October 10, 2004
WEEPY & GLOATY
(a) Has the election made you sad? Express the full extent of your raging grief here. Also, link in comments to any particularly tragic online commentary. It’s the house of pain!
(b) Are you inclined to gloat over the election result? Please, be my guest! Hurtful, savage, imbalanced and triumphalist ranting is welcome -- in fact, anything not sufficiently twisted and furious will be deleted. Go for it!
Posted by Tim Blair at October 10, 2004 02:15 AMIs there a Latham statue somewhere to tear down?
Though a Margo one might do...
Nappy-John! Nappy-John! Nappy-John! Nappy-John!
Posted by: DemEnTEd at October 10, 2004 at 02:22 AMIf the commentary is anything to go by among my clientele of heavily ALP voters, Pauline Hanson has achieved 110% of the senate vote!
Posted by: Steve at the pub at October 10, 2004 at 02:22 AMCan a Canadian following the results be allowed to gloat, too? Please? WAY TO GO AUSTRALIA!
Posted by: ras at October 10, 2004 at 02:23 AMLIL JOHNNIE IS THE FUCKING MAN!!!!!!!!!!!
REFORM INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS EVEN MORE! PRIVATISE TELSTRA! MAJORITY IN THE SENATE! BIG PETE PUTTING IT DOWN! DOWNER, ABBOTT, VANSTONE... THE ECONOMIC DREAM TEAM IS BACK! AUSTRALIA'S GONNA GET RICHER! OH YEAH! MORE BEER FOR AUSSIES! MORE GOOD TIMES TO COME! NO SOCIALISTS!
AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE! OI! OI! OI!
Posted by: Jamie at October 10, 2004 at 02:25 AMCouldn't we organize the equivalent of a dead pool here? You know, which leftie celebrities move out of Australia in the next year or something? (I think that predicting which one will open their veins in a tub is a little vulgar, don't you?)
Or maybe which troll will post in a drunken stupor that is all but indistinguishable from their normal rambling?
Meanwhile, What's for lunch, Tim? And will it include a tasty wine?
Posted by: JorgXMcKie at October 10, 2004 at 02:26 AMAh, what a morning... The POTUS stomps donkey butt last night in St. Louis and the PMOZ adds to his majority in Sydney.
Not to mention the egg on the chins of the ABC & BBC.
Good on ya!
God knows the moonbat left would be praising the 'wisdom' of the Australian people if they had voted for Latham, so now that you Australians have obviously shown yourselves to be fools, I must say: thank you!
I don't care what the french say, you aussies are ok. maybe now your election is over, Bush will mention Howard as a great friend in the next debate.
This is the best f-ing news in a long time. Three cheers to the best lot of brothers and sisters anyone could dream to have.
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray
Hip Hip Hooray
Posted by: Horst Graben at October 10, 2004 at 02:29 AM
JorgX -- the Hollywood crowd keeps promising to leave the US when Republicans win, yet they never seem to get around to getting out. In all events, don't let your lefties come here, yours are crazier than ours.
Wretchard at Belmont Club has the goods:
If the Left were thinking clearly, it would realize that the single most striking aspect of George W. Bush is how ordinary he is. There is nothing in his strategy to combat terrorism beyond a refined common sense.
Posted by: Anon at October 10, 2004 at 02:31 AMMandy Vandy for PM!! She doesn't win in the hotness stakes, but neither did Maggie.
Posted by: marten at October 10, 2004 at 02:39 AMBig congrats for Mr Howard, from a (nearly) lonely frenchman up here.
For a moment, i feared that australia would go spanish....
I take the family there next holiday
Posted by: frenchfregoli at October 10, 2004 at 02:40 AMHOORAY!
Say, could you skywrite the message "NOT HAPPY MARK" somewhere over Australia?
Send the bill to Margo.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at October 10, 2004 at 02:42 AMGood Lord, what a relief. Congrats and a heartfelt thank you from one of your fans in the USA.
Thank God for Australia.
Posted by: Mike at October 10, 2004 at 02:45 AMTo my Aussie friends:
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE WORLD SOME REAL BALLS!!!!
Australia is a great friend of our country, and showed the world that your country is not a bunch of guys who have had vagina implants.
F John Kerry's sister, too.
Brian at John Kerry for President? You Must Be Joking!!!
Posted by: Brian at October 10, 2004 at 02:50 AMWell now, what was it that Toni Collette said she was going to do if Howard was reelected, I think it had something to do with a sharp razor and her wrists, ah yes here it is:
"I think I'll slit my wrists if Howard gets in again"
O.K Toni, you dopey cow, time to ante up.
Of course I don't really want her to slit her wrist as she promised, but maybe she could use the razor to scrape the egg of her face?
And then maybe she could give her razor to a few of the lefty bloggers so as they can deal with their own egg laden faces.
(has Chris Sheil not got the worst record for bad predictions? Talk about the kiss of death!!!)
I'm roaming in the gloaming and gloating o'er the voting. 'Shotgun' Willie Nelson provides this useful blast from the past, use it as you see fit:
Do you remember when I told you
That in time you'd have to pay?
Ain't it funny how time slips away.
Posted by: Carl H. at October 10, 2004 at 02:53 AMPresumably not enough gloating on display, and hence you've deleted the posts...
I'm curious as to WTF happened - I'd understood Latham to have a good chance, and Howard's ended up up. But whatever...
Posted by: The Philosophical Cowboy at October 10, 2004 at 03:05 AMCongratulations and THANK YOU Australia!! The virtual refusal of the American MSM to mention the Aussie result speaks volumes about the extraordinary significance of that result.
Posted by: Ralph at October 10, 2004 at 03:08 AMMargot kingston has just taken a month long vacation.
http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/margo_kingston/000321.html
I hope she doesnt hit the bottle too hard. The psychology behind the rantings should always remain a mystery. Much more fun that way.
Posted by: the young lib brigade at October 10, 2004 at 03:12 AMI'm not going to gloat, but I am going to go out and buy some Aussie beer today, and drink a toast or two to our Australian allies and friends.
Okay, screw it: I am going to gloat. Short-term opportunism lost; the good guys won, bigtime.
You guys consistently fight out of your weight class, and equally consistently kick ass.
