otb,

"The Greens cannot lie straight in bed..."

Lol!...it's a wonder that Tones can straighten up enough to walk out to podiums to deliver his slogans.

Latest Credlin directive is for govt employees to "dob in a colleague" if they criticise the PM on social media.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/colleagues-told-dob-in-political-web-posts/story-fni0cx12-1226875635588

How very Stasi of her....

Beach,
In a democracy, naturally you are entitled to your opinion about The Greens, even if it lacks substance and any shred of credibility. I cannot envisage you supporting any kind of progressive policies from any quarter. I still recall your Fabian paranoia, and your oft quoting of that Miss Marple type character. Isn't Gillard a dreaded Fabian and not to believed on any count, lest one is to suffer the pain of death, then you go ahead an use her as evidence for you nonsensical claims. "As Julia Gillard said, and she had the experience,,,"
Poirot, nice one The Mad Monks "dob in a colleague" policy, and who said The Gestapo was dead, Tony is in the process of resurrecting it, dissenters will be expelled, to of all places, wait for it, Cambodia. That's the new place to send those undesirables, Cambodia, there Abbott and Morrison will have you fed to the Son's of Pol Pot. Beach there could be an opening somewhere there for you, why not apply

Beach,
I suggest you ramp up your attacks on The Greens, as like a runaway loco the Green Express is coming to a parliamentary seat near you! A long time before the last federal election I made predictions to my old sparing partner. and now defunct forum member, Belly, as to how I seen events unfolding. The election of Abbott was a gimme, and vital to the future Green agenda. I can hear you now, that little green pixie Paul1405, must be on the wacky tobacky to make a statement like that. A watermelon wanting the election of a Tory Government, sure did, you better believe it, I went as far as preferencing the Liberal with my own vote, but not in the Senate, it is vital the Tory's don't control the Senate. The Mad Monk has exceed my wildest expectations, I knew this bunch of wacko's masquerading as a government, would stuff up big time, sooner or later. I gave Abbott and his band of wombles 12 months to make total fools of themselves, they are running ahead of schedule, able to achieve total fooldom in under 6. That must be some kind of all time record for a government, complete fooldom in under 6 months, well done Tony!
Not to be out done the Labor Party have done exactly what is required of them, make complete prats of themselves, the election of Electricity Bill was manna from heaven for us Greens, short of electing Bozo the Clown to lead the party, Shorten was the next best choice. Given a couple more years of these misfits, and with the only other alternative being Fat Clive and his dodo party, things are looking bloody good for THE GREENS.

Well done Paul, a nice little scenario, but, if anything, big Clive has taken some of the steam away from the Greens - per way of the reactionary vote - and Christine had better get back to fundamentals, the environment and human dignity for our own dispossessed, our indigenous and homeless, and stop thrashing around so much about the Third World's dispossessed. We can't solve the world's problems, and the Aus public have largely recognized this, so why not Christine?

Latest: 'Hurray, we did it, Scott's back in spades in WA', with video clip of Christine in a Tassie world heritage old growth forest talking conservation, biodiversity and the need to tackle climate change. But in debate and media it's mostly carbon tax, clean energy fund, marriage equality and refugees. Not a mention of bee preservation or protection of our agricultural resources from introduced pests and diseases (though Christine says she has credentials with the farming community).
Where's concern for the down to earth bread and butter fundamentals? But no, its gay marriage, boat people and carbon. Pure populism.
(Of course, so many UNFCCC GOP's would have anyone's head spinning.)

When there is a reasonable balance of the two major parties, in both federal houses, and honest conviction and conscience from all members for the national interest, and only the national interest, then we won't need anyone to 'keep them honest' - and genuine reform, progress and traction can prevail.
Then, members will be selected and elected on merit, and not on populism, slogans, or unrealistic scatterbrained promises.

We need a National Charter and genuine altruism; not ideology.
Leave all prejudice, preconception and supremacist ambition in the trashcan provided.

Hi Salty,

Spot on, I'm personally a small 'E' Green, E for the environment, and not wishing to underscore the importance of said environment, can't do without it. I'm also pragmatic to the point where the bread and butter issues, something old time Labor was once proud to champion, should now be in the front line of Green thinking. I can say as a diverse party, not totally populated by the disparagingly called 'tree huggers' and 'academics' as some think, many share my thoughts. Here in NSW where there is an election due in 2015, there are many, many, bread and butter issues which require urgent attention, health, education, transport, housing, and political corruption, the list is almost endless and I haven't yet mentioned the environment, and it should be mentioned.
I don't see The Greens as a pale imitation of old time Labor, nor should it be. Labor had its roots in the working class and the trade union movement. the Greens does not have such roots. We are a relatively new party compared to the big two dinosaurs, although one of the dinosaurs appears to be rapidly shrinking. Political parties stand and fall on their core values, and commitment to policy. Having said that, and not underscoring the importance of core values, political parties have to be dynamic in their thinking and willing to move with the times. Speaking to Green MP's and party members, I am confident, well at least in NSW, the party is well positioned and well resourced to move forward politically, but only time will tell.
As a foot note, all parties have their duds in parliament, but I must say here in NSW I firmly believe the Greens 6 MP's are all outstanding members doing a top job. I put that down to the parties pre-selection system, which works well to weed out potential duds.

<<I'm personally a small 'E' Green, E for the environment>>

More like E for Ebola virus.

If the LNP & ALP are the dinosaurs the closest analogue for the Greens has to be the Ebola virus.