Election 2007 : Rudd or Howard?

[jackie87]

With the election coming up in only a matter of months, and the current Howard government celebrating its 11th year in office but struggling at the polls but with the economy going gangbusters, it is difficult to predict if the Australian Labor Party under Kevin Rudd can win over the massive 16-seat margin the coalition has in order to return to power.

The main issues in this election have been water, Climate Change, Industrial Relations and paramountly -- the economy, pushing aside issues such as Indigenous Health, Same Sex Relationships and Refugees and Asylum seekers.

By all means, discuss how you will be affected by the result, whether it be Howard returning or whether you think there will be a better future under Labor.

Even though the issue of recognition of same-sex relationship recognition has been shot down by the Right of most parties, what are the issues that will influence your vote in either securing John Howard and the Liberal/National Coalition an historic fifth term or vote in a fresh new Labor Government lead by Kevin Rudd.

[Tristianity]

My life won't change no matter who wins. Samesex relationship recognition won't happen for some time.

[stock_standard]

Agreed there, only things that get massive media attention, followed by mass interest have any hope of swaying votes or even political "new directions"
and it's a shame to say the general society does not care about something that does not affect them.

so having said that,, i say stick with howard, he seems to be moving us in the right direction on a world wide scale, well in general anyway.....

[jackie87]

come on people, this is an important issue

[jackie87]

Bloody hell

[Tim D]

I think this is a great topic, and if possible, would like the people who have said above that they will vote for John Howard to tell us the reasoning behind their thinking. Anyone?

[jackie87]

Do you reckon we can make it into a feature and get interviews with politicians, etc. in the lead up to Election 2007?

I can say I will not vote for John Howard because I am opposed to WorkChoices, the right wing takeover of the NSW Liberals, privitization of Telstra, offshore processing of refugees and same-sex relationship equality which rides much higher in my list than my personal wealth and the economy.

[Tim D]

Yes I totally think it would make for a fascinating feature. The GLRL always collate the views of different policial parties on GLBTQTQI (sorry, hate that term) issues in the lead up to elections as well, don't they?

A feature would be awesome, have a chat with Christian he's into the idea as well.

[timmeyboy]

I'm not even an aussie but i voted anyway.
I voted labour simply becuase John howard is an idiot.
Climate change, WorkChoices, Same Sex issues. I don't pretend to know everything about it but he seems to have ballsed each and everyone of those things up.
I'm english and was 14 around the time Tony Blair & Labour won in our General Election. Everyone loves to hate them now but when they first came to power they swept away so much legislation against same sex couples, section 28 etc etc.
I know it's prob not the same over here but there is always hope.....

[jackie87]

The situation with same-sex issues in the Australian Labor Party is still a little different, as there are still many Catholics in the dominant right wing of the party who shoot down most of the policies put forward by those in the left, but thats why I encourage people to join the party and change it from within, because joining the Greens or the Democrats can only do so much.

[alison87]

I'm not a citizen so i can't vote anyway but i picked Howard in this poll because i don't want a bunch of union-pandering socialist assclowns running the country. I think Howard's position on gay marriage (and many other things) sucks, but not nearly as bad as a Labor majority would suck.

[atomic-teddy]

i just cant respect howard anymore. Too many lies - too many policies made with self gain.

[jackie87]

Did anybody see The Chaser's the complete walks of John Howard, the one where the bird gets in the way? I pissed myself when they showed him fudging a golf swing and Janette running for her life.

[Tim D]

Ok so it's on this weekend, has everyone made up their mind yet who they are voting for? Or are you going to swing on the day depending on who has the prettiest flyers?

[Zakalwe]

The House of Reps is easy. I still havent worked out how my preferences are going to flow for The Senate...

[jackie87]

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5400849,00.jpg
Maxine has my vote

[Tim D]

God I hope the polls are correct.

[timmeyboy]

I can't see Howard pulling it back by so much in less than a week!
Will be avoiding televison all saturday, can only the inane and dullnes that is a General Election on Australian Tv (No offence!!!)

[jackie87]

Not if there's a drinking game involved

[chad_74]

What i fear is not labor winning the election.What i fear is labor not being able manage us financially putting us into great debt again thus raising taxes.
The states have record revenue yet they have record debt with very little to show for it.Most major cities have ran out of water,crimes at an all time high, they still use dirty coal ,lack of medical facilities/doctors,increasing salinityin rural area's,poverty stricken indiginous communities. What they encourage though is over-political correctness(ie banning xmas and easter) lots of royal commissions and tasks for lawyers. If the same labor party that runs the states cannot run them then how can they attempt the country as a whole?
the education revolution what shite.Throwing a measly few million at education is not going to change it.It needs a whole new restructure.It needs a continuance of adult education/relearning and retraining.
We need substance not just some feel good phrases from a self help book.

