Abbott/Liberal Govt Watch

[redandblack]

Jimmy, I read that article you linked to.

It's highly favourable to Keating and credits him, Bernie Fraser and Kelty as being the architects of the current prosperity.

I was interested in the other quote about wage indexation. You can always spot the leanings of the writer when you read things such as "the unions retaliated .....with the intent to destroy the government"

[Jimmy_041]

Jimmy, I read that article you linked to.

It's highly favourable to Keating and credits him, Bernie Fraser and Kelty as being the architects of the current prosperity.

I was interested in the other quote about wage indexation. You can always spot the leanings of the writer when you read things such as "the unions retaliated .....with the intent to destroy the government"

Well, it was written by Don Russell - Keating's senior adviser.
The '80's was a time when major changes were needed and Keating actually did espouse similar changes to what the Libs wanted (including the GST )

That's my quote about destroying the Lib Govt - I remember the time well. Fraser was far more right than John Howard and over ruled some of the economic changes Howard wanted to bring in. Fraser and his Govt were intent on labour reform and the unions arced up and it was industrial war between the two. The unions said to the Govt - you destroy the indexation and this is what will happen - no doubt they were out to bring down the Liberal Govt - I heard Labor people say the same thing at that time. They just did far more damage than even they thought could happen.

Just like with Patrick and the Liberal Govt's intent to destroy the MUA (am I now leaning to the right?)

[Jimmy_041]

Keating's parliamentary performances made you want to watch question time. He was certainly a flawed character, but wonderfully so and was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise turgid parliament.

Unless you were on the receiving end, in which case he was a pig

No doubt Keating was a good performer but he is not what I would want overseas people to think is representative of the rest of us.

I respect a Jay Weatherill personality in comparison to a Kevin Foley type, and, in the end, both Keating and Foley got their just desserts.

Keating won the unwinnable election due to the GST but then lost the unlosable election in 1996 because people saw him for what he was

[Psyber]

Keating's parliamentary performances made you want to watch question time. He was certainly a flawed character, but wonderfully so and was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise turgid parliament.
Unless you were on the receiving end, in which case he was a pig

I always found him quite sickening and embarrassing.
His arrogance and manner did not make me proud to be an Australian when I was overseas, and was a factor in my turning to the Liberal Party despite my Labor family background.

[redandblack]

I can understand that, Psyber.

People tended to either love him or hate him.

[Sky Pilot]

The same applies to Tony Abbott.
His speech to the parliament this morning was brilliant and he had Obama listening intently whereas when Gillard made her grovelling simplistic speech Obama sat there smiling sickly (is that a word?)

[Jimmy_041]

The point with my discussion about Keating
Anyone can be Prime Minister of this country and, at the moment, Abbott is looking a far better one than Gillard.

Rather amusing that some people on this forum were writing him off when he was first elected

[dedja]

He isn't the PM ... yet.

With such an insipid government and PM Abbott should be an absolute sure thing, but according to the polls (which I place zero credence on) most people disapprove of him

I'd like to see how he's faring when the going gets a bit tougher, not now when Humphrey B Bear could lead the coalition and still be odds on to form government next time.

[Gingernuts]

The point with my discussion about Keating
Anyone can be Prime Minister of this country and, at the moment, Abbott is looking a far better one than Gillard.

Rather amusing that some people on this forum were writing him off when he was first elected

Depends on your political leanings. He has to appeal to the marginal/swinging voters to get elected, this is his major problem.

I am such a voter and if an election was called today, I would still vote Labor. Both severely disappoint me, but when it comes to the crunch I prefer Gillard's nasally tones over Abbotts keystone swagger any day of the week.

Lucky for Abbott I'm in a safe Liberal seat.

[Jimmy_041]

He isn't the PM ... yet.

With such an insipid government and PM Abbott should be an absolute sure thing, but according to the polls (which I place zero credence on) most people disapprove of him

I'd like to see how he's faring when the going gets a bit tougher, not now when Humphrey B Bear could lead the coalition and still be odds on to form government next time.

I meant elected as Leader of the Coalition

Most people disapproved of Keating as well

[Sky Pilot]

The point with my discussion about Keating
Anyone can be Prime Minister of this country and, at the moment, Abbott is looking a far better one than Gillard.

Rather amusing that some people on this forum were writing him off when he was first elected

Depends on your political leanings. He has to appeal to the marginal/swinging voters to get elected, this is his major problem.

I am such a voter and if an election was called today, I would still vote Labor. Both severely disappoint me, but when it comes to the crunch I prefer Gillard's nasally tones over Abbotts keystone swagger any day of the week.

Lucky for Abbott I'm in a safe Liberal seat.

