Jan 18 2008
Morgan: 61.5-38.5
Morgan has released the first federal opinion poll of the new year, showing the two-party honeymoon gap widening to 61.5-38.5 from 60.5-39.5 from the previous survey in early December. Labor’s primary vote is up 2 per cent to 51.5 per cent, and the Coalition’s down 1 per cent to 33 per cent.
January 20th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Deano, Dame Edna would look OK on the balcony of Buckingham Palace!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Hello folks
Just heard on Sky News that Kev says big Kim won’t be GG.
And speaking of Kevin, talk about the energiser bunny!
He was in Canberra settling his pets into the Lodge yesterday
This morning is in QLD visiting Charleville and Emerald to check on the floods
And is supposed to be in Perth at 1pm (WA time) with his cabinet for a Q&A session with the public
January 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I thought Kim would have been a great candidate.
I wonder who Rudd has in mind…Keating?…Hawke???
Any ideas?
January 20th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
How about Mick Dobsen (is that the correct spelling?)
January 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Woops, it won’t be a politician.
Not another man of the cloth I hope.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I hope it’s not another ex-military man either.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
scaper , what about Archbishop Pell?????
January 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
vera , General Cosgrove?????
January 20th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Brenton
nonononononono!!!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Brenton the noooooo was for Pell not Cosgrove
January 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
vera, only joking ! I hope not either.
January 20th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Sky reports that Kev says it wont be a politition and he want’s a woman to be on the list for concideration
January 20th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
vera
A woman…any ideas?
January 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Dame Edna for GG
its obvious
January 20th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
vera, good idea. We had the late great Dame Roma Mitchell as Governor of South Australia and even the dreaded Conservatives admired her! Someone outstanding like that!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Brenton @ 93 - What’s wrong with Michael Jeffery?
January 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
fiona stanley
fiona wood
Bindy Irwin..bahahahahaha
andrew denton!!! win!
January 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Ita Butrose?
January 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Brenton
Just so long as it ain’t Janette (Maam Rat Howard)
January 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
scraper Ita? isn’t she a female version of Alan jones?
January 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
MayoFeral, lets say Mr and Mrs Jeffery are very ‘nice’. The bit that got me was their counselling of young Christian couples! I just hope they got all the necessary details correct. I would hope for someone more representative of Australian society today.
January 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I believe Rudd alluded to no politicians.
She was the last Prime Minister wasn’t she?
January 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
oh sorry scraper, silly me you’re right of course!
January 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
vera, no ‘Hyacinth’ Buckets, so Janette is definitely out!
January 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
chas Licciardello
(dressed as osama of course)
January 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
123 blacklight, chas would be an interesting choice, but I think the osama outfit may have to be only used for State dinners!
January 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Kim Beazley as GG. Yes. An absolutely fantastic choice. Who better or more deserving. Even Howard has acknowledged his honesty and decency.
That’s the very first BLACK CROSS for Rudd (not putting PM before his name for this post now) since becoming leader as far as I’m concerned.
Why not Beazley, fellow commenters?
I will tell you.
JEALOUSY! Rudd dosen’t want anyone who would be more popularthan he is.
Beazley should not only be GG, but our first official head of state. So says Centre.
January 20th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Centre -
I agree. For all my disappointment with Beazley over Tampa, and his in principle agreement to invade Iraq (at least he needed UN approval unlike the war mongerer in power at the time) I admire Beazley as a decent and likeable man. Again, unlike any of the previous reprehensible government members.
I ewould be very happy to see him as our last GG, and/or our first president.
January 20th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
And if it must be a woman, my vote goes to J’aime from We can be Heroes for her noble work with World Vision.
January 20th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Hmmm, just thinking who could make a better GG than Beazley. Who would have greater experience for the role, other than reaching the highest governmental position of PM in the land? Who would be more of a statesman?
Ruddy is chicken Beaz would be more popular!
January 20th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Bindi Irwin?
January 20th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
maybe the beazer justs wants a lot of time with family and out of the spotlight
(god knows he deserves it)
then after the republic is sorted he could be our first president
maree bashir
carolyn jones
January 20th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Corey Delaney’s parents are very good at polishing turds and maybe the great “party” gene is hereditary.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23077283-2862,00.html
January 20th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Sally Robbins for GG - I think it would be a perfect fit.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Deano 132, is Lake Burley Griffin near Government House in Canberra???
January 20th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
RE:107
Brenton Says:
January 20th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
scaper , what about Archbishop Pell?????
Brenton I was thinking the GG should be more along the lines of Shake Taj el din Hilaley (or however u spell it)
Who agrees?
January 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Steveo 134, Thanks for reminding me, LOL, the list is getting wilder by the minute!!!!
January 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Paul for GG. Failing that, Jo Vallentine.
January 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
They are starting to move on a united conservative party in Queensland. I hope they do as i believe it would be very damaging to the Liberal party as progressive country voters look elsewhere.
January 20th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Deano
It will interesting to see how it pans out…or fizzles out.
If the country voters look elsewhere, they might organise and initiate their own political movement…who knows.
Then the political landscape would be back to square one!
Could make one dizzy I reckon.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Beazley is much better suited to the Washington embassy than to Yarralumla. His problem as GG would be that he would have to take a virtual vow of silence, which he would find hard sticking to. My guess for GG is some worthy but obscure female judge or law professor.
January 20th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
However worthy Kimbo may be, Rudd surely doesn’t want to be landed with a “jobs for the boys” accusation at this stage and for this office. Putting ex-pols into ambassadorial positions is much easier to justify. I read that Bob Carr, who shares Beazley’s fascination with US history and politics, has also been suggested as a possible ambassador to the USA. Either would be an excellent choice and I think would attract only token and predictable criticism from the Libs.
In view of the fact that several senior judges have filled the job with distinction (beginning with the first Australian-born GG, Isaac Isaacs, and including Zelman Cowen and William Deane, but excluding John Kerr), how about Justice Michael Kirby? Or Justice Mary Gaudron?
January 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Good post Neil. But I don’t believe Rudd would be accused of handing out jobs for the boys by installing Beazley as GG, as compared in so many other cases, because it would be well and truly deserved and justified. Especially if he were to be given the job of Australia’s first president.
After following the presidential process (LOL what a debacle) in the states, I do not believe that it would be wise for the people to directly elect a head of state here in Australia. Nor for the PM to for that matter (possible reasons of jealousy in choice for e.g.).Both houses of federal parliament should democratically elect Australia’s head of state.
I reckon why wait? As soon as Turnbull becomes opposition leader, we should go for it!
January 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
KIm Beazley has served this country (and the Labor party) well.
Whilst I have not always agreed with him, he is intelligent, honorable, and, as are we all, at times flawed.
I would feel honoured to have a person with his record representing this country on the international stage.
January 20th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
But if not Kim, then bring on PJK.
If we can’t have affable then we might as well have interesting.
January 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Jen
Let’s just save PJK for down the track.
Maybe a bridge mender.
http://www.australianbiography.gov.au/odonoghue/index.html
January 20th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Yes jen, I agree. I really don’t think Beaz was flawed, he just didn’t have that killer in him. But you don’t need that type of killer to be GG. I don’t know about Keating? We could be charting dangerous waters. The conservatives will probably want the Dessicated Coconut. Maybe ex PMs should be ineligible.
I have no doubt that in an incumbent position such as GG, Beazley would break the popularity records. Adam you can feel free in telling your ALP mates that at least one poll bludger reckons it’s obvious Rudd is chicken not going with Beaz!
January 20th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
GGG4G
Germaine Greer for GG.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Well it looks like steady as she sinks for Admiral Nelson on that poll result.
As for the GG position, please not another ex religeous or military leader, and not a sporting “icon” either. Surely there is a deserving ex judge or academic (preferably not a VC, as they are all CEO types these days) with the requisite intellect and dignity. I suspect Keating would not settle for anythigng less than President. I agree Beasley could do it well. But I’d prefer someone who isn’t a politician. Alan Jones is still looking for a job ROTFL.
January 21st, 2008 at 12:20 am
lowitja odonoghue
peter beatty
mary gaudron
kevin sheedy
January 21st, 2008 at 12:24 am
my favourite would be the duchess of york
January 21st, 2008 at 12:24 am
or one of her kids
January 21st, 2008 at 12:25 am
kylie?
