Tomorrow is the final round of Dr G versus The God-King.
For Gallop to lose after the Liberal's disastrous campaign would most likely mean the end of his career.
For Colin, going down after having the rabid backing of the only newspaper in the state would be a certain fatal blow.
In about 15 minutes I leaving my West Leedy abode and heading to the hills - the far East - to dress up the booth I am captain for. By the time I comment here again, we will know if the Doctor is in the house, or if the God-King rules over us.
My prediction? The Coalition to win by 2-3 seats with 49% of the vote.
Giovanni says:
Well, not quite.
Labor man Tony McRae is infront but officially in doubt. Given that Riverton was a solid Liberal seat before 2001 and Tony's got a heap of bad press in the last 2-3 days, if he hangs on it's a good sign. Still, the ALP's getting caned in the country, and we all know country people are better than city people and therefore have votes worth 3 times ours…
Anyway, it's a bit weird.
Antonietta and I stayed at Parkerville Play Group from about 11pm until 7am, we covered the place good in Labor material and the Lib who showed up at 4am was pretty shell-shocked. I over heard him express genuine admiration about us bringing our own star-pickets for bunting (they call it wrap - must be a tribal dialect thing). Later he must have heard that the same thing happened at the other 18 booths in Swan Hills. He said:
"Unbelievable."
(pause)
"They want this seat."
I have my doubts as to if we'll keep it. I still think the Libs will get up. Why? Because it's a sick crazy world.
I just met John Safran at the freo museum. He says he doesn't remember the exorcism much and thinks he may have been hypnotised. I'm writing a feature on the event at the museum for the Herald and will get back to you with more. He seems like a very nice man.
Giovanni says:
Looks like Greens preferences will gut the Coalition like the stinking fish they are.
Fuck you Paul Armstrong.
killer says:
It's looking pretty good from over <a href="http://abc.net.au/elections/wa/2005/results/" target="_blank">here</a>, Labor well ahead on the primary, and surely they can only go up with preferences.
Giovanni says:
It's finished, but it's a weird, solemn win for Labor.
I think Labor know that they should have pissed it in and they haven't, so… But at the same time, a few weeks ago they looked gone for all money.
The 'Yes' vote on both late night trading and Sunday trading is getting absolutely trounced, which is just fucking bizarre as far as I'm concerned.
We should have had a ref on daylight saving as well (would help cut down power use - which 'The West' keeps whining about), but that most likey would have been knocked off too.
How about a vote on liberalising our liquor trading laws? Impossible - everyone would be drunk all the time - like in Victoria.
matt_f says:
Barnett pulled a Hewson, loding the unloseable - they had it, and prob would've won if :
(a) he didn't pull the canal trick;
(b) he did pull the canal trick, but had actually researched it, costed it, and based it on something remotely credible.
(c) learned arithmetic in primary school.
All good. I was worried for a while.
Geoff says:
I'd like to congratulate Colin on a stirling effort. As Stephen Smith said during the ABC election coverage "We had a secret weapon, and that weapon was Colin Barnett."
badger says:
Geeves I believe you can edit your news post if you'd like nostrodomo to retain any shred of credibility.
I'm giving some lectures on environmental biophysics this year and think I might have a look at the canal plan for one of the lectures. Maybe i'll compare it with desalination plants and the holy grail of lugging an iceberg from Antarctica.
KL says:
ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG! ICE! BERG!
Giovanni says:
I've called every election right since I started calling 'em back in 1990. This is my first blemish.
Taco says:
I believe that the canal is a secessionist plot. This diabolical plot follows:
Firstly WA is split from Australia by a deep trench filled with water. Secondly, tourist attracting gondoliers practice their craft, using their long poles to ferry confused German backpackers up and down the canal. The tourist lobby stop referring to WA as the 'State of Excitement, instead calling it 'The Venice of the West'. The subsequent failure of a supposed cultural renaissance in the West is blamed on snooty Eastern staters. Secessionist support increases a never before seen level, 18%. Thirdly, the gondoliers use their new-found pling skills to pus WA away from the rest of Australia and towards South Africa where it belongs.
