Election Day in Australia
 

Well, today's the big day. We get to find out if Mr Howard and his party are voted out of office, or if they'll be allowed to stay put for another term.

They say it'll be a close race and they're probably right, but from my observations at the polling booth this morning, there was the largest number of people there to vote that I've ever seen for a federal election. Maybe I just got there when it was busy, but this one has the nation well and truly stirred up.

Unfortunately for Mr Howard, his campaign has been peppered with minor scandals and impropriety compared to Mr Rudd and Labors dream run to the polls.

Who will win? We should have a pretty good idea in another 12 hours or so.

GO KEVIN!

Early signs suggest Labor will take this one out. When I had finally seen enough to allow me some confidence I nearly cried. My voice got all wobbly and I had to have another drink.

This is a great thing for the people of Australia. I am very happy.
(I don't quite know what I'll do if Labor doesn't take it home)

Hmmm...I'm thinking I probably should have put this in the politics forum.

That just goes to show how fucked in the head I've been the last couple of days.

Sorry everyone.

It's pretty much sealed ... not absolutely but it would take a huge late swing to change the predicted result.... Labor Party WINS!

The ABC's computer is listing 80 seats "won" for Labor, with 6 more "probable", with 76 needed for a majority.

Liberal/National coalition have "won" 56 with 4 "probable".

I am very happy :D and even :jig: because I have strongly disliked the incumbent (liberal) Prime Minister for a long time, and more so as things have gone on. He is a serious chance to lose his seat, too. Bwahahahaha!

The last few elections offered alternative PMs who were hard to take too seriously. The last one in particular (Latham) really didn't have the right stuff. This new guy is very plausible: calm but strong, responsible, fairly experienced ... not that I have too many illusions, mind you. Chances are we have just replaced one very stinky weasel with a younger, less stinky weasel. It's still an improvement.

whoo hooo! Where's my vegemite then?

I just realized - I got my postal vote into the mail yesterday (it has two weeks to arrive). Yesterday in Japan was a public holiday ... labor day ... lol.

I'm listening to Maxine right now. Not claiming victory, but if her public speaking is anything to go by, she'll get it.

I'm very happy to see Mr Howard lose his seat. If that doesn't tell the Libs something, I don't know what else could.

Also, I take great satisfaction in today being the one day in the last decade where i've had more power in Australian politics than GW.

LOL!

That's what you think Bwahahahahahah!

I always vote below the line for the senate ... I have more fun deciding who I'm going to put last.

And following the analysis, I'm both pleased and frustrated by one thing - I wanted to see how badly One Nation were doing, but they're listed as "other".

They're doing badly. ;) (thank god we wont need to hear that whining voice in the senate)

Howard Concedes!

Conceded the election and very nearly conceded Bennelong too!
heehee!

And Gillard has been very courteous in her tribute to him.

Maybe each departing liberal member should be given a gift of 10 live carp as a token of someone's esteem ...

haha...what a great idea.

The carp sucked the life out of the creeks while the libs sucked the life out of our country.

The real tragedy for Howard is that now the cricket team won't have to put up with him wanting to hang out with them all the time anymore.

There's that, and the fact that he'll never get to embarrass us again when he tries to bowl a ball.

He's a bigger chucker than Murali.

So does this mean Labor are in?
Congrats if you got the result you wanted.

I remember staying up and getting very drunk in 1997 as the results came in and we realised we were finally shot of the Conservatives. Despite all that has happened since (to me and the country!) it is still a landmark memory for me.

You referring to that time when he visited Pakistan?
That was hilarious, it must have bounced six times before it reached the batsman!. Poor guy's a cricket tragic and he can't bowl to save his life. :lol: