The past two months of strong polls and good vibes for the Democrats likely won’t last if Israel starts a regional war and drags in the US. The only solution is for Joe Biden to stop sending Israel weapons.
Category: Election
Are we about to see another massive campaign of highly targeted lies — amplified by foreign, malicious actors — designed to put Donald Trump back in the White House and Republicans in charge of Congress?
Source: How Trump, Putin and the GOP Plan To Rig the 2024 Election | The Smirking Chimp
Trump didn’t do this alone he galvanized the profit-seeking media to obliterate truth in America. Behind the scenes Trump talks to the top end of town asking for $$ and in public he does the same asking for nickel and dime donations from working Americans claiming to be the victim of a Democrat-run bureaucracy and Judicial system. One he crafted and controlled federally while President. If money is so easily laundered in America foreign interference in the race for the top job will be simple. After all, did the Paradise Papers stop money laundering, or tax evasion in any way?
Chaos is not just Trump’s playground but his weapon against Democracy. As long as the media and he are mutual benefactors in rejecting the truth Trump has more than a chance to win. Murdoch’s media Fox News is still his prime promoter.
“The moment you stop seeking the truth and start rejecting it, actively, that’s the moment when you lose this wonderful system of government, and we are there right now.
” Luntz said Trump was weaponising the various court proceedings against him to fashion himself as being persecuted rather than prosecuted.
“He actually knows the language of victimisation better than any politician I’ve seen anywhere across the globe, and he uses it effectively and has caused people to rally around him.
Source: 2024 US election: Trump could win again says pollster Frank Luntz
Dutton, Murdoch and Costello lose again by a country mile. A 100 year record of Opposition wins was waved goodbye. If an election were held in TAS today the LNP would lose.
Cheers of “Mary, Mary, Mary” roared across the club in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs just before 9.30pm as Doyle arrived after observing the count from a nearby undisclosed location.
Source: Aston byelection: Labor’s Mary Doyle wins seat from Liberals over Roshena Campbell
What if the ALP wins and nobody believes it?
The April Fool’s Day by-election in Aston is no laughing matter for Peter Dutton, who has been told the vote is a de-facto judgment on his Liberal leadership.
Source: No joke for Libs with April Fool’s Day by-election – Michael West
I guess that I should be impressed by the fact that the speaker had the intelligence to use the word “if”. After all, various media outlets were telling us that the election was “neck and neck” and that there was a real question about whether Labor would be able to form government, even as a minority. Nobody was pointing out that the Perrottet government was already in minority, had a series of scandals apart from Gladys, as well as a series of questionable decisions such as knocking down stadiums and trains that didn’t fit in the tunnels.
Source: NSW Election: Too Close To Make Any Conclusions – » The Australian Independent Media Network
President Biden knows that a majority of Americans don’t want him to run for president in 2024. But Biden also believes he is the best candidate to stop Trump, who he views as the biggest threat to our democracy. So let’s take a look at more direct action that Biden can take to ensure Trump doesn’t retake the presidency: The president can voluntarily commit to not running for a second term if Trump also agrees to end his bid for the White House. To sweeten the deal, Biden could also offer Trump a pardon that’s conditioned on him not seeking the presidency.
Victoria’s major parties are set to release the costings for their election promises two days out from polling day.
So far Labor has made $12 billion worth of commitments while the Liberal and Nationals have pledged $28b, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office.
The Victorian Greens announced $37b worth of promises over the campaign.
Now, this would be a win, Matthew Guy. It hardly seems a swing away from the ALP to the LNP
Across Melbourne, the Victorian Socialists have knocked on over 180,000 doors and signed up hundreds of volunteers. Their campaign has set its sights on two upper house seats in the coming state election.
Source: The Victorian Socialists Are Within Striking Distance of a Parliamentary Seat
But the decision has infuriated some Liberal Party members, with one senior figure – who asked not to be named so they could discuss internal matters – labelling it “Trumpian bullshit”.
“I had many voters tell me that they normally voted Liberal, but couldn’t vote for Matthew, and my understanding is that there was some polling a year ago telling us that he was the biggest drag on our ticket,” he wrote.