[Cheetah77]

John Howard is a fucking ass hat, garden gnome who either has no idea or just doesn't care what "his people" want as shown repeatedly over the last decade.

While Kevin Rudd made it very clear last night on ROVE that he is so uncomfortable with Homosexuality that he wouldn't even answer the "Who would you turn gay for?" question, I figure it'd be better to have some balance between the upper and lower, than have total power with one like we currently have... not that I'll vote for Labour straight out, but that's where my vote will inevitably end up...

[chad_74]

'John Howard is a fucking ass hat, garden gnome who either has no idea or just doesn't care what "his people" want as shown repeatedly over the last decade.'

doesnt that describe every politican?

[DeepBlueDreamer]

Great Scotts!! Ahem...there are other parties to choose from hey?

[DeepBlueDreamer]

We can have someone else as a favorite...even though there no chance in hell anyone else getting there.

[DavidL]

My vote will (eventually) go to Labor.

Times like these I wish I lived in a marginal seat instead of a "Safe Liberal" electorate!

[GenesisInVain]

My first vote will also (eventually) go to labor. Rudd sucks... what an axewomb... can't even answer the "who would you turn gay for" question. lame

[GenesisInVain]

i mean.. really... would it affect him that much if he answered the question in jest?
imagine if he said john howard and winked at the camera!

haha...like funny?

[GenesisInVain]

i mean.. really... would it affect him that much if he answered the question in jest?
imagine if he said john howard and winked at the camera!

haha...like funny?

got to give it to rove though : is she a man?

[ellie83]

Look people our basic human right are being violated! IT IS TIME TO ACT NOW! John Howard is a bigot and doesn’t recognize us for who we are! Kevin Rudd too is a chauvinist however he has stated he would amend numerous pieces of discriminatory legislation with regards to same-sex people and families, taxes, super, military partnership rights and Medicare..

The Greens and the Democrats however would amend all 58 pieces of federal legislation discriminated against our community… Before we worry about anything else how about giving us a fair go!

[taylor-dayne]

lets just go wtih the lesser of two evils - RUDD. he speaks another language, he has better hair and a hotter wife.

[ellie83]

Thats right, who we hate the least.. I concur..

[DeepBlueDreamer]

Agreed...but please...SOMEONE THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!!@!!

sorry...I'm over-worked and tired...grumpy at times but jovial periodically!? Could be bi-polar?

[jackie87]

Did anyone see Janette Howard on Kerri-Anne, no wonder they shut her up for all these years she sounds like an unmitigated snob

[DeepBlueDreamer]

probably why she gets along with the bush family so well.

[jackie87]

probably not...she had too many plums in her throat, could have lost her husband the 1996 election

[honey-prawns]

i worry about the people who vote for Howard. my main concern being, what's wrong with them

[jackie87]

they want their interest rates on their mortgages low...and don't care for much else

[Lynda Dowling]

Who would you turn 'straight' for?

[jasn]

I'm voting Liberal. (Well, Green then Liberal)

While I really want a change, I don't want Unions to reappear at any level. They're just another layer of beauracray, and they are selfish and money hungry like any political power. The Your Rights At Work compaign would have been massively expensive.

Beyond that it's difficult to differentiate between the two majors. The "I'm spening less therefor I'm better at finance" angle that Rudd recently invented is a sham; since tax cuts are the true area that he should have been conservative (instead he is spending less on health, education, roads, etc)

Also his "I'm bringing the troops home from Iraq" is white lie. He's sending them to Afganistan. I really don't appreciate the smug righteousness of it all.

I don't paticularly want to vote for Howards. But Rudd has never been a minister, and I trust him even less.

My hope, and prediction, is that Malcom Turnball moves to have greater influence in the Libs post Howard. So far he's been a little lackluster, toeing the party line. But, based purely on personality and his ability to speak clearly and concisely and without too much malice or smugness (something Rudd fails on), he's someone I would be willing to trust.

[dollartwenty]

Howard hates us and refuses to remove even the most basic discriminations.
Put him where he belongs....in the rubbish bin of history!!

[Jonny Hotspur]

The Democrats have my vote and I'll be putting Malcolm Turnbull last.

I support the party that has supported our community for many years.

Malcolm Turnbull is giving preferences to the homphobic Family First and Fred Nile's Christian Democrats - so I'm putting Turnbull last!

[dollartwenty]

You have a perfect right not to like unions (I disagree with you but that's my right), but how you can support a psarty that won't even let us automatically leave our superannuation to our partners is betyond all common sense. As for smug...PM Costello ?

[hawaii60]

if you are gay or lesbian, you don't belong in our community at all...how can you assert your gay rights and vote for right wing fascists? Unbelievable! Without unions, you would not have penalty rates and all the work conditions you take for granted!

