Far be it from me to start following trends...

[Goreripper]

Don't forget that Latham's recently been accused of reneging on his promise to pull out of Iraq. By recruiting a vehement anti-war activist like Garrett, he could well be saying "Yep, I'm gonna do it all right. Look who's my best mate right now. Ner ner ner ner ner."

 

[Spiff]

Don't forget too that along with all the old-school hippy-hating Labor voters, there are also young and not-so-young voters to appeal to, and Garrett can do that. He can also help get the votes of those Green-leaning voters who know deep down that voting for the Greens is really a wasted vote in the bigger picture.

 

[Goreripper]

voting for the Greens is really a wasted vote in the bigger picture.

This is also correct. The Greens don't really have that much in the way of policies outside the "green" agenda; this is why they'll never be a major political force. At the moment they're really taking on a moderating role similar to what the Democrats used to do until they unravelled.

 

[Sydo]

I actually thought that Labor and Latham had achieved all that without Garrett anyway; hence my theory that he can only hurt them by pushing away the old-school hippy-hating voters'.

 

[Goreripper]

That may well be the case if he was being put in another electorate. But as I said before, a headless chicken could contest Maroubra for Labor and win it. He's a high-profile candidate, that's for sure, but he's just one guy and I hardly think he'll get a Cabinet spot. He's just there to make up the numbers right now.

 

[Spiff]

I heard that Latham was thinking of putting him on the frontbench. He'd make an interesting environment minister.

 

[Goreripper]

Yeah I heard that too, but I'm unsure if that would be a wise move. I'm not sure if Garrett really has the necessary experience to be a Cabinet minister. It could be that Latham's just flying a few kites to see what happens. By the same token, though, he does tend to shoot pretty straight most of the time.

 

[Spiff]

Mark Latham is the saviour of Australia and the world. He'll look after us.

 

[Goreripper]

My one hope for this year is that Mark Latham becomes PM. My other hope is that Bush gets the shaft, but judging by who he's up against, that isn't looking very likely.

 

[serenesorrow]

My other hope is that Bush gets the shaft, but judging by who he's up against, that isn't looking very likely.

And also if indeed there was foul play getting him into office he probably wouldn't hesitate in cheating to stay there.

 

[Goreripper]

There's no doubt Bush rigged the election. One only needs to read Michael Moore's Stupid White Men (which is far more balanced than US conservatives give it credit for) to find proof of this. Nonetheless, with Kerry running against him, he probably won't need to do anything this time but show up.

 

[Spiff]

Wow, this sounds familiar:

Latham opposes vote roll change
June 14, 2004



THE Labor Party was opposed to any move by the Federal Government to close the electoral roll on the day an election was called, Opposition Leader Mark Latham said today.

Federal parliament this week is expected to debate a government bill under which the voter rolls will close earlier, on the day the writs are issued, in a move opponents claim will leave 300,000 people disenfranchised.

The bill also seeks to ban all prisoners from voting.



Mr Latham today labelled the move anti-democratic.

"We've had a system where the roll closes after an election is called that allows people to get on the roll and exercise their democratic right," Mr Latham said.

"That system has worked well in the past and should be maintained."


Mr Latham said any move by the Howard Government to close the roll on the same day an election is called would disenfranchise many Australians.

"So it seems to be a politically-motivated measure that is anti-democratic," he said.

"We are dead set against any move to close the roll the day the Government itself calls the election." Asked whether prisoners should be restricted in their voting habits, Mr Latham said: "That's something we're going to have a look at."

Agence France-Presse

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9840549%255E1702,00.html

 

[spawn]

You people give Bush WAY too much credit, he didnt rig the election. People in Florida were too stupid to even KNOW to put a hole in the voting card, the US elections biggest problem is the US people! (To make a huge general sweeping statement )

 

[Spiff]

No, Spawn, he did rig the election.

 

[spawn]

Yes and he let planes crash into the WTC, and there were little grey men in a crashed spaceship that crashed at Roswells 9/11, and Elvis is still alive!

 

[phlogiston]

I don't know if was "rigged" as such, but he certainly made some questionable legal challenges.

 

[Spiff]

I'm serious. Everyone has known about it for four years, so why are you acting like it's all news to you? It's a documented fact that he changed the electoral rules (taking thousands of names of likely Democrat voters off the roll in Florida - where his brother Jeb is the governor) to help him win. I'd post a link but I can't be bothered looking for one - I'm sure someone here who enjoys internet research can find an article on it.

 

[spawn]

So thats not rigging it. Its a dubious ethical decision, but theres nothing illegal about that.

 

[Sydo]

Plus Gore made a numbers of blunders in his challenge of the result. He became greedy, and lost.

 

[spawn]

Actually, if by rigging you mean illegal, then you are wrong, if you mean simply ensuring he won an electorate, then yes, you are right. But any political party would do the same if they could get away with it.