern League party, during Berlusconi's last government) cynically defined as a porcellum (a "filthy pig"). Unfortunately what Grillo obviously misses is that, for better or worse, in democracy you have political parties, which must confront themselves in order to arrive at compromises; otherwise it's called a dictatorship. What unnerves me about Grillo is, therefore, that per certain of his comportments he reminds me of Mussolini in 23. Italy beware.

The reason he has gained popularity though is because many Italians are fed up with the political parties and the career politicians, as well as the unconscionable costs imposed upon the citizenry to finance the so called cast, seeing them and it, in some individual cases quite incorrectly in others not; as pertaining to the same, inseparable and uniform fetid and corrupt porridge, which can no longer be stomached let alone digested in this moment when many struggle just to make ends meet.

In fact in response to criticism levied upon Grillo and his movement that its intransigence before the other voted in parties (which is justified under the facile alibi of merely maintaining an electoral promise not to collaborate with any party - in short the cast must go), demonstrates an irresponsibility that is anti-democratic and places the state hostage to the whims of a megalomaniac and those who elude themselves that he and M5S are the Savior of Italy. To this Vito Cimini, recently nominated M5S senator at a movement assembly in Rome, has stated: "The irresponsible ones are you among the parties who have led us to this terrible spot; the irresponsible ones are you who were incapable of introducing an anti-conflict of interests law; the irresponsible are you who couldn't effect a pensions reform that didn't leave some without one, while being capable of placing a tax on people's primary homes even if they currently find themselves unemployed, while being capable of authorizing garbage dumps and shopping malls without limit, responsible for having covered up mass poisoning by industries like Ilva, incapable of realizing a serious anti-corruption law, incapable of saying no to the colonialization of US military bases, incapable of reducing the costs of politics in a moment in which a third of Italians struggle to arrive at the end of the month on their appallingly low salaries...and we're the ones who should be responsible? If you even have a minimum sense of responsibility, you should simply pack your bags...and disappear!"

Such reasoning is difficult to reject and ignore. Pity that the work that needs to be done cannot be otherwise except through the constitutional parameters, which necessarily involves a functioning government that doesn't work on mandates sent down from above, but through all the democratic praxis that such an institution healthily requires. If M5S and its charismatic leader doesn't want to be transformed into something merely odious (as well as dangerous), then this is a lesson it must learn immediately.

I think you're entirely right and therein lies the the tragic of Grillo and the M5S. The biggest problem for democracy, which has been so perfectly exemplified by what has been called the 'Euro crisis' is that the 'Western, democratic' governments are in realty beholden to some special interest groups such as the banks, and not to the people who elect them. The problem (and the solution btw.) are as old as democracy itself. So for the solution, we should indeed look to the classical Athenian democracy, which had instituted a sort of demarchy, meaning that government positions were distributed by lottery, and/or for very short timespans (down to a single day). The idea is that in such a system, it is much harder for special interest and lobbying groups to influence government decisions. It seems to me that the Italian voter has understood that concept (unsurprisingly maybe, since for instance the Venetian city state had similar rules). However, within the current system, only a corrupted version of demarchy is possible - the rule by jester who makes decisions randomly, making superfluous and a joke of the whole political class. This seems to be the essence of Grillo. What you rightly point out is that Grillo does not seem to realize that decisions will have to be made, nevertheless. A simple blocking of government functions will not serve anybody.

 

[Eshnar]

I think you're entirely right and therein lies the the tragic of Grillo and the M5S. The biggest problem for democracy, which has been so perfectly exemplified by what has been called the 'Euro crisis' is that the 'Western, democratic' governments are in realty beholden to some special interest groups such as the banks, and not to the people who elect them. The problem (and the solution btw.) are as old as democracy itself. So for the solution, we should indeed look to the classical Athenian democracy, which had instituted a sort of demarchy, meaning that government positions were distributed by lottery, and/or for very short timespans (down to a single day). The idea is that in such a system, it is much harder for special interest and lobbying groups to influence government decisions. It seems to me that the Italian voter has understood that concept (unsurprisingly maybe, since for instance the Venetian city state had similar rules). However, within the current system, only a corrupted version of demarchy is possible - the rule by jester who makes decisions randomly, making superfluous and a joke of the whole political class. This seems to be the essence of Grillo. What you rightly point out is that Grillo does not seem to realize that decisions will have to be made, nevertheless. A simple blocking of government functions will not serve anybody.

