I get the feeling that the Independents are looking for an exit strategy. They probably don’t relish loosing face by initiating a collapse however; all it might take is for one independent to hit the wall on “their” policy deliverable, or a break in ranks within the ALP on any major issue. At which point the independents can legitimately claim that their support cannot save the government.

One of the most gratifying aspects of the current situation for the government is that they continue to pursue that which is contrary to their own interests.

Spindoc,

Unfortunately the independents have painted themselves into a corner. If they ditch labor now, they are still dead. Better to wait out the 3 years.

Agreed SM,

It might just depend on the glue they used. The threshold for structural integrity failure is not yet observable. The “all is just fine” mantra of press briefings is covering that up really well.

That the independents are dead anyway is fairly clear, even Bob Katter can smell that one above the background stench of federal politics. He wants rid of any association with “independents”.

All I’m suggesting is that “if” the independents are looking for salvation, they may just get enough “frequent quisling” points to hang in if they are seen as simply putting the final nail into the coffin rather than pre-empting the funeral, particularly if this is done in the short term before an electable alternative can establish themselves in their electorates.

Maybe just wishful thinking on my part, but my goodness I’m enjoying the spectacle.

A good measure of how bad things are for the government is the frequency, volume and content of posts from Belly. Bless him; he’s such a true political barometer

I claim no insight.
But Kim was far from a fat fool, I loved and forever admired him.

I contend those of my age who have been Labor always, will have seen this before.
Examine Labors failures, but do not ignore its successes.
Have a closer look at todays printed and spoken media, then visit the archives of 1973 to 1975 see the similarity's
Yes my party in NSW and infested federally,fell under the spell of young yuppies.

They KNEW why should they listen to the Grey singlets .
We only exist to door knock, man the booths then be tucked away till needed.
Leave your brains in the bucket stuff.
Cash for clunker was only one of ten bloody silly insulting attempts to buy votes ,telling voters we are too silly to under stand.
Why did we not call a double dissolution, at a time we would have won with ease.
Why was the most important issue of our times , Rudd's words ETS stopped by Gillard, WHY did the greens, the defective anti compromise greens not pass a first step ETS.
How could Labor not see, not stop not defend those $900 checks to dead people, to some who had lived over seas for 20 years, how did this good scheme fund other country's as well as our own.
Fitzgibbon, Do you Julia think we have forgotten.
He slated the trade union movement,that group who got you in power.
He was Mark Lathams private property JULIA he is yours, do you think we forget, forgive,.;
Julia he sold his sole to China, yet the grub is your whip, yes he is Julia.
Labor, from within, has the ideas and the talent to be what Rudd promised has it got the guts?
Look past Julia look at Ministers Shoten would lift us helped by Combet, ministers being over looked are any ones equal
I charge those on the left who see Labors sin via a magnifying glass but conservatives from a distance.
Who jump in to the greens camp to know I will blame them for our defeat.

Eh?

>>Pericles why on earth would you want to have a rerun of a bloke who has proved himself to be an idiot.<<

I wasn't expressing a desire, Hasbeen, or a preference. I was simply making a situation assessment.

The "safe and sensible option" is merely my view of the how the Labor Party might approach the problem. Because it is a problem. Almost a survival problem.

I hold no admiration for any of the current crop of bag-carriers and chancers, as many of my posts here will consistently testify. Rogues and thieves the lot of them, a completely value-free zone. None of them has my vote, and hasn't had my vote for over twenty years.

Since 1988, in fact. The year Ted Mack walked away from politics.

Oh I never said he was a fool Belly, I said Hockey was the fool. Actually I said Hockey is a buffoon. I loved Kim. That was in the peak of my Howard Hating though.

'Yes my party in NSW and infested federally, fell under the spell of young yuppies.'

The worst of fates. Belly if they're full of young yuppies again, tell me now and I wont vote for them.

'They KNEW why should they listen to the Grey singlets .'
Or Hawaiian shirts for that matter. Or those long white socks with shorts. I bet Johnny used to wear them.

'We only exist to door knock, man the booths then be tucked away till needed.'
Sounds like a plan. Where you can do no harm.

'WHY did the greens, the defective anti compromise greens not pass a first step ETS.'

I dunno Belly, but it gives me great pleasure to point this out to Greens supporters at BBQs. 'Could a had an ETS by now if it wasn't for you lot.' Hahaha.

'He slated the trade union movement,that group who got you in power.'

You don't mean Joe Hockey's union bosses?

'Labor, from within, has the ideas and the talent'

Really? I mean, really Belly? I haven't seen any talent. Shorten is a good orator I'll give you that and thinks well on his feet and speaks clearly. But I heard he is 2 faced. A union boss. Cancels him out.

Pericles,

Old gramps, I have only ever heard of the legend of this Mack guy. Did he not retire the day before he would receive a pension or something?

I admire a man who can cut off his nose to spite his face like that, and who makes grand protests. It must massively piss off the average trough feeder.

It is sad that there has only been one such excursion of a man rejecting self interest so boldly in the history of politicians. Has there ever been any similar stunts?