Foxy,

Bill Shorten is a goner. You shouldn't be deliberately ignoring the criticism from his colleagues. 'Look at Trump instead, puhlease' doesn't work.

The criticism has been building. It goes much deeper than his wretched lack of ideas and policy. Shorten is the archetypal 'hollow man' who stands for everything (maybe, he says) and nothing.

There is nothing going on inside, not intellectually and no soul. No passion for anything, just'Whatever she says' and undercutting and blocking.

Any wonder some of Labor's senior women (not the weather vane Penny Wong, of course. There is no passion and no ideas there!) are breaking ranks, exasperated by the stuffed shirts and BS of Shorten and 'Albo'.

Kristina Keneally is right, it is only a question of time. But Kristine was being politically diplomatic and astute too, because it isn't a gentle wave for change of Labor leadership, there is a gathering tsunami that will likely sweep Plibersek into the leadership.

The senate is one example of how the proportional system can go wrong. The porn star being elected in Italy is another.

A proportional system ends up with parties allocated seats, and the voters not voting for their representatives directly.

What we have is not perfect and can be improved, but also could be a lot worse.

leoj,

I agree with you about Shorten.
However, I really can't see Labor electing another
woman as their leader after their last experience.
Of course I could be wrong.

Dear Shadow Minister,

It will be interesting to see what develops further
closer to our elections and who the key players will
be. I predicted earlier on after Malcolm Turnbull
beat Tony Abbott for the Prime Ministership that
Mr Turnbull will win the next election. And the
one after that. Again, I could be wrong. But that's
my prediction.

Foxy,

I would like to see internal democracy legislated for, for all parties. It would reinvigorate the Labor party. It would foster continuous improvement in it and the other parties.

Turnbull will probably prevail for as long as he wants to. I agree with that. My disappointment is that we have not witnessed as yet what he should be capable of, considering his intellect and other qualities.

I sense that he is growing tired of the novelty of being PM. That is unfortunate where PMs need plenty of time in the job to finally be able to make a lasting contribution.

I reiterate my opinion that the PM is the lynchpin of the federal parliament and a good PM knows how to cater for all of the smaller interests to retain the confidence of the House that he needs.

In typical Hassy fashion he wants to get rid of the "ratbag element", of course that is simply a euphemism for getting rid of the opposition. Hassy, if there was no Pauline Ratbag running for parliament who would you and Leo vote for, the fuhrer is dead, and The Donald is too busy making a complete goose of himself. Well, there is always Corny Banana, the ideal choice for you two,

Poor Leo over indulged on a diet of greens, now he is suffering from a severe case of verbal diarrhea and political dyspepsia. Leo, I see your darling is up to her old tricks of trying to rip off the taxpayer, again. There was the Lovely Pauline, listening intentlyto one of your parties favorite pin up boys, James Ashby telling the faithful how they could milk the taxpayer, and how they had done it before. Were you at the meeting? How about a comment from you on the govve teat suckers now! Hanson is as phony as your 'angry white man' Senator Dave Whatshisname.

Jacqui Lambie, when she first entered the parliament, I could see she was not the sharpest tool in the shed, but who is. thought she was a bit of a wacko. All I knew was she had been in the army, I thought, what rank, Artillery Shell, but now like The mad hatter, Bob Katter I have warmed to her, and that simple brand pf homespun politics. Not that i would vote for either.

The problem with having a parliament made up of 100% independents, is next thing you know Mal and Bill would be having a drink together in the parliamentary bar, then sitting together in the house, then voting together, sleeping together, and before you know it they would be calling themselves The Bobby Party.

Your right Foxy, there has been a steady decline in the vote for the big two parties since the 1950's 95% then.

Shadow, if we can elect a Mad Monk to lead the country , surly there is room there for a porn star or two?

Not much chat about Abbott's misdemeanors. that is a closed debate.
It's all about the opposition without anybody even mentioning them. I can't understand how Abbott can go uncountable by his own party. He has done the unthinkable and yet they do not care.
He should be publicly lynched.
Splinter parties will pop up all over the place and Hanson will be there if they can survive till then, no guarantees.