The Soap Box - James Baker's Blog2008-09-05T18:00:52ZJames BakerCopyright 2008, James BakerSPHPBLOGElection washup. Apologies for my absence over the last week and a half. I've been travelling, campaigning, electioning, and finally, cleaning up.
I'm still all over the place with election washup, trying to tidy up all the post-election loose ends.
I will post a "washup report" later today or tonight.
But right now I can fairly confidently predict that I will not be elected to the Senate on this occasion.
And yes, I have a sense of humour about it. I hgave myself between 0900 and 1100 Sunday to have no sense of humour. But now it's back.
James]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071126-1439522007-11-26T00:00:00Z2007-11-26T00:00:00ZQueensland odyssey If anyone needs me I'm on mobile 0408 526 371
Will try to post while I'm travelling but it depends on access to the internet.
Have a great week.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071114-0702082007-11-13T00:00:00Z2007-11-13T00:00:00ZJames Baker on ABC Stateline You can see it on ABC TV tonight at 7.30pm in Queensland.
James Baker
UPDATE 1 Stateline all put to bed and aired. Went okay I feel. If you missed it I will be putting highlights up on YouTube over the course of the next 24 hours. My technical guru has edited out the boring bits (i.e. everyone else!) and you should be able to see highlights on YouTube.
It's also repeated at some point on ABC2... if only I knew how that worked.
Only the edited highlights though.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071109-0902592007-11-08T00:00:00Z2007-11-08T00:00:00ZNew YouTube videohere it is.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071109-0856302007-11-08T00:00:00Z2007-11-08T00:00:00ZTakes one to know onean expert on what it takes to lose:
THE major tactical error of the Liberal election campaign has been to highlight Treasurer Peter Costello, former party leader John Hewson says.
Dr Hewson, who lost the so-called "unloseable election" to Labor's Paul Keating in 1993, says Mr Costello is unelectable and should not have been included in major campaign announcements and advertising.
If only he had been that smart when he was leader.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071106-2320132007-11-06T00:00:00Z2007-11-06T00:00:00ZJust another heroare injured in the service of their nation.
COMBAT engineer Sergeant Michael Lyddiard has lost most of one arm and an eye and received serious blast injuries after a roadside bomb blew up in his face in Afghanistan.
The Townsville-based bomb disposal expert was a metre from the device and was about to examine it when it detonated on Saturday.
It is understood he almost died at the scene because of blood loss and massive trauma, but was saved by the high standard of first aid he received from comrades and medics. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071106-1130412007-11-06T00:00:00Z2007-11-06T00:00:00ZCampaign update
# I collect 700 corflutes today so your help in displaying them would be really appreciated
# Thanks to those who are displaying 'James Baker' car bumper stickers and letterboxing my leaflets
# Thanks to a team of talented young guys and Charles for helping film and edit my latest You Tube videos.
# I travelled to Yarraman last night and met a great bunch at the RSL Branch Meeting, I appreciated the great ideas and strong commitment to the nation
Service to the Nation and training opportunities for young people are high on my agenda.
# 11 Independent Candidates launched "Make Election Day Independents Day" on Sunday at Carindale
Thanks to Sam Strutt and photographer Peter Wallis from the Courier Mail for covering the event in the Courier Mail on Monday
Thanks also to Phil Young for invaluable help along the way.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071106-1033312007-11-05T00:00:00Z2007-11-05T00:00:00ZPreferences allocated The order of the major contenders is: - Family First - Pauline - Liberals/Nationals - Labor - Democrats - Greens
One of the minors may get up, but the interest at this point is on the majors. So there it is.
Anyone interested in the reasoning, feel free to ask.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071104-0041152007-11-03T00:00:00Z2007-11-03T00:00:00ZPeter Andren dieshas died.
Former federal MP Peter Andren has died after a battle with inoperable cancer.
Mr Andren died this morning, ABC radio is reporting.
The independent member for the central NSW seat of Calare left parliament last month.
Mr Andren was planning to step down from the lower house seat he had held since 1996 and contest a spot in the Senate, but withdrew after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer earlier this year.
Farewell. You were an inspiration to thousands.
]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071104-0036442007-11-03T00:00:00Z2007-11-03T00:00:00ZSenate draw - I couldn't be happier JAMES BAKER WINS THE “X BOX”
Independent Senate candidate James Baker must be the happiest candidate to come out of the Queensland Senate ballot paper draw today, after he drew the ‘X box’ on the ballot paper.
“At 40 years of age, I now have my first X Box,” Mr Baker said. It is now official - James Baker has the X factor in this election campaign.
The Australian Electoral Commission conducted the ballot today to decide which alphabetical ‘group’ is allocated to each party or candidate.
Mr Baker’s name was drawn out last, which makes the James Baker group ‘Group X’ in the ballot paper.
“I’m eXcited,” Mr Baker said, quoting the late Big Kev.
“Now it’s a case of ‘X marks the spot’ for those wanting to vote for the James Baker Group.”
“It’s uncanny, now I really am the X-man.”
Mr Baker is one of 65 candidates standing for six Senate positions available at this election. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071102-2332282007-11-02T00:00:00Z2007-11-02T00:00:00ZTony Abbott's bad day - insulting a dying man; - missing most of the Health portfilio debate with his counterpart; - swearing at his counterpart; and - being generally irascible right through to a late night TV interview.
But I like the bloke. And I think he'd make a good Prime Minister one day. I like him because he's not afraid to stand up to the squeeling elites, and they hate him for it.
