To leakers and whiteanters… STFU!
Please feel free to vote in the poll at the bottom of this article. 😀
I was listening to Wayne Swann, talking about Labor, and what they need to do now, and
he made a lot of sense. 😯
He said that he had no leadership aspirations, and was happy to spend his time on the back bench, where he could focus on his electorate, and leave the leadership to others.
He also said that there was new talent coming through, and it was time that they had a go.
But the most pertinent thing that he said was that they need to stop the public discourse, and start having their discussions and disagreements behind closed doors!
Now there is much speculation about who might take over the reins of the ALP, and much to my surprise, many in the MSM are putting forward Bill Shorten as the most likely, with Albo as another possible.
I have to say that I was a tad taken aback by the support for Shorten in the MSM, when considering the Rudd/Gillard baggage that he carries, and although he has been spoken about for some time as leadership material, I would have thought that his involvement in the original Rudd dumping, followed by his backflip and subsequent involvement in the Gillard dumping would have ruled him out of contention for at least two terms?
So why are some in the MSM pushing for him as their preferred choice? Mmmmm?
I think I was given some clues, whilst watching the ABC and the post election coverage on Monday morning. One of the first things that was said by a number of political reporters was that speculation about the leadership and issues within the ALP will go on for months!
IMHO, the MSM will continue to destabilise the ALP for as long as possible, and so I would argue that , as with their support for change of leadership from Gillard to Rudd, and then their attacking of Rudd when they got what they wanted; throwing their support behind Shorten is more about giving them more ammunition to attack Labor with, than what is in the ALP’s best interest. 😯
We know that with the MSM, ulterior motives abound, and none of those said ulterior motives have the best interests of the ALP at heart, (Talk about gross understatement 😯 ) , so I think that we can, with all confidence, pass over any suggestions from the MSM about whom they think should be the leader of the ALP. 😀
Having said that, I have to say that my preferred leadership team would be Albo for
leader, and Tanya Plibersek for deputy, and my reasons for this team are:
- Albo has proven himself to be a good performer in parliament, and a man of principles who is, IMHO, first and foremost, a Labor man who faithfully and loyally served both Rudd and Gillard.
- My understanding is that he is well respected across the ALP, and has the best chance of uniting the different factions, and make no mistake, the factionalism in the ALP needs to be dealt with once and for all going forward, if the ALP is to rebuild, regroup and be successful.
- He has a vast amount of experience, and as much as they need new blood, his
experience will be invaluable in this period of rebuilding and transition to a more inclusive party that moves back towards traditional Labor values. - Tanya Plibersek, brings a good combination of youth and experience, as well as a wealth of talent, and both have displayed the kind of guts required to take on the rabid right.
I am not saying that they are the only contenders, but IMHO, they are the best option for the leadership team at this time. 😀
The ALP need to also lay down some ground rules ASAP, and they should include;
- Severe penalties for leaking and whiteanting.
- All disputes should be dealt with in-house.
- Discipline MUST be demanded and enforced.
- Loyalty to the party and the chosen leader MUST be demanded, and unconditional.
- All business must be conducted in caucus, behind locked doors, and no mobile phones allowed.
- With Murdoch’s control of the media, and his undisguised desire to take down the ALP, talking to journalists should be strictly controlled, until such time as they can be trusted to report in a fair and balanced way, and leaking to journalists, or the LNP should be a sackable offence.
And the most important dictate of all, that should go out to members everywhere NOW,
is:
To leakers and whiteanters… STFU!
What do you think about who should lead Labor and how they should rebuild from here?
Truth Seekers Musings 
Not real sure of Burnsides full details, but it would throw a curly one to TONES
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Prominent barrister and asylum seeker advocate Julian Burnside QC is proposing the entire state of Tasmania be declared an immigration detention centre.
Mr Burnside has been in Hobart to talk about the off-shore processing of asylum seekers.