“Matthew told members – including me directly – that if he lost this election he would be resigning from parliament quite quickly afterwards. He needs to do so now.”
This seems more like an advertorial. A complaint on behalf of LNP’s Vic Branch’s attempt to excuse their up-and-coming loss at the election next month. Given that Ch9 didn’t complain or make an issue of this when the LNP were in power it seems rather calculated to headline it now. The Naphine government spent money and even signed unwanted infrastructure contracts when they knew they were going to lose. Contracts that cost this state more to cancel than any “overspend” on ads that failed to stop the ALP from winning government.
I could be wrong as the ABC has jumped on the current Grattan Institute’s report as well. The Grattan Institute has simply validated what the whole of Australia has known and experienced for years. Most of which were LNP-controlled. The research however, doesn’t address Victoria, or next month’s election as the data isn’t out. Is Dan meant to not advertise “closed roads” due to infrastructure works going on?
No analysis, costings or accusations can realistically be made before this election. The timing of this research’s past, released now, isn’t the point either. But, mainstream media headlining it is. Because, it does sound like a whine, and the voice of sour grapes on behalf of the LNP before the poll as their current ads show they aren’t cutting through. Has the State LNP run out of funds again or are they about to do a Trump and claim the election is in the process of being stolen?
Ch9 gives “Matt” Matthew Guy more air-time than they gave Dan Andrews when he was in opposition and running against Napthine. No research has been done on that. But memory serves us well doesn’t it? However, there has been a significant difference witnessed since Peter Costello was made head of Ch 9 and took over Fairfax and The Age in Victoria. Stokes is in charge of ch7, and Murdoch dominates Sky News and the regions. Any case of unfair obvious has been obvious as far back as Bolte. Even in opposition LNP ads might not look directly gov subsidised but more like undeclared donations to me. Murdoch’s always been a standout and Ch9 has become the new stronger player on the block. While the ABC has been whipped into line this past decade with the Federal government slashing and bashing them into submission.
Can Guy’s regular appearance on Costello’s CH9 News be regarded as an undeclared “donation”? How much would that be worth? How much is this article’s placement worth if costed as a donation?
The opposition, as well as minor parties and independents, are unfairly disadvantaged when governments exploit their incumbency and use public money to boost their image. Victoria has stronger rules than most jurisdictions. They prohibit politicisation of taxpayer-funded advertising – but there are no consequences for flouting these laws.
Source: Political parties must stop spending taxpayer money on campaign advertising
Don’t frack it up
Source: How to preference your ballot so you VOTE SCOTT OUT! | First Dog on the Moon | The Guardian
1-11 boxes all to be numbered with your order of preference. Place your choice FIRST and the ASSHOLES LAST. It’s your VOTE AUSTRALIA make it WORTHWHILE!!!!
Government is about making decisions that impact the lives of Australians in a fair, equitable, transparent and compassionate manner. If you are over 18, voting is compulsory in Australia. So when you go to cast your vote this week, consider this: No political party controls your ‘preferences’, you do. Follow the instructions on the ballot papers you are given and you will cast a valid vote. If a Coalition Government is so bad why has Morrison been part of one for almost a decade and do we really want to have three more years of a Government that is more concerned with staying in power than demonstrating accountability and transparency? Maybe that’s one reason why many Australians have lost faith in the political system. What do you think?
Source: This election – you do have a say – » The Australian Independent Media Network
With prominent independents creating unusual contests in some seats, voters may be confused about how to allocate preferences. But there is a simple solution
Vote RYAN 1, and the LNP 11, UAP 10. The rest is yours to choose. Vote LNP 6 above the Line in the Senate
Labor expects its proposed national integrity commission will examine alleged misconduct from as far back as 15 years, with both former and current politicians eligible to be investigated under a broad definition of corruption.
Unlike the Coalition, Labor has promised to create an integrity body with retrospective powers, meaning it could examine decisions taken before the commission came into being.
Source: Election 2022: Labor integrity commission’s retrospective powers to stretch to 15 years
Undecided voters in marginal seats have named Anthony Albanese the clear winner of the third and final leaders’ debate which was a more sedate affair than the previous ‘shouty’ match.
