Tag: Election

Israel

A ‘Meaningful’ Election Where Neither Candidate Condemns US-Sponsored Genocide?

A ‘Meaningful’ Election Where Neither Candidate Condemns US-Sponsored Genocide?

Uncategorized

A win is a win, but clear lessons on Gaza from the UK election

If the UK had preferential voting as we have, the result would have been much closer.

The BLP increased its vote by only 2% and received a total vote lower than the Jeremy Corbyn-led BLP in 2017 and 2019.

Starmer also had a poor result in his own electorate.

Like Albanese, Starmer was wedged on AUKUS and supports this absurdity.

Voters in both the UK and Australia are turning away from the tired old two party system.

One striking feature of the election was the collapse of the Tory vote by 24%. It confirms the old adage that Oppositions seldom win elections. It is Governments that lose them, as happened in Australia at the last election.

UK voters rejected the Conservatives for numerous reasons, but they were lukewarm about Labour.

This voter turn off was also reflected in the low voter turnout which at 59% was the lowest in 20 years and the second lowest since 1885.

A win is a win, but clear lessons on Gaza from the UK election

India

Indian election: Narendra Modi hasn’t delivered the expected landslide – where the BJP may have gone wrong

Narendra Modi may have led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a historic third term, but the landslide victory that many had expected failed to materialise. With half of the 640 million votes counted, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political allies were on course to win 290 seats. It’s enough to form a coalition government – but is 60 fewer seats than it won in the 2019 election.

Source: Indian election: Narendra Modi hasn’t delivered the expected landslide – where the BJP may have gone wrong

ALP Government,

Remember when they had vision – » The Australian Independent Media Network

While we might still have two older white men in change at the next election, one hopefully will be able to sell policies with positivity and vision while the other still apparently seeks a return to the days and practices of the Abbott/Turnbull/Morrison government. If so, it might be a really interesting contest of ideas – at last!

Source: Remember when they had vision – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Turkey

Erdogan Arrested and Expelled International Officials Observing Turkish Election – The Intercept

Erdogan Holds Istanbul Rally Ahead Of Presidential Election

The Turkish government detained a team of Spanish elected officials and civil society leaders on hand to monitor election day activity in a Kurdish city.

Source: Erdogan Arrested and Expelled International Officials Observing Turkish Election – The Intercept

Informed Opinion

We’ve been taken for a ride – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Sydney is now one of the most tolled cities in the world. Every time you pay a toll, much of the money now flows oversees. Some people now pay hundreds of dollars a week in tolls, these pseudo taxes. It wasn’t that long ago that governments borrowed money to build this kind of infrastructure. The Harbour Bridge and Snowy Hydro come to mind. Sure, we were paying it off through our taxes for many years. Now we do it by paying tolls. But the taxes we paid for our infrastructure were far cheaper per person than the tolls.

We have been conned.

 

Source: We’ve been taken for a ride – » The Australian Independent Media Network

LNP, LNP Government

Grand designs: meet “Cate” and the Sayers — The Klaxon

Grand designs: meet "Cate" and the Sayers

Grand designs: meet “Cate” and the Sayers. The NGO promoting Josh. Is this what Quid pro Quo really means?

Source: Grand designs: meet “Cate” and the Sayers — The Klaxon

Informed Comment

This might help Labor win the ‘must win’ election – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day The left of politics is concerned with people who cannot help themselves. The right is concerned with those who can. (John Lord )

Source: This might help Labor win the ‘must win’ election – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Informed Comment

That Fella Down Under! Scott Morrison’s AUKUS deal designed to win election, not make Australia safe – Michael West Media

AUKUS, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, submarines

Strap in for a media blitz on the threat from China. Prime Minister #ThatFellaDownUnder Scott Morrison and his merry band are about to take a war to the election. Michael West reports.

The PM’s army of propagandists has been working around the clock over the past two days marketing the latest announcement to a fawning press: AUKUS, a new “Alliance for the Ages as China Threat Grows”, according to The Australian. And what results!

Christian Porter’s secret legal payments are off the front pages, as is the JobKeeper mega-rort, the biggest transfer of wealth in history from working Australians to wealthy Australians and foreign corporations.

Early Thursday morning there was no AUKUS. The AFR did have a scoop though, splashing with: “PM to announce $90b French submarine deal is dead”.

