Dilemma of a Labor voter.

[Matilda]

I think I know what Rudd is doing - not giving Howard any wedge issues that will allow him to get
stuck into Labor - at least I hope that's what it is. Because Rudd seems to be doing a Beazley
lately, jumping up and crying "me too" on every piece of Howard legislation.

It goes without saying that I look forward to the political demise of John Howard, but I'm not quite
sure what we will get with a Rudd Labor Government. Will he take Labor a bit further to the left
once he's elected, or will we really just get Howard-lite?

I'm well aware that Latham's policies cost him the Tasmanian vote, but complete support of the
Gunns' pulp mill is still a huge worry. Rudd has also backed in full Howard's anti-terror
legislation, and the full privatisation of Telstra. Not to mention full support for Government
intervention in Aboriginal affairs in the N.T. - even the five-year takeover of Aboriginal land.
And this week we saw him endorse Howard's support for the death penalty for the Bali bombers. You
are either for the death penalty or against it, and you can't say it's okay for a group of Muslim
terrorists but not for Australian drug dealers. This was just a piece of political opportunism on
Howard's part, aiming straight for the emotions of a non-thinking section of the public. To hear
Rudd endorse Howard's call has really made me wonder whether this otherwise highly intelligent
political animal really stands for anything at all except a desire to win.

I was hoping he'd give me a reason to vote FOR something, not just against Howard, but I don't think
it's going to happen. Sad.

[Esra Star]

1. I think if you read the fine print on everything that Mr Rudd says,

you will see a subtle "out" clause.
Do not despair too much.
How to win an election 101:- When you get the lead, stay between your opponent and the finishing line.
This is all that is happening. And it's got the Liberals flummoxed.
Howard is delaying calling the election because he's in deep do do.
He's hoping for a miracle:- GW invades Iran, Rudd trips up bigtime. Something like that.
Meanwhile he can spend our money blowing that dog whistle.
The size of the plate of shit he is going to have to eat, is only getting bigger.
When Labor does win it will be like when Hawke won. Fairly measured.
Not like Gough's whirlwind.

[AX10]

2. This is what Hillary Clinton is doing.

She is playing the field strategically with the goal of winning the game as opposed to scoring a few points.

We may not like it, but it's the best way to fight the right wing.

So when will the election be?

[Matilda]

3. I think there is a similarity of approach.

I also think that both Labor and the US Democrats are pinning their hopes of winning their
respective elections more on dislike and mistrust of the incumbents than on making a strong stand
on issues.

The dilemma is that you can't be quite sure what you're voting for - you want change, but just
how much will you really get?

And we still don't know when our election will be called - Howard's obviously putting it off in
the hope that something will happen to give him a boost in the polls that will get him over the
line, but it's looking increasingly unlikely to happen. If he calls it this week, he has a
minimum time of about 33 days before polling, which gives us early November; and the latest date
is likely to be first week in December. If he calls an election during the summer holidays,
people will be annoyed and he'll pay the price.

[AX10]

5. Let the opposition sink, then come in and save the day, so to speak.

[Blashyrkh]

4. November 24th. n/t

I don't like Howard, but I don't trust Rudd either. I'm definately going Greens in the Senate.

[Esra Star]

6. You can vote Green in the Reps as well.

That is, if you have a candidate.
The second preference for Labor will be the one that will do the businees if it's tight.
I'm in a wafer thin marginal. I am still voting green, democrat, labor, lib, fascist etc.
I know that Labor is the only chance to beat the encumbent. If she needs my vote, it's there.
We have a wonderful system, use it.