Posted by: Joel Rosenberg at October 10, 2004 at 03:17 AMY'all need a song for this glorious day. May I recommend Thunderstruck! ?
Posted by: richard mcenroe at October 10, 2004 at 03:17 AMThe thing which swung my vote - to Labor, not to the Coalition - was the start of fire season here in Brisbane, the day before the election. My housemate got home and said the traffic jam caused by the smoke was the worst he'd seen since the Pope's visit in 1986. According to the Courier-Mail, the maximum temperature was 13 degrees (!) above normal. I voted Labor because they seemed more likely to come to grips with environmental issues. The nationwide rise in the Green vote suggests a lot of people have similar concerns.
Australia can't do much to change world trends, beyond setting a good example. Perhaps we could get involved with Bush's hydrogen-car project. But I think we now simply have to start planning for the worst as well. This isn't Kiribati, we're not going to disappear beneath the tides. But the costs of extreme weather are going to keep climbing, and I'd like to know what the end point of that trend is.
Posted by: mitch p. at October 10, 2004 at 03:20 AMHey, neat! That dyselxic antisemite Kingston has a filter on her site to prevent "malicious comments."
Cool. So let me reprint my post here; "If she doesn't come back in a month, we'll send the 4th ID to drag her out of her hole by the beard too..."
Posted by: richard mcenroe at October 10, 2004 at 03:23 AMThe latest Margo diary is a classic - a quote:
"We must join forces across the political divide to make a difference...... I'm taking a month off from Monday."
I guess we'll all join forces in outrage sometime later then.
Posted by: MD/V at October 10, 2004 at 03:23 AMI was going to buy some Australian beer to celebrate, but I can't find any Victoria Bitter over here.
On the other hand, I did find Margot bitter.
Posted by: Carl H. at October 10, 2004 at 03:29 AMhas Chris Sheil not got the worst record for bad predictions?
Nah, that dubious honour would go to Gary "fuck i'm useless - the ALP must really hate me" morgan at his poll of the same name.
The nationwide rise in the Green vote suggests a lot of people have similar concerns.
Oh, yeah; it wouldn't have been Democrat voters fleeing a sinking ship now would it? Australia's on target for Kyoto anyway; judging by the emissions performances of the countries that have, signing Kyoto would be the kiss of death!
boy am i cussing a lot tonight here or what
Posted by: Anon at October 10, 2004 at 03:30 AMLast night I wondered why W never mentioned Howard by name in the debates. Now I hope we'll hear more about our most steadfast friends.
Howard wins big - and the coverage:
But this election has not been fought on the Iraq issue, mainly because Australia's commitment has been largely symbolic and no casualties have been recorded.
Tim, following this from the US we don't get enough coverage of your campaign; is this a fair characterization? Can't help but wonder if the same would have been written if Latham had won. Posted by: huski at October 10, 2004 at 03:33 AM
My election story:
At the polling booth where I was working the ALP was represented by three moonbat aged men with grey pontails and pock-marked faces, the Greens by a gaggle of bootfaced lesbians.
Anyway, I got them all staring at my tits and forgetting to hand out how-to-vote cards as bunches of voters walked by. This happened t least five fimes.
Scrutineering afterwards. About 2200 votes at this polling place. Libs got about 1700, ALP got just 295.
Posted by: Sue at October 10, 2004 at 03:42 AMYAY Australia! HOORAY Tim Blair! This American gloats with you.
Posted by: Jason at October 10, 2004 at 03:43 AMYAY Australia! HOORAY Tim Blair! This American gloats with you.
Posted by: Jason at October 10, 2004 at 03:46 AMWe're happy about Howard's victory and all, but silencing Margo was a particularly deft coda. Within the next three weeks, can you teach us how you did that? It would be really good if Moore could keep his dreck out of the moviehouses for awhile.
PS- Did we ever tell you thanks for the troops? Thanks for the troops!
Posted by: Cridland at October 10, 2004 at 03:53 AMYAY Australia! HOORAY Tim Blair! This American gloats with you.
Posted by: Jason at October 10, 2004 at 04:02 AMNo legitimate gloating here (as an American) but I am quite happy to see the wisdom of our friends in Australia made manifest.
Again.
Posted by: Patton at October 10, 2004 at 04:16 AMYAY Australia! HOORAY Tim Blair! This American gloats with you.
Posted by: Jason at October 10, 2004 at 04:16 AMI'm a member of a group of guys worldwide who gather on a message board to regularly discuss all sorts of issues (booze, politics, babes, anything really). Here's a copy of the message I left on that board:
And a great rejoicing was heard the length & breadth of the land.
Well, amongst those of good sense, sound mind, sensible mien and, of course, right wing arseholes like me.
Yes, John Howard's conservative government has been re-elected with an INCREASED majority. The conservative vote share increased by about 3% resulting of a net gain of 4 to 6 seats.
And even better the Democrat (the left-wing fringe "Naderite" party) vote collapsed from about 8% to 2%, resulting in the loss of half their Senate seats. As John McClane would say "Yippie Ki Yay, Motherfuckers".
All this after a campaign from the usual suspects about how divisive, dangerous and dick-headed the Howard government was. I look foward to the bitching & whining of the left wing wankerstocracy in the coming weeks. Yes, I realise that gloating is unseemly - so sue me.
Posted by: Tom H at October 10, 2004 at 04:17 AMMAKE AS STOPIT UHSTRALANS, FUCKS FAHSIST MORANS! GO AS HELL COALASS CLICK
Posted by: Mock-Puce (when only the best will do, but this is all you get) at October 10, 2004 at 04:19 AMAw crap. I lost that $5 I put down on Kucinich.
Posted by: Ken Summers at October 10, 2004 at 04:29 AMMargot's potted Labor history (from tonights sorrowful post, just before she deserts it for a month): "2004 was certainly not a re-run of 1969, when Gough led Labor to the brink of victory before truiumphing (sic) in 1975."
Eu contraire Margot!! IN 1975 GOUGH LED LABOR TO A 7.4 PERCENT SWING TOWARDS THE LIBS. Maybe history does repeat!
