I'm not worried but I am concerned. Labor kept us out of recession but has had its problems and the rarest of political spectacles: a Prime Minister removed by his own party in his first term.
The conservatives, being conservatives, will fight dirty. It's going to be a long night on August 21st to 22nd...
I fiercely want Gillard to win. I actually find her too conservative on many issues, but in the balance she has the qualities I want in someone leading my country. She's not another Hawke or Howard. She could alter the tone of politics.
She doesn't rant. She doesn't angrily rage at her opponents. She doesn't offer false friendliness. She's all business. Her delivery is cool, measured and dedicated.
And her opponent is God-bothering clown.
It's a shame we don't have the same abilities to oust a President here in the US, we could've rid ourselves of King George II much sooner.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what influence this will have on future presidents here? I'm CERTAIN that the dipshit GOP will pull another Palin out of their asses to try to fool the US population just because she's female, regardless of her capabilities.
BTW - Chris wants to let you know that "Quiet Magpie" is an oxymoron. They're noisy as hell in Colorado.
Only the governing party can oust a prime minister between elections.
ReplyDeleteWhat actually happens is a member of parliament within the party mounts a challenge, and if he/she has the numbers he/she becomes the new leader. If that party is in government, then that leader is the new prime minister.
The exception, as happened in 1975, is if the Governor-General sacks the whole Government. That has only happened once, in very controversial circumstances, and led to a constitutional crisis. This event is generally known as "the Dismissal".
Back to the events of a few weeks ago, we don't know what went down on that night between Rudd and Gillard. They've both committed never to reveal it. All we know is that faction leaders were concerned with Rudd's approach, the looming election, and presented their support to Gillard. Rudd knew he didn't have the numbers and stood down without a vote.
I consider myself a quiet guy, and you know the football connection. The phrase "Quiet Magpie" just drifted into my thoughts and stuck.