Is Julia gillard being targeted due to her gender?

[enwiabe]

Remember, the Howard Government left office with money in the bank!

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/hey-big-spender-howard-the-king-of-the-loose-purse-strings-20130110-2cj32.html

[alondouek]

The speech Julia Gillard gave you must admit was a full attack on Tony Abbott!

The whole 'misogyny' speech was cheap points-scoring and pandering to the feminist vote, which is highly unnecessary as there is no way that group would vote for an Abbott-led LNP. Both Gillard and Abbott's campaigns have lapsed into points-scoring, and they both seem to be neglecting the needs of this country simply so they can focus on slinging political mud at each other.

I believe that both the ALP and the LNP need a massive leadership overhaul if this country wants to be taken seriously on both a national and international scale.

Also, what do you guys think of Australia's successful bid for a seat on the UN Security Council? Personally, I believe that it was a waste of time and money, and there is no valid reason for Australia to pursue a seat on such a politically-slanted council.

[academicbulimia]

“We know politicians are subjected to vicious attacks, regardless of gender. Undoubtedly, some of the ire directed at Gillard has been sexist, even offensively so. Yet it has been her choice to shift this unseemly fringe of political life to centre stage” This sums it up nicely.

[sabii]

The whole 'misogyny' speech was cheap points-scoring and pandering to the feminist vote, which is highly unnecessary as there is no way that group would vote for an Abbott-led LNP.

This. Could not have said it any better- She realized she lost some vital votes from public, and now is trying to receive sympathy of the people.

[enwiabe]

This. Could not have said it any better- She realized she lost some vital votes from public, and now is trying to receive sympathy of the people.

Yeah, Tony Abbott is totally not a misogynist... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTX0iWYX9A

This is a guy who happily gets photographed with supporters holding up signs of "Julia Gillard is a Witch!" and other gender-based slurs. But please, enlighten us about how Tony Abbott is so pro-feminist.

[Russ]

In his defense, a collection of quotes taken wildly out of context isn't exactly meaningful.

(and it was Ditch the Witch, get it right )

And irrespective of whether her speech was points scoring or not (it was), doesn't somehow make it mutually exclusive with sexism being at play

[alondouek]

Yeah, Tony Abbott is totally not a misogynist... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTX0iWYX9A

This is a guy who happily gets photographed with supporters holding up signs of "Julia Gillard is a Witch!" and other gender-based slurs. But please, enlighten us about how Tony Abbott is so pro-feminist.

You're absolutely right; Tony Abbott holds extremely archaic, and in some cases outright offensive views. It is known that he was little more than a glorified thug and a political bully while at university.

Which is exactly why my point holds that the LNP needs a reshuffle, and Abbott and his ilk need to go. That said, I'll still be voting for LNP come election-time.

[enwiabe]

In his defense, a collection of quotes taken wildly out of context isn't exactly meaningful.

And irrespective of whether her speech was points scoring or not (it was), doesn't somehow make it mutually exclusive with sexism being at play

Most of those quotes need no context.

Listing them:

1) Amateur evo psych not out of context
2) Climate change quote
3) Abortion quote not out of context
4) Indigenous quotes not out of context, he's just a racist prick

[enwiabe]

You're absolutely right; Tony Abbott holds extremely archaic, and in some cases outright offensive views. It is known that he was little more than a glorified thug and a political bully while at university.

Which is exactly why my point holds that the LNP needs a reshuffle, and Abbott and his ilk need to go. That said, I'll still be voting for LNP come election-time.

Why would you vote for a party that represents the worst of a selfish attitude towards humanity? This is a party that fundamentally values the dollar bill over the survival of our living atmosphere.

[Russ]

By definition those quotes are out of context...

[alondouek]

Why would you vote for a party that represents the worst of a selfish attitude towards humanity? This is a party that fundamentally values the dollar bill over the survival of our living atmosphere.

Primarily because I strongly value economic liberalism, and the support for private enterprise that the party ideologically offers. If I were to vote for "a party that represents the worst of a selfish attitude towards humanity", I definitely wouldn't be in Australia. That's hyperbole and you know it.

The LNP's stance on many issues leaves plenty to be desired (for example, the environment and handling of immigrants), especially with the current leadership (I think I've made that emphatically clear). However, I believe that they could implement greater change if in government that our current ALP leadership.

Why would I vote for the ALP, a party that despite its trade-unionist origins, still manages to routinely piss off the trade unions?

[enwiabe]

Primarily because I strongly value economic liberalism, and the support for private enterprise that the party ideologically offers. If I were to vote for "a party that represents the worst of a selfish attitude towards humanity", I definitely wouldn't be in Australia. That's hyperbole and you know it.

The LNP's stance on many issues leaves plenty to be desired (for example, the environment and handling of immigrants), especially with the current leadership (I think I've made that emphatically clear). However, I believe that they could implement greater change if in government that our current ALP leadership.

Why would I vote for the ALP, a party that despite its trade-unionist origins, still manages to routinely piss off the trade unions?

We keep hearing LNP is the party of strong economics!

Howard sold us up the river. Everyone likes to gladhand about how he got us into surplus. Do you know how he did that? By selling off a ton of our assets, effectively fucking over all future governments. Just read what the IMF has to say about him, they think he is the most wasteful spender in Australia's history. So you're voting for LNP again because why?

[Dayman]

His selling saved us from the GFC I guess.

[alondouek]

We keep hearing LNP is the party of strong economics!

Howard sold us up the river. Everyone likes to gladhand about how he got us into surplus. Do you know how he did that? By selling off a ton of our assets, effectively fucking over all future governments. Just read what the IMF has to say about him, they think he is the most wasteful spender in Australia's history. So you're voting for LNP again because why?

I would certainly posit that the LNP is the party of strong economics. Though I doubt it's currently the party of strong economists...

And you don't necessarily vote for a party based on its former leaders. You're all like "don't vote for LNP because the IMF said that the Howard government's spending was profligate" and then I'm all like "but the IMF also said that Curtin's Labor government was profligate" and we go back and forth with neither of us actually making a point. I would posit that in both these cases fiscal history is a bygone.

And yes, I do believe that Australia would be more fiscally secure with an LNP government.

His selling saved us from the GFC I guess.

I'd agree with you, Hustler. Good old Swannie didn't really do anything to save us from the GFC, he just fed off the Howard-era surplus.

[enwiabe]

I would certainly posit that the LNP is the party of strong economics. Though I doubt it's currently the party of strong economists...

And you don't necessarily vote for a party based on its former leaders. You're all like "don't vote for LNP because the IMF said that the Howard government's spending was profligate" and then I'm all like "but the IMF also said that Curtin's Labor government was profligate" and we go back and forth with neither of us actually making a point. I would posit that in both these cases fiscal history is a bygone.

And yes, I do believe that Australia would be more fiscally secure with an LNP government.

I'd agree with you, Hustler. Good old Swannie didn't really do anything to save us from the GFC, he just fed off the Howard-era surplus.

1) What do you have to go on, but past experience? Please tell me what you are basing your declaration that LNP is economically strong if not on past experience?

2) Economists widely agree that Swannie's stimulus package did in fact save Australia from the recession.

3) You just said that fiscal history is a bygone, but were then happy to credit Howard with it when you thought it helped support your point.

You basically have this pre-conceived notion in your head that LNP = fiscal superheroes and then try to shoehorn whatever evidence you can to fit it, simultaneously dismissing counter-evidence out of hand. It's rather odd.