A uniquely rightous group of countries are forming together aside from the old clique of post world war allys and new voices are being heard. Liberated from the old Soviet UNION, freedom lovers with hearts on fire for the end of human enslavement are bonding to form a new union while old unions are turning socialist. America couldn't have better friends then the Aussies & the Brits, we love you guys. Funny how both Australia and America were originally settled by europes outcasts, definitely a common bond of philosophy and mindset. It's looking like the separation of the chaff from the wheat. Gonna celebrate tonight at the "Outback" and toast Howards victory.
Posted by: Laurel at October 10, 2004 at 04:53 AMWe in the U.S love you guys! Guts, principles, loyalty - and great accents!
Congratulations on a great victory for Australian and the world.
Posted by: Dr Bob at October 10, 2004 at 05:11 AMI kew the Aussies were cool.
Congratulations from the USofA
Posted by: Stever at October 10, 2004 at 05:17 AMSomewhere in a dimly lit cave in the Pashtun region of Pakistan sits a scruffy figure watching Australian election returns on a snowy TV (can't risk an antenna, you know) saying to himself and as many of his wives as have hung around, "Dammit, I wish I could take a month off, too!"
Congratulations, Australia. May this be a harbinger for Novemeber 2.
Go, Nappy John!
Posted by: Inkling at October 10, 2004 at 05:19 AMGreat news! I just hope we Americans demonstrate as much good sense in November as y'all did yesterday. Three cheers for our mates in Austrailia!
Posted by: Nathan at October 10, 2004 at 05:38 AMHoo-fucking-ray!
May the fell-handed Aussies always be America's companions in battle. With such steady allies we need fear no enemy.
Congrats, mates.
Congratulations!
May this be a sign of things to come, in our election here in the U.S.
In the meantime, I am enjoying the results (yes! I am gloating) and rejoicing for Iraq. Of course, I am also laughing at the consternation that this must be causing for John Kerry and his family.
But the great satirist Scrappleface puts it best:
October 09, 2004
Gore Lawsuit Challenges Australian Election Results
(2004-10-09) -- Just hours after the polls closed across Australia, and Prime Minister John Howard headed for his fourth term, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore filed a lawsuit in international court at the Hague alleging "irregularities" in the balloting.
The election was seen by many as a referendum on Australia's participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the subsequent efforts to bring democracy to Iraq. Mr. Howard's opponent, Mark Latham, had promised to withdraw Australian troops from the Coalition.
"Somebody was disenfranchised or coerced down under," said Mr. Gore, now an itinerant professor. "John Howard betrayed his country. He played on their fears. There's no way they could have re-elected him legally. We'll fight this result all the way to the U.N. Security Council if need be."
Democrat presidential contender John Forbes Kerry expressed displeasure at the Australian election outcome.
"This is the wrong election result, in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr. Kerry said. "Think of the precedent this sets."
by Scott Ott
Can you say "no habla espanol on election day?"
Apparantly Australians can!
Congratulations Australia & John Howard!!!!
I was worried here in NY! I calmed myself with thinking, Australians think like us Americans. They'll do the right thing. These wind bags on the left can have their say and make their threats, but when it's time to pull the lever on the future, the silent majority is gonna march into the voting booths and stomp the crap out of them.
Australia in October, and America in November!
GO BUSH!
Posted by: Anne at October 10, 2004 at 06:26 AMG'DAY MATES!!
Congrats to you Aussies. To think that dumb fuck Latham would endanger your alliance with America is mind boggling. You people live in what will soon enough become a very dangerous neighborhood. With your best friend America standing by your side, nobody will fuck with you.
Except, of course, the terrorists, but we Yanks are killing them at accelerated pace. God Bless.
P.S. Fuck Margo
P.S.S Fuck Kerry
P.S.S.S Fuck Latham
Yes, hopefully the Aussie result is a good omen for the US in November.
Good luck cousins!
Posted by: AStext at October 10, 2004 at 08:26 AMI love this blog and visit it multiple times a day. As an American and a New Yorker, I am PROUD that Australia has found it worthwhile to support the United States at critical moments in our history (like the current moment) even when that support might not be popular with many, and I am grateful to your current administration for its unwavering support. Congratulations to Mr. Howard and thanks to Australia. Sorry to be so serious but there will be plenty of others who will pick up the burden of saying funny things now that we don't have to be too serious about Australian politics for a day or so!
Posted by: Lazlo Toth at October 10, 2004 at 08:50 AMDear Tim: You must be careful resting your belief in Australia on the election of a particular person. I cannot believe you would admire or love Australia less, if Howard had not been reelected. I'm am sure that you admir and love Australia because it is a great country and you are a loyal Australian. If sometimes the other party in democracy did not take office, I would question the reality of the democracy. (I think Japan has been hurt by never having a real change in the governing party,)
Recently the son of a former minister of our Methodish Church wrote a oped piece in the Memphis Commecial Appeal that he finally had become patriotic because the Democrats had nominated Kerry. (Can you believe that? I want to say a bad word, but will not) (Please note most of our church memebers are much more conservative than that and he is not a member.) But see how foolish that statement makes him look. Will he not be patriotic, if Bush is reelected? See how foolish that all sounded.
I salute Australia for its election results. I admire Australia. I admire Great Britain. I admire all the allies in this difficult war. I have a real problem with Canada, Germany, and Spain. I do not even consider France.
In short admire and love Australia, even if it might make some mistakes in your opinion in the future.
Jim Russell, West Memphis, AR
Posted by: Jim Russell at October 10, 2004 at 08:55 AMGreat news, Aussies! The only allies the USA has are by our sides in Iraq. God bless you all
Posted by: AllenUSA at October 10, 2004 at 08:55 AMYeah, good one, Australia. You've made the RWDB brigade and a happy band of US rednecks very happy.
Fuck, what a tragedy.
Posted by: Jeremy at October 10, 2004 at 09:00 AMps when interest rates rise in the next three years, I'm sure JWH will take full responsibility for it, won't he?
Posted by: Jeremy at October 10, 2004 at 09:01 AMCongratulations, Australia.
You have shown maturity and wisdom about what's really important. I hope we do the same.
Alan in Chicago
Posted by: Alan H Huth at October 10, 2004 at 09:17 AMGood on yer, mates! Thanks for sticking with us in this fight. Nothing worth having comes easy, like civilization.