Source: That Fella Down Under! Scott Morrison’s AUKUS deal designed to win election, not make Australia safe – Michael West Media

LNP, LNP Corruption, LNP Economic Management, LNP Government, LNP Policy, LNP Tactics

Political Dynamite: JobKeeper for billionaires a campaign wrecker for Morrison, Frydenberg – Michael West Media

JobKeeper, Bernard Arnaultld

Big business doesn’t vote, small business does. That’s the dilemma for Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg as they try to keep JobKeeper secret heading into the election. Michael West reports.

Source: Political Dynamite: JobKeeper for billionaires a campaign wrecker for Morrison, Frydenberg – Michael West Media

Coal

Clive Palmer’s campaign will have a body count

CAN YOU SMELL IT, dear reader? That faint but unmistakably putrid odour of dank memes and moral decay? It can only be one of two things: a truck full of rotting fish has crashed into the abandoned vomit factory, or Clive Palmer’s political grift is back on. Unfortunately, it’s the latter. The United Australia Party are already gearing up for the coming election as Palmer attempts to recapture the same triumph as 2019, where he spent $83 million to secure zero seats in either house. However, it contributed to the skin-of-the-teeth return of the coal-friendly Morrison Government who celebrated their win by immediately opening the Galilee Basin for coal mining.

Source: Clive Palmer’s campaign will have a body count

Australian Media

Scott Morrison’s mate, political advisor and Nine Chairman Peter Costello sacks John Hewson at the SMH – The Age. Is an election close? – Kangaroo Court of Australia

One of Scott Morrison’s closest political advisors is Nine Entertainment Chairman and former federal Treasurer Peter Costello and one of Scott Morrison’s biggest critics is former federal Liberal Party leader John Hewson who was sacked this week as a columnist by the Nine Entertainment owned papers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. John Hewson’s criticism of Scott Morrison is a lot more damaging to Morrison’s reputation and credibility with voters than most critics because Hewson is a former Liberal Party leader. And with Hewson having a national platform such as The SMH and The Age papers and their websites would have made Hewson one of the top targets for Morrison’s hit squad who work behind the scenes daily trying to manipulate the media.

Source: Scott Morrison’s mate, political advisor and Nine Chairman Peter Costello sacks John Hewson at the SMH – The Age. Is an election close? – Kangaroo Court of Australia

Informed Comment

Republicans Tried to Overturn the Election. We Must Not Forget. | The Smirking Chimp

Most Republican voters believe him. It is natural to want to put all this unpleasantness behind us. We are finally turning the corner on the pandemic and the economy. Why look back to the trauma of the 2020 election? Because we cannot put it behind us. Trump’s big lie and all that it has provoked are still with us. If we forget what has occurred the trauma will return, perhaps in even more terrifying form.

Source: Republicans Tried to Overturn the Election. We Must Not Forget. | The Smirking Chimp

Israel

Large Pro-Democracy, Anti-Netanyahu Pre-Election Protest in Jerusalem | Common Dreams News
Tens of thousands of people gather in front of the Israeli Parliament during a pre-election demonstration to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in West Jerusalem on March 20, 2021. Demonstrators demanded Netanyahu resign over his indictments on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust.
Jews against Israel

Over 50,000 demand Benjamin Netanyahu resign for his indictments for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Large Pro-Democracy, Anti-Netanyahu Pre-Election Protest in Jerusalem | Common Dreams News
Israel

Israel’s KKK on way to government? | The Electronic Intifada
A soldier stands at a concrete checkpoint plastered with posters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brokered an electoral alliance that is almost certain to bring Israel’s version of the Ku Klux Klan into the Israeli parliament when elections are held later this month. Netanyahu’s primary aim is to make sure he wins a decisive majority by shoring up the far-right bloc so that he can pass an immunity law to neutralize his current corruption trial. Enter Otzma Yehudit, or the Jewish Power party. Otzma Yehudit is strongly influenced by the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose virulently anti-Palestinian Kach party was barred from Israeli elections more than 30 years ago. Since being proscribed, Kach has been declared a terrorist organization in most western countries, including the United States, Canada and the European Union. Most of the leadership of Jewish Power had previously been involved with Kach, including its current leader, Itamar Ben Gvir, who held a position in Kahane’s movement in his student days. Jewish Power’s former leader and current chair, Michael Ben Ari, has been banned from entering the US because of his links to Jewish terrorism.