It is no wonder that Federalist forces in the Liberal Party scuttled Barnett's chances. Men of such vision and charisma can be dangerous. It was lucky West Australian's weren't swept along by the tide of excitement he generated.
We could always get gondoliers to pull icebergs.
Blazin Billy Zabka says:
Geeves = Los Nostrados dos Crazy Horse…
Cripes ya had me worried for a second there, and forced my hand from a Green to full-blown Labour vote - and my candidate looked like a goddam retail salesman!
Anyhoo, a hearty "Stick That 12-Month Vendetta/Campaign Up Your F'n C-Hole" to Mr Armstrong for possibly the most over-the-top bias ne'er seen before in the land, culminating in what I predict will be a 3-part Media Watch special!
I particularly loved the last-minute "face-save" whereby he PLASTERED the front page in anti-Labour rhetoric ("Labour Poli goes into hiding! [over the fact that a goddam Interpreter doesn't know what documents she's signing?!?!?] and "Libs lead in country"!) allowing Mr Strongcock to subtly insert his Editorial comment in small bold print (paraphrased) [b]"Well, even though the incumbent broke promises, can't suss power an shit and are generally detested by everyone I know (including myself most importantly!), the Liberals ran such a bad campaign that I feel I should save my own ass on the front page and hedge my bets and predict a safe Labour victory" [/b]
The mind boggles - was there EVER SERIOUSLY ANY CHANCE of a dude chucking up some multi-billion dollar uncosted, untested f'n half-cocked idea and winning an election based on *that* (oh yeah, plus the spin-off WaterCanons which the cops don't want!) in 5 weeks of campaigning OUT OF 4 YEARS?!?! Oh yeah, there is only one comparison…
MONORAIL!! I've put North Havenbrook on the map!!
Ease up on the seccession theory tho Tacmeister - i still honestly believe this would've been best for our domestic and international cricket landscape if we had've seceeded with the likes of Marsh, Marsh, Lillee, Reid, Woods, Zoehrer, etc and formulated our entire fiscal policy around world cricket domination….and the unbridled and unparalleled self-suifficient economical GOLDMINE that is - Coffee Chill!
Taco says:
I would never suggest that secession wasn't a good idea for the very reason you suggest.
I just don't know how it's going to happen with Lang Hang-the-black-man-cock or Colin 'Brains' Barnett pushing the agenda.
Where can we find another hero? Is it ou Blazin' Billy?
Taco says:
Please excuse all the above typos and repetition of the word 'suggest'; I've gnawed my fingers down to the stump at work today.
The Taco may be going on strike tomorrow.
Indefinite weekend. Awesome.
killer says:
What's shakin' at that there Union G-Wayne… I guess I should come in and do that stuff that I said I would and got paid for… but not today, it's far to hot and I am with the hangover.
Speaking of champagne (Passion Pop) I bet you are all dying to know what I wore to the Oscars party last night.
<center>[img]http://kilbot.homeip.net/kilbot/pics/tuxedo.jpg[/img]</center>
Classy.
KL says:
I thought that this thread might be nicely summed up with a flashing gif:
[img]http://www.haku.co.uk/b3ta/Newbe5.gif[/img]
Oh yeah!
killer says:
Here we go again.
[img]http://kilbot.homeip.net/kilbot/pics/monitor.gif[/img]
Blazin Billy Zabka says:
I am running on the WA World XI and Coffee Chill Global platform…
Here is a picture I think is gravely symbolic of our Nation-States coulda-beena-contenda Barnett's hapless approach to getting his water issues sorted…
[img] http://www.kilbot.net/news/uploads/image001.gif/img
HAHA BARNETT WERE HOPELESS AS A KID AND NOW YOU SUCK AS AN ADULT!!…now we can only ponder that neverending adage without answer: What *would* really happen if cows could fly?…
KL says:
Fuck yeah, this is all gold.
[img]http://www.furiousbalancing.com/pics//huthuthut.gif[/img]
Karate Robot Gold, that is.
KL says:
I can't work out how to display the full version here, so you will just have to visit:
[url=http://www.b3ta.com/board/4314831]here[/url]
fancy dave says:
Oscars Party????
Why was I not informed???
Boo sux.
killer says:
Sorry, it was a small invite dealy at Mel's.