Posted by: Chris Hunt at October 10, 2004 at 09:36 AMIt gets worse Jeremy.
The maths of this one means it's a 6 year term.
Enjoy!!
Fuck, what a tragedy.
Dry those eyes, sunshine, its not like a government seeking a fourth term getting a swing TOWARDS it is unusual, is it?
Oh, that's right, it is.
Posted by: Quentin George at October 10, 2004 at 09:55 AMJeremy,
The big difference with this election is it now looks like the Coalition will control the Senate. This means they'll be able to push through important micro-economic reforms that have been blocked by the left-wing parties for the last 8 years.
To have rising interest rates would require a surge in inflation, which is usually caused by large wage rises. The chances of this happening should be reduced by improved productivity. We have seen in recent years that inflation has stayed low despite real wages increasing by 20+% because of productivity increases caused by government reforms. If the government slacks off on reform then we will see a rise in interest rates and the Coalition will be punished in 2007.
Remember, you can't have improvements/increases in education, health, aged-care, defence, environment etc. spending unless the economy is growing. The Coalition's main claim to fame is growing the economy. If they fail at that by 2007 then we will probably end up with 2-3 terms of Labour.
The Joker in the pack may be oil prices though. If they continue to surge we may end up having a jump in inflation and the economy would be in big trouble. Nobody would want to be in power if that happens.....
It's a beautiful sunny day here in Melbourne. Perfect spring weather. Blue sky, birds singing, garden blooming.
Even Mother Nature is celebrating!!!
Posted by: Huddo at October 10, 2004 at 10:01 AMI voted Labor!
I never swallowed all the guff about the Coalition being the only people smart enough to manage the economy, and I don't buy the idea that the Coalition are the gallant defenders of civilization. Although they have seen significant changes for better in the Australian economy, Iraq and Afghanistan, since coming to power.
Basically, I just thought it was time for a change. I looked at the policies which were relevant and important to me - and saw that neither party really had any. In some aspects (the arts, specifically) Labor had a slight edge.
I'm not sorry for voting on issues that specifically impact upon me, and I'm not entirely sorry that the Coalition got back in either!
OK, Tim - per your instructions:
Gloat, gloat, gloat!
Latham's mother sleeps in pay terlets. With Margo.
Hope this is insulting enough to not be deleted. ;-)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut at October 10, 2004 at 10:19 AMReally Not Happy John!
I feel completely shattered, how could it turn out this way?
Sure it started out fun, standing in front of the tv with beer (or 10). People were gathered around the tv at the function and gradually their faces were dropping, trying to hold back tears (time to switch to a red or 12). People around me started to mutter about lies. I could feel some rage building up inside. I really wanted to shout
"Suck shit, you wankers!", I am so sick of hearing their lies, particluarly about Iraq. They will stoop to any lie or distortion to accuse Howard of lying, what hypocracy.
Sure I know what went wrong, by the end of the night I was as drunk as a Scrafton. I clearly didn't find the election a very sobering experience, at the moment I feel about as functional as the Australian Democrats. Unlike, them I am still alive.
Congratulations and best whishes from germany!
Now, when John Fraggle kERRy is sent back to france on Nov. the 2th, the world will be nearly perfect.
Posted by: Hartmut at October 10, 2004 at 10:53 AMMy belief in the common sense of the Australian people is vindicated. Good on ya!
Unfortunately, your election decision won't get much ink or airtime in the U.S. mainstream media. They are very disappointed. And a little bit afraid that your Australian madness might tip our election to Cowboy Bush. Heh.
Posted by: Rebecca at October 10, 2004 at 11:06 AM
Huddo, although your sentiments are spot on, when you say:
"To have rising interest rates would require a surge in inflation, which is usually caused by large wage rises."
you are wrong, wrong, wrong! Inflation is an increase in the supply of money (by deficit spending, the monetary printing press, and the issuance of government debt) which causes general prices to rise. Wage rises belatedly follow the inflationary effect of rising prices.
"Wage-push" inflation has been a discredited economic concept since the days of Malcolm Fraser.
However, it is indeed a beautiful morning! Does anyone know of a good moonbat site apart from Maggots and Shiel's, where I can gloat over the Kool-Aid induced mass-transit of the Tasman?
You know, GWB only left out JH's name in last debate because he's not the most eloquent guy in the world...
We Americans love the Australians and couldn't begin to tell you thank you enough for your friendship!!!
Thanks from North Carolina, USA, home of the 82nd Airborne, ready to deploy anywhere on 18 hours notice.
Having you watch my back is an honor.
Posted by: conelrad at October 10, 2004 at 11:56 AMGreat speech by Howard. This was always about more than economic management.
A small gloat - I not only predicted the result correctly but also got the Tasmanian seats 100% right - 100%!
Posted by: Pig Head Sucker at October 10, 2004 at 11:57 AMI'm planning on going out tonight to get royally soused on Foster's, and whatever other Aussie beeah I can find. Unfortunately I don't know any Aussie-run pubs in Houston. We have the "Outback Steakhouse" and other such, but they're just rubbish theme restaurants.
Thank you, o majority of voting Australia. May the US rally to your side as swiftly in the event of an Indonesian Caliphate or Chinese Empire etc.
Posted by: David Ross at October 10, 2004 at 12:02 PMI ran across this comment on the Australian election in a war and military themed blog here called Belmont Club (which some of you probably already read), written by a guy named "Wretchard." I thought it was pithy:
"The really horrifying thing about Howard's victory for Labor is that it proves that packaging and spin are ultimately dead ends. It is a cul-de-sac lined with klieg lights and celebrity occasions, but there is no exit all the same because it is the platform of the Labor party that is rotten. The hodge-podge of wacky environmentalists, professional victims, special sexual pleaders etc. have laid a dead hand on attempts to regard any issue, like the War on Terror, with anything approaching common sense. How else to explain why Labor should offer a country of 20 million people, living in close proximity to Indonesia, the chance to downgrade their alliance with the United States.