Israel’s KKK on way to government? | The Electronic Intifada
Trump

Trump, Facing Prison And Financial Ruin, Clings To Hopes Of Stealing The Election | Crooks and Liars
Trump, Facing Prison And Financial Ruin, Clings To Hopes Of Stealing The Election

Donald Trump will likely be a prisoner of the U.S. legal system for the foreseeable future, and he has clearly decided he’d rather be wrapped up in electoral proceedings than criminal ones.

Trump, Facing Prison And Financial Ruin, Clings To Hopes Of Stealing The Election | Crooks and Liars
Trump

Biden edges closer – Trump looks weak – after closer than predicted U.S. Election

Democrat candidate Joe Biden edges closer to the U.S. presidency. Dr Martin Hirst has ridden the rollercoaster for nearly a day to provide this update.

Biden edges closer – Trump looks weak – after closer than predicted U.S. Election
Trump

Trump’s Closing Message: I Will Cheat | HuffPost Australia
President Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd following a speech at a campaign rally in Fayetteville,...

WASHINGTON ― After four years of ignoring expertise, lying daily, and breaking both laws and “norms” with impunity, President Donald Trump headed into Election Day with a brazen pledge: that he will cheat by not counting all the ballots. “It’s a terrible thing when people or states are allowed to tabulate ballots for a long period of time after the election is over because it can only lead to one thing, and that’s very bad,” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Sunday, as he repeated his desire to end all vote counting on Tuesday night. “As soon as that election is over, we’re going in with our lawyers.”

Trump’s Closing Message: I Will Cheat | HuffPost Australia
Trump, Trumpland, Trumpland Revealed

Trump Reportedly ‘Plans To Declare Victory Before Election Is Called’ | HuffPost Australia

At a rally in September, he told supporters the only presidential election he would accept as legitimate would be the one he wins. “We do want a very friendly transition,” he told the crowd. “But we don’t want to be cheated, and be stupid, and say, ‘Oh, let’s transit.’

Trump Reportedly ‘Plans To Declare Victory Before Election Is Called’ | HuffPost Australia
Murdoch Media

Queensland Election: South Brisbane and the Murdoch influence

Dr John Jiggens gives an outsider-insider view of a journalist running as an independent candidate of the South Brisbane electorate.

Queensland Election: South Brisbane and the Murdoch influence
Informed Comment

To Stop an Electoral Coup, Study What Went Wrong in the 2000 Florida Recount 

As the possibility of Donald Trump trying to undemocratically snatch the 2020 presidential election seems increasingly likely, we should look to a previous successful attempt by Republicans to seize the presidency while the Democratic Party all but stood by helplessly: the 2000 election’s Florida recount.

To Stop an Electoral Coup, Study What Went Wrong in the 2000 Florida Recount 
Trump, Trumpland

Informed Comment- Robert Reich, Trump’s Chaos
Trumpland, Trumpland Revealed

Don’t expect due process in the U.S. Election

Even if Joe Biden were to gain enough votes, Trump will not allow him to win the U.S. Election, writes Peter Henning.

Don’t expect due process in the U.S. Election
Trump, Trumpland, Trumpland Revealed

Right-wing Talk about “Sedition” and the Insurrection Act Has One Purpose: Stealing the Election | The Smirking Chimp

Remember, Trump was willing to use tear gas and baton assaults against peaceful protesters just to keep them from heckling him. There’s no telling how far he’ll go to keep those same peaceful protesters from messing with his efforts to steal an election.

Right-wing Talk about “Sedition” and the Insurrection Act Has One Purpose: Stealing the Election | The Smirking Chimp
Trump, Trumpland

Republicans forcefully reject Trump’s suggestion to delay November election

US President Donald Trump.

Source: Republicans forcefully reject Trump’s suggestion to delay November election

LNP Government, Uncategorized

Pork Missile: Government fires cash at weapons-maker EOS in Battle for Eden-Monaro – Michael West

photo of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle with EOS weaponry

ACT remote weapons systems manufacturer, Electro Optic Systems Holdings, which has hitched its wagon to countries known to be engaged in gross violations of human rights and likely war crimes, wins big from the Coalition’s weapons announcement on eve of by-election, writes Michelle Fahy.

