So, we're buggered.

[Hermit]

She wasn't actually voted in, right?

That would be the presidential avenue. We don't have that here. No Prime Minister in Australia is ever voted in by the electorate. We get to vote for a particular parliamentary candidate for the lower house in our locality and for senatorial candidates on a state level. Prime Ministership is determined from within the party membership, and that can happen any time at all.

[charlou]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

[Trolldor]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

I've yet to hear a politician I could tolerate.

[Hermit]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

I've yet to hear a politician I could tolerate.

All politicians are where they are because we vote them in, and don't tell me we cannot find good ones to vote for.

[Pappa]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

I've yet to hear a politician I could tolerate.

All politicians are where they are because we vote them in, and don't tell me we cannot find good ones to vote for.

The good ones don't ever seem to get anywhere near a place where they might make a difference (or that's how it always seems here).

[Hermit]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

I've yet to hear a politician I could tolerate.

All politicians are where they are because we vote them in, and don't tell me we cannot find good ones to vote for.

The good ones don't ever seem to get anywhere near a place where they might make a difference (or that's how it always seems here).

If we can repeatedly get someone like Don Dunstan up as South Australia's Premier for a total of eleven years, it's not impossible to repeat that sort of thing elsewhere.

[charlou]

If we can repeatedly get someone like Don Dunstan up as South Australia's Premier for a total of eleven years, it's not impossible to repeat that sort of thing elsewhere.

I think we've only managed that once, actually .. more's the pity - would definitely be good if it were repeated elsewhere, and here too.

He was a top bloke and a legend in pink shorts state and federal politics, a driving force for social change.

[ED209]

Following the appointment of its first female PM, I predict Australia's economy will crash...

...into the back of another economy at a 'give way' sign.

[Hermit]

If we can repeatedly get someone like Don Dunstan up as South Australia's Premier for a total of eleven years, it's not impossible to repeat that sort of thing elsewhere.

I think we've only managed that once, actually .. more's the pity - would definitely be good if it were repeated elsewhere, and here too.

Whitlam? Bismarck? Pericles? Rudd? Obama? Brandt? Schmidt? Wran? Goss?

They all had faults, of course, but they were comparatively good, principled, compassionate for commoners and lacking venality.

[redunderthebed]

Welsh ..you have a welsh PM

Better than a rich boy tory as PM.

If we can repeatedly get someone like Don Dunstan up as South Australia's Premier for a total of eleven years, it's not impossible to repeat that sort of thing elsewhere.

I think we've only managed that once, actually .. more's the pity - would definitely be good if it were repeated elsewhere, and here too.

He was a top bloke and a legend in pink shorts state and federal politics, a driving force for social change.

There's only one Don Dunstan!

[Pappa]

Early days, but I'm not liking what I'm hearing so far, not least of which is the empty, waffling politician speak she's engaging in. Unnecessary, irritating and useless padding.

I've yet to hear a politician I could tolerate.

All politicians are where they are because we vote them in, and don't tell me we cannot find good ones to vote for.

The good ones don't ever seem to get anywhere near a place where they might make a difference (or that's how it always seems here).

If we can repeatedly get someone like Don Dunstan up as South Australia's Premier for a total of eleven years, it's not impossible to repeat that sort of thing elsewhere.

We have lots of fine, upstanding back-bench MPs, but none of them with get anywhere near cabinet. I think it's primarily the combined effect of power corrupting many/most of those who once had morals, and those without morals being power hungry enough to get to positions of power all too easily....

Plus, it really is the case here that the upper classes are overrepresented in positions of power here.

[redunderthebed]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... 939879.htm

Gillard won't play religion card

Updated 8 hours 36 minutes ago
Prime Minister Julia Gillard

'I am what I am': Prime Minister Julia Gillard (AAP : Alan Porritt)

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has no intention of pretending to believe in God to attract religiously-inclined voters.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd was a regular at Canberra church services and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is known as a devout Catholic.

In contrast, Ms Gillard says that while she greatly respects other people's religious views, she does not believe in God.

Ms Gillard has been quizzed on personal topics including her attitude to religion and her relationship with her partner during interviews this morning.

She says does not go through religious rituals for the sake of appearance.

"I am not going to pretend a faith I don't feel," she said.

"I am what I am and people will judge that.

"For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay to them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine."

"I grew up in the Christian church, a Christian background. I won prizes for catechism, for being able to remember Bible verses. I am steeped in that tradition, but I've made decisions in my adult life about my own views.

"I'm worried about the national interest. About doing the right thing by Australians. And I'll allow people to form their own views about whatever is going to drive their views.

"What I can say to Australians broadly of course is I believe you can be a person of strong principle and values from a variety of perspectives."

Meanwhile Ms Gillard has rejected claims that she is soft on Israel.

Former ambassador to Israel Ross Burns made the accusation in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Fairfax press reported.

Ms Gillard's partner Tim Mathieson works for prominent pro-Israel lobbyist Albert Dadon's real estate company Urbertas Group.

"I've seen that letter to the newspapers, that's not right," Ms Gillard said today.

"I've made up my own views about Israel and made them known publicly well before there was any suggestion that my partner would work in a property group associated with Mr Dadon."

Well done Julia probably the first openly atheist prime minister Australia has ever had.

Now go forth and crush that bible bashing weasel Tony Abbott!

[Trolldor]

Who gives a fuck if she's an atheist? That has absolutely no bearing on whether she'd be a competent Prime Minister.

[JimC]

On radio recently, she was asked:

"Do you believe in god?"

Her reply:

"No, I don't, I'm not a religious person..."



I wonder how many other leaders of western democracies have said that?

[JimC]

Who gives a fuck if she's an atheist? That has absolutely no bearing on whether she'd be a competent Prime Minister.

True, but one gets tired of religious types bending to the will of christian pressure groups...