Anti-politics masquerading as civil liberties
Tuesday, 31 July 2007 The Australian state Comments Off on Anti-politics masquerading as civil liberties
Anti-terrorism legislation that brings in special powers to deal with what look like nihilistic amateurs, as though they were a paramilitary organisation like the IRA, was clearly introduced by the government for political, rather than operational purposes.
Remaking the ALP – an update
Monday, 30 July 2007 State of the parties Comments Off on Remaking the ALP – an update
The ALP National Conference in May showed that Rudd was in the process of transforming the ALP. Moaning over Rudd’s ‘me-tooism’ shows that the media and the government are starting to get what this means.
What’s so admirable about an implosion?
Sunday, 29 July 2007 State and federal politics Comments Off on What’s so admirable about an implosion?
A curiously approving reaction from the media to what amounted to a virtual implosion at the top of the Victorian government with Bracks and Thwaites resigning for what appears to be no particularly compelling reason.
Why the wedge is not working
Sunday, 29 July 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Why the wedge is not working
Labor’s supposed vulnerability on being wedged presumes that it can be too well intentioned for its own good sometimes and that Howard can cause trouble by appealing to the electorate’s darker nature.
Making a virtue of a mess
Friday, 27 July 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Making a virtue of a mess
Hartcher’s problem is that he has confused the original intention of initiatives like the NT intervention, the Murray plan and the Haneef affair with how they have ended up.
Dead elephants clutter up the battlefield
Thursday, 26 July 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Dead elephants clutter up the battlefield
The election campaign is now being littered with dead issues that were escalated by the government for political purposes but have since gone nowhere.
Clearing out the house
Wednesday, 25 July 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Clearing out the house
There has not been a Labor leader for a long while under as little pressure to win votes to win an election as this one. He is abandoning the Green position because he now can.
Think globally, dump locally
Tuesday, 24 July 2007 Political figures Comments Off on Think globally, dump locally
Taking global warming as an international issue does give Labor more room to dump the Greens on which it has relied politically for almost a quarter of a century.
Gently falling apart
Tuesday, 24 July 2007 State of the parties Comments Off on Gently falling apart
The government is apparently intent on bedding down between now and the election and just focussing on its economic strength. Well, that’s one way of putting it.
The hip-pocket nerve: a comforting fallacy
Saturday, 21 July 2007 Media analysis Comments Off on The hip-pocket nerve: a comforting fallacy
The hip-pocket nerve has been a very bad guide to electoral behaviour. Commentators expected the budget’s tax cuts this year to translate to a bounce – and they are still waiting.