He floated the idea at a public lecture saying the entire state of Tasmania could be a place of detention for asylum seekers who arrive by boat.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-13/asylum-seeker-advocate-julian-burnside-suggests-27tasmanian-so/4955436
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I did see him interviewed this morning about this idea, and I think he said that it would be based on the original use of Tassie 😯
Cheers 😀
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Truthy,
Thats an interesting question you posed re refugees
“The entire state of Tasmania be declared an immigration detention centre.”
That would make our mate Kate from Fair Media, a refugee 😀
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I thought Kate came back to the mainland?
Would that mean that you would only be able to visit family who live there at visiting times, and have to be searched when you arrived 😯 😀
Cheers 😀
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Not happy that Shorten has nominated Tanya as his deputy 😦
Can Albo nominate her too? 😉
Cheers 😀
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yeah.both can.
Under Burnsides theory, does that mean, if Kate escapes to the mainland, she would be an illegal refugee ?
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Cornie, just heard that Tanya supports Albo not Shorten 😀
We’ll have to tell Kate we will organise the underground to look after her 😀
Cheers 😀
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Truthy.
DO you reckon we should act as sponsors for Kate ?
I was thinking of leaving her in Morrisons care for a bit.
Then she might appreciate us 😀
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Cornie, mate 😆
Cheers 😀
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Cornie, the underground 😆
Cheers 😀
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Truthy,
Kate might qualify for a 457 via under the Burnside plan.
or would she be FIFO
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Cornie, she might also get stuck on a TPV 😯
😆
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I doubt if they’d want both leader and deputy from Sydney though?
And both are from the left.
Truthy, your previous reply “Mmmmm?” Was that about the best man thing?
If so,
“Shorten has made his career in the Labor Party and the union movement, yet he was also best man at the wedding of his close friend John Roskam, executive director of the anti-Labor Institute of Public Affairs.”
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rise-and-rise-of-a-reasonable-man-20130912-2tno0.html
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Davo, I know it’s unusual, but anything’s possible 😀
Yes the “Mmmmm?” was related to the best man thing, asking the question, do you, like me think that’s a touch odd. 😉 but then he is from the right of the party, but I do feel a tad uncomfortable with Shorten, and I’m not sure why?
I do know that there’s nothing wrong with having friends from the other side, it just struck me as a bit odd. 😯
Cheers 😀
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Christ mate, I think it’s more than odd. Being close enough to Roskam to be his best man when he’s supposed to stand for everything Roskam seeks to destroy is flat out bizarre.
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Davo, I was fashionably understating 😯
I actually think it’s “bat shit crazy!” but I can’t say that… oops 😳
Cheers 😀
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Well, at least I’ll get a vote this time : )
Anyway, I’m off for a beer with my mates.
A bigger bunch of bullshitters you never saw, but good blokes.
See ya.
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Davo, enjoy your beer 😀
Cheers 😀
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I have a problem with Shorten as well Truthy, not the least of which is his willingness to run his campaign through the media.He has spent his entire working life with one goal, to become PM,so to that end he mirrors abort.And he is disloyal so therefore he is untrustworthy for mine.
And it is so disappointing to read that some at the meeting of caucus were texting the media as the meetind proceeded. These bastards should be weeded out and pissed off, they will continue to damage Labor until the next election. I’m finding it all so hard to believe, it’s as if they are employed by Rupert abbott.
Sigh
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Bundysmum, I heard that your man was standing and didn’t get in, 😦 sorry about that, as I’m sure he would have been an asset, especially with you there to help him 😉
Yes, I think that they have to ban phones and tablets in the caucus, as I said in my post. 😯 , and make it a sackable offence. 😉
Yes you have to wonder where their loyalty lies? 😦
Cheers 😀
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Terribly sad that Mike didn’t prevail, Truthy.He was a fantastic member and achieved some monumental things for the electorate. He always responded to correspondence in a meticulous manner and not all mine was favourable to Labor policies, and his staff gave 110% if you needed help or advice. I hope Labor can find him a spot until 2016 as he is the sort of bloke that comes along rarely in politics and he is an asset to Labor and his electorate.
And now we have lord serfchoices who’s first comment was about small business,which is liberal speak for cutting wages,conditions and penalty rates.