The Final Showdown on Channel 7 on Wednesday night included a ‘pub test’ of 160 voters who scored Mr Albanese 50 per cent and Mr Morrison 34 per cent while 16 per cent remained undecided.
Meanwhile A YouGov poll of 19,000 voters commissioned by The Australian shows the Coalition heading for defeat, with Labor winning 80 seats and the Coalition reduced to 63. Seven seats would go to independents and one to the Greens.
Source: Undecided voters award Albanese victory in third and final leaders’ debate
Frydenberg says Morrison government won’t state minimum wage figure
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has refused to say what his government believes the minimum wage should be, saying it “has not been our practice and that is not our policy”.
Frydenberg, who is in danger of losing his Melbourne seat of Kooyong next Saturday to “teal” independent Monique Ryan, told ABC radio this morning that the government’s strategy was to drive higher wages with a tighter labour market.
Morrison is who he is, and he will be given the sack yet again. But remember, he believes he’s ” been chosen” so the unpredictable still lies ahead within the Liberal Rabble.
One thing is for certain the ALP will be handed a poison chalice, and a decade of mess to clean with the commercial media still barking and chasing the money it feeds off. They still be dancing to the tune of those who have the bulk of it. The ALP will only have a short time to prove themselves and must SAVE THE ABC, et up an integrity commission, and create secure jobs transitioning to clean energy. The must revitalize our global reputation not just their domestic one.
Labor has increased its lead over the Coalition in two new polls as early voting centres open across the country on Monday, two weeks before the federal election. The Australian‘s Newspoll released on Monday shows Labor rising one point to 54-46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis (compared to 53-47 per cent a week before). Support for Labor is at 39 per cent, with the Coalition slipping to 35 per cent.
Source: Women voters help Labor extend Newspoll lead to 54-46
The second leaders’ debate on the Nine Network last night was full of accusations and acrimony. Amidst the shouting and over-talking coming from both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, it was easy for the facts to get lost. You’re probably wondering how close some of the things that were said came to being correct. RMIT ABC Fact Check has you covered.
Scott Corporal Schultz Morrison also said ” I don’t know anything about that”
Scott Morrison and Senator Anne Ruston, who is the Coalition campaign spokesperson, have both stated the $500,000 that will be paid to Rachelle Miller is a for a separate matter other than the ones that were the subject of the Thom Inquiry which means it has to be for the alleged sexual harassment / sexual assault by federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
Anthony Albanese has taken on the role of Biden in this Election 2022, allowing the Trumpish Rumplestiltskin Morrison whose been electioneering for these last 3 years to reveal who he really is. Imagine if he was debating Tanya Plibersek or Penny Wong the true Morrison would stand out in greater relief.
Scott Morrison is widely disliked, and his conservative government is divided, incompetent, and mired in corruption. Despite this, the Labor opposition’s platform is one of the most timid and conservative in memory.
Source: The Australian Federal Election Offers a Choice Between Disaster and Disappointment
When did our Elections become so Presidential, so American. Who turned it into a leadership and media battle?
It is time to ask yourself who you want to wake up with, again. Three years ago, we faced this decision with the disastrous reigns of Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull still fresh in our memories. While our elections are about individual members in individual electorates, the system has gradually become more presidential. The result may be that people vote for the local candidate if they like the leader of his or her party.
As for Labor, there is a powerful team. The likes of Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers, Kristina Keneally, Tanya Plibersek, and the find of the election, Jason Clare are all showing what they can do. It appears impressive.
Source: Only two weeks to go – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Albanese then stepped in with a very pointed question of his own. “I’ve got my education spokesperson [Plibersek] here. Who is Scott Morrison’s education spokesman?” Advertisement Ad It is a good question no one can quite seem to answer.
Source: Where’s Tanya Plibersek? More like where’s Alan Tudge | The Canberra Times | Canberra, ACT
Frydenbergs most recent slogan “Keep Josh” makes him sound more like an Independent who no longer wants to be seen as part of the Losing Team. He should declare which side he’s on. It doesn’t sound as if he expects to win this election or see Scott kept.