Everyone has bad days. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071101-2328552007-11-01T00:00:00Z2007-11-01T00:00:00ZMining company wants to reroute the Kokoda TrackOh no you won't! ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071101-2325412007-11-01T00:00:00Z2007-11-01T00:00:00ZGreens and Democrats swapping preferenceshardly suprising. The Greens and Democrats share virtually the same world view.
THE Australian Greens and Australian Democrats have announced they will swap preferences in the Senate in a bid to end the coalition's domination of federal parliament's upper house.
The agreement will see the two parties exchange preferences ahead of Labor and Liberal or other minor parties. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071031-1234592007-10-31T00:00:00Z2007-10-31T00:00:00ZLabor throwing out the rubbish too lateunionist Joe McDonald in what the Prime Minister says is a "panic move".
I think of it more as hacking off a gangrenous toe, when the whole limb is infected.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071026-2355072007-10-26T00:00:00Z2007-10-26T00:00:00ZAnother hero we couldn't afford to loseSAS Regiment Sergeant Matthew Locke.
I can't express enough gratitude to the men and women taking on this fight. The Governor General speaks for all of us:
Sergeant Locke, who is married with a son, had "a wonderful sense of humour and was very compassionate, Major-General Jeffery said.
"And I know that he will be missed not just by his patrol, but also by the whole regiment," he said.
"For his family of course it will be a time of deep grief and we know, I think, just how they are feeling."
Chief of Army Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy described Sergeant Locke as a genuine hero.
"The nation today has lost a genuine hero. The army has lost a gallant and respected soldier," he said.
"Our Special Air Service Regiment have lost a comrade and a mate and his family have lost a loving husband and father.
"I can express my deep sympathy to the family of Sergeant Matthew Locke and express our desire to support them as much as we can through these difficult and tragic days."
General Leahy said Sergeant Locke was an inspirational leader who knew his duty and task. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071026-2350032007-10-26T00:00:00Z2007-10-26T00:00:00ZCate Blanchett joins the Amerika-hatersbiting the hand that feeds you.
CATE Blanchett wants the winner of next month's federal election to free Australia from its "embarrassing" relationship with the US.
The Oscar winning actress says Australia is too closely tied to the US and has made a mistake by isolating itself from its Asian neighbours.
Good luck with your movie career in Asia Cate.
I'm sure the US public will applaud Cate for her outburst. Please everyone, send the news to all the American friends you have.
UPDATE Thanks to my ever vigilant Senate nemesis David Couper for pointing out my failure to spell Cate Blanchett's name correctly (I spelled it 'Kate' three times). Yes David, I sometimes read your stuff too.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071026-2345072007-10-26T00:00:00Z2007-10-26T00:00:00ZVery, very funny Dumbledore out of the closet (referring of course to the gay 'outing' by author JK Rowling of one of her main characters.)
The very next story on the SMH website was:
Magician denies allegations
Imagine my disappointment when I discovered it wasn't the fictional Dumbledore who was doing the denying, but the very real magician David Copperfield who was denying FBI tax allegations. For a second it was getting interesting.
Just on the Dumbledore outing, I heard there are criminal charges pending for very unsavoury behaviour while he was head of Hogwarts. He could be in for a very long jail term. Just a rumour mind you.
(Can you defame a fictional character?)]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071022-0009572007-10-21T00:00:00Z2007-10-21T00:00:00ZAnother Labor Darlingthis continues.
IN a major embarrassment for Labor Leader Kevin Rudd, one of his candidates has been forced to resign after revelations he acted as a union thug, allegedly assaulting one of his managers and routinely intimidating co-workers.
Labor campaign headquarters left the candidate for Maranoa, Shane Guley, no choice but to quit after The Sunday Telegraph presented evidence of his ugly behaviour in the workplace.
Perhaps this is the type of industrial practice Labor wants to return to; union standover tactics and thuggery, to replace AWAs.
You can add Shane Guley to the likes of Western Australian unionist Joe McDonald who Mr Rudd demanded be expelled from the ALP, Electrical Trades Union Victorian state secretary Dean Mighell.
That list of forced resignations doesn't include Kevin Rudd's own brother Greg, who had to resign over the heinous crime of giving donations to parties other than the Labor Party.]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071021-2338502007-10-21T00:00:00Z2007-10-21T00:00:00ZThe Great Debate By all accounts, Rudd squeeked home in the opinion of the professional pundits (i.e. journalists and political tragics), but romped it in according to Channel Nine's "highly scientific" audience poll.
To me, that spells political death to Kevin Rudd. There is now no way Mr Rudd can win the election. This is on the experience of previous debates which have seen similarly convincing defeats for the Prime Minister according to the Nine audience. Based on Channel Nine debate-rating results, John Howard has lost to Kim Beazley, Mark Latham, and now Kevin Rudd. All rated as overwhelming wins for the opposition leader of the day. So based on that pattern, John Howard's odds should firm considerably at Centrebet tomorrow.
]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071021-2233012007-10-21T00:00:00Z2007-10-21T00:00:00ZBob Brown wants in to the big game Democracy should not be a de facto one-party system," Senator Brown said.
"We need diversity offered to voters and that is where the Greens come in - we absolutely should be in the debate."
He probably should be in on the debate for reasons of comic relief. But I shudder to think what will happen to the economy, society and country in general if this man gets hold of the balance of power. ]]>http://www.jamesbaker.com.au/blog/index.php?entry=entry071020-2231462007-10-20T00:00:00Z2007-10-20T00:00:00Z