The Rudd vs. Abbott party party thread

[tik 🪀✨]

An election looms in Australia as first-term PM Kevin Rudd begins sparring against the Coalition's newish leader Tony Abbott with a backdrop of failed and bungled government ventures and ideas. It's rare for a first term PM to lose in an election but some polls are beginning to show voter dissatisfaction to an extent that places the Liberal/Nationals in front, although there is no strong trend here yet.

Let's party party.

[Meeker]

Excellent. Maybe Canada will call one as well and we can go for the trifecta.

[Kevin]

I say the Liberals/Nationals pick up many seats but Labour still holds on by a substantial margin in Parliament,

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I still think Rudd will win re-election with a reduced majority (he has a slight edge over Abbott in the marginals) in spite of current problems. Not to mention, while people loathe Rudd, they loathe Abbott more so that will ultimately work in his favour. Therefore, it will be yet another campaign fought on the issue of the lesser of two evils!

[tik 🪀✨]

I still think Rudd will win re-election with a reduced majority (he has a slight edge over Abbott in the marginals) in spite of current problems. Not to mention, while people loathe Rudd, they loathe Abbott more so that will ultimately work in his favour. Therefore, it will be yet another campaign fought on the issue of the lesser of two evils!

This is correct in my case. At this time I would vote for Labour not because I think Rudd's doing a great job or has great ideas but because the prospect of Tony Abbott as PM is frightening. I can't vote, of course.

[Platypus]

I still think Rudd will win re-election with a reduced majority (he has a slight edge over Abbott in the marginals) in spite of current problems. Not to mention, while people loathe Rudd, they loathe Abbott more so that will ultimately work in his favour. Therefore, it will be yet another campaign fought on the issue of the lesser of two evils!

This is correct in my case. At this time I would vote for Labour not because I think Rudd's doing a great job or has great ideas but because the prospect of Tony Abbott as PM is frightening. I can't vote, of course.

I'm the same.

[War on Want]

I didn't even know who Tony Abbott was until I saw this thread. He does look scary, even by American standards.

[Platypus]

I didn't even know who Tony Abbott was until I saw this thread. He does look scary, even by American standards.

He's to the left of Bush, but still scary.

[tik 🪀✨]

I'd be much keener on the prospect of another Labour term if Julia Gillard took the reigns as she strikes me as more competent. At least, I think I would be - as I'm still new to the political games and history down under I am not too educated on her stances, I can only assume she's mostly in step with Rudd. From a shallow perspective though replacing Rudd with her seems like an excellent idea.

[Platypus]

I'd be much keener on the prospect of another Labour term if Julia Gillard took the reigns as she strikes me as more competent. At least, I think I would be - as I'm still new to the political games and history down under I am not too educated on her stances, I can only assume she's mostly in step with Rudd. From a shallow perspective though replacing Rudd with her seems like an excellent idea.

I agree, again. But Jules is an old-school lefty ideologue. She's basically Labor's version of John Howard-easy to love, easy to hate; competent, down to earth and merciless to those who cross her. I'd prefer her to KRudd fo' shiz.

Plus she goes for the same footy team as me.

Also, if the Libs had kept in Turnbull I have a feeling they'd be up a couple of points in the polls extra. The coalition base might not like him, but I know a sheetload of 20-somethings who would flirt with the idea of voting for him over Rudd but we'lkl all hold our noses and vote for the ALP if it means an Abbott Prime Ministership.

[tik 🪀✨]

So in light of recent events I'd say the Labour leadership heard the voices of people like us. It strikes me as a move of desperation and may be too late to sway voters. Rudd as an individual can only be blamed for so much, I wonder if this will change the dynamic significantly.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I still think Rudd will win re-election with a reduced majority (he has a slight edge over Abbott in the marginals) in spite of current problems. Not to mention, while people loathe Rudd, they loathe Abbott more so that will ultimately work in his favour. Therefore, it will be yet another campaign fought on the issue of the lesser of two evils!

Yet again I forshadow what is to come in Australian politics! Its not as bad as my Turnbull remarks though...

If anything, Gillard's meteroic rise to the ALP leadership will guarentee their re-election. While she is almost identical to Rudd politically (in spite of hailing from the dwindling Socialist Left faction), Gillard, unlike Rudd she will be able to rebrand its damaged image among the electorate through her accepting persona. Therefore, the Liberals will be unable to compete with the ALP's own John Howard-like candidate and thus conjure an entirely new campaign to discredit Labor.