"If the Left were thinking clearly, it would realize that the single most striking aspect of George W. Bush is how ordinary he is. There is nothing in his strategy to combat terrorism beyond a refined common sense. He represents a threat to Liberalism [Wretchard refers here to American-style liberalism, a sort of weak-tea leftism] for precisely the reason that an everyman reacting to an extraordinary historical challenge imperils kings and hereditary elites: the prospect he may discover by success in action that royalty with its cant and obscurantism is no better than he."
http://belmontclub.blogspot.com/2004/10/john-howard-is-reelected-key-ally-in.html
Does this strike you guys as accurate? He's observing from afar, which is always fraught with peril....
Dafydd
this is just the best! joho back in and bathurst on the telly today! yeah boy! i's gonna get me all likkered up! the only thing that could make my year any better would be if Mark 'the westie with one teste' Latham retired for 'health reasons'..so just to recap... IN YOUR FACE LEFTY KNOBS! CHECK THE SCOREBOARD! ACCEPT THE DECISION AND BE GRACEFUL IN DEFEAT AS WE ARE IN VICTORY!! :)
Posted by: rosceo at October 10, 2004 at 01:00 PMCongratulations to the Australian people. They are a sensible bunch and saw through all the claptrap.
Posted by: andrew at October 10, 2004 at 01:06 PMGood on ya, mates! The only downside is more years of whinging by the organic-eating, underarm hair-sporting, pony-tail wearing, Guevara-loving forces of nihilism. Uh, on second thought that's actually part of the upside. Their everyday utterances validate the Good Guys.
Posted by: Tommy Shanks at October 10, 2004 at 01:39 PMOn the Internet, by the miracle of cut-and-paste, anyone can recite poetry flawlessly.
Today, in "honour" of had Mark Latham, Australia's would-be Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and in honour of the ABC and Sydney Morning Herald boosting his chances through the election, I shall recite this masterpiece, which I believe to be the greatest piece of gloating poetry ever written, by Australian national treasure Clive James.
'The Book of my Enemy Has Been Remaindered'
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am pleased.
In vast quantities it has been remaindered
Like a van-load of counterfeit that has been seized
And sits in piles in a police warehouse,
My enemy's much-prized effort sits in piles
In the kind of bookshop where remaindering occurs.
Great, square stacks of rejected books and, between them, aisles
One passes down reflecting on life's vanities,
Pausing to remember all those thoughtful reviews
Lavished to no avail upon one's enemy's book --
For behold, here is that book
Among these ranks and banks of duds,
These ponderous and seemingly irreducible cairns
Of complete stiffs.
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I rejoice.
It has gone with bowed head like a defeated legion
Beneath the yoke.
What avail him now his awards and prizes,
The praise expended upon his meticulous technique,
His individual new voice?
Knocked into the middle of next week
His brainchild now consorts with the bad buys
The sinker, clinkers, dogs and dregs,
The Edsels of the world of moveable type,
The bummers that no amount of hype could shift,
The unbudgeable turkeys.
Yea, his slim volume with its understated wrapper
Bathes in the blare of the brightly jacketed Hitler's War Machine,
His unmistakably individual new voice
Shares the same scrapyart with a forlorn skyscraper
Of The Kung-Fu Cookbook,
His honesty, proclaimed by himself and believed by others,
His renowned abhorrence of all posturing and pretense,
Is there with Pertwee's Promenades and Pierrots--
One Hundred Years of Seaside Entertainment,
And (oh, this above all) his sensibility,
His sensibility and its hair-like filaments,
His delicate, quivering sensibility is now as one
With Barbara Windsor's Book of Boobs,
A volume graced by the descriptive rubric
"My boobs will give everyone hours of fun".
Soon now a book of mine could be remaindered also,
Though not to the monumental extent
In which the chastisement of remaindering has been meted out
To the book of my enemy,
Since in the case of my own book it will be due
To a miscalculated print run, a marketing error--
Nothing to do with merit.
But just supposing that such an event should hold
Some slight element of sadness, it will be offset
By the memory of this sweet moment.
Chill the champagne and polish the crystal goblets!
The book of my enemy has been remaindered
And I am glad.
I've got a hangover that would kill 10 men this morning, and I'm still as happy as a pig in shit.
Especially after laughing my head off at the lefty media losers on "Sunday" on Channel 9, and all their pissing and moaning about "interest rates scare tactics based on a lie"
God, life is sweet.
I'm going to watch Bathurst now, in fog of alcohol and bonhomie.
Thank you, the great unwashed, who voted with wisdom and commonsense to continue the onward march of our great country.
Did I mention how sweet it is?
Posted by: Pedro the Ignorant at October 10, 2004 at 02:22 PMDafydd ab Hugh, I'd say Wretchard's call is as good as anyone else's.
First I don't think you have to be an Australian (or a left-handed lesbian of colour) to know what you're talking about. Second, he knows, his familiarity with Oz is genuine and obvious. I can't see any biographical information offhand, but he writes like a guy who's spent lots of time in Australia and/or with Aussies, and not at all like someone faking that.
Posted by: David Blue at October 10, 2004 at 02:31 PMIn these days of the increasing pussification of large swatches of the world, when even the birthplace of machismo has forgotten the meaning of the word, we Americans can hear - from the far side of the ocean- the clanging together of the Aussies BIG BRASS BALLS.
Goddamn, you lads give me hope! When the world still has leaders like Howard, and Blair, and Bush - flawed heros though they are - and populations with the common sense, insight, and courage to elect them, then my children have a chance to grow and prosper in a world free of this terrible threat.
By God, I'm proud to share the friendship of a nation with such proud, bold, and fearless people. One of the few nations left who's citizens have earned the right to walk the world with a bit of a swagger. Head up and chest out. Who have EARNED the right to proclaim their nationality to all with justifiable pride. "We are Australians! Who the fuck are you?"
America is counting its' friends these days. Next time you need something - anything - just holler. Your nations faithfulness and loyalty will not be soon forgotten.
Posted by: Bruce Badger at October 10, 2004 at 02:34 PMDafydd ab Hugh, and, specifically on what that Belmont Club piece said - I think he may have a point.