January 21st, 2008 at 12:29 am
yes! kylie: talented, smart, brave, young and cool….goodbye to the military-legal-political stuffshirts and hello to modernity….i like it!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:49 am
I vote for the elephant which was stabbed at the Melbourne Zoo. He (or she) would never forget, and would know by now how to deal with pricks.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:08 am
It should be our very own dame - Dame Edna!!!!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:13 am
GGee.
I remain with my original choice. Lowitja. The full circle bit, as the last GG.
Kev would lack courage to do otherwise. Hope he does not fail the test.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:46 am
I nominate ………Ummmmmmmmmmm - dont know!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:53 am
Aussieguro01, by the way. I left you a post, above somewhere. Water thing.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:33 am
Jasmine #8. Who’s this ‘far left’ that you’re talking about? The Socialist Alliance? The Socialist Party? The Socialist Equality Party? They have a tiny influence in Australian politics. And they’re always going to criticise a centre-right Labor government, which is exactly what we have now. I agree that it’d be preferable for people of a left or centrist persuasion to have a centre-right wing government (Labor) than a right wing Liberal/National one.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Only kidding about PJK.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:31 am
The job needs a duo, Mel & Kochie.
Kath & Kim!
If you wish to piss of Howard, how about Malcolm Fraser.
Seriously though, lowitja odonoghue I think would be a good choice.
January 21st, 2008 at 11:51 am
#70
Glen opines: “the Nats are not the Country Party after all they hold just 10 rural seats ill bet the ALP holds more Rural seats than them and clearly the Libs hold more than them.”
The Libs hold more party seats because the Nats don’t know what they stand for. They have an identity crisis - should they be too close to the Libs (and lose out to both populist rural Independents and the Libs), or distance themselves and risk a breach in the Coalition? The Nats are caught in a classic pincer movement, stuck between the Libs on one hand and rural Independents on the other.
” They are an irrelevant conservative Rump in Parliament and State Parliaments that weaken the Conservative side of politics.”
The first part of the sentence is correct; but I’m not sure the Nats weaken the Conservative side of politics. What you’re asking for in amalgamation is a conservative party that can appeal to both affluent suburban voters and rural/outback voters (many of whom are doing it tough). The Republican party manages this in the US, but not so well in the ‘blue’ states (especially in the NE) where many affluent suburban voters lean to the Democrats.
Howard was fairly successful at straddling both sides of conservative politics because he was a very conservative leader. But can you see Turnbull, the Member for NetWorth, gaining a strong following among rural conservatives?
The squabbling that arises from 3-cornered contests has nothing to do with the continued need for a rural party - they’re separate issues.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Speaking as a Liberal activist, and supporter of our current constitutional arrangements, I was disappointed to see Beazley ruled out as Governor-General.
In my view, the best appointments Labor PMs have made to the job have in fact been Labor politicians - McKell, and Hayden. Similarly, for the Coalition Lord Casey was an excellent GG.
With 30 years in public life, Kim Beazley would be familiar with the obligations, rituals and symbols associated with representing the Sovereign. Most importantly, as a former political combatant, he would understand the essential nature of observing scrupulous neutrality, and judicious use of the reserve powers if necessary. It was the burden of this duty that seems to have made Bill Hayden something of a semi-monarchist after Yarralumla. Beazley would probably emerge the same.
Maj-Gen. Jeffery is good with statecraft, comfortable with formality, and would consider the use of reserve powers very carefully. I think Beazley would be a worthy successor to him.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
TW, the trouble with the Nationals and the Liberals is that they have failed to recognise that Australians are NOT as conservative as has been portrayed by certain media outlets and that the majority of Australians live in cities and not in the bush. On social issues, the Conservative parties are completely out of touch with reality and have allowed themselves to be infiltrated by the religious right. Study Liberal and National candidiates at elections and you soon discover how unrepresentative they are of Australian society in general. No wonder these parties are not in power anywhere.
January 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
#148 - Germaine Greer - god no
#150 - Beattie has said he will go into private industry/business
- Sheedy might represent Melbourne and AFL well - what about the rest of the Country?
