October 11, 2004

BELIEVE ALAN

Alan Ramsey on Saturday: "Today's election is not cut and dried, whatever you hear. Today's election remains to be won, by either side. Believe it."

Alan Ramsey on Monday: "Latham's time will come. Believe it."

Why should we?

Posted by Tim Blair at October 11, 2004 11:32 PM
Comments

Latham's time has come to stand down as opposition leader maybe?

Posted by: Matthew at October 11, 2004 at 11:34 PM

And this from the ever-crapulous Guardian:

October 11: Christian right celebrates gains as PM wins fourth term.

Posted by: trojan at October 11, 2004 at 11:40 PM

Me thinks that Alan should have went on holidays with Margo, todays column was one too many, I think its time that he shuffles off into retirement and I would have thought that the election has finally shown the SMH management that their stable of ALP cheerleaders are sadly out of step with society and therefore potential readers.

Posted by: Nuffy at October 11, 2004 at 11:43 PM

Tim,

The issue was raised elsewhere on your blog today that if Beazley and other Labour heavies (no pun intended)knew the real situation they faced (ie that it was pretty hopeless) then Ramsey would have known that as well. Ergo, all his comments in recent months have been mere propaganda on behalf of Labour.

Ramsey lost all credibility with the readers of this blog a long time ago, I would guess (he's great for amusement value, though!). However, a lot of SMH readers might still be under the impression that he is a columnist of some integrity. It really raises the question of the integrity of MSM once again. Kind of makes a mockery of their concerns over changes to the media laws.

Guess we should be grateful they are still in denial. Without fundamental changes within Labour (or an economic depression), Latham will be dogmeat again in 2007. Comment elsewhere has pointed out the fundamental changes going on in the electoral landscape and Labour just don't seem to understand this.

Posted by: Kevin Francis at October 11, 2004 at 11:45 PM

This from Clive James makes good reading today. Oh to be able to wield the English language as brilliantly as Clive. Spellbinding, and a devastating critique of the Adams/Pilger/Greer gloom.

Posted by: trojan at October 11, 2004 at 11:48 PM

Alan seems to be suffering from post election trauma and therefore not knows of which he writes.

Posted by: Louis Hissink at October 11, 2004 at 11:51 PM

Is this an appropriate place to offer my congratulations on the win? I hope so: Congratulations John Howard and to the people of Australia! God willing, we'll do as well in November and give "W" 4 more!

Posted by: Helen at October 12, 2004 at 12:05 AM

"Latham will be dogmeat again in 2007. Comment elsewhere has pointed out the fundamental changes going on in the electoral landscape and Labour just don't seem to understand this."

Labour never uses common sense. They have been lost since bob hawk. Just look at when Simon Cream was the leader, the whole country said they preffered Beazley to cream, then eventually when cream finally read the writing on the wall, he stepped down and Latham got the job. Latham was never the right man for the job, and he created hype, but only out of his own stupidity. Labor needs to find someone with brains.. They might be doomed.

Posted by: Matthew at October 12, 2004 at 12:12 AM

Why should you? Because the Reverred Mr Ramsey writes for the Sydney Morning Herald, of course. Isn't it Australia's Newspaper of Record or Australia's Most Trusted Source of News, or something like that?

Posted by: Mr. Davis at October 12, 2004 at 12:21 AM

So let me guess Latham & Co are desperately looking for their own "Florida" so they whinge that the election was stolen.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at October 12, 2004 at 12:27 AM

I really dont think that a fellow with Latham's lack of tact and ability to control his outbursts will make it. That stupid handshake and stare down of Howard was typical of the man and people did not like it one bit. With his party sniping around him and the honeymoon well and truly over it is not going to be a pretty sight. The next few years will make or break him and I think the latter is more likely.

Posted by: Rob at October 12, 2004 at 12:33 AM

Comparative post-election reactions:

Left wing comments:
Left win - The people are enlightened and virtuous.
Left lose - The people are stupid and greedy.

Right wing comments:
Right win - The left are arrogant and impervious.
Right lose - How do I/we deal with this problem?

Posted by: 2dogs at October 12, 2004 at 12:44 AM

Latham did not get up as the public saw him as the son of Keating, also a hater. And we all know what happened to him.

Will Labor ever learn?

Posted by: Astro at October 12, 2004 at 12:47 AM

Fortunatly for us, no. Big lie my arse.

Posted by: gaz at October 12, 2004 at 12:52 AM

Helen: "Is this an appropriate place to offer my congratulations on the win? I hope so: Congratulations John Howard and to the people of Australia!"

In a time of sweet gloating such as this, such sentiments are welcome most anywhere, especially from our good American friends.

"God willing, we'll do as well in November and give "W" 4 more!"

As Alan would say: believe it.

Posted by: David Blue at October 12, 2004 at 02:48 AM

I am a newcomer to this site but have noticed how the same names keep coming up all the time. Alan Ramsey of course, Paul McGeough, Margo Kingston, Philip Adams. All these are fairly well known and we are aware of their intellectual war crimes but there must be other names and identities in the background, in academia, probably in the burecreacy who are just as culpable and in need of exposure.
Now might be the time for someone to collect a few names and post some short biographies; maybe even addresses (electronic and postal) so that those who feel so inclined (and there must be a goodly few) could deal with these people directly. I think a citizens' posse might be in order. Perhaps we could have a badge, even a uniform, so that wicked people of the left everywhere will know who it is they are really dealing - and that no-one anywhere is impervious to the pressue of righteous intimidation. Blathering on a website is surely not enough.

Posted by: wbatman at October 12, 2004 at 07:04 AM

Geez, which militia camp did you just come from, wbatman?

Posted by: PW at October 12, 2004 at 07:48 AM

I think Ramsey meant that Stephen Latham's time will come. Only three years until RWC 2007!

Posted by: Tom at October 12, 2004 at 09:13 AM

Tim, I think you should donate your blags name "spleenville" to Alan Ramsey and the blimp Adams. They are the real home of venting spleen.

Posted by: Mark Rintoule at October 12, 2004 at 10:15 AM

wbatman, this blog is about open and rational discourse, not witchhunts. What you suggest is akin to the tagging of Jews in WWII with the Star Of David.

From that, I conclude that you are a troll trying to stir up what you think exists amongst the posters on this blog -- hatred and prejudice.

If I'm wrong, my apologies. So try again. Or go whine at the Democratic Underground how stoooopid we'uns right wingers are not to take your hints and go on jihad.

Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 12, 2004 at 11:22 AM

Rock on, Jeff and PW.

Posted by: Sortelli at October 12, 2004 at 11:45 AM

Ramsey is Ripley's believe it or not.

Posted by: gubbaboy at October 12, 2004 at 12:26 PM

re the real jeffs:

rational discourse, eh? now that really is something to look forward to

Posted by: tug at October 12, 2004 at 08:14 PM

Well, evidently not from you, tug, not from you.

Posted by: PW at October 12, 2004 at 09:08 PM

rational discourse, eh? now that really is something to look forward to

Are you going to stop making inane comments?

Or is the word "orc" about to pop out of that little mouth of yours?

Posted by: Quentin George at October 12, 2004 at 09:40 PM

and what part of its anatomy does an orc utter from?

Posted by: tug at October 12, 2004 at 11:55 PM

Well look who else is going to get his cute little self banned.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at October 13, 2004 at 12:38 PM

Right... now.

I love the smell of banned troll in the evening. It smells like... victory.

Posted by: Andrea Harris at October 13, 2004 at 12:40 PM

that's the way. keep the site safe for the orcs.

Posted by: wbatman at October 15, 2004 at 09:26 AM