I and a lot of other people were very happy to vote for Kim "Bomber" Beazely, and his Labor Party, but even so it was never enough to beat John Howard. In ditching big Kim and going with the hard anti-American left, the useless Simon Crean and then mad Mark Latham, the Labor Party has burned more than half a century of reliability on the American alliance, which is a security blanket for Australia, and in return it has not found any new way forward, or even supporting constituencies that look like the right sorts of people to come up with a realistic new agenda.
What's next? I don't know.
But what Bush is doing, what Howard is doing, is just common sense. Backing our mates against bloody maniacs who hate us should have been a no brainer. For the Americans, going after the terrorists in a big way, Iraq included as a possible target, should have been a no-brainer. As long as the left persists in seeing this as a diabolical conspiracy, they have a problem winning power, and we have a bigger problem next time they do.
Would be malicious gloating, to go back through recent Spleenville threads, pick out the win-to-Labor predictions of Nemesis, Miranda Divide, Darp Hau et al., then rub their noses in it?
Posted by: Byron_the_Aussie at October 10, 2004 at 02:57 PMAnd to all you great Americans, sharing our joy with us and saying all these very flattering things: YOU ROCK!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
My sincere prayers and cheers for you and your great president. November 2, let's do this all again - big time!
Posted by: David Blue at October 10, 2004 at 02:59 PMBush did not forget Australia in the debates. Since Australian participation in Iraq was an issue in the election, Bush did not want to make any comments that could be used by Howard's opposition. He has been not mentioning Australia in speeches for months.
He also didn't mention the conclusions of the Dalfur report that France and other Security Council members were bribed by Saddam with Oil For Food money before the war when John Kerry repeatedly charged Bush with "pushing away" "our allies".
Despite his rap, Bush is a careful diplomat.
Posted by: allyk at October 10, 2004 at 03:04 PMHaHaHaHaMargohahahahahafitzsimmonshahahahahaPhilip adamshahahahahaABCredKerryhahahaha
amen
Great Show! Aussies... Hope it goes as well here in the U.S. next month!
Good to see that not only did labor not win, they lost more support than they had previously.
jim
Posted by: jimf at October 10, 2004 at 03:42 PMThe Age's Michael Leunig is not happy... and it appears that he has finally discovered that he can't draw and has stopped trying.
http://www.theage.com.au/cartoons/index.html
When Mr Bush returned, and he will be-
the Americans have far too much sense to vote this mincing primping drama queen, who sounds for most of the time that he is out to impress Grand mere in the school play or debating team.
We need to form a New Coaltion of friends and dump the UN AND LET THE LEAGUE OF DESPOTS AND FOOLS STEW.
Why throw our money on this failed league of the corrupt.
I am sick to the gills of hearing America slammed by ingrates who only survive by her generosity.
GO America-
and for the posters who are shattered by the Howard win- take your superannuation and get the hell to Cuba or Spain or France or Germany-Libya or Iran- your friends await you-don't return
Jim Russell, West Memphis, AR:
Hey, man, I've got a problem with Canada too, and I live here! Always remember that the government here has been controlled for the past forty years by the French living among us. That's the way the system is loaded here.
Enough whining- Thank You and God bless every last one of you who voted with courage and vision.
Victory, sweet victory!
Thanks to all our American Cousins for their support and great comments.
I got deleted from the Shiels Blog as I just OVER Gloated. Damn! it was fun to kick em hard at their lowest momment. Not the most ethical thing to do but screw it, they so deserve it.
This is the sweetest one of them all. Just imagine the alternative. It does not bear thinking about.
So, so sweet. ONYA John.
An Australian blogger just about sums up the attitude of most Australians to the left:
I tried to see life from a lefty point of view, but couldn’t get my head that far up my rectum.
The result is fantastic for Australia. The lunatics don't get to take over this asylum anytime soon.
I can't wait to get to work tomorrow to explain to some lefty moonbats that the ALP has once again suffered the judgment of the masses.
Posted by: Rod at October 10, 2004 at 07:09 PMFrom a lonely perch here in Singapore, I offer Howard and the Aussies a very hearty congratulations for the result! A victory for the the forces of good over the forces of evil!
Onward to victory in Nov 3!
Furthermore, the Aussie media had overestimated Latham's chances. I'm beginning to suspect the same happening for the US elections, with the US media overestimating Kerry's chances. I suspect that on Nov 3, Bush will win, and by a margin that would shock most leftists!
TWG
Posted by: The Wobbly Guy at October 10, 2004 at 08:25 PMWould be malicious gloating, to go back through recent Spleenville threads, pick out the win-to-Labor predictions of Nemesis, Miranda Divide, Darp Hau et al., then rub their noses in it?
Well, now that you mention it, this should be the right thread for a post from that fellow who goes by "marklatham" on his comments, no? But maybe he's too weepy to see the keyboard clearly.
Posted by: PW at October 10, 2004 at 09:12 PMYAAAAAAAAAAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Australian media can suck my balls, even though I don't have any.
Posted by: ozwitch at October 10, 2004 at 09:31 PMCame home with a wet sail again....!
Does this mean we wont have to put up traffic signals on the Ashmore Reef?
Its been a great win but the now unrequited desire of the Left to restrict your freedom and access your funds for 'the common good' will only become more insistent in the near future (sounds like a scare campaign??).
Posted by: rog at October 10, 2004 at 10:11 PMYEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH BOYY!!!!!! the aussie media can suck my balls as well!! i have TWO testicles ( which is ONE more testicle than the failed leader of the australian labore party has).
Posted by: rosceo at October 10, 2004 at 10:13 PMDafydd & David, I'm pretty sure Wretchard is an Aussie.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 10, 2004 at 11:09 PMras: "Can a Canadian following the results be allowed to gloat, too? Please? WAY TO GO AUSTRALIA!"
Yes, definitely (if belatedly). Thank you to all our good Canadian friends. :D
Posted by: David Blue at October 10, 2004 at 11:43 PMThanks to all you Aussies. With allies like ya makes Liberty the meanest son of bitches on the planet. This proud Texan luvs all of ya as much as I luv my state and country. Hip fucking Hooray! Up Liberty! Down Terrorism!
Luv
Jeff
Christ, you guys are sickening.
You do realise that you don't represent "Australia" or "America" and when the wheel turns, as it surely will, it will be all the sweeter for the rest of us.