I don't really know whether demarchy worked well or not, but looks to me only a small step above anarchy...

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Venezuelan VP Maduro says Chavez cancer was an attack. Compared with illness of Arafat that he says was "planted" by enemies.

 

[Cobblestones]

I don't really know whether demarchy worked well or not, but looks to me only a small step above anarchy...

I guess that rhubarb will be happy to give more details about Athenian democracy and the Venetian Republic.

 

[Cobblestones]

Venezuelan VP Maduro says Chavez cancer was an attack. Compared with illness of Arafat that he says was "planted" by enemies.

What happened to Al Jazeera's Po-212 investigation concerning Arafat's death?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

What happened to Al Jazeera's Po-212 investigation concerning Arafat's death?

Here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBT7o0piZ8E.

 

[rhubroma]

I guess that rhubarb will be happy to give more details about Athenian democracy and the Venetian Republic.

Noooo....that's not for me to tackle here.

Suffice it to say, I think that what was attempted at Athens in the V century BCE and at Venice in the medieval period, would not be tenable in the macro context of today's democracy. Athens, in any case, became completely absorbed with predominance over the other polis of the Athenian league and with the Persian threat, whereas Venice was in reality a plutocracy bent on preserving a commercial empire. On the other hand, the more things change...

No, I'm in favor of a representative democracy, which, however, doesn't behave in the manner of a cast. In this M5S has nothing against which to impeach. The problem, as you say, is one of establishing the limits within which any political class holds sovereignty. In today's world, unfortunately, those aren't by set down by a popular vote, or even constitutional limits, but by capital. Herein lies the great dilemma of our age. The relative equilibrium that was established between capitalism and democracy after a period of industrial exploitation, was definitively broken in the 80's when the US and Great Britain opted for a liberalization of finance and broke labor, such that the State’s once only “threat” of regulating financial transactions caused the advantage of capitalism over the political autonomy of the demos. This inequality was translated into a decisive advantage of profit from investments over real work and the consequent national and private debt that this involves. So that, unlike the 30's, the latest crisis of capitalism has witnessed the colossal bailout of the banks by the State: effectively the State (which means the taxpayers) instead of being the monitor of the markets in the collective interest, was transformed into the Savior of capitalism.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I should not have laugh... I am sorry that he is dead.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Chavez died todsay, according to his public spokesman

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Key events in Hugo Chavez's life:

Feb. 4, 1992 — Army paratroop commander Lt. Col. Chavez leads botched coup against President Carlos Andres Perez. Faces possible 30-year prison term, but case never goes to trial.

Nov. 27, 1992 — Military officers with close ties to Chavez make second coup attempt, which is quashed.

March 26, 1994 — After two years in jail awaiting trial, Chavez and fellow plotters set free when President Rafael Caldera dismisses charges on condition they retire from the military.

Dec. 13, 1994 — Chavez visits Cuba, where he has long talks with President Fidel Castro and is honored with ceremony at University of Havana.

Dec. 6, 1998 — Wins come-from-behind presidential election victory, promising to seek "third way" between socialism and capitalism.

Jan. 16, 1999 — Travels to Cuba for private talks with Fidel Castro and Colombian President Andres Pastrana on attempts to bring peace to Colombia.

Feb. 2, 1999 — Hours after being sworn in, decrees referendum on whether to rewrite constitution.

April 25, 1999 — Venezuelans overwhelmingly approve Chavez's proposal to draft a new constitution.

July 25, 1999 — Allies of Chavez win 122 of 128 seats in constitutional assembly, allowing them to draft document tailored to his wishes.

Dec. 15, 1999 — Venezuelans vote to accept Chavez-backed constitution. It eliminates Senate, changes country's name to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and lengthens presidential term from five years to six, clearing the way for Chavez to stay in office as long as 13 years.

