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Trump referendum: voters say maybe

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Billed as a referendum on Trump, the special election in Georgia’s 6th congressional district has now been counted and the GOP has won the day.

The Republican candidate, Karen Handel, is heading to Washington after defeating her Democratic opponent, Jon Ossoff.

In the 2016 House ballot, the GOP carried the district 62-38. The margin in today’s special election the margin has narrowed to 53-47 with voting complete at midday (AET).

Americans call it a special election but in this country we prefer to call them by-elections. And as is the case in Australia, the results tend to favour the party in opposition, in this case the Democrats with a protest vote of some magnitude being registered. Historically in this country by-elections tend to swing somewhere between three and four per cent swing against the government of the day and this can be greater if a retiring MP is well known or widely admired.

Full column here.

98 Comments

  • JackSprat says:

    Methinks that Morrison has opened Pandora’s Box.

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-22/bankers-scathing-of-sa-government-cash-grab-levy/8643636

    The SA Treasurer has rocks for brains if he thinks that it will not be passed on – most likely spread evenly over all customers.

    • Dwight says:

      It is either passed on via increased fees or lower rates on deposits or, it is passed on via lower shareholder returns and dividends. Unless you believe in magic pudding economics like Weatherill.

  • Lou oTOD says:

    The mendicant State of South Australia has done itself another disservice in this year’s budget, a jobs and growth strategy that delivers neither. Now where did that come from?

    If Weather ill thinks a State bank tax is a smart idea, he really hasn’t been listening. The punters will end up paying, and it brings back memories of the FID and BAD taxes that were the worst financial imposts ever created. I guess going backwards is something SA is quite adept at.

    • Dismayed says:

      Mendicant state? You from WA yeah? The state that the Nation carried from 1826 until about 1986? From the 1940’s through to the 1980’s WA received MORE than its fair share. I see you are another of this dickheads that want to divide the Nation and not give all Australians equal opportunities and standards. WA always talking about seceding but never had the guts to do it. Says it all really. Now after 8 years of coalition mis- management under the apprentice Porter in record debt and deficit. Just elected the Labor party to fix things again. Still pissing and moaning about GST after continually raising royalties KNOWNG it will reduce the GST share.

      • Lou oTOD says:

        You really are an obnoxious twit. Stay in the present, because you know sweet FA about the past, or indeed present for that matter. The abusive comments have just become tedious, no doubt you get off on them but why do we have to watch?

  • Lou oTOD says:

    Seems Schapelle Corby inc won’t be put down, with her media presence confirming she has sustained a broken leg, with broken ankle and knee thrown in.

    I am no medico, but having had an overview of a multitude of personal injury and workers comp claims, it strikes me that someone has been pulling her leg, too hard. Or is it the other way round?

    • Lou oTOD says:

      I forgot to mention the Aus headline for the story, “Schapelle Corby : breaking bad”. Gotta love the wit of subeditors.

  • BASSMAN says:

    State of ‘Orrible. Great win and comeback from the Toads. We were asleep 2nd half.
    Never under estimate a well fed Toad. We did. Thirsty brought Cronk and Smith put of
    their shells who did little in the 1st game. They need Thirty-they run orrff him.

    1. Was his foot out…1st Qld try…no close up shot from behind why? There is every other game.
    2. Hayne-disaster of a game…selfish. Plays for himself-failed to pass ball with line open.
    Missed 2 tackles that resulted in tries. Mad flick pass that went out. He must go!
    Defence was also poor in the 1st game Bald.
    3. Qld made the most of their opportunities. Thirsty was not targeted and he was a game winner.
    Toads terrific to watch comeback. Last game? I don’t think we have ever won a decider series in
    Qld. If they win Thirsty and a few others may retire from ‘Orrible. No stoppin’ ‘em now.

    4. SAD CAFÉ.

    • Mack the Knife says:

      Watched the game a second time yesterday. The thing that stood out for me was how entertaining the play was, on both sides, when they threw the ball out wide with no forward passes, giving the outside backs room to move. Beautiful to watch. Throwing late passes when the receiver hits the defence line is just well, cheating in my book and against the most basic principle of the game. The Morris try was scored off a pass that floated at least 5m forward, Maloney threw it on one line and Morris caught it almost at the next 10m line. Origin 3 will be a cracker.

      • Trivalve says:

        5m? I know it was forward but 5m? Qld had some too of course. Don’t know if they’ve been told not to pull them up or what?

        Sad about JT. Will help us win the series but we’ll miss him at the world cup. A true legend. Another thing, did anyone notice the sliding window on the Oz online front page today? The ISIS wanker wearing a beanie in one shot and JT in the other. Had to look twice, I thought it was the same person!