So it’s pretty clear that the independents have certain candidates more worried about them than the Labor Party which is why I find their whole strategy about as clever as Barnaby Joyce running on a platform of: “I’m so into family values that I have two families.” The first difficulty any independent has is getting noticed. If I were to run in Kooyong, I’d be lucky to attract a handful of votes but if Josh were to say publicly that you shouldn’t vote for me,
I’d probably get more votes than if he ignored me. Similarly, Timmy Wilson’s dummy spit about Zoe Daniel’s signs means that I know who’s the “Voices Of” candidate for Goldstein even though I’m not in that electorate.
Let’s be real, it’s thanks to the Libs that Monique Ryan is being interviewed here, there and everywhere. It’s thanks to the Libs that a large number of the people in the endangered electorates know who the teal candidate is and what they stand for.
Higgins MP and potential future frontbencher Katie Allen has been forced to execute a monumental backflip after issuing how-to-vote cards preferencing a United Australia Party candidate who has since gone bad. Very bad.
After last week’s ballot draw, Allen’s office reported UAP candidate Ingram Spencer to the federal police for allegedly acting aggressively towards people and “scaring everyone”. Days later, he was arrested for allegedly using a carriage service to harass someone and placed behind bars ahead of a first court hearing later this week.
So imagine the surprise among Higgins’ Liberal members and broader constituents when tens of thousands of them received Liberal how-to-vote cards instructing them to preference Spencer, a QAnon-following Vladimir Putin admirer, ahead of Labor and the Greens.
To get to the point, Labor may be streets ahead in the polls but Scott Morrison is now in his element. His government is a shambles but, with the three major media houses backing him, and the ABC and others truckling to their daily news agendas, Anthony Albanese will have to win this thing, not wait for Morrison to lose it. The propagandists of News Corp will run hard for Morrison. Already, according to their questionable Newspoll, the gap has narrowed sharply. Sure, they want a contest, it sells their propaganda sheets, but given all the subsidies and favours which Rupert Murdoch, Nine Entertainment and Seven have wrung out of the Coalition they will be surely be barracking for the Coalition and bagging Labor till the cows come home.
Source: The Dirty Election: how the cards are stacked in favour of Scott Morrison – Michael West
Vote 1 Monique Ryan and Vote Frydenberg LAST! or Vote 1 ALPs Peter Lynch 2 Monique Ryan and Frydenberg LAST. In the Senate VOTE 1 ALP and LNP LAST
1. WOULD-BE PM JOSH FRYDENBERG First, the polls indicated the would-be PM will likely lose his seat — to an Independent, no less!
Source: More lying, rorting, taunting Coalition capers with Josh, Bridget and Sussan
Morrison’s Circus is banging the freebie drum and playing Grasshopper in an effort to attract a swarm of camp followers to help create an increasing plague. The ALP have in the meantime been planning and beavering away putting together a plan to save SS Australia from sinking from rising debt, inflation, insufficient wages, and robber barons. Oddly enough but unlike Trump and Morrison, they do want Australia to be Great Again.
The Coalition has promised $833 million a day to electorates around the country since the week of the March 29 federal budget as it goes on a spending spree to hold on to power at next month’s election. From large-scale dams that have yet to be judged against a business case, to BMX courses and footpaths in must-win seats, the Coalition has announced $23.3 billion in projects in the four weeks since the budget at an average of eight election sweeteners a day.
Source: Election 2022: Coalition promises voters $833m a day as it outspends Labor during the campaign
This is what is meant by the expression ” Wagging the Dog”. A totally manufactured and produced hi-viz photo shot accompanied by a totally fabricated fact, a lie about the NSW train strike on TV and in the media. Solely designed to turn Morrison’s dwindling chances of an election win around. Morrison and his team must have watched the 1997 movie “Wag the Dog” starring Di Niro and Dustin Hoffman who showed them how to come back from the dead. It was about a failing President’s (PM) election chances needing to be turned around in 11 days by the application of Fake News. Morrison has been mirroring the same tactics to a tee. Should anyone of Morrison’s media production team reveal the truth they too might go the way of Dustin Hoffman in the end.
Scott Morrison campaigning in Tasmania this week. He attacked unions over the shutdown of Sydney’s network even as it was clear the state government had shut out its workforce.
Source: Federal election 2022: Will wage growth play into the polls?