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Hi everybody,
It seems that some people have been having fun at my expense while I’ve been off doing other things. Just because I’ve got two heads.
There’s something definitely NQR about Shorten. Just to add a little spice to the mix, there were allegations of branch stacking before his pre-selection. He may have had nothing to do with it, but if a whole lot of new members happened at that time, somebody arranged it…
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Kate, you know we’d be lost without you 😀
Yes, I just don’t feel comfortable with him. 😉
Cheers 😀
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Kate,
who’s been having fun at your expense ?
I’ll have a piece of them 😀
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You ARE a piece of them, cornie. But I dod let you get away with a good bit, partly because I have two heads, and am not in a position to throw stones, and partly because you’re worth your weight in gold.
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Geez ,it’s a good thing Kate is on the mainland.
If they rushed Burnsides scheme in, she could have ended up in PNG awaiting settlement back in Tassie 😀
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From reports, there were 16 leakers during todays caucus meeting.
you just shake your bloody head in disbelief.
I am slowly getting sick of their sad sick game
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Russ, cornie thpought you’d like this pic of Sophie before she applied her makeup 😯
Cheers 😀
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I couldn’t load the pic
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Mate that’s why I did the deed 😀
I figured that was the case 😯
Cheers 😀
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can’t see it
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16 leakers? FGS! I’ve been looking at the ALP website wondering if I should join – not quite sure – maybe this lot is just too far gone.
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Jesus wept. Had no idea that there were so many scums in the bucket Cornie. Now wondering if this is just going to be a gigantic con on the true believers. Shorten is as shifty as a shit house rat and he has learnt every dirty trick in the book.
Albo is an honourable man but I fear a dirty tricks campaign will play out against him.And if Shorten doesn’t win, he will be like abort and undermine and leak against the party, because he sees the Labor party as a tool for his own ambition.
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Bundysmum, I know how you feel, but I saw them today, and I do think that despite my misgivings about Shorten, it seems that he and Albo have come to an agreement, and I think that if Albo wins he will, at least in the short term, abide by their agreement. 😯
Having said that, I’m sure that you are right about his ambition, but I think he’s smart enough to know that if he bides his time, he will get his opportunity, whereas if he does a Rudd, he will never realise his dream. 😉
I think the best thing we can do is promote what we think is best for the party, let the ballot take its course, and then deal with the consequences 😀
Cheers 😀
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Mate, they’ve got to confiscate their phones and tablets at the door 😯 and treat them like the stupid little kids they are 🙄
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Kate,
I’ll be taking the time between now and the leadership election to weigh things up.
I couldn’t put in any effort for Shorten, and my family reckons it could well be time to hang up on the political aspects of life.
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Cornie, mate sorry to use a LNP slogan, but it’s in your DNA 😯 but there comes a time when you just have to pull back from the active side, and just focus on your blogging side 😀
Cheers 😀
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Well, cornie, you’re a hell of a blogger, so maybe a sitting-down job would be the go.
It’s obvious that action is called for, but some of us are better off writing and researching – which is a kind of action anyway, and vital. It might be time for some of us to espouse the bigger cause and re-think our priorities – policy rather than party. Anyway, I’m like you – thinking it all over.
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As long as abort is PM I can never let this go Truthy,Cornie Kate,Mel Russy and everyone else. This is our country,our environment,our NBN,our health system,our education system and our kids future.Be fucked if I can sit back in silence and watch these arseholes totally destroy everything that Julia did to make this country a better place.
And they will, they have already started. Perhaps we all need to take a deep breath and then consolidate the effort that is needed to get rid of these frauds in 2016.
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Bundysmum, I agree, and I think the best place to start, is to work towards a stable ALP, cos they are the only party that can knock Abbott off 😀
That’s why I think Albo is the man, cos with Shorten, we will have a much tougher time with the MSM. 🙄
Not that they wont try with Albo, but they wont have the ammo with him that they will with Shorten. 😀
Cheers 😀
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bundysmum
Sorry to hear about Mike .