July 30, 2000 — In presidential election, Chavez elected to six-year term.

April 11, 2002 — Gunfire erupts as protesters demanding president's resignation march toward presidential palace; 19 people killed. That spurs revolt by dissident generals who arrest Chavez and usher in interim government.

April 12, 2002 — Business leader Pedro Carmona takes presidential oath, throws out constitution and dissolves National Assembly.

April 13, 2002 — Tens of thousands of Chavez supporters take to streets demanding his return.

April 14, 2002 — Loyal army officers rescue Chavez, restore him to power.

Dec. 3, 2002 — Business organizations, labor unions, political parties and executives from state-run oil company call strike demanding that Chavez agree to nonbinding referendum on his rule. Strike fizzles after two months, government regains control of oil industry.

April 7, 2003 — Chavez fires seven top executives at state oil company for joining strike. Within weeks, 18,000 employees are fired for participating in the strike.

Aug. 15, 2004 — Venezuelans overwhelmingly vote "no" in referendum asking if Chavez should leave office immediately.

Dec. 14, 2004 — Chavez and Castro sign agreement deepening cooperation between Venezuela and Cuba. Pact evolves into leftist ALBA bloc as other Latin American and Caribbean nations join.

Sept. 7, 2005 — Chavez creates Petrocaribe agreement that sells oil on preferential credit terms to more than dozen countries.

Oct. 31, 2005 — Telesur, Caracas-based television network launched by Chavez, begins broadcasting as alternative to corporate media outlets. Telesur financed mainly by Venezuela with help from Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay.

Dec. 4, 2005 — Chavez's allies win all 167 seats in National Assembly as major opposition parties boycott election.

Sept. 20, 2006 — Chavez calls U.S. President George W. Bush "the devil" in speech at United Nations General Assembly, raising tensions with Washington.

Dec. 3, 2006 — Wins re-election to six-year term, capturing 63 percent of vote.

Dec. 5, 2006 — Emboldened by victory, tells countrymen his political movement aims to transform Venezuela into socialist state.

Jan. 8, 2007 — Announces plans to nationalize Venezuela's electrical and telecommunications companies.

Jan. 31, 2007 — Pro-government lawmakers grant Chavez sweeping powers to legislate by decree for 18 months.

Feb. 8, 2007 — Government nationalizes Venezuela's largest private electric company, signing agreement to buy controlling stake in Electricidad de Caracas from U.S.-based AES Corp.

Feb. 12, 2007 — Officials sign agreement to purchase Verizon Communications Inc.'s stake in Venezuela's largest telecommunications company.

Feb. 27, 2007 — Chavez orders takeover of oil projects run by foreign companies in Orinoco River region, giving government majority stake in the joint ventures.

May 28, 2007 — Radio Caracas Television, country's oldest private network, goes off air after Chavez refuses to renew its broadcasting license.

Oct. 14, 2007 — Ailing Fidel Castro calls Chavez's radio show, making his first live appearance on Cuban airwaves since falling ill 14 months earlier, in example of how close the two men have become.

Dec. 2, 2007 — Voters reject amendments proposed by Chavez to make more sweeping changes to constitution, a setback for his drive to transform Venezuela into socialist state.

April 3, 2008 — Chavez orders nationalization of Venezuela's cement industry.

April 9, 2008 — Government announces it will nationalize country's largest steel maker.

July 31, 2008 — Chavez announces plans to nationalize Bank of Venezuela, owned by Santander Central Hispano banking group of Spain.

Sept. 12, 2008 — Orders U.S. ambassador to leave Venezuela, accusing him of conspiring against government. Patrick Duddy later returns to finish his assignment, but Venezuelan and U.S. officials fail to agree on replacement.

Nov. 23, 2008 — Chavez's party wins 17 of 24 gubernatorial races, while opposition candidates triumph in Venezuela's most populous states and cities.

Feb. 15, 2009 — Chavez wins voter approval to eliminate term limits, allowing him to run for re-election indefinitely; he vows to remain in power for at least another decade.