How sad that you could support a clueless government on the basis of not liking Tony Abbott. By supporting Labor you are endorsing the loopy Greens. Its tragic really. This mob inherited a $20billion surplus and turned it into a debt that will take us a decade of sound economic management to reverse.

[Gozu]

How sad that you could support a clueless government on the basis of not liking Tony Abbott. By supporting Labor you are endorsing the loopy Greens. Its tragic really. This mob inherited a $20billion surplus and turned it into a debt that will take us a decade of sound economic management to reverse.

Bloody wingnuts, seriously.

By voting Labor he would be endorsing the Greens even though they're like a totally different party?

Did you miss the bit about the GFC? You know the lavish praise around the world heaped on the Govt (Treasury really) for their response to it?

Wayne Swan, World's Greatest Treasurer?

To paraphrase Neville Bartoss from the movie Chopper "Mate, we're flying". The economy is going great, we're pretty much the envy of the world.

I'm questioning your sanity SP and if you think we'll need a decade to be in surplus again you just don't have a clue.

[Sky Pilot]

How sad that you could support a clueless government on the basis of not liking Tony Abbott. By supporting Labor you are endorsing the loopy Greens. Its tragic really. This mob inherited a $20billion surplus and turned it into a debt that will take us a decade of sound economic management to reverse.

Bloody wingnuts, seriously.

By voting Labor he would be endorsing the Greens even though they're like a totally different party?

Did you miss the bit about the GFC? You know the lavish praise around the world heaped on the Govt (Treasury really) for their response to it?

Wayne Swan, World's Greatest Treasurer?

To paraphrase Neville Bartoss from the movie Chopper "Mate, we're flying". The economy is going great, we're pretty much the envy of the world.

I'm questioning your sanity SP and if you think we'll need a decade to be in surplus again you just don't have a clue.

yeah you're right - I haven't got a clue.

[redandblack]

Ah, SP, at last I can post that I completely agree with you

[Sky Pilot]

see, I'm not that bad after all.

[redandblack]

[Gingernuts]

The point with my discussion about Keating
Anyone can be Prime Minister of this country and, at the moment, Abbott is looking a far better one than Gillard.

Rather amusing that some people on this forum were writing him off when he was first elected

Depends on your political leanings. He has to appeal to the marginal/swinging voters to get elected, this is his major problem.

I am such a voter and if an election was called today, I would still vote Labor. Both severely disappoint me, but when it comes to the crunch I prefer Gillard's nasally tones over Abbotts keystone swagger any day of the week.

Lucky for Abbott I'm in a safe Liberal seat.

How sad that you could support a clueless government on the basis of not liking Tony Abbott. By supporting Labor you are endorsing the loopy Greens. Its tragic really. This mob inherited a $20billion surplus and turned it into a debt that will take us a decade of sound economic management to reverse.

I make a judgement call based on the facts before every election, not liking Abbott is only one such fact.

I take it you swallow whatever propaganda is wheeled out from your favourite party and vote the same way every election? That is sad in my book. Parochial, close minded, and downright sad.

[once_were_warriors]

The point with my discussion about Keating
Anyone can be Prime Minister of this country and, at the moment, Abbott is looking a far better one than Gillard.

Rather amusing that some people on this forum were writing him off when he was first elected

Depends on your political leanings. He has to appeal to the marginal/swinging voters to get elected, this is his major problem.

I am such a voter and if an election was called today, I would still vote Labor. Both severely disappoint me, but when it comes to the crunch I prefer Gillard's nasally tones over Abbotts keystone swagger any day of the week.

Lucky for Abbott I'm in a safe Liberal seat.

How sad that you could support a clueless government on the basis of not liking Tony Abbott. By supporting Labor you are endorsing the loopy Greens. Its tragic really. This mob inherited a $20billion surplus and turned it into a debt that will take us a decade of sound economic management to reverse.

I make a judgement call based on the facts before every election, not liking Abbott is only one such fact.

I take it you swallow whatever propaganda is wheeled out from your favourite party and vote the same way every election? That is sad in my book. Parochial, close minded, and downright sad.

I'm the same GNuts. However unlike here in Sth Australia , I do sometimes , more this century have trouble voting for the Libs due to them being in bed with the Nationals

[dedja]

Most people disapproved of Keating as well

Sure did in '96 ...

[Jimmy_041]

I'm the same GNuts. However unlike here in Sth Australia , I do sometimes , more this century have trouble voting for the Libs due to them being in bed with the Nationals

I see the Nationals as important as the Labor Party in the scheme of the Australian economy

You want us to get rid of our agriculture like the Brits have done?

That was Keating's aim - purely personal because he never got a vote out of them