Very short post ...

[blamebrampton]

... because I have 30,000 things to do and less than 48 hours to catch a plane, however, let me just say that for all of you who thought Australian politics had reached a nadir of stupidity the other day, the New South Wales ALP has taken up the challenge and is even as we speak holding a leadership ballot which could possibly install the most appalling parliamentarian in the state, the ghastly, grasping and greedy Kristina Keneally, as leader of New South Wales (the ALP is currently in power, for a given value of the word power).

I have been saying for some time that the only sane vote in the next State election is one handed to anyone but the ALP. If Keneally wins, I think I will actually start handing out flyers for Barry O'Farrell (the cardigan-wearing, very dull, very competent leader of the conservative Liberal Party) if he can hold the religious nuts in his party in check (fundamentalists -- *shudders* -- give me High Church traditionalists every time.)

ETA: Keneally has won. Well, at least the State government has in her a leader who perfectly represents its self-destructive self-interest. And people wonder why NSW is such a basket case in this otherwise buoyant country. Still, the Opera House is just lovely.

Comments

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

D:
Oh, dear god...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The fact that she has lied to parliament and the public in a very public fashion this year apparently does not disqualify her from being the Right's preferred candidate. I don't know why I am surprised, the ALP Right is SO UNBELIEVABLY HIDEOUS and has been for many years with a few sterling individual exceptions. The system is very very broken, and I hope that Kev and Co kick their arses.

Oh fuck me, the bint has won. As if her reprehensible ethics weren't bad enough, there's that atrocious fucking accent ...

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

my god - just heard the accent - you're right its APPALLING! So glad right now that I live in Canberra....

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Born in the US. Can we send her back? I am sure they have a village that is missing its idiot. Or real estate viper, whatever ...

[drgaellon]

HEY!!! :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh come on, Alaska would LOVE her!

Though I accept that most of your villages are well sorted for their own idiots, as are ours, our state parliament doubly so.

[drgaellon]

Sadly, my own state's Legislature seems to be jam-packed with village idiots as well. The New York State Senate voted down same-sex marriage this last week, 38-24. The New York Legislature has not submitted a budget to the Governor on time in over 50 years.

In the classic musical 1776, the character of Robert Morris describes a meeting of the colonial New York Legislature; he said everyone talks very fast, and very loud, and no one listens to anyone else, and consequently nothing ever gets done. 233 years later, nothing has changed.

[wivern.livejournal.com]

It's been one of those weeks that prove that pollies are the last people you'd want leading or managing anything.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There are some I am fine with: Kev, Julia, Malcolm, Judith Troeth, Barry O'Farrell, Verith Firth 95% of the time (5% of the time she turns into a factional hack) ...

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

You still include Malcolm on that list after Ute-gate?

>.>

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I let Kev off the hook over his stripper trip ... I allow the occasional idiot personal moments in which the electorate aren't doomed :-)

[wivern.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess. But I'm getting to the point where I don't trust any of them. *sigh*

I had never heard of your new Premier. She doesn't inspire confidence at first look, or listen.

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

Why is NSW such as basket case? Um have you noticed the "s" in the name...... (you know the theory, places that start with an s)
Just wanted to mention I just watched our darling Red Kerry doing the story - he was working really really hard to keep a straight face, and it nearly slipped!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OMG YES! He totally wanted to just shriek: 'I CANNOT BELIEVE THE STUPIDITY!!!' And I agree wholeheartedly.

You may have a point with the S theory, though they've all improved in the original set ...

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

Poor Kerry's been struggling to keep his serious face on this week, hasn't he?
*pats him*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

OH GOD! 'The difficulty with governments is that they age at the same rate as dogs, and this government is now about 112 years old.' I LOVE THAT QUOTE! Prof Greg Craven is my new hero. He just compared the ALP to legwarmers ;-)

Poor Kerry. He tries to be a straight journo and the comedy erupts around him ...

[dazzle43.livejournal.com]

Oh god help me - how sad is it that I live in NSW & this is the FIRST I have heard of this? I admit 2 being woefully ambilavent about politics but this is fucking scary!!!!

MayB I should give up the good music & stop listening 2 triple j??? Nahh, aint gonna happen *whimpers*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Don't be too hard on yourself, the whole story developed this afternoon, and she only won about 40 minutes ago ;-)

Stick to Triple J, it hurts less.

[dazzle43.livejournal.com]

Well that makes me feel a 'tad' better :-)

MayB hubby & I should up the timeframe on the 'move 2 Tassie' plan that's been brewing, then at least we would have the excuse of 'being in the boonies' 4 missing out on stuff :-)

UR right - triple j makes everything bearable (thank god 4 a decent 'non commercial' radio station!!!) & the opera house is lurvely :-)

Njoy UR trip away from the insaneness of state politics :-)

Cheers

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

*points and shudders*

So ... you still of the opinion that people in this country aren't so thick as to vote for Tony Abbott?

*gives up on being australian*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The NSW ALP Right does not count as 'people'!

[i-autumnheart.livejournal.com]

If this had happened in a different week, it would be all over the papers... alas, it's been a tad drowned out :(.

Equal opportunity political stupidity?

(The keeping-a straight face thing is good for Kerry - if he could *really* take it seriously then we'd be doomed for real).

[i-autumnheart.livejournal.com]

P.S. Have a fabulous trip!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Cheers dear! ARGH! SO MUCH TO DO!!!!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I think it mostly developed too late for even the afternoon editions. Keneally taking it surprised even me. I may have to move somewhere ...

And yes, bless Red Kez!

[ant-queen.livejournal.com]

You know, this is why when I decided I might give government policy a shot I immediately thought "but not local government (too weird), and not Federal (couldn't stand living in Canberra), so maybe state, but not THIS state government (can't find arse with both hands)".

On that note, I'm applying for jobs with Vic gov tomorrow.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Couldn't you just run for govt? The conditions are excellent and I feel independents will do v well in the next election ...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Sydney Harbour all around it is mostly lovely, well, most coasts are. It's a pity all your potentially lethal nature never manages to eradicate those ghastly people.

[drgaellon]

Do I infer correctly that your Kristina Keneally is something like our Sarah Palin?