Sept. 26, 2009 — Chavez, along with allies including Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, sets up regional development lender called Bank of the South. It's billed as Latin American alternative to institutions such as International Monetary Fund.

Sept. 27, 2010 — In congressional elections, Chavez's allies lose two-thirds majority that has allowed them to ignore opponents in rewriting fundamental laws and appointing key officials such as Supreme Court justices. Chavez's allies still retain a majority.

Dec. 17, 2010 — Outgoing congress grants Chavez power to enact laws by decree for 18 months.

June 10, 2011 — Chavez undergoes surgery in Cuba for pelvic abscess.

June 12, 2011 — Telephones state television in Venezuela from Cuba, saying he is recovering from surgery, but his silence and seclusion following call prompts speculation he could be suffering severe illness.

June 28, 2011 — New videos and photos of Chavez appear on Venezuelan state television, showing him on his feet and talking with Fidel Castro.

June 30, 2011 — Chavez appears on television to confirm he had a cancerous tumor removed. He later says tumor extracted was the size of baseball.

July 4, 2011 — Returns to Venezuela, but later travels to Cuba periodically for chemotherapy and medical tests.

Sept. 23, 2011 — Says he has completed chemotherapy and calls the treatment successful. Says subsequently that tests show no reappearance of cancerous cells.

Feb. 21, 2012 — Says his doctors found new lesion in same place where tumor was previously removed, and announces plans to return to Cuba for surgery.

Feb. 26, 2012 — Undergoes operation that removes tumor from same location in pelvic region. Says later that follow-up tests showed tumor was "recurrence of the initially diagnosed cancer."

March 24, 2012 — Travels to Cuba to begin first round of radiation therapy.

July 9, 2012 — Says at a news conference that tests have shown he is "totally free" of cancer.

Oct. 7, 2012 — Wins another six-year term, beating challenger Henrique Capriles by an 11-point margin.

Dec. 9, 2012 — Announces that his cancer has returned and that he needs surgery again. Also says for the first time that if he is unable to stay on as president, Vice President Nicolas Maduro should take his place and should be elected president.

Dec. 11, 2012 — Undergoes his fourth cancer-related operation in Cuba. Officials describe it as a complicated six-hour surgery.

Dec. 16, 2012 — Chavez's allies sweep gubernatorial elections, winning in 20 of 23 states.

Dec. 18, 2012 — Venezuelan government reports that Chavez has a respiratory infection but says it has been controlled. He is said to be in stable condition.

March 5, 2013 — Government announces the death of Hugo Chavez.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/key-dates-hugo-chavezs-political-life-0

 

[Cyivel]

Bloody CIA

 

[The Hitch]

Key events in Hugo Chavez's life:

Feb. 4, 1992 — Army paratroop commander Lt. Col. Chavez leads botched coup against President Carlos Andres Perez. Faces possible 30-year prison term, but case never goes to trial.

Nov. 27, 1992 — Military officers with close ties to Chavez make second coup attempt, which is quashed.

March 26, 1994 — After two years in jail awaiting trial, Chavez and fellow plotters set free when President Rafael Caldera dismisses charges on condition they retire from the military.

Dec. 13, 1994 — Chavez visits Cuba, where he has long talks with President Fidel Castro and is honored with ceremony at University of Havana.

Dec. 6, 1998 — Wins come-from-behind presidential election victory, promising to seek "third way" between socialism and capitalism.

Jan. 16, 1999 — Travels to Cuba for private talks with Fidel Castro and Colombian President Andres Pastrana on attempts to bring peace to Colombia.

Feb. 2, 1999 — Hours after being sworn in, decrees referendum on whether to rewrite constitution.

April 25, 1999 — Venezuelans overwhelmingly approve Chavez's proposal to draft a new constitution.

July 25, 1999 — Allies of Chavez win 122 of 128 seats in constitutional assembly, allowing them to draft document tailored to his wishes.

Dec. 15, 1999 — Venezuelans vote to accept Chavez-backed constitution. It eliminates Senate, changes country's name to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and lengthens presidential term from five years to six, clearing the way for Chavez to stay in office as long as 13 years.

