Submitted by rickeyre on
I'm unashamedly going in hard in my support for The Greens over the next few days. Firstly, the concept of the balance of power explained through animation. Secondly, footage from an anti-pulp mill rally in Hobart. And thirdly, one of The Greens' thirty-second ads featuring Dr Bob and Dr Bob.
Submitted by rickeyre on
How fortunate for John Howard that World Diabetes Day falls during the election campaign. (PS: Keep an ear out for Johnny's Special Bonus Illness.)
Submitted by rickeyre on
My focus today is on Tony Abbott, minister for health and aging, and honourable member for Warringah; and Peter Costello, federal treasurer and honourable member for Higgins.
First, Abbott and Costello debate themselves over the major issue of the day.
Second, the Invisible Man acts as stunt double for Abbott at the National Press Club.
Third, Costello is picked on by someone smaller than him who is not John Howard.
And finally, exclusive footage as Federal Cabinet calculate the size of a budget surplus.
Submitted by rickeyre on
My selection of election ads for today. Firstly, GetUp.org - the Australian copy of the US's MoveOn.org - got Lyn Allison, Bob Brown and Kate Lundy into the same ad (not all into the same shot) to support a vote against the Coalition in the Senate. Steve Fielding told Insiders on Sunday morning that he wasn't invited - would he have played ball anyway? And why did Labor send a nonentity such as Senator Lundy to do the GetUp gig? Why not John Faulkner, Penny Wong, or Stephen Conroy? (OK, not Conroy.)
Submitted by rickeyre on
Monday's Sydney Morning Herald reports that Family First have disendorsed their candidate for the western Sydney seat of Reid, after a photo, apparently of the aspiring member displaying his private member, turned up on the internet.
"Look, maybe somebody photoshopped it, and put another one on the photo," Andrew Quah said. "I can tell you, it's not me. I know these things."
Submitted by rickeyre on
If there's a better election pisstake done on Youtube this year, I'll be very surprised!
Submitted by rickeyre on
I am starting to think that the Intertubes are not going to have the impact on this Federal Election that the major parties may have been hoping for. Nonetheless, it's good for having a squizz at the TV ads without having to anywhere the Dreaded Commercial Television.
Top of the bill tonight, the Liberal Party's latest Truthful Scrutiny Ad. It's a cheap shot, but nonetheless it's one of the most incisive election ads I've ever seen, as much as anything for its simplicity. It just happens to be based upon a false premise.
Secondly, an excerpt from Bob Brown's address to the National Press Club on Wednesday (full transcript in PDF here).
And finally, a Dead Man Powerwalking verbally abuses a giant rabbit.
Submitted by rickeyre on
I'm not going to make any apologies for spruiking the Greens' candidates for the Senate all over Australia, not just in New South Wales. Scott Ludlam, top of the Greens senate ticket in WA, has made a half-hour animated video called "Climate of Hope". It's on Youtube in three parts, and I'll slip it in as an extra election Youtube selection for today.
Submitted by rickeyre on
Four videos today. Saeed Khan is the Greens candidate for my local electorate of Grayndler, he did a video in August as part of the kick-off of his election campaign. On, then, to the Leaders: Rudd switching off a video of a Liberal ad saying "oh come on Howard", followed by Howard switching off a video of Rudd switching off a video of a Liberal ad and saying "grow up" to Rudd.
Submitted by rickeyre on
Three more items today's collection of Federal Election Youtubes.
The Democrats may well be on the brink of oblivion at this election. Of their four remaining senators, two (Lyn Allison and Andrew Bartlett) are standing for re-election, while the other two (Natasha Stott-Despoja and Andrew Murray) are retiring. It would be a huge shame if Senator Bartlett is lost to federal politics. Meanwhile, the current leader of the party, Lyn Allison, is getting on with the job of issuing policies and making videos, even if no one is paying attention. Here she is campaigning for better support for carers.
Family First's Senator Steve Fielding is not up for re-election this time, but having fluked his way into the senate in 2004 on preferences, he is now trying to get more of his stablemates up. In this video, showing the temerity to seek a second senator in Victoria, he attempts to take on both the Nationals and the Greens on home turf.
And finally, John Howard shows, on Monday night's A Current Affair, how he keeps interest rates so low - he gets them wrong!