[Inukshuk]

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5400849,00.jpg
Maxine has my vote
I hope you win Maxine.
Best wishes Beth Dew

[Tim D]

Go Maxine, come Saturday she better take out the title. That would be poetic justice at his best.

[jackie87]

It seems to be going great guns for the Coalition at the moment, with pre-polling suggesting they could lose Bennelong and Wentworth, their last minute ditch of "Go For Growth" - which I think alludes to some type of malignant tumour and the lovely pamphlet distributed by idiot MP's Jackie Kelly's husband is suggesting next weekend Kirribilli will be the garage sale of the century.

[Mr J]

if you are gay or lesbian, you don't belong in our community at all...how can you assert your gay rights and vote for right wing fascists? Unbelievable! Without unions, you would not have penalty rates and all the work conditions you take for granted!

I really think that sets a bad tone just because some one is right wing they can still be gay. Heck I'm liberal (in the american sense) but i have some conservitives streaks. Sure Howards crap on gay rights and kisses the churches asses. But are labor that much better. And are unions really neccessary in todays society?

Personally i want rudd in ... but right now i think howard will win by a slight majority probably only by 1 or 2 seats.

And as i said before the democrats have my vote

[robbie]

I did that I Vote thingo, and it told me to vote Democrats.

[chad_74]

cough cough what taylor? ones hot?
no wonder theirs talk of the husband

I dont think either are worthy of being called even plain.

[Mr J]

umm chad i'm lost what do you mean :confused:

[chad_74]

what kind of mans called pixie?

[orsman01]

yes but can you believe what he says they will do??? most (if not all) pollies are deceitful, liars...

[ChrisDude]

While I really want a change, I don't want Unions to reappear at any level. They're just another layer of beauracray, and they are selfish and money hungry like any political power. The Your Rights At Work compaign would have been massively expensive.


Unions aren't all bad. Sure they're power hungry, somewhat corrupt, and so on, but they also do plenty of good. They do things like work with employers to improve workplace safety (especially in areas like mining, forestry, and construction, where it genuinely matters), and offer advice to individuals if they have some concerns at work (e.g. workplace bullying, harassment, being forced to do excessive unpaid overtime, etc).

I guess what I'm saying is that unions have good and bad sides. They aren't all bad as employer groups and the Liberal party will have you believe.

[cancerianheart]

I only ever vote GREEN.

Voting GREEN, means that the electoral funding goes to the GREEN PARTY and they then get the power to pass on my vote in preference.

This means, that even though it is unlikely the GREENs will win office, it will give them significant power over the party that they pass their preference on to.

i.e. Labour will require the GREENs in order to pass Legislation. The GREENS can then negotiate policy and have some of their suggestions for Legislation included.

The Greens are the best option we have for Gay rights, not to mention the ENVIRONMENT. The best thing we can hope for is the GREENS winning the balance of power or even better, taking control of the SENATE.

Think about it;

BOB BROWN has been the only decent politician with any INTEGRITY, even Peter Garret sold out.

What hope do we really have for the future with the big parties becoming homogonised and giving in to the religious right.

Voting for Labor is voting for more of the same.
Voting for Liberal when you are gay is to sell out our rights.
Voting for Green sends a powerfull message to the major parties.

[chad_74]

Oh please bob brown integrity
more career politican.
In reality hes acheived sweet f all
As for unions yes they are rellevant and do have a place
but they need checks against corruption cause at the end of the day we struggle while the heads become fatcats.
Bob brown and kevin rudd would be more convincing if like canada they banned unions from political donations.Then again how would labor get its slush fund?

[cancerianheart]

I don't think any of the pollies are as good as they could be, I guess the system we have could also be better. Guess we just have to make do with whats currently on offer til someone else comes by who can outshine them all................anyone feel like running???

[Anthony Mahera]

The truth of the matter is that the world is currently in economic trouble yet the Australian Dollar is a strong as it has ever been. John Howard has coached this country through the hard times and we still are one of the most envyed countries in the world. Interest rates are the lowest in the world yet we still bitch and complain. We can have our cake and eat it to yet this is the mentallity of this country!

Most people I know will vote labor cause they have always voted labor including there parent and grandparents, without thinking of the repocussions down the track.

PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THE STATE LABOR GOVERNMENT. What a disgrace that party is to NSW. They where and are still doing the worst job of managing this state for the past Ten years yet the last election we voted them in again. We need more swinging voters (Like me).

I hope that Liberal will win due to the experiance of economic management during the worlds hard times which is now.

I think that it sux that my rights as a gay man will never be meet with the liberal government but........ Think about it, Between Liberal and Labor there will never be a front runner for the prime ministership that will give us the rights which is/should be our birth right as human beings.

[Zakalwe]

I'm beginning to have the dreadful thought that despite what the polls have been saying The Liberals will win the election.