Darron CharlesworthHave we started yet?
August 7th 2010 22:42
Category: No Category
Usually election time is a time to get a little excited if you are a political pundit. As a voter this is the one meagre opportunity that our political system offers to have a say in the political process. As pathetic as this tiny slice of democracy is it is all we have and generally there is, for me, enthusiasm at having a say, some say, anything, a measly contribution. Not this time.
As far as elections go this expands the boundaries of boredom well beyond anything seen before. And what of the excitement surrounding the election? Well, there is none. It is like a vacuum has formed sucking the life out of politics. There is no major controversy, no big announcements, no vision, nothing, nada, zip.
Just weeks from polling day the leaders of the two major parties, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard, are yet to present any thing to the voters worthy of celebration. It is like Abbott is being held on a tight leash lest he say something stupid or worse reveal his true beliefs. Abbott’s ambiguity and vagueness might lead one to conclude that by not making concrete promises – even though he has publicly said these cannot be believed anyway – he is leaving the door open to major changes if he is elected without being seen as breaking a commitment.
Even more surprising is the performance of Gillard to this point. A proven performer capable of holding her own Ms Gillard can easily walk all over Tony Abbott. She has before again and again. Yet, so far, there has been no sign of the Julia Gillard seen in parliament. Whether this is due to limits placed on her by the party power-brokers or strict scripting of the media advisors at this point Gillard is missing in action. Why?
Gillard should be Labor’s strongest asset in this campaign. Abbott has never been able to make her as much as wobble in parliament: forget the knock-out blows. Right now though it seems as though her parliamentary performance is Awol. Abbott is taking and unlikely lead with Julia laying down and watching. Where is the Gillard of the past? What has happened to this sharp, straight, paladin?
As it stands there is no party or leader standing out as worthy of the publics support. With time running out can anyone step up and make an impact on the electorate?
As far as elections go this expands the boundaries of boredom well beyond anything seen before. And what of the excitement surrounding the election? Well, there is none. It is like a vacuum has formed sucking the life out of politics. There is no major controversy, no big announcements, no vision, nothing, nada, zip.
Just weeks from polling day the leaders of the two major parties, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard, are yet to present any thing to the voters worthy of celebration. It is like Abbott is being held on a tight leash lest he say something stupid or worse reveal his true beliefs. Abbott’s ambiguity and vagueness might lead one to conclude that by not making concrete promises – even though he has publicly said these cannot be believed anyway – he is leaving the door open to major changes if he is elected without being seen as breaking a commitment.
Even more surprising is the performance of Gillard to this point. A proven performer capable of holding her own Ms Gillard can easily walk all over Tony Abbott. She has before again and again. Yet, so far, there has been no sign of the Julia Gillard seen in parliament. Whether this is due to limits placed on her by the party power-brokers or strict scripting of the media advisors at this point Gillard is missing in action. Why?
Gillard should be Labor’s strongest asset in this campaign. Abbott has never been able to make her as much as wobble in parliament: forget the knock-out blows. Right now though it seems as though her parliamentary performance is Awol. Abbott is taking and unlikely lead with Julia laying down and watching. Where is the Gillard of the past? What has happened to this sharp, straight, paladin?
As it stands there is no party or leader standing out as worthy of the publics support. With time running out can anyone step up and make an impact on the electorate?
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