The Coalition Government’s announcement of the purchase of 251 more remote weapons systems manufactured by the Canberra and Queanbeyan-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) Pty Ltd was a nice “announceable” on the eve of the crucial Eden-Monaro by-election and gave welcome media coverage to EOS.

EOS was in the headlines last year for a very different reason: it supplies the same weapon systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two countries that are waging war in Yemen, and in the process creating the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe, including the mass starvation of children.

The company has justified its exports (it exports 90-95% of its weapons systems) saying,

“Foreign sales significantly reduce the cost of development, acquisition and support for Australia for defence technology. This is the principal reason why Australian industry participates in international sales.”

via Pork Missile: Government fires cash at weapons-maker EOS in Battle for Eden-Monaro – Michael West

Robert Mueller, Uncategorized

Mueller report redactions unlikely to be revealed before presidential election after Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump appeal — RT USA News

Mueller report redactions unlikely to be revealed before presidential election after Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump appeal

Is it any wonder Trump needs the judges onside?(ODT)

via Mueller report redactions unlikely to be revealed before presidential election after Supreme Court agrees to hear Trump appeal — RT USA News

Trump, Trumpland, Trumpland Revealed, Uncategorized

Senate Republicans Make Sure Trump Can Hide Offers Of Foreign Election Help | Crooks and Liars

Senate Republicans Make Sure Trump Can Hide Offers Of Foreign Election Help

Why would Republicans, supposedly “America first” adherents, want to prevent Americans from knowing about foreign interference in our presidential election – unless they have something to hide?

via Senate Republicans Make Sure Trump Can Hide Offers Of Foreign Election Help | Crooks and Liars

UK, Uncategorized

UK general election is on: how it happened and what to expect now

via UK general election is on: how it happened and what to expect now

Informed Comment, Uncategorized

The Bill that Australia despised – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day

I found it impossible to imagine that the Australian people could be so gullible as to elect for a third term a government that has performed so miserably in the first two and has amongst its members some of the most devious, suspicious and corrupt men and women but they did. (John Lord)

via The Bill that Australia despised – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Israel, Uncategorized

Elections reveal a seismic split within Israel’s right | +972 Magazine

Israeli security forces guard as Jews tour the Palestinian side of the old city market in the West Bank city of Hebron, June 15, 2019. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

Elections reveal a seismic split within Israel’s right | +972 Magazine

Informed Comment

The great diversion: election arguments about tax

https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.58%2C$multiply_1%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_52/t_crop_custom/w_800/q_86%2Cf_auto/cdf845de47794436d1b3398f03f75a0c43901d47

The great diversion: election arguments about tax

Australia, Uncategorized

Get ready! An early election is coming – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Between the 4th August this year, the earliest an election can be called and the 19th May next year, the latest, there is a minefield of events that the Coalition will not want to compete with, in its attempts to stay in power.

The most difficult are the Victorian state election in November and the NSW state election in March 2018. Throw in the AFL and NRL football finals in late September/early October, Christmas, School holidays and Easter and it’s obvious.

Politically speaking, this August or early September is the only clear-air time realistically available for the government to try to redeem itself.

via Get ready! An early election is coming – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Humour, Uncategorized

White, Male, Billionaire ‘Outsider’ Candidate Elected President, In Big Middle Finger To Establishment

By on November 10, 2016

trump-outsider

Americans have sent the strongest possible message to the nation’s establishment, electing a 70 year-old rich white man from New York.

“We really showed them,” one Republican voter said today. “Those elites with all the power and money can go shove it!”

“This wasn’t a race between Democrat and Republican,” another voter pointed out, “It was a race between the establishment, and an interloper who just happens to own his own building on Wall Street”.

She said it was a revolutionary change. “He was born with every possible advantage. In other words, the ultimate outsider.”
USA

Is The Donald actually working for Hillary? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Conspiracy theories about Drumpf abound, some serious, some satirical… like this one?

Source: Is The Donald actually working for Hillary? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

USA

US election: The debate that stopped a nation leaves voters torn between Clinton and Trump – US election 2016 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Millions of viewers across the United States and beyond tuned into the first Presidential debate, smashing ratings records and sending Monday night bar sales soaring.