He is a really nice, sociable bloke.
He was fair dinkum about issues, had commitment, and not just because it was the party line.
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Bundy,
we managed to see off Angry Anderson.
Last monday, I emailed him the link to google maps, with the directions out of this electorate
perfect version of a political prostitute.
Willing to sell him self to whatever party or electorate available.
I also suggested that if he felt bored in unemployment, he could volunteer for his parties Green Army.
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Onya Cornie, did wonder how that turned out. He really is the epitome of a political prostitiute. Self serving dip-shit who never had an original thought in his life. Propped up by the arseholes who support jones/Hadley etc. The climate deniers who are happy to destroy this country for the sake of their millions and more than happy to use a simpleton like Anderson for their own rank purpose. Serves him right for being so stupid and thank whatever that your electorate saw through the slimy PR.
Almost cracked a smile, good news is hard to find at the moment.
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Hey truth seekers, just thought I would add some ratings to the comments, for a bit of extra interaction 😀
Cheers 😀
And naturally I rated this comment up 😀
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Cornie old buddy, Have you turned Liberal? Surely you dont think Angry Anderson is a perfect vision of a prossie? What about Gina and Sophie and dear old Bronnie?
By the way truthie, I couldnt see the pic of Soapie pre paint either.
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Russ, have just replaced the pic, so try it now 😀
Cheers 😀
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For my two bobs worth, I think Shorten acts and sounds like a little boy.
never has the ability to think on his feet, nor a quick wit like Albo has.
Shortens performances on things like Q&A, always make me groan.
I think Albo seems to be a pretty decent bloke on top of being capable.
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Russ, that’s pretty much how I see them too, I’ve always seen Shorten’s time on QandA as lost opportunities, as he sits back and cops all the crap with little or no defence, while Albo just fires back with whit and passion 😀
He can think on his feet, and besides, wasn’t it Albo that came up with “In your guts you know he’s nuts”? 😀
He’s a poet too! 😯
Cheers 😀
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I completely gave up on Shorten when asked if he supported Julia Gillard and he replied, of course, even when he did not know what she had said. That is a clear example of not thinking on your feet.
Before that decisive moment, I had felt the same niggling apprehension regarding Shorten as I did with Rudd back in 2007 and we know how well Rudd turned out.
As for armchair activists – this is a general comment not just Russputin2, I simply don’t have the same health I used to, cannot attend protests like I used to. However, I can still write, research and gawd ‘elp us all form opinions (whether you like them or not).
I am active in so far as writing to local members and where I can provide some financial support. I really resent the folks who complain about the at home activist – sure there are the lazy arses, I reckon they’d be the minority. It takes time to research and compose a few thoughts on an issue – I do not believe this is time wasted. We all have to scale down eventually, that doesn’t mean we have to quit.
PS
Am torn between discussion on Mirabella sans makeup being totally sexist and enjoying the schadenfreude.
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Diannaart, thanks for your comment 😀
Yes I think lots of people did a double take on Shorten after that episode, but like you, I’ve always had some doubts about him. 😯
As far as armchair activists, I have to put my hand up, as some days I can barely make it to the mailbox 😦
And wrt the discussion on Sophie, being sexist, we don’t know the sex of the fish, 😉 and we’re not even sure if Sophie’s human, 😯 or just a close plastic facsimile. 😀
Cheers 😀
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Yes I too fall into this category but we still have life in us and active minds. And some wonderful forums to share this in!
Regarding our dear Soapy… ‘bad’ Mel is totally indulging in that wonderful schadenfreude… will do penance later, haha…
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Gawd if we were to focus on the visual appeal, or lack, of pollies when would we have time to get active? Perhaps a list of pollies who should definitely apply the spack filler would be more appropriate, no matter Soapy’s physical limitations there is an entire LNP of men who look far worse.
Soapy is not:
A witch, bitch, slag, cunt, whore. At least I think so.