Sod you all. Just wait till 2007. We know your game now, and we'll be playing it next time. Just wait.
Posted by: Jeremy at October 11, 2004 at 12:15 AM"You do realise that you don't represent "Australia" or "America" and when the wheel turns, as it surely will, it will be all the sweeter for the rest of us."
You're right; They only represent the majority of Australians.
Posted by: Nordic Redneck at October 11, 2004 at 12:53 AMAlleluia! God bless the Aussies and your future generations!
Thanks for your courage and for the hope you give us!
Posted by: American Soldier's Mom at October 11, 2004 at 01:01 AM"You do realise that you don't represent "Australia" or "America" and when the wheel turns, as it surely will, it will be all the sweeter for the rest of us.
Sod you all. Just wait till 2007. We know your game now, and we'll be playing it next time. Just wait."
Hmmm,
1996: John Howard wins the Federal Election, leftists squeal "He's doomed next time!"
1998 (next time): John Howard wins the Federal Election, leftists squeal "He's doomed next time!"
2001 (next time): John Howard wins the Federal Election, leftists squeal "He's doomed next time!"
2004 (next time): John Howard wins the Federal Election, leftists squeal "He's doomed next time!"
To quote our GREAT Prime Minister "Hello! Hello!"
Perhaps you ought to say "We're completely out of touch with the electorate, we offer them nothing they would ever want. We've made huge mistakes in using vilification as a substitute for offering the Australian people something worthwhile that they want. We should learn from our mistakes"
But you never will. You lefties make me sick, the sheer contempt for Australia, and its democratic process, all while claiming to hold Australia's best interests at heart, and feigning regard for the democratic process.
And you call John Howard a liar?!
Elitist Diktats do not a wheel turn!
Posted by: Sheriff at October 11, 2004 at 01:01 AMWhat the fuck Austrailia? What in Allah's name were you thinking? I'm gonna open up a can of whup ass on you infidel motherfuckers. As soon as the new prosthetics arrive, I'm coming for you. In the meantime, Margo's been wiping my ass.
Posted by: Osama Bin Laden at October 11, 2004 at 01:31 AMCome to think of it, Osama bin Laden, strategically shaved, make the lips thinner, and you've got:
Margo!
Posted by: Sheriff at October 11, 2004 at 01:35 AMJeremy, all I can say to you is bwahahahahaha!!! Loser! Looooooooser!
Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 11, 2004 at 04:06 AMOh, and a question: So what game were you playing this time around? Tiddlywinks? Parcheesi? Go Fish?
Posted by: Pixy Misa at October 11, 2004 at 04:08 AMAnother American celebrates with thinking Australians who just sent a go to message to your left loonies, dippy super rich celebtities, msm pervaricators, chattering classes, and the foggy minded center left politicos. My only hope is my countrymen too will have the wisdom to do likewise on November 2.
Posted by: Yank at October 11, 2004 at 06:22 AMNow is the time to put money on George while the odds are favourable.Watch for them to close just like JHowards did.
Posted by: gubbaboy at October 11, 2004 at 12:59 PMThis is the first time I have come across these pages, found while searching for somewhere to express my utter shame and dismay that in our so-called 'democracy', the winning party is the one who is best at manipulation and propaganda, at striking fear into its citizens whether it be over refugees fleeing intolerable lives, terrorism (which their joining with Bush in the bombing of innocent civilians has VASTLY increased the likelihood of for decades to come) or propaganda about interest rates (preying on the most selfish and narrow-minded of human weaknesses), manipulating its constituents into feeling insecure as an insecure populace is more likely to be afraid of an untried opposition and retain the status quo, especially when the encumbent is such an ultra-conservative one politically (though without the least shred of conservatism when it comes to environmental issues).... I am in despair that the majority of my fellow Australian's were sucked in by a weasle of a person who has been proven over and over again to have no qualms about deceiving his constituents - they have given him absolute power to continue running down hospitals and schools (while subsidising private health and schools for the rich), sell the last remaining remnants of government-owned profit-making institutions for short-term gain (the only way they have achieved the surplus to date), lower taxes for the wealthy while people living WAY below the poverty line have to pay tax on incomes that are below survival level, to further reduce worker's rights and further the power imbalance between workers and employers, to remove funding for the disabled to attend school or training, the list is truly endless and frightening.
And yet the first place I find to vent such despair and frustration appears inexplicably to be over-run by citizens of the US who indeed appear very well to fit the stereotype of completely ignorant and yet very opinionated red-necks, who would be better off actually learning their facts before mouthing off, spreading their ignorance, as so many have done on these pages.
To the US citizens (I know there's a lot of you out there, but whether you read these pages?) who DON'T believe the Howard and Bush (and the ultra-rich and powerful men in the shadows behind them) and their propaganda, my only hope is that your elections don't follow through to a similar result, but in our similar supposed 'democracies' where the dirtiest player seemingly is the winner, I am utterly disillusioned as regards holding out any optimistic hopes that enough people have enough sense and compassion to see through the rhetoric to the bigger picture.
An aside - I worked on an electoral booth all day and from some of the comments I overheard, I'm wondering for the first time whether the US system of non-compulsory voting is preferably, as the far greater majority of people expressed such complete ignorance of politics and the resultant effects of one party or another that I felt they were not fit to vote, they truly didn't know what they were doing.
Posted by: Mary Cotter at October 11, 2004 at 01:13 PMYeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!!
-----------from Austin, Texas------------
----------WAY TO GO AUSSIES!-----------
When George W Bush says: Let's Roll!
magic hat JOhn KErry says: Let's Roll Over!
On November 2nd, may the USA share your joy!
Posted by: KL at October 11, 2004 at 01:39 PMmary cotter is sad :( rosceo is happy :) yay me!! suck my big bronze schlembungy you verbose smelly hippie!!
Posted by: rosceo at October 11, 2004 at 02:01 PMGood on the lot of you from a Pom stuck in Canuckistan
Cheers.
Posted by: Chris at October 11, 2004 at 02:23 PMGeez, reading this masturbatory drivel sure confirms my fear of conservatives. Why aren't any of you praising the good lord for smiling on your fortunes?