Social media discourse has been indicating PM Morrison may attempt to postpone the 2022 Election using the pandemic as an excuse. Andrew P Street sets the record straight.
Source: No, Morrison can’t avoid going to an election (and other stories)
Given current polling and the vaccination schmozzle, the odds are favouring the government hanging on to the benefits of incumbency as long as possible, hoping the vaccine bungles will fade, the shots work, peace breaks out over our internal borders, and the promises of opening up start to look more credible. That would mean a repeat of the 2019 timetable – an April budget ahead of a May election. Given the government’s denial, dissembling and deflection over blatant and systemic corruption last time, fasten your seat belts for even more rorting of the public purse for political purposes.
Source: Michael Pascoe: Beware the promises in next election budget
After looking into one of their main issues, I have to agree with Republicans: Our elections are being rigged.
Our Elections Are Being Rigged | The Smirking Chimp
One of the more remarkable developments of the last few years has been the conservative movement’s reliance on outlandish conspiracy theories even as they maintain control of most levers of governmental power. It’s deeply unusual in a modern democratic society, but much more typical in totalitarian developing countries. And it bodes very ill for what is likely to happen to the Republican Party after it inevitably loses power.
The GOP Conspiracy Mentality Will Only Become More Dangerous When They Lose Power | Washington Monthly
With just 11 days left until election day, US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden faced off in Nashville, Tennessee, for the final presidential debate. The debate was divided into six 15-minute segments: fighting COVID-19; American families; race in America; climate change; national security; and leadership. It was moderated by NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker. Welker was the first black woman to serve as the moderator of a presidential debate since Carole Simpson in 1992. The election will be held on November 3 but early postal voting has already begun in some states. Voter turnout is expected to reach record levels year, with some experts predicting that the number of people voting either in person or by mail could exceed 145 million.
Presidential debate as it happened: Trump, Joe Biden clash over North Korea, Amy Coney Barrett and coronavirus
Currently Trump is out of noney
The 2020 election cycle is forecast to smash previous spending records, with the Center for Responsive Politics estimating it will cost US$11 billion. That would be comparable to the 2019 GDP of Equatorial Guinea or Chad.
Creeping Plutocracy after ‘Citizens United’: How US Election Spending skyrocketed to the GDP of some whole Countries
Total spending in the 2020 federal elections is projected to set a new record of almost US$11 billion by November. When adjusted for inflation, that’s over 50% higher than 2016 election spending. This year’s federal election spending – for the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives – is on track to be double what it was in 2008.
The real challenge for American democracy is where this money comes from.
Election 2020 sees record $11 billion in campaign spending, mostly from a handful of super-rich donors
Government officials say the receptacles are illegal and could lead to voter fraud, but the party says it will continue the practice. State officials in California have ordered an investigation into more than 50 deceptively labeled “official” drop boxes. State officials in California have ordered an investigation into more than 50 deceptively labeled “official” drop boxes.Credit…Mike Blake/Reuters By Glenn Thrush and Jennifer Medina Oct. 12, 2020 The California Republican Party has admitted responsibility for placing more than 50 deceptively labeled “official” drop boxes for mail-in ballots in Los Angeles, Fresno and Orange Counties — an action that state officials said was illegal and could lead to voter fraud.
California Republican Party Admits It Placed Misleading Ballot Boxes Around State – The New York Times
Political scientist Katherine J. Cramer has studied the changing political attitudes of rural Wisconsinites — a group that helped put Donald Trump in the White House. “Rural resentment” may not get much attention, but it’s a real and powerful force in US politics.
We Can’t Ignore Rural Voter Resentment
If there are enough delays in counting votes, the state could run up against the December 8 “safe harbor” deadline to submit Pennsylvania electors to the electoral college — a situation that could allow for a Republican power play, according to a recent report by Barton Gellman in the Atlantic. “According to sources in the Republican Party at the state and national levels, the Trump campaign is discussing contingency plans to bypass election results and appoint loyal electors in battleground states where Republicans hold the legislative majority,” Gellman reported. “In Pennsylvania, three Republican leaders told me they had already discussed the direct appointment of electors among themselves, and one said he had discussed it with Trump’s national campaign.”