What Soapy is:
She is smug, self entitled, limited, unfeeling, opportunistic (in other words a typical conservative) and an appalling politician who neglected her electorate and is (hopefully) getting her just deserts. That is the schadenfreude in which I am indulging, almost to the same extent to my satisfaction of watching Howard lose Bennelong. But not quite. Soapy is not that important and soon to be forgotten.
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Diannaart, I think the thing is that these people (LNP) are truly ugly, but more so on the inside than the outside, and making fun of their outward appearance is symptomatic of the larger problems of their self serving and despicable attitudes to the majority of the citizenry of this great country. 😯
Cheers 😀
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Fully agree.
I’m sure you’ve had the experience of meeting someone who appears very physically attractive – as you get to know them this fades as so much of what is on the inside begins to obscure the initial view till the person has no effect at all.
I prefer a more inclusive rather than gender specific view of people. I’m not caring whether a person is male or female, it is their actions that count.
BTW Looks like Abbott’s turn back the boats is on the skids – took a week? Now to watch his PPL get a thorough shafting 😉
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Diannaart, thanks for your comment 😎
Yes the inner beauty shines much more brightly, long term, than the vainglorious physicality that fades in the harsh light of scrutiny to reveal the ugly emptiness behind the facade. 😯
Wow… someone should embroider that on a cushion or something 😀
I think I need a bex and a good lie down after that 🙄
Yes, I am currently writing my assessment of the first week of the Abbott/Murdoch LNP regime, which I hope to post tomorrow, all being well 😀
Cheers 😀
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Labor – a party of purpose. Now. Always.
Julia Gillard writes on power, purpose and Labor’s future
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/julia-gillard-labor-purpose-future
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Mate thanks for the link, 😀
I have already bookmarked it for later when I have more time, as the grand kids are here for the night 😀 and we have lots to do 😯
Cheers 😀
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186 replies so far!
Have you got something free with your latest offering? Oh, that’s right, intellegent articles. Good on you.
If one considers the community support for Labor Left verses Labor Right you will discover it is around 50/50. That’s a problem as there is no clear winner.
Although which leader the party backs is important it is vitally important that the grass roots campaigners are on side.
Perhaps the solution would be to give each side a clear purpose and agenda to fight for and not have cross interference. This might limit the internal and external arguing among members and the public supporters.
I suppose that’s the disadvantage of having large parties that have to appeal to a large audience. I prefer having lots of small parties specializing in fewer issues. That way I can choose the party with an agreeable policy and not have to also take the ones I don’t agree with.
A bit like buying singles instead of an album. One just buys the songs one likes.
Same with movies. The good movies don’t try and appeal to everyone.
Regards
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Orangefox, thanks for your comment and kind words 😀
In theory, you are right that there is no clear winner, and yet in practice I think you’ll find that, as I said in my article, Albo is well regarded and has support across the entire party, whereas Shorten is supported more by the right. 😉
The biggest problem that the ALP has is its factionalism, which has been tearing the party apart for many years, and needs to be addressed once and for all.
The truth is that there are many more of the working classes, both left and right, than there are the self appointed ruling classes, so in theory, in a two party system, there should be a reflection in the numbers of voters supporting the party that stands up for their rights (the ALP).
In practice however, there are aspirational voters, uninformed voters, single issue voters, ignorant and sadly stupid voters, who actually vote against, not only the nations best interest, but their own best interest for whatever reason, if any reason? 😯
In theory, a government of the smaller agenda parties, and the independents is all well and good, but in practical terms it is unworkable, A bit like true communism, on paper it works perfectly, but in practice it fails because it doesn’t take into account the “Human factors” of greed, entitlement, corruption etc.
So for the sake of stable government, we have to make a determination about which party, on average, has the more palatable and credible raft of policies for us, but also for the best interests of the nation at large.
As we have seen, consensus is hard enough to get in the ALP or the coalition, so it would be all but impossible where there were many smaller parties focused only on their own small agendas.
I also think that in the natural scheme of things, one or two of those parties would start to broaden their agendas to broaden their appeal, and then we would have what we have now anyway 😯
Cheers 😀
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Just posted, “PM elect, Abbott… The story so far?” 😀
Cheers 😀
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