July 30, 2000 — In presidential election, Chavez elected to six-year term.

April 11, 2002 — Gunfire erupts as protesters demanding president's resignation march toward presidential palace; 19 people killed. That spurs revolt by dissident generals who arrest Chavez and usher in interim government.

April 12, 2002 — Business leader Pedro Carmona takes presidential oath, throws out constitution and dissolves National Assembly.

April 13, 2002 — Tens of thousands of Chavez supporters take to streets demanding his return.

April 14, 2002 — Loyal army officers rescue Chavez, restore him to power.

Dec. 3, 2002 — Business organizations, labor unions, political parties and executives from state-run oil company call strike demanding that Chavez agree to nonbinding referendum on his rule. Strike fizzles after two months, government regains control of oil industry.

April 7, 2003 — Chavez fires seven top executives at state oil company for joining strike. Within weeks, 18,000 employees are fired for participating in the strike.

Aug. 15, 2004 — Venezuelans overwhelmingly vote "no" in referendum asking if Chavez should leave office immediately.

Dec. 14, 2004 — Chavez and Castro sign agreement deepening cooperation between Venezuela and Cuba. Pact evolves into leftist ALBA bloc as other Latin American and Caribbean nations join.

Sept. 7, 2005 — Chavez creates Petrocaribe agreement that sells oil on preferential credit terms to more than dozen countries.

Oct. 31, 2005 — Telesur, Caracas-based television network launched by Chavez, begins broadcasting as alternative to corporate media outlets. Telesur financed mainly by Venezuela with help from Argentina, Cuba and Uruguay.

Dec. 4, 2005 — Chavez's allies win all 167 seats in National Assembly as major opposition parties boycott election.

Sept. 20, 2006 — Chavez calls U.S. President George W. Bush "the devil" in speech at United Nations General Assembly, raising tensions with Washington.

Dec. 3, 2006 — Wins re-election to six-year term, capturing 63 percent of vote.

Dec. 5, 2006 — Emboldened by victory, tells countrymen his political movement aims to transform Venezuela into socialist state.

Jan. 8, 2007 — Announces plans to nationalize Venezuela's electrical and telecommunications companies.

Jan. 31, 2007 — Pro-government lawmakers grant Chavez sweeping powers to legislate by decree for 18 months.

Feb. 8, 2007 — Government nationalizes Venezuela's largest private electric company, signing agreement to buy controlling stake in Electricidad de Caracas from U.S.-based AES Corp.

Feb. 12, 2007 — Officials sign agreement to purchase Verizon Communications Inc.'s stake in Venezuela's largest telecommunications company.

Feb. 27, 2007 — Chavez orders takeover of oil projects run by foreign companies in Orinoco River region, giving government majority stake in the joint ventures.

May 28, 2007 — Radio Caracas Television, country's oldest private network, goes off air after Chavez refuses to renew its broadcasting license.

Oct. 14, 2007 — Ailing Fidel Castro calls Chavez's radio show, making his first live appearance on Cuban airwaves since falling ill 14 months earlier, in example of how close the two men have become.

Dec. 2, 2007 — Voters reject amendments proposed by Chavez to make more sweeping changes to constitution, a setback for his drive to transform Venezuela into socialist state.

April 3, 2008 — Chavez orders nationalization of Venezuela's cement industry.

April 9, 2008 — Government announces it will nationalize country's largest steel maker.

July 31, 2008 — Chavez announces plans to nationalize Bank of Venezuela, owned by Santander Central Hispano banking group of Spain.

Sept. 12, 2008 — Orders U.S. ambassador to leave Venezuela, accusing him of conspiring against government. Patrick Duddy later returns to finish his assignment, but Venezuelan and U.S. officials fail to agree on replacement.

Nov. 23, 2008 — Chavez's party wins 17 of 24 gubernatorial races, while opposition candidates triumph in Venezuela's most populous states and cities.

Feb. 15, 2009 — Chavez wins voter approval to eliminate term limits, allowing him to run for re-election indefinitely; he vows to remain in power for at least another decade.