  • Bella says:

    OT for a sec.
    This is wonderful news for Tasmania’s forests.
    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155296427335928&substory_index=0&id=22746335927
    Will Hodgman must stop trying to destroy what tourists come to see.

    • JackSprat says:

      Tassie would generate so much more in revenue if the left the old growth stands alone.
      However, when many high schools in a state do not provide education past year 10, I think it is a case of live now and starve later.
      It really is nuts.
      Bit like what we are all doing to the planet in one way or another.

  • Huger Unson says:

    Jack, your thoughts, if you please, on the quantity of grovel in the mixture of apology & retail hubris to be offered to a full bench of justices by three chumps tomorrow.
    Also, if you don’t mind, a tip on the odds of them being done despite fulsome backpedals.

    • Jack The Insider says:

      I would rather not, HU. I think the three ministers erred substantially with their comments and apologies if they are issued would not necessarily be the end of the matter.

      • Lou oTOD says:

        The three ministers appeared before the Court today,and their statement of apology delivered by the Solicitor General was accepted by the Court, just. Ditto The Australian who were in the gun for running the story.

        We now learn the two offenders who were the subject of discussion have had their sentences increased, so it would seem the matter is now ended. Wee Billy will have to throw that potential key to the Lodge away. Malcolm will be mightily relieved.

        • Jack The Insider says:

          The apology had to made. Withdrawing the statements without apology would not have extinguished the contempt. Storm in a teacup really but allowed to go on too long.

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    “They’re off”, Mr Insider, and of course I refer to our Taxpayer Funded Federal Pollies who are just going on Winter Break. No doubt many instantly departing for OS on “Fact Finding Missions” to France, Italy, the USA and other exotic destinations. Meanwhile the long suffering Aussie Taxpaying “gaging” under the rising cost of living and struggling to pay his/her soaring Winter Power Bills, will find cold comfort in the fact our august Representatives will return in a “few weeks” tanned and brimming with up to date “useful” facts and figures such as where to dine like a King in Paris! Yairs. Call me a cynic, Mr Insider, just don’t call me late for Dinner!

  • Milton says:

    Perhaps the sadly disillusioned Yassmin Abdel-Magied should return to the Sudan or live in Saudi Arabia for a little while so she can compare and contrast those experiences with living in our unrepresentative country.

    • JackSprat says:

      Yep!

    • John O'Hagan says:

      Yes, because nothing may ever be criticised if anything worse exists. For example, no-one says a bad word about Jeffrey Dahmer because John Wayne Gacey.

      Pity NewsCorp doesn’t stick to this principle; but it seems they are running out of fresh lefty bogeymen and are forced to recycle.

      BTW: “return to the Sudan”? Go back where you came from? Seriously?

      • JackSprat says:

        Actually he said for a little while John.
        She is a bright young lady who has a very swollen head and an even louder mouth as a result of being given too much publicity too young.
        Personally I think some of her utterances show a very large disconnect from realty and I just ignore her. Every time she gets publicity, she gets worse and is definitely not the role model I would be using..
        Why she is on state sponsored committees etc is beyond me – one needs quiet reasoned viewpoints on such bodies.
        What two US serial killers have to do with the argument is beyond me.

        • Trivalve says:

          She came and talked to us (my current workplace yesterday). I missed it. But honestly, the Australian is so obsessed with her, maybe if they stopped reporting every time she goes for a pee you’d hear less?

      • Milton says:

        JOH – seriously, a bit of perspective would do her the world of good. What she said wasn’t criticism it was silly nonsense. Regardless, does she offer any solutions or alternatives?

  • Dwight says:

    If Parliament doesn’t represent me does that mean I can stop voting now?

    • JackSprat says:

      Well, you need to nominate yourself as leader of the US community in Australia.
      All sorts of stuff will follow.
      Access to politicians
      A little financial help in organizing your office
      Invites to Q&A and other shows to discuss how a successful ethnic group got to that stage
      And all other sorts of BS.
      You could even object to the English test as its spelling would discriminate against all US citizens.
      You could offer web sites in the US that get around the severe anti-free speech brigade in this country.
      You could entertain yourself for a decade or more.
      Think laterally my man !

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    Exciting Space news, Mr Insider, as we read that genius Elon Musk reveals plans for ‘fun’ Mars city, 1m people and pizza joints within 50 years! But come back a wee bit to 2023 and Elon plans a Manned Mars Mission, for which your humble correspondent has proffered his name to be on “Eternity 1” as she touches down on Mars. In anticipation of Elon accepting me am already thinking up a “Neil Armstrong” like statement to make as I step off the LEM! I would most definitely be happy to report exclusively for JTI should some “reddies” be forthcoming, Mr Insider, preferably before lift off from Earth!
    http://tinyurl.com/ycppvbj4

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