All I can hope for now is John 'lesserer of evils' Kerry beating the big hairy Bush and his band of jesus-freaks.
All I can say is that I hope our elections here in the U.S. go much the same way your elections did. I'm also hoping that the polls here turn out to have exagerated John Kerry's chances as much as Latham's. We're supposed to have a razor's edge contest as well.
Posted by: L.Lund at October 11, 2004 at 03:39 PMMary Cotter,
we do see the big picture and that's why we voted as we did. Sure, you may be right on a few points but quite a few of us remember the last time Labor was in power. How interest rates were more out of control than Peter Garrett's dancing, inflation was rising higher than Mark Latham's pre-election ego, the belief that anyone could purchase their own home was vanishing faster than Simon Crean's leadership aspirations and national debt was bigger than Kim Beazley's gut.
One point I'll take you up on is that it is not the federal government that is running down public hospitals, but is in fact the state governments. Each year additional millions are given to each state specifically for their state-run hospitals and each year these same state governments bleat that they are underfunded. I am pretty certain if any of the state governments ever handed over the running of such facilities to the federal government, not only would the wastage stop, but there would then be some awkward questions to answer as to how the funds provided were distributed. Strange isn't it, that the state governments persist in running these facilities when they are not allocated the corrects funds?
Posted by: Lofty at October 11, 2004 at 03:46 PMthank you god for delivering the election result i was praying for :) yay god :)
Posted by: rosceo at October 11, 2004 at 04:33 PMGeez, reading this masturbatory drivel sure confirms my fear of conservatives. Why aren't any of you praising the good lord for smiling on your fortunes?
Umm, because there are plenty of "conservatives" who aren't religious? Because not just right-wing people voted for Howard? Your need to paint your entire political opposition into one (for you) convenient corner shows just who is writing masturbatory drivel here, Greg.
And people like you wonder why centrist voters are tuning out the message the Left has for them. Well, duh.
BTW, it's pretty sad that you have a "fear of conservatives"...your self-esteem that low?
Posted by: PW at October 11, 2004 at 04:53 PMOh dear - I was just about convinced that I'd got it wrong that liberal voters were being overly nasty (I'd been informed that I'd gone the wrong sites and only had one side of the story) & then I stumbled here.
What a bunch of nasty ugly comments - I'm outa here.
Umm... you people should be ashamed of yourselves. And so should I - the kids are home & I'm blogging... BYE CRUEL WORLD
alison, after the colossal vilification campaign directed at an increasingly popular Prime Minister, and therefore, against the Australians wise, and intelligent enough to vote for him, NO Howard-hating lefty has the right to call anyone else nasty.
Posted by: Sheriff at October 11, 2004 at 06:12 PMtalk about end in tears
my god, lefties have emotions and care about their own kids in their own home
go tend your kids alison
everything you heard in the last forty years was wrong
who knew?
not many, if any
so i guess you're excused
but there's a lot of damage to be repaired
Mary Cotter, you might need to think a second time about what appears to be one of your basic premises:
"To the US citizens (I know there's a lot of you out there, but whether you read these pages?) who DON'T believe the Howard and Bush (and the ultra-rich and powerful men in the shadows behind them)...."
It's been a long, *long* time since the Republicans were "the party of the rich" and the Democrats "the party of the working man." That bromide flipped decades ago -- I reckon you just missed it.
In fact, a huge chunk today of donations to Democrats are gigantic, bundled contributions from wealthy people or even huge, direct contributions from multimillionaires (even multibillionaires) to what we call "527s," which are "independent" organizations that agitate for one or another candidate, and which currently float through a loophole in the campaign-finance-reform laws.
For the most egregious example, George Soros, whom Forbes magazine estimates is worth $7.2 billion ($9.77 billion Australian) and is the 24th richest person in America, has poured $15 million into the election so far and promises an additional $25 million before 2 November, for a total of $40 million ($54 million Australian) in his singleminded quest to cause the defeat of George W. Bush and the election of John Kerry.
Soros is the most blatant of the multibillionaire Democrats. But of the twenty-five richest Americans, twelve are active Democrats and *none* is a known Republican, let alone Republican activist.
The next batch of twenty-five reveals one known Republican -- Rupert Murdoch (one of those Australian exports that we could use a lot more of!) -- plus another handful of Democratic activists, from Kerkorian to Bloomberg to Geffen to Bezos to H. Ross Perot. And so forth (I'm not going to go through all 400 of them for you).
I understand how comfortable it can be to live in the past, when everthing was simpler (at least from the perspective of the present)... but you really have to keep up.
This *will* be on the test.
Dafydd
Lofty - as you actually conceded that I "may be right on a few points" and only took me up on one, and I'm exceedingly pressed for time, I'll simply ask - how many people's lives are worth how many interest points to you? Are you really as selfish as that? Oh, and BTW, according to ABS figures, home ownership has never before been as unaffordable as it is now, even when interest rates went through the roof due to world-wide recessions - there are many other factors to take into account than interest rates, not least of which is job security, which will all but disappear now that Johnny has the Senate and can finally push through the 49 amendments to labour laws that he's been trying to do for years.
Dafydd - By mentioning the "ultra-rich and powerful men in the shadows" behind JWH and GWB, I most certainly did NOT imply that there were none behind their oppositions, both your and our two major parties have moved further and further to the right over the years, and both curry favour with big business, but certainly in Australia, whether in government or opposition, the ironically called 'Liberal' Party always spends far, far more money on propaganda, sorry, 'electoral advertising', than does Labor, and despite Labor's neglect of the disadvantaged in society, the 'Liberal' Party's neglect is far more severe and devastating. And thanks to Michael Moore, I am aware that your Clinton oversaw very many things I consider to be utterly despicable, but Bush's behaviour for heaven's sake! Like here, it's a matter of the lesser of two evils.
Rosceo and his third-rate appendage perfectly illustrate my suggestion about some people not having the capacity to make an informed vote, in this case due to him apparently having left his brain somewhere and then forgetting where he put it.
These pages are so full of such morons I won't be back. I'll leave you to enjoy your ignorant, narrow-minded, abusive correspondence, what joy it must give you all to be amongst your own kind!
Posted by: Mary Cotter at October 14, 2004 at 12:16 AM