Unity is death

Monday, 27 July 2015   State of the parties   4 comments 

The cave-in by the left was not because the left position’s in terms of numbers was weak, but because the leader was weak and the left leadership had to go all out to ensure that he wasn’t embarrassed.

Sovereignty

Monday, 24 February 2014   International relations, The Australian state   26 comments 

The last six years have shown that what asylum seekers have more to be concerned about is an insecure, out of control political class that targets the most vulnerable to make itself look in command.

Action

Monday, 30 September 2013   Tactics, The Australian state   12 comments 

The problem Abbott faces is that there are real barriers to implementing his program but behind him is a party of which some sections are determined to make sure he does.

The New Regionalism

Thursday, 25 July 2013   International relations, Tactics, The Australian state   38 comments 

“We will decide” was a phoney bit of Australian unilateralism made possible at a time of that phoney bit of US unilateralism, the War on Terror.

Foreigners

Saturday, 20 July 2013   International relations, Tactics   27 comments 

The Great Destabiliser has moved up a notch.

The Rudd effect

Monday, 1 July 2013   Media analysis, Political figures, Tactics   53 comments 

The lack of a convincing reason on the source of Rudd’s popularity, is not because political commentators are thick, but because the answer is uncomfortable.

Whatever happened to the Asylum Seeker debate?

Monday, 10 June 2013   Key posts, State of the parties   18 comments 

The problem that both parties now face is that having raised the asylum seeker “problem” for internal party reasons, the external conditions for solving it are no more favourable than they were in 2007-2008.

Howard’s Golden Age

Monday, 20 August 2012   State of the parties   16 comments 

The over-turning of the orthodoxies of the Howard period during 2008-2009 has been forgotten as much as the reason for the popularity for the man who brought them about.

The day the Gillard government died – an update

Wednesday, 15 August 2012   The Australian state   13 comments 

Who would better know how to expose a failed a policy than those who proposed it?

The day the Gillard government died

Monday, 9 July 2012   Key posts, State of the parties   17 comments 

Making an enemy of a party on which your supporters agree on practically every issue is at best an empty gesture and at worst will make the Greens the anti-establishment party they clearly crave but don’t deserve.

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