The South Australian Political Landscape

[Psyber]

What do you mean by that goss? Are you suggesting Downer would not be an electable premier?

Downer would get flogged, "the idiot son of the Adelaide aristocracy".

.. with a degree in Economics from Newcastle-on-Tyne, and a substantial employment record before entering politics.
I can assure you that though he has a quirky sense of humour that irritates some, and he may not be a genius, he is not an idiot.

[Sky Pilot]

What do you mean by that goss? Are you suggesting Downer would not be an electable premier?

Downer would get flogged, "the idiot son of the Adelaide aristocracy".

.. with a degree in Economics from Newcastle-on-Tyne, and a substantial employment record before entering politics.
I can assure you that though he has a quirky sense of humour that irritates some, and he may not be a genius, he is not an idiot.

Downer is a class act who could pull the state Liberal Party together and turn it into a formidable government. This is why the socialist left is on Nervous Street.

[dedja]

The SA Liberal party is attempting to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory ... again.

What a bunch of muppets.

LOL at Pyne-O-Clean ... you know you're in trouble when the poodle thinks he's running the show.

Then there's Labor ... FFS.

God help us.

[Psyber]

The SA Liberal party is attempting to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory ... again.
What a bunch of muppets.
LOL at Pyne-O-Clean ... you know you're in trouble when the poodle thinks he's running the show.
Then there's Labor ... FFS.
God help us.

I tend to think that government may work better without politicians. (Well, without professional ones.)
Cleaning out the lawyers and getting some people with science and technology backgrounds may help too.
(One of may legal friends admits than lawyers lie and argue for a living, and it becomes automatic for them.)

[GWW]

Unfortunately we are stuck with an "adversarial" type of parliamentary system, where MPs have to resort to arguing, point -scoring, distortions of truth, and half-truths. Would be great if a better system could be brought in, can't see it happening though unfortunately.

Re Downer, I don't think it would be his intelligence that would be the issue. I read his article in the Advertiser most weeks, he's clearly very smart. I think the problem he would have would be more of an image one (toffy accent; the state ALP would probably do a "smear" campaign linking him to all the negatives of the Howard Govt and how Downer couldn't be trusted because of "children overboard", WMD/Iraq, etc etc. They would probably drag out a photo of the fishnet stockings too).

[Jimmy_041]

It is a load of bull$hit to fill up the fast sinking Sunday Mail.
If you read it, it is a rehash of what was in yesterday's paper. She should be reported for plagurism
Also look at the articles on the Andrea Lowe.
Do the Sunday Mail do any of their own work?
First time I've bought the SM in a long time
Take the inserts out and the wind blew the rest of it off the table

[Gozu]

What do you mean by that goss? Are you suggesting Downer would not be an electable premier?

Downer would get flogged, "the idiot son of the Adelaide aristocracy".

I'd back him in any political debate with you

You sound a bit upset, Jimmy.

Typical Libs still headless chooks looking for their messiah to lead them to the promised land.

I wonder what MHS thinks of all this?

[Jimmy_041]

What do you mean by that goss? Are you suggesting Downer would not be an electable premier?

Downer would get flogged, "the idiot son of the Adelaide aristocracy".

I'd back him in any political debate with you

You sound a bit upset, Jimmy.

Typical Libs still headless chooks looking for their messiah to lead them to the promised land.

I wonder what MHS thinks of all this?

Standard line Gozu - I'm upset

Whilst you continue to use News Corp who you use to pour scorn upon and then trot out an ignorant line from an uneducated twat about Downer. Weak as Piss!!

[bulldogproud2]

Apparently Downer sounded out his wife about him taking over the Liberal leadership. However, she gave a firm no. As such, I don't expect him to run for leadership.

Redmond should continue to be safe whilst the polls are good for the Liberals, but one bad poll and she could be in trouble.

[Jimmy_041]

To be perfectly honest bp2, I almost hope that the Libs lose so the 3 idiots who are stirring all of this get shafted - they deserve no less.

[Psyber]

Apparently Downer sounded out his wife about him taking over the Liberal leadership. However, she gave a firm no. As such, I don't expect him to run for leadership.
Redmond should continue to be safe whilst the polls are good for the Liberals, but one bad poll and she could be in trouble.

Where did you get that version from?
I heard him say on radio, laughing at the time, that his wife had put up with a lot for his career.
He then added that he did not think she would like the idea of him returning to politics, even if he were interested in doing so.

That hardly suggested he had "sounded out his wife" and got a "firm no".

[Jimmy_041]

Apparently = someone / somewhere said it

[bulldogproud2]

Apparently Downer sounded out his wife about him taking over the Liberal leadership. However, she gave a firm no. As such, I don't expect him to run for leadership.
Redmond should continue to be safe whilst the polls are good for the Liberals, but one bad poll and she could be in trouble.

Where did you get that version from?
I heard him say on radio, laughing at the time, that his wife had put up with a lot for his career.
He then added that he did not think she would like the idea of him returning to politics, even if he were interested in doing so.

That hardly suggested he had "sounded out his wife" and got a "firm no".

Directly from the man himself... an interview with Alexander Downer on the ABC News Network.

