Well done, Belly!

"I have created a problem for myself
in real life. A man less than half
my age on the way up has been offended
by my statements."

It is unfortunate when breach of anonymity on a forum like OLO enables someone 'on the way up' (himself?) to play the man and not the ball. He may have claimed to be offended by your views, but in his focus upon his 'career' he has failed to acknowledge the full-spectrum public service, not just one to the ALP, you have performed by telling it the way you believe it to be. Much more of that 'telling it like you believe it to be' is needed right across the political spectrum throughout Australia.

The MSM seems to be selectively filtering such feedback, so forums like OLO are, apart from personal contact, one of the few places where sincerely interested political aspirants can get in touch with what people really think. After all, the offended one (presuming him to be computer-literate) could always engage you in discussion on OLO, since your real identity is an open secret. That way he could point out for all the error of you ways, should error there be.

Of course, that would mean actually engaging with the rank-and-file, wouldn't it? Perhaps that's a bit infra-dig for an 'up and coming' political aspirant. You could always invite him on to OLO, by name, to debate with you. That would also be a public service. The community at large needs to be able to judge the quality of those 'on the way up' aspirants, if only to know who to vote against. OLO is a good place to do that.

Digressing briefly, wasn't it magnificent seeing some of those long-standing rank-and-file members of the ALP leaving their hospital beds to cast their votes at the recent pre-selection for the Division of Robertson? That's the sort of 'big Australia' I like to see: big on representation, small on political dogma and career politicians.

Good job!

Thanks mate, problem is I am near the age I Can retire.
Will go past it but it remains an option.
Being bound by anothers views is not.
I push youth to the front but understand pride in our past has meaning.
My party and my country needs more who think before following.
And I confidently say this destruction Will place us on the right track and in time a better party will result.
After election day slugs will come out and say I told you so.
If they wish to help now before the smash it would not be hard to get a Harbor bridge walk going Obed and Tripoly would look good free falling in the moonlight.

In 2 hours the polls open in NSW for the state seat of Penrith.
The result is already known.
The biggest swing against Labor in its history.
Why?
Is the ALP going to learn from this?
Yes but not in the short term, it will take the trip to the trash bin we are to take next year.
I speak only of state politics Rudd warts and all will get his second term.
A few years ago ,asked to man the same national party voting booth I had for years,
Saw fresh faced City ALP foot soldiers joy filled at the impending Latham victory come after I had put the early shift in.
So full of pride in a win that never was to be.
Me? I knew the result and at 8.30 am shook the hand of the National booth captain and went home to wait for the suffering to begin.
Those manning Penrith booths for me already trashed team know too we are looking at a nightmare.
Home made fed and bred in the home of NSW ALP my faction center unity has let us down.

So why?
Bob Carr was no matter what the opposition says a great and good leader.
Our last leader in this state.
While it is federal poltics Peter Garrett is one of a huge number that while not even a party member was handed some one else's seat.
Telling branch members we do not matter.
The day I stood at conference and saw our party tell its members we did not matter reminded me of the mutiny on the bounty, who is this states ALP.
Power generation did not get sold, it will, but we pay MUCH more because my ALP betrayed us all.
Men better placed in a gangster movie run my party, it remains to people like me, bound for no glory but much trouble, to rebuild it.
one day, maybe after my work life is over I will tell of the gutless yes minister state ministers who believe a dysfunctional public service, who lie to them to save taking action.
If I lived in Penrith?
After voting green ,no other way exists for me, I would watch the footy and hide my head not in shame but in grief for my miss used party.

I am more than a little surprised as we head toward the worst ever defeat in NSW ALP history no panic has set in within the government.
Factions do not always do damage, in their hands the center unity has crafted a faction that usually kept the party in power.
Now changes have been made, far too many and the wrong ones.
If today two leading faction heads said they would leave politics at the end of this term[my preference is for prison cell]if we dumped about 5 more, including the leader.
If we put A man with a plan in place, John Dela Bosca.
If his first week was spent on his knees telling us how wrong the government was.
ALP would still inherit the opposition bench's, but in numbers above single figures.
And victory would still go to a man few know even less care about.
An indictment of my party yes but despite anything I serve my party better for seeing it as it is.

Bob Carr was wise to abandon ship as the consequences of his policies became apparent. Rudd waited too long. I wish more labor leaders would follow his lead before Australia follows the lead of NSW.