Australia - 7 September 2013

[RogueBeaver]

That menu item is obviously juvenile, sexist BS but Abbott and Bishop have condemned it, so I don't think it'll last long in the media cycle. Rudd and one of his backbench supporters were stumping in blue ties.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

We'll see... everything in politics is on hyperdrive at moment... regular rules do not apply.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Grattan's questions for Rudd.

This is why a lot of us who don't want Abbott as PM (honestly, most of us would take Turnbull or even Hockey at a pinch) are in a REALLY hard place. It's not about 'policy' it's about the re-prosecution of cases that were once successful for the ALP... and it's about cold-hard political reality. Gillard's continued leadership spells potential doom... Rudd's probably holds off the worst of it... but as Latham said "it's a reward for treachery" to give Rudd the job that an overwhelming portion of the caucus, let alone his Cabinet believed he was fundamentally incapable of performing before.

Regardless of what you actually think of the actors or the play being performed... from any angle, it's utterly perplexing. But also frustrating for people who has such hope in this government, it didn't have to be this way.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The problem is that factional warfare is addictive, even when pointless and even when obviously destructive.

[RogueBeaver]

Shorten and Gray are pinging caucus to gauge Gillard's support.

[You kip if you want to...]

Shorten and Gray are pinging caucus to gauge Gillard's support.

How many days before the last election did Gillard swoop on Kev? I don't remember it being this close...

[RogueBeaver]

No date had been set at that point, but a regular 2010 cycle would probably have meant a spring election. Aussies can correct me if I'm wrong. We're 2 months out from the planned dissolution date, but only 2 sitting weeks left in the session starting on Monday.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Shorten and Gray are pinging caucus to gauge Gillard's support.

How many days before the last election did Gillard swoop on Kev? I don't remember it being this close...

Well, the election date wasn't set and could have been as late as Feb 2011... most expected it for October. So it happened on 23 June 2010... probably about 4 months out. But Gillard did call the election less than a month after getting the job...

Having said that, the September 14 election date is only academic until the GG actually issues the writs on August 12. So that doesn't prevent the election being as early as August 3 or as late as November 30. The only limitation is the last possible date for the writs to be issued is October 7.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

More internal polling leaked... this time out of the West (where things were already pretty ugly) ... it has the ALP losing all or all but one of their seats in the WA (leaving Fremantle as the only likely hold) - leaving Gary Gray and Stephen Smith in deep trouble.

[RogueBeaver]

Some radio jackass asked Gillard if Mathieson is gay.

[Platypus]

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/pm-asked-if-partner-is-gay-in-baffling-interview-20130613-2o72n.html

has the audio.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Some radio jackass asked Gillard if Mathieson is gay.

Fuc*wit

[RogueBeaver]

Lab caucus rather unenthusiastic about selling Gonski, while senior Gillardites are apparently softening.

[RogueBeaver]

The shock jackass has been suspended.

[You kip if you want to...]

Some radio jackass asked Gillard if Mathieson is gay.

Fuc*wit

Say what you like about her style or her policies, but such personal attacks that we've seen this week are vile.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The open lack of respect towards her really is sickening.

[Smid]

The open lack of respect towards her really is sickening.

I almost always refer to her as "The Prime Minister" in conversation, for that reason (and even more careful to do so if I'm giving criticism). It has been a general trend over quite a while, though. Howard didn't receive this level of disrespect, however some elements of the community still mocked him as "little Johnny", which was meant to be disrespectful. It seems to be a global trend, too. The disgusting responses of some in the UK following Thatcher's passing were just as disrespectful as what we are seeing currently in Australia - "Ditch the Witch" is held up at a protest rally against the Carbon Tax, while "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" hits the top 10 in the charts in the UK. I think I'm coming off as pontificating, which I don't intend, because I think you and I are in agreement about this lamentable state of public discourse.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The thing with 'Little Johnny' was that it was almost good-natured ribbing, which is pretty Australian. It might have started disrespectfully ... but just became a nick name, like Hawke being called the Silver Budgie.

I've never seen a Prime Minister, even Keating at his most hated, having to face such horrendous personal attacks.

[Smid]

The thing with 'Little Johnny' was that it was almost good-natured ribbing, which is pretty Australian. It might have started disrespectfully ... but just became a nick name, like Hawke being called the Silver Budgie.

I've never seen a Prime Minister, even Keating at his most hated, having to face such horrendous personal attacks.

The way she is treated is appalling. It really is disgusting. Disappointing, too, there is really no call for it.

[Frodo]

As much as Australians hate to admit it, their politics (judging by the personal attacks on PM Julia Gillard) is apparently more American than I realized.... 

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As much as Australians hate to admit it, their politics (judging by the personal attacks on PM Julia Gillard) is apparently more American than I realized.... 

It really has 'Americanised' over the past 3-4 years.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

All I can say is what a week this has been! Personal attacks of this nature on the PM are bad, as are throwing sandwiches... With only three months to go from today, I've got a feeling it's going to be one big roller coaster ride leading up to the election.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The shock jackass has been suspended.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/sattler-sacked-over-gillard-interview-20130614-2o8hk.html

He's been fired...

[Platypus]

Perfect as ever:

[RogueBeaver]

AWU is softening a bit, saying that while they still support Gillard they won't be whipping a hypothetical vote. Mixed signals from within caucus.