Cheers

[Psyber]

Apparently Downer sounded out his wife about him taking over the Liberal leadership. However, she gave a firm no. As such, I don't expect him to run for leadership.
Redmond should continue to be safe whilst the polls are good for the Liberals, but one bad poll and she could be in trouble.

Where did you get that version from?
I heard him say on radio, laughing at the time, that his wife had put up with a lot for his career.
He then added that he did not think she would like the idea of him returning to politics, even if he were interested in doing so.

That hardly suggested he had "sounded out his wife" and got a "firm no".

Directly from the man himself... an interview with Alexander Downer on the ABC News Network.
Cheers

That's interesting. I think that is the same one I heard and referred to above.

I'm always intrigued by how selective our human hearing is and how our orientation affects what we do hear.
It reminds me of the old road accident story that goes - "...there were 5 witnesses and here are the 6 versions of the incident."

[Jimmy_041]

Silly woman should have lied - it's kept Labor in power for years

Isobel Redmond feels regret over divulging Senate offer
Steve Rice
adelaidenow
October 16, 201210:58AM

Redmond admits policy 'off' day
OPPOSITION Leader Isobel Redmond says she wishes she hadn't revealed considering quitting her job to join the Senate.
Speaking outside the Police Association's annual conference this morning, Ms Redmond reaffirmed her position of not discussing private conversations after revelations she offered to step down and give former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer her job during a meeting two weeks ago.
This is despite previously admitting she had considered an offer to quit as leader and join the Senate during another private conversation.
"I was confronted on radio with an assertion as to something that had occurred and I wasn't prepared to lie about it," she said.
"I wish that I hadn't been caught in that situation and I'm not going to be again.
"I intend and will continue to be the leader of this party, I expect to continue to be the leader of the party and I expect to take us to the 2014 election."

[bulldogproud2]

Apparently Downer sounded out his wife about him taking over the Liberal leadership. However, she gave a firm no. As such, I don't expect him to run for leadership.
Redmond should continue to be safe whilst the polls are good for the Liberals, but one bad poll and she could be in trouble.

Where did you get that version from?
I heard him say on radio, laughing at the time, that his wife had put up with a lot for his career.
He then added that he did not think she would like the idea of him returning to politics, even if he were interested in doing so.

That hardly suggested he had "sounded out his wife" and got a "firm no".

Directly from the man himself... an interview with Alexander Downer on the ABC News Network.
Cheers

That's interesting. I think that is the same one I heard and referred to above.

I'm always intrigued by how selective our human hearing is and how our orientation affects what we do hear.
It reminds me of the old road accident story that goes - "...there were 5 witnesses and here are the 6 versions of the incident."

Not a prob, Psyber, always been a bit hard of hearing myself but I am sure that Alexander did indeed say that he approached his wife about running and she said 'no.

Cheers

[gossipgirl]

sounds like liberal leadership will be changed

[Dogwatcher]

Statement by Martin Hamilton-Smith MP and
Steven Marshall MP regarding Liberal Leadership

On Tuesday 23rd October the positions of Leader and Deputy Leader of the State Parliamentary Liberal Party will be declared vacant and a ballot will be held.



At the request of colleagues, we intend to nominate together for the positions of Leader (Martin Hamilton-Smith MP) and Deputy Leader (Steven Marshall MP).



The Liberal Leadership and Deputy Leadership is a matter for the State Parliamentary Liberal Party. We will be speaking with each of our colleagues between now and Tuesday regarding this matter.



In the event that we are successful we will hold a press conference following the ballot outlining our plan to deliver growth, vitality and prosperity for all South Australians.

[Gozu]

AFTER months of speculation, South Australian Liberal leader Isobel Redmond will be challenged for her job at a special party meeting on Tuesday morning at 10am.

Former leader Martin Hamilton-Smith brought the spill motion on after collecting the required seven signatures from colleagues.

Liberal sources told Indaily Hamilton-Smith was confident he could regain the leadership he held from April 2007 to July 2009.

The ballot comes after months of speculation that Redmond’s leadership was under threat after a series of gaffes including public service jobs, gender equity and considering leaving state parliament to take the vacant senate seat left by Mary-Jo Fisher.

In a statement released this afternoon Mr Hamilton-Smith said he would be joined in his tilt by Norwood Steven Marshall who will run for deputy.

http://indaily.wordpress.com/2012/10/19 ... inally-on/

[scoob]

Former Opposition leader Martin Hamilton-Smith is to challenge the woman who replaced him, Isobel Redmond, in a spill for the Liberals' South Australian leadership.

There is to be a meeting of state Liberal MPs next Tuesday morning in Adelaide.

Current deputy Mitch Williams will be challenged for his job by shadow frontbencher Steven Marshall.

Liberal Party whip Steven Griffiths said the required number in the party had supported the spill motion.

"I've received a letter this morning signed by the required number of members of parliament requesting a meeting to be convened on Tuesday of next week on the position of leadership," he said.

Despite a recent opinion poll giving the Liberals an election-winning lead over the Labor Government in SA, Ms Redmond has been under pressure for her performance.