Hurrah!

[blamebrampton]

A tiny miracle has occurred ... the ALP won. They won a lot. After spending the last 11 years wondering what the hell happened to the Australia who was excited about reconciliation and the 21st century, it's back. And it just took a man who looks like the world's most boring Harry Potter impersonator to make it happen. Go Kevin!

It was a very strange election, with the highpoint being an assault by an award-winning (but nevertheless barking mad) journalist allegedly assaulting one of the candidates. Caroline Overington is reported as shouting abuse at George Newhouse (ALP candidate for Wentworth, after a lacklustre performance he failed to unseat Malcolm Turnbull), before slapping him across the face.

Still, there has been some good comedy out of it all. And a new PM who looks for all the world like one of the Nigels you refused to go out with when you were at school is a boon to cartoonists everywhere. The quote of the campaign: on a blog, in response to a claim that Therese Rein (Kevin Rudd's wife) is a fat bogan (i.e. chav) "I for one welcome our fat bogan overlords." Indeed. Goodbye, old empire, goodbye. And if you've been looking for a particularly obvious but nevertheless funny Joe Hockey joke, do click the link below:

Comments

[jadzialove.livejournal.com]

yay! PM Kevin. heh.

I like to think this is a direct result of the 'Old Guard' throwing in with Curious George. Maybe there's hope for us now, though I cannot express how fervently I wish our election process was so quick and relatively painless (for the voters)---this drawing it out for years is wearing on soul.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Yes. There is hope for the Kevs of this world (and a woman named Sharryn took a seat from the conservatives, too!)

Well, Blair took the dignified route and booted himself. Howard has been summarily shown the door, Berlusconi received a similar reception when he went to the polls, I think W's Republicans are the last of the Iraq-invading Coalition to be shown the door.

And yes, the Australian and English processes are far superior, even if you have to cover the bloody thing or are involved in it. Because a near-two-year campaign? BONKERS!!

[oceaxe.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! You must feel like I did when the Dems swept the 2006 race. Except... they're not doing so hot now. Oh well. If only Gore would run.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

They'll take it, never fear. It's that standard mid "Why do we think a two-year campaign is a good idea?" slump.

I, too, wouldn't mind Gore. And he's already won it once.

[suonguyen.livejournal.com]

Awesome Awesome Awesome, totally made my day when I woke up this morning... first thing I did was check the tally websites (well after toilet and teeth! LOL). I'm looking forward to this new government!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping it lives up to its potential!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i'm so pleased, i'm sure helen will get along with kevin than she did with mr howard. i imagine you feel a bit like i felt when clinton won after years of ford and bush (the first).

loved the vid (though didn't understand all the references).

and v. v. glad to see a few posts and know you're still out there.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes it has been a manic six weeks! I am so looking forward to having my life back ... just a little more election blather and it's done, hurrah!

[no-mad-skillz.livejournal.com]

Politics (especially those of other countries) is mostly a closed book to me, but may I say that this:

a new PM who looks for all the world like one of the Nigels you refused to go out with when you were at school

is brilliant; immediately understandable while still completely alien....

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Actually, we do have our suspicions that PM Kev is a highly evolved android sent here from the Planet Zorg ...

As you've probably noticed, I love politics, but I do try and keep it to a minimum!

[rossurus.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha

she is a fat bogan!

although how many bogans run a nationwide recruitment firm i'm unsure...

Must admit it makes the country a much more attractive place to live - i agree with Mrs Day-Knight:

Kath: Bloody Howard!

Kim: Who?

[kayleigh-jane.livejournal.com]

The world's most boring Harry Potter impersonator?



That is our PM in the middle. The text means: Let the chaos begin - Jan Peter Balkenende and the chamber of fools - now in your cabinet.
He was named 'Harry Potter' soon after his election as PM. (The glasses are real, as is the hair, btw)

Now you know why people don't tend to take the Dutch seriously lately... ;-)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Spooooky ... I think that might be the Australian PM-elect's younger brother!

I am not LJ smart enough to paste in an image, but this link will show you what I mean:
http://www.ecoprofile.com/db/images/post1868.jpg

I can't wait until the next big occasion where we can get the two of them together, they could be trainspotting friends!

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Hi there. *waves*

Firstly, I'm not a crazy stalker type. :/ I saw your recent comment on leochi's journal, and you were talking about working on the election. We've just had an election in Australia (as you know, haha) so I was thinking maybe you were from around here too.

...

Trust me, your profile saying you were from Estonia confused me. Terribly. :P

(On second thoughts, is that the place from Dilbert? *is unsure*)

Anyway, it turns out you are from Australia, so presuming you were working for Labor, congrats on the victory!! *hugs you tight* :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Hello! I've seen you about, you're not stalkery at all (well, no more so than all of LJ makes us ...) Sorry about the Estonia note, I'm a displaced Brit, really. I do explain it on the profile, as Estonia is where I meant to be living by now, but I was distracted by a tall and handsome Novocastrian from NSW. And still am.

Hmmm, must look up Dilbert to see if there is an Estonia connection!

I'm actually a journalist and so it has been a v busy few weeks, but I was hoping for Rudd victory. Partially because Howard has been the Thatcher analogue that Australia did not need, and partially because I think that well meaning robot is my ideal politician ;-) Hugs you back, because we can now dare to dream of a fair Australia again! (You're not far off, actually, I was here in 93, too and worked for Keating, which was the sweetest victory of all!)

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Heheh, I didn't realise Novocastrians came in the tall and handsome category. *g*

But, err, let's forget the Dilbert reference, now that I've realised Estonia is actually as real place. *facepalm* :/

Ahahah, it's cute how well-meaning robot was our hope of Australia being awesome again. :D

(Awww, I was about seven in 93, but I've heard some wonderful things about Keating: The way Howard used to refer negatively to the 17% interest rate under Labor when it actually contributed to the next 14 years of economic growth really annoyed me.)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, and while it was a huge interest rate, it was in the context of a global economic meltdown. Not to mention the fact that Howard had a higher rate when he was treasurer under Fraser. I know entirely too much about Australian politics at the moment ...

I had to laugh today when the Libs went with Brendan Nelson, he is the only man in parliament who makes Our Kev look animated and charismatic. And while Kev may be a bit of a robot, he has Good Plans. Which I am looking forward to.

(BTW, I feel so OLD!)

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Not to mention the fact that Howard had a higher rate when he was treasurer under Fraser.

Really? No one seems to mention that one, and I really can't remember (Malcolm?) Fraser... Wikipedia has just informed me I wasn't even born then, so I don't feel so vague now. :)

But yes, I agree with you that interest rates are heavily affected by the global economic situation, so that being Howard's main argument for their party being "strong economic managers" always seemed quite weak to me. :/

Heheh, Good Plans (complete with capitals) sounds quite promising (and tasty :D). But personally, I've always been quite taken with Kevin's charisma. Brendan Nelson seem, well... dull, in my (apparently apathetic Y-generation-style) opinion.

My mum (whose english isn't so awesome) commented during Kevin's victory speech that his time as a foreign diplomat really helped, in that he speaks clearly and enunciates each word, so migrants would find it more easier to understand him. :) As for animated... well, he smiles enough I guess. *g*

(Awww... don't feel old! *cuddles you tight* Rejoice in your maturity, I say! :D)