Source: US election: The debate that stopped a nation leaves voters torn between Clinton and Trump – US election 2016 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

USA

The campaign minute 2016 | US news | The Guardian

Everything you need to know from the campaign trail today. Sign up here

Source: The campaign minute 2016 | US news | The Guardian

USA

The three markers that could decide the US election – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Orlando massacre will impact on the US election and how Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton approach it. Terrorism, gun control and unity will be important issues in the race for the White House.

Source: The three markers that could decide the US election – The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Australian Election 2016

Why has climate change disappeared from the Australian election radar?

It is looking ever-more likely that climate change is to be placed way down the order of business – at least for the major parties.

Source: Why has climate change disappeared from the Australian election radar?

USA

Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton: The most lopsided US election race in the modern era begins | US elections | News | The Independent

Donald Trump was the runaway winner in the Indiana primary, as expected. Polls, and the demographics of the state, had suggested as much. And as usual during this election, they’ve been proven right.

Source: Donald Trump vs Hillary Clinton: The most lopsided US election race in the modern era begins | US elections | News | The Independent

Australian Politics

GetUp raises ghost of Abbott past with campaign against hard right Liberal MPs | Australia news | The Guardian

GetUp’s grassroots campaign is gunning for the Coalition conservatives it says are ‘holding back progress’

Source: GetUp raises ghost of Abbott past with campaign against hard right Liberal MPs | Australia news | The Guardian

inequality

Inequality will be a hot button election issue – » The Australian Independent Media Network

By Ad astra ‘Inequality’ is a term used by economists. Joseph Stiglitz has been writing for years about its damaging effect. His book: The Price of Inequality is a classic. More recently, Thomas Piketty entered the arena with his Capital in the Twenty-First Century and hypothesised about the genesis of inequality. He asserted that the…

Source: Inequality will be a hot button election issue – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Australian Politics

Banking royal commission: Turnbull’s budget policy responds to Labor’s agenda

Increasing inequality has allowed Labor to start doing something it hasn’t done for decades – articulate a worldview.

Source: Banking royal commission: Turnbull’s budget policy responds to Labor’s agenda

ALP

Labor can win the next election on tax reform – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Before the last election Tony Abbott, like John Howard before him, promised there would be no change to the GST.  Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb reiterated that promise in their final update on election commitments published on September 5, 2013. It confirms once and for all that: There are no cuts to education, health, defence…

Source: Labor can win the next election on tax reform – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Australian Politics

Incoming…! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Illustration by Simon Kneebone For those watching closely this week, Rupert Murdoch’s tweets clearly signposted how the political scenario is likely to unfold over the next six months. There will be a snap election. The trigger for this will arise from either a leadership challenge or a double dissolution. The latter is the more probable of the…

Source: Incoming…! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Politics

A Newspoll survey predicts a 10 per cent swing against the Abbott Government and the Sydney Morning Herald quoted a senior MP who says Abbott will go if Canning is lost.

The Sleepy Rural Electorate That Could Topple The PM

Latest Newspoll puts Coalition’s margin in the formerly safe seat held by Don Randall at just 51%-49% in two-party-preferred terms

Liberal MP Don Randall, who died of a heart attack in July, had a lead of almost 12%, but the latest Newspoll shows that margin has all but disappeared.

The poll, which surveyed 508 Canning voters last weekend and was published by the Australian, shows the government ahead by 51% to 49% in two-party-preferred terms. At the last federal election in 2013 it won with 61.8% to Labor’s 38.2%.

Economy

A tax-cut election? Income tax cuts look likely to emerge as a key election issue. Gareth Hutchens explains the difficulties and the implications.
Politics

Penalty rates rollback could swing federal election

ANU student Nicolette Marks.

Penalty rates rollback could swing federal election.

USA

Koch brothers’ humiliating secret: Why even their billions can’t save the GOP from self-destruction – Salon.com

Koch brothers' humiliating secret: Why even their billions can't save the GOP from self-destruction

Koch brothers’ humiliating secret: Why even their billions can’t save the GOP from self-destruction – Salon.com.

UK

‘HSBC’s threat to leave UK a strategic ploy to keep Labour out of power’ – whistleblower — RT UK

The HSBC headquarters is seen in the Canary Wharf financial district in east London. (Reuters / Peter Nicholls)

‘HSBC’s threat to leave UK a strategic ploy to keep Labour out of power’ – whistleblower — RT UK.