Last blogpost (http://bit.ly/eG0MCV) I bemoaned the general lack of interest in this election, and conceded that it was a bit of an election for the "purists" - those of us who enjoy the process with or without drama.
Two stories arose in the last 48 hours to inject some excitement into proceeds, and perhaps a little interest from the viewers.
The first was the unexpected appearance of Pauline Hanson, who announced she would be seeking an upper-house seat. Apparently she is running on "cost of living issues".
There is no doubt she will get her fair share of attention (as she always done). She got a dud draw in the ballot (getting towards but not quite at the right edge - on such minutia careers are made and lost) and she announced she'd be heading to regional areas to drum up support.
The difficulty for her is working out whose voters she is going to nick. Labor's voters are, as I have discussed (http://bit.ly/fsBk0Q) just the rusted on voters. They won't move.
The people planning on voting for smaller parties usually have a very good reason for doing so, so won't be going anywhere.
The Liberal voters fall in multiple categories: rusted on Liberal voters, disaffected Labor voters wanting to "give the other lot a chance", and traditional swinging voters who, overwhelmingly it seems, are backing the Coalition.
It is difficult to see who of these Hanson could grab. Perhaps a few of the disaffected Labor voters, but it is hard to see someone traditionally voting for Labor casting a ballot, in any circumstances, for Hanson.
The only real source of voters I can see is those people who feel no affiliation for either party - of those, some people will be sympathetic to her "agenda" (meaning her previously stated views) and will move across. But, to my mind, that's about it.
I personally doubt she will get much cut-through on her "cost of living issues" - when people see her name on the ballot paper all they will think is "We are being overrun by Asians" - at least, except for those of us who think of Pauline PantsDown (http://bit.ly/ibxQ5O).
Hanson's detractors are out of luck too - there is no opportunity for her to make money from the election, because the funding available if one gets sufficient votes can only cover costs - so hopefully we'll be spared allegations that she's only in the election to try and "steal" money from the public purse.
It promises to be an amusing sideshow, and will give many people a chance to fill in 311 first. Yes, that's right, 311 candidates. I'll be bringing my own pen. Or maybe a sharpener.
The most amazing about that number is the word "only" appears in front of it in many reports.
The other incident was at the drawing of the ballot for the Upper House.
Apparently a man attended in a bathrobe and a bowtie. After the drawing, he "revealed" that the only other thing he was wearing was a g-string.
Apparently he is from the nudist party, and with a bit of luck will be mentioned in numerous "novelty" stories over the next 24 hours.
Such is life as a minor party - attention is votes. Well, attention, or a funny name.
A closer look at NSW politics - without a vested interest, an agenda to push or a chip on my shoulder.
Showing posts with label lack of interest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lack of interest. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Interest Rates
I think it is more than a little amazing how chronically disinterested in this election people are.
Admittedly, my interest in politics is relatively new. Four years ago my political interest was in its infancy, and I can't profess that I had a huge interest in the election where Debnam was humiliated by Iemma. That said, I do remember chuckling most heartily at "More to do, but we're heading in the right direction."
My interest in politics was really ignited by observing JWH being unceremoniously dumped not only out of the lodge but also out of Bennelong. I almost went into meltdown with interest in the 2010 Federal Election and the ensuing drama.
I approached this 2011 NSW election more than a little excited. I was looking forward to reading about the parties brawling through the media, stories leaking, scandal, fusses over nothing, plus of course excitement and niggle on #NSWvotes. And maybe someone like Mark Latham to really stir things up.
Instead, the whole thing appears to be a bit of a squib. Frankly, no one seems very interested.
No one appears to be blogging very enthusiastically (except for those people who only blog to drum up support/rail against an ideology/piss people off). #NSWvotes is more than a little dull - the usual trolls doing what trolls do, people retweeting stuff journos have tweeted, and people asking Barry O'Farrell questions (many of which, to his credit, he or his staff answer).
The media seems to be, at best, disinterested. Reporting what is being said, but without any real enthusiasm or excitement. Anthony Green has, as usual, provided an absolute deluge of analysis and statistical information, but I often wonder if I'm the only one reading it.
Why is this? Could it be the fact that the coalition are now almost unbackable favourites to triumph ($1.02 on Centrebet, Labor $13.00)? I'm sure that's part of it.