Sept. 26, 2009 — Chavez, along with allies including Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, sets up regional development lender called Bank of the South. It's billed as Latin American alternative to institutions such as International Monetary Fund.

Sept. 27, 2010 — In congressional elections, Chavez's allies lose two-thirds majority that has allowed them to ignore opponents in rewriting fundamental laws and appointing key officials such as Supreme Court justices. Chavez's allies still retain a majority.

Dec. 17, 2010 — Outgoing congress grants Chavez power to enact laws by decree for 18 months.

June 10, 2011 — Chavez undergoes surgery in Cuba for pelvic abscess.

June 12, 2011 — Telephones state television in Venezuela from Cuba, saying he is recovering from surgery, but his silence and seclusion following call prompts speculation he could be suffering severe illness.

June 28, 2011 — New videos and photos of Chavez appear on Venezuelan state television, showing him on his feet and talking with Fidel Castro.

June 30, 2011 — Chavez appears on television to confirm he had a cancerous tumor removed. He later says tumor extracted was the size of baseball.

July 4, 2011 — Returns to Venezuela, but later travels to Cuba periodically for chemotherapy and medical tests.

Sept. 23, 2011 — Says he has completed chemotherapy and calls the treatment successful. Says subsequently that tests show no reappearance of cancerous cells.

Feb. 21, 2012 — Says his doctors found new lesion in same place where tumor was previously removed, and announces plans to return to Cuba for surgery.

Feb. 26, 2012 — Undergoes operation that removes tumor from same location in pelvic region. Says later that follow-up tests showed tumor was "recurrence of the initially diagnosed cancer."

March 24, 2012 — Travels to Cuba to begin first round of radiation therapy.

July 9, 2012 — Says at a news conference that tests have shown he is "totally free" of cancer.

Oct. 7, 2012 — Wins another six-year term, beating challenger Henrique Capriles by an 11-point margin.

Dec. 9, 2012 — Announces that his cancer has returned and that he needs surgery again. Also says for the first time that if he is unable to stay on as president, Vice President Nicolas Maduro should take his place and should be elected president.

Dec. 11, 2012 — Undergoes his fourth cancer-related operation in Cuba. Officials describe it as a complicated six-hour surgery.

Dec. 16, 2012 — Chavez's allies sweep gubernatorial elections, winning in 20 of 23 states.

Dec. 18, 2012 — Venezuelan government reports that Chavez has a respiratory infection but says it has been controlled. He is said to be in stable condition.

March 5, 2013 — Government announces the death of Hugo Chavez.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/key-dates-hugo-chavezs-political-life-0

July 2010, digs up Bolivars bones and talks to them (the bones that is) while broadcasting on live tv.

Oh and wasnt it a few months before that that he said the Haitian earthquake was caused deliberately by the US using an earthquake machine.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ted baillieu has resigned as Premier of Victoria....bit sad I must say. Ted is a nice guy. Napthine rumoured to be leader

 

[AndyMMT]

Well I nailed those aussie banks ACF (even i am surprised that I was so close lol) http://www.afr.com/p/blogs/christop...ncreases_banks_bailout_ksLcB6WlebkzfQ89p3pPAK My suspicion was correct was a shortage of aussie sov debt.

PS what that means is that they have nationalised them on the quiet.

 

[auscyclefan94]

WA election is a bloodbath. Landslide.

Congrats to Colin Barnett. Well deserved. I don't think you can use the incumbency excuse as a reason for an 8% 2pp swing.

 

[movingtarget]

WA election is a bloodbath. Landslide.

Congrats to Colin Barnett. Well deserved. I don't think you can use the incumbency excuse as a reason for an 8% 2pp swing.

Predictable. Labour did not even want Gillard campaigning for them in WA. As for Victoria, if Ted is a nice guy, what's he doing in politics ? His replacement is supposed to be very mediocre if the rumours are correct. Federal results in Victoria could be interesting with the state government becoming very unpopular even though state and federal don't always coincide.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Predictable. Labour did not even want Gillard campaigning for them in WA. As for Victoria, if Ted is a nice guy, what's he doing in politics ? His replacement is supposed to be very mediocre if the rumours are correct. Federal results in Victoria could be interesting with the state government becoming very unpopular even though state and federal don't always coincide.