Lowitja Odonoghue or Mary Gaudron would be good choices (although secretly I would love to see the reaction if Kylie or Barry Humphries/Dame Edna was announced!)
January 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I think that Kim will be the following GG. I agree with Rudd that a GG should be someone who hasn’t stepped straight from politics into the GG role. In the article from Jason he suggested a Republic 2014, so with someone to fill the role 2008-12 Kim would be the ideal transitional GG after ‘12 from monarchy to Republic. And come to think of it, as a Republican Kim may not even feel inclined to become GG.
Re both houses of Parliament electing a President, the only problem that I can see is that a President would get elected only along party lines, perhaps a person who represents the dominant party’s ideology…much the same as at present. But if we get into a popular vote then we are entering the American system of elections and big money or the possibility of that happening in the future. Conclusion: dunno.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
#165:
Brenton: “TW, the trouble with the Nationals and the Liberals is that they have failed to recognise that Australians are NOT as conservative as has been portrayed by certain media outlets and that the majority of Australians live in cities and not in the bush.”
Yet a great many Australians still live in the bush. And they will want a politician that represents their interests. The Libs did a good job of winning country seats, especially under Howard. If the Nats merge with the Libs, there’s no guarantee that this combined party will continue to be successful in rural seats (especially since the ‘new’ party will be dominated by the Libs). A merger may lead to another rural political force - or else Independents will continue to fill the void.
Furthermore, many Australians (a small minority, overall) are in fact extremely conservative, and no more so than in the bush. And certain pockets of suburbia, too. People like Bronny Bishop and Tony “People Skills” Abbott aren’t given their seats out of charity.
Brenton: “On social issues, the Conservative parties are completely out of touch with reality and have allowed themselves to be infiltrated by the religious right. Study Liberal and National candidiates at elections and you soon discover how unrepresentative they are of Australian society in general. No wonder these parties are not in power anywhere.
I agree with the comment about the religious right (it’s something many moderate Libs are concerned about). But the Coalition still continues to win lots and lots of seats, even if they don’t win government. So they’re not doing too badly.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
#167
Min: “Re both houses of Parliament electing a President, the only problem that I can see is that a President would get elected only along party lines, perhaps a person who represents the dominant party’s ideology…much the same as at present.”
If the election of a president required a 2/3 majority in a sitting of both houses parliament, it would help guarantee that the president would not be a political hack, but someone who had support from both sides. This was the ‘minimalist’ model on offer before. I thought it was a nice idea.
January 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Part of my many reasons of not wanting to be part of a monarchy is the position and powers of a Governor General. Therefore the republican model of turning the GG position into a president doesn’t make much sense to this individual. Is there anyone out there who can convince me of the need for a president as well as a prime minister?
January 21st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
#170
Works well enough for other countries: Ireland, Germany (post-war, anyway!), etc. As long as the post of president is largely ceremonial (except in the event of a constititional crisis), there’s no real danger of a two-headed monster.
Would you prefer an American-style presidential system, with the prospect of the executive at war with the legislative (congress/parliament)?
January 21st, 2008 at 5:03 pm
“If the election of a president required a 2/3 majority in a sitting of both houses parliament, it would help guarantee that the president would not be a political hack”
Correct. Also a nominating body should be formed to provide a short list of nominations and make recommendations maybe for the parliament to vote on.
January 21st, 2008 at 7:19 pm
There’s no way it would be L O’D - a G-G needs to be acceptable to both sides and many on the conservative side view her poorly.
January 21st, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Judge Judy
January 21st, 2008 at 10:11 pm
When are Insiders and Lateline etc back?
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 am
First Newspoll
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/files/newspoll-22jan.jpg
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Looking good, James J. Appreciate the alert post.
Great to see that some of us are taking notice.
Hugely enjoyed the recent Kev and Julia appearances. Cabinet at large in WA. Julia with Fiona Stanley, talking of longtitudinal work as concerns health and education.
Greatly amused/irritated by Turnbull, talking rubbish. Expected better of him, but.
Suspect that pollbludgers have moved to the next thread, despite William’s efforts.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 am
Good work James J, I’ve opened a new thread for the Newspoll so I’m closing this one.