Much like a sporting event, most people like it to at least be competitive. Labor have been sunk for so long that their loss seems not only inevitable - it seems like it has already happened, and all we're waiting for is the formality of an actual vote.
It may well be that this election is the kind of election that only the "purist" enjoys - the process itself has to entertain, because the "tension" over the result certainly won't.
On one level, I suppose this is a great shame for O'Farrell - as opposed to remembered as hero (in the same way that Rudd would be if people didn't think him an unbearable twat) it seems he will (at least for the moment) be the man who was in the right place at the right time to knock off a long expired Labor government.
He has copped a lot of flack for running a "small target" campaign, but one can't fault its effectiveness. I wrote previously (at ) about the way that all he needs to do is not give people a reason not to vote for him, and most people who aren't firmly part of the Labor or Green base would back the Coalition. Judging by the polls that strategy seems to be working very well.
Labor will no doubt say that it's not fair that a man who is "hiding" things (their words) could be elected, but all he's doing is (very effectively) taking advantage of Labor's weakness. And Labor has no one to blame for that but themselves.
Anyway. I'll be watching the ABC with considerable interest next saturday. I'll have all the Labor seats on a board and will closely cross them off as Labor are slaughtered. And if anyone wants to play with me, I'll pick a time for when Anthony Green calls it for the Coalition. I just hope I'll have someone to play with.
Admittedly, my interest in politics is relatively new. Four years ago my political interest was in its infancy, and I can't profess that I had a huge interest in the election where Debnam was humiliated by Iemma. That said, I do remember chuckling most heartily at "More to do, but we're heading in the right direction."
My interest in politics was really ignited by observing JWH being unceremoniously dumped not only out of the lodge but also out of Bennelong. I almost went into meltdown with interest in the 2010 Federal Election and the ensuing drama.
I approached this 2011 NSW election more than a little excited. I was looking forward to reading about the parties brawling through the media, stories leaking, scandal, fusses over nothing, plus of course excitement and niggle on #NSWvotes. And maybe someone like Mark Latham to really stir things up.
Instead, the whole thing appears to be a bit of a squib. Frankly, no one seems very interested.
No one appears to be blogging very enthusiastically (except for those people who only blog to drum up support/rail against an ideology/piss people off). #NSWvotes is more than a little dull - the usual trolls doing what trolls do, people retweeting stuff journos have tweeted, and people asking Barry O'Farrell questions (many of which, to his credit, he or his staff answer).
The media seems to be, at best, disinterested. Reporting what is being said, but without any real enthusiasm or excitement. Anthony Green has, as usual, provided an absolute deluge of analysis and statistical information, but I often wonder if I'm the only one reading it.
Why is this? Could it be the fact that the coalition are now almost unbackable favourites to triumph ($1.02 on Centrebet, Labor $13.00)? I'm sure that's part of it.
Much like a sporting event, most people like it to at least be competitive. Labor have been sunk for so long that their loss seems not only inevitable - it seems like it has already happened, and all we're waiting for is the formality of an actual vote.
It may well be that this election is the kind of election that only the "purist" enjoys - the process itself has to entertain, because the "tension" over the result certainly won't.
On one level, I suppose this is a great shame for O'Farrell - as opposed to remembered as hero (in the same way that Rudd would be if people didn't think him an unbearable twat) it seems he will (at least for the moment) be the man who was in the right place at the right time to knock off a long expired Labor government.
He has copped a lot of flack for running a "small target" campaign, but one can't fault its effectiveness. I wrote previously (at ) about the way that all he needs to do is not give people a reason not to vote for him, and most people who aren't firmly part of the Labor or Green base would back the Coalition. Judging by the polls that strategy seems to be working very well.
Labor will no doubt say that it's not fair that a man who is "hiding" things (their words) could be elected, but all he's doing is (very effectively) taking advantage of Labor's weakness. And Labor has no one to blame for that but themselves.
Anyway. I'll be watching the ABC with considerable interest next saturday. I'll have all the Labor seats on a board and will closely cross them off as Labor are slaughtered. And if anyone wants to play with me, I'll pick a time for when Anthony Green calls it for the Coalition. I just hope I'll have someone to play with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)