A couple of points.

1. I think the Feds did play a role in the result but Barnett was a very good Premier.
2. Ted is in politics because of family tradition, his desire to improve Victoria and it is another feather in his cap which is a successful career.
3. Yes, many in the Liberal Party that I know are concerned about Napthine although they are going to give him a chance.
4. Even during Ted's worst polls, the aggregate of all the National polls in Victoria show a 4% swing to the Coalition in Victoria, which would give the Liberals 2 possibly 3 seats gained.

 

[movingtarget]

A couple of points.

1. I think the Feds did play a role in the result but Barnett was a very good Premier.
2. Ted is in politics because of family tradition, his desire to improve Victoria and it is another feather in his cap which is a successful career.
3. Yes, many in the Liberal Party that I know are concerned about Napthine although they are going to give him a chance.
4. Even during Ted's worst polls, the aggregate of all the National polls in Victoria show a 4% swing to the Coalition in Victoria, which would give the Liberals 2 possibly 3 seats gained.

Yeah it will be a bloodbath in NSW especially with the Obeid thing winding up just before the election which will just add to the misery. WA will be a knockout, QLD not sure about, people, some people still like Rudd and the Lib Premier is not exactly Mr Popularity at the moment but no one seems to have anything positive to say about Labor's chances. Shorten or Combet will probably get the Labor job very soon. Gillard is on her last legs and Rudd does not seem to have the numbers and burnt his bridges once too often. Of course I could be completely wrong.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Stephen Conroy should be renamed Stalin Conroy with his new laws. Disgusting!

 

[movingtarget]

Stephen Conroy should be renamed Stalin Conroy with his new laws. Disgusting!

Not sure what to make of the polls, one week Gillard is gone and then she jumps three points. Conroy is a bumbler. I have heard that his NBN ramblings make no sense at all and he does not even understand what he is promoting. The new laws just seem to be a reaction to what happened in Britain. We have good laws out here and already have a media watchdog. This seems like overkill and another attempt to win votes and but the boot into Murdoch owned papers because of their reporting on our esteemed PM.

 

[greenedge]

Yeah it will be a bloodbath in NSW especially with the Obeid thing winding up just before the election which will just add to the misery. WA will be a knockout, QLD not sure about, people, some people still like Rudd and the Lib Premier is not exactly Mr Popularity at the moment but no one seems to have anything positive to say about Labor's chances. Shorten or Combet will probably get the Labor job very soon. Gillard is on her last legs and Rudd does not seem to have the numbers and burnt his bridges once too often. Of course I could be completely wrong.

I would like for KK to eventually run for Labor leader- she governed NSW quite well and did nothing wrong in a losing campaign.

Just needs to get into main parliament.

 

[movingtarget]

I would like for KK to eventually run for Labor leader- she governed NSW quite well and did nothing wrong in a losing campaign.

Just needs to get into main parliament.

I did not know she was still in politics. See her sometimes commenting on election nights. I think she is chairman or general manager of Australian Basketball Assoc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I would like for KK to eventually run for Labor leader- she governed NSW quite well and did nothing wrong in a losing campaign.

Just needs to get into main parliament.

Oh dear. Kristina Keneally did nothing wrong. ROFL. She was just another Eddie Obeid puppet. I guess her successful Premiership is highlighted by her drubbing in the 2011 election.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It seems Barnaby Joyce will be running against Tony Windsor in New England this coming election due to Torbay's membership being suspended. That would be a great electoral battle to watch.

 

[rhubroma]

Capitalism at its finest...

Something not discussed was the situation in Cyprus: the small state, which, not much to my surprise, is loaded with cash in its bank accounts deposited by mafioso Russians (to an estimated billions and billions, mostly earned illegally); who, if the tax on accounts actually comes to fruition, will surely result in them pulling out of the Mediterranean fiscal paradise, thus sinking the country and theoretically the Eurozone along with it. What a system...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/13/eurozone-recovery-depends-on-germany