The Pennsylvania GOP Is Undermining Its Own Vote-By-Mail Reforms For Trump
When it came to cheating, there was also the in-your-face choice of a woman moderator, an obvious advantage to Ms. Harris, also a woman. Susan Page, the moderator, is a journalist, drawn from the main stream media (aka fake news). Her bias was obvious as she consistently attempted to interrupt Mr. Pence when he talked well beyond the two-minutes allotted for the answer to each of her questions, most of which Mr. Pence chose to ignore, veering off into tried-and-true platitudes about the American people and how lucky they were to have his boss looking after them so capably and with such loving concern. You just can’t say what needs to be said to praise the man sufficiently in just two lousy minutes so it was his duty to ignore the agreed-upon rules in the interest of the truth, which the American people deserved to hear. Didn’t they? Sure, they did.
The Despicable Acts of Cheating During Last Night’s VP Debate | The Smirking Chimp
The President is on steroids, but we are way beyond mere October surprises. No, America is now into shock therapy to jolt American voters into retiring Trump – and the lightning bolts keep coming.
Pence-Harris debate gives Trump no relief: a Biden victory is in reach
White nationalists don’t simply view liberals and progressives as wrong on the issues: they view them as an existential threat to the future of the U.S.
via Buckle Up: The 2020 Election Will Probably Be Even Uglier than 2016 | The Smirking Chimp
Foreign Interferance from the Chinese… No Way!! Israel your welcome but pls shut the door quitely on your way out!! (ODT)
The Labor leader has had to spring into action to douse any electorally damaging flames. Shorten, on a visit to the seat of La Trobe in Melbourne, assured gathered journalists that Wilson and Senator Lines had “reconfirmed” their support for the official pro-Israeli Labor line. Zionist Federation president Jeremy Liebler could rest easy: “Good on Bill Shorten and Chris Bowen for swiftly clarifying that Ms Parke’s views are inconsistent with Labor’s approach to Israel, and I’m confident the party leadership will issue a similar response to Josh Wilson and Sue Lines.” Ignoring the substance of Senator Lines’ remarks, Liebler put it down to hostility against the Jewish community “having a dialogue with the Labor Party”. Again, never mention the lobby.
Much of this, sadly, comes down to keeping up, and in, with the voters. Crude calculations figure. Votes from Palestinians and their supporters are insignificant and few; votes from Jewish voters, highly prized. The inner-city Melbourne seat of Macnamara, held by Labor, is of interest, given its slim margin and the retiring, pro-Israeli Labor MP, Michael Danby. To that end, negative comments on Israel are not so much niggles in electoral strategy as bombs waiting to go off.
The desire for Malcolm’s presence is one of those strange paradoxes. If Turnbull is not that good at politics, he’s hardly needed, but if Turnbull can help boost the votes by campaigning, it begs the question: Why did you dump him?
A slew of rightwing groups are trying to prevent large numbers of people from voting. We run down the chief architects
via The key players in the push to purge Americans from voter rolls | US news | The Guardian
While a Galaxy poll published on Friday suggested Labor’s Annastacia Palaszczuk would hang on thanks to a 52-48 lead, the idea that One Nation would cut such a swathe through the Liberal-National Party, while crashing itself, has caught many off-guard.
Mr Christensen aside, probably the two unhappiest people on Saturday night were the LNP leader Tim Nicholls, and Ms Hanson, whose party looks to have secured just a single seat – that of Mirani.
via Queensland poll shatters the Coalition’s city-country myth
With some calling the Labor win at the polls at WA a “bloodbath”, outgoing Premier Colin Barnett conceded “my best shot wasn’t good enough”.
Source: ‘Politics is a harsh and brutal business’: Colin Barnett concedes
The Republican presidential nominee is seeking to garner a win from a loss.
Source: Donald Trump is already laying the groundwork for what’s next after losing the election
Malcolm Turnbull’s ascendant Coalition government is bracing for a backlash from voters that could cost it as many as 10 seats.
Source: Turnbull government expects to lose 10 seats as snap early election talk increases
As the debate took a turn towards unicorns this week, the strangest development might be the fact we now have a Government and Opposition with genuinely different economic policies that they’re prepared to fight an election over.
olddogthoughts 
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