Assange Stands 'Real Chance' of Election In Australia

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Assange Stands 'Real Chance' of Election In Australia

Posted by timothy on Sunday May 20, 2012 @05:44AM from the good-hair-party dept.

Okian Warrior writes "Various new sources are reporting the results of a recent Labor Party poll, indicating that Julian Assange would be elected to the Australian senate, should he choose to run. From the Sun Daily article: 'Controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stands a real chance of winning an upper house seat in his native Australia if he presses ahead with plans to stand for election, a poll showed Saturday. A survey conducted by the ruling Labor party's internal pollsters UMR Research and published in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper showed 25 percent of those polled would vote for the whistleblowing website chief.'"

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If Julian Assange gets elected by FudRucker · 2012-05-20 05:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

i will sell everything i own and move to australia because it is the last western nation with a little redemption left in it

--
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
1. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by macraig · 2012-05-20 06:03 · Score: 2
  
  It also has a much hotter head honcho than the U.S., so if you're nursing fantasies about being a national leader's plaything you could do worse.
2. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by macraig · 2012-05-20 06:05 · Score: 2
  
  I hear Bill Clinton wants to move there and run for office.
3. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Ihmhi · 2012-05-20 06:21 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I'm just concerned an "Australian" kangaroo will "spontaneously" explode in some American city, and then before the ink on the infrastructure rebuilding contracts is dry we'll be flying upside-down C-130s and invading down under to "liberate" them from a "terrorist atheist criminal dictator".
  Man, the fucked up thing is that the Australians aren't even the most dangerous thing on the continent. We'll probably lose a couple hundred guys just to the local wildlife.
  
  --
  Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
4. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by njen · 2012-05-20 06:38 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Actually, he hasn't been officially charged yet.
5. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Asic+Eng · 2012-05-20 06:42 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Well, Germany now has the Pirate party represented in it's fourth state parliament (Berlin: 15 seats, Saarland 4 seats, North_Rhine-Westphaliav 20 seats, Schleswig-Holstein 6 seats). They are polling at 11% for the federal elections.
  One senate seat doesn't seem like all that much...
6. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by qbast · 2012-05-20 07:34 · Score: 2
  
  Don't forget dropbears. They are really nasty.
7. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Dexter+Herbivore · 2012-05-20 07:43 · Score: 2
  
  approximately... dammit. Unless we're talking about an insult to rabbits and mixamitosis... or ximatoWTF if I'm dyslexic.
8. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Jah-Wren+Ryel · 2012-05-20 10:07 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Man, the fucked up thing is that the Australians aren't even the most dangerous thing on the continent. We'll probably lose a couple hundred guys just to the local wildlife.
  Well yeah, even the kangaroos have stinger missiles.
  
  --
  When information is power, privacy is freedom.
9. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Gadget_Guy · 2012-05-20 10:27 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I hear Bill Clinton wants to move there and run for office.
  It wouldn't work, I'm afraid. He would have to be an Australian citizen to stand for office, and I have heard that Bill Clinton was actually born in Kenya.
10. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by macraig · 2012-05-20 10:37 · Score: 2
  
  Speaking of offal, it was an unpleasant discovery that koala young for a period eat their mother's poop to acquire the digestive flora to handle those awful gum leaves. What a nice visual that was....
11. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by dwywit · 2012-05-20 10:58 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Um, the aboriginal people of Australia, to the best of my knowledge, have never had a treaty with the crown. So there are no such things as "aboriginal treaty rights". Sure, successive governments, their bureaucracies, farmers/squatters, rednecks, and others have trampled all over aboriginal people and their traditions, beliefs, and moral rights - but there's never been a treaty to break. The maori people of New Zealand have a treaty, but not the aboriginals of Australia.
  
  --
  They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
12. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Jeeeb · 2012-05-20 11:25 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  OTOH, if it treats its citizens like it treats the koalas (q.v. recent PBS Nature episode) and aborigines and rainforest, maybe it's not that great. Only 15 million people and all that real estate, and still they manage to screw up the best parts.
  There's 22 million people in Australia.
  As for the rest of your quote I think you might be talking about historical treatment of these things. Yeah Koalas were hunted till about 1920. Now days they are a protected species, with large wildlife sanctuaries and facilities dedicated to nursing injured Koalas and rearing orphaned Koalas to release them back into the wild.
  Aboriginal people were treated terribly historically. They were denied the vote and treated as second class citizens until the 1960s (remind you of some other places?) Now days traditional land rights are acknowledged. Aboriginals are given special treatment under the welfare system. And there have been public apologies by several Prime Ministers for the various ways they were mistreated.
  I'm not sure of the history of rainforests in Australia but before you go running your mouth you could have at least done some precursory research on conservation efforts in Australia. Firstly the Green party is the 3rd largest political party in Australia and you'll find vast areas of national parks and state parks across Australia. Over 10% of Australia's land mass is national parks. That's an area bigger than Texas.
13. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Dantoo · 2012-05-20 11:30 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  While most television aired in the US undoubtedly manages to portray foreign events deeply, fairly and truthfully, there may have been one or two liberties taken in the report referred to.
  No Aboriginal treaty/treaties exist in Australia therefore crapping over them becomes ridiculously hard. There is a song about "Treaties" that was very popular though. It proclaims the need for a treaty such as that exists between the Maori and Pakeha of New Zealand. View here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7cbkxn4G8U
  Rainforest around suburban Sydney hasn't existed in general since the local glaciers melted 20k years ago.
  One State Government comparatively recently spent 30 million dollars gently de-sexing koalas to reduce their numbers as local over-population was severely degrading the natural environment. Others have spent far greater amounts constructing tunnels and overpasses for them for them to use in post-arboreal nocturnal perambulation (walkabouts).
  Perhaps there is a point here in that if the Aboriginals were to be encouraged to go back to eating koalas (lack of predators leaves only disease and habitat as population controllers) there'd be more chance of cultivating rainforests around the suburbs. Note for Man vs Food fans: Koalas are rumoured to have a strong eucalyptus flavour that disagrees.
  Disclaimer: I currently live in a suburb that has many koalas happily harvesting the local sclerophyll forest. They are common in this locality. We have internal plumbing to crap upon and this makes up for a lack of treaties to disrespectfully soil.
14. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by TapeCutter · 2012-05-20 12:44 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  We had some grizzly bears, the fucking crocs ate 'em.
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
15. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Crypto+Gnome · 2012-05-20 12:47 · Score: 2
  
  koala young for a period eat their mother's poop to acquire the digestive flora
  Something to tell children who wish they were a Koala bear (I'm sure there are examples for many other cute/popular animals)
  
  --
  Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
16. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Chemware · 2012-05-20 17:52 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Actually, Australian kangaroos are pretty nasty ...
  There's a story around about how a Australian helicopter simulator was being demonstrated to some US colleagues. After doing a few passes over some nice rural landscape they were very surprised when some of the kangaroos below pulled out a few shoulder-mounted SAMs and started shooting. They were even more surprised when they were "hit", and crashed and burned.
  It turns out that when the software engineers created the kangaroo objects they did so by cloning some soldier objects, and then just changing the uniforms. They forgot to change some of the more aggressive behaviours.
17. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by overbaud · 2012-05-20 18:04 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  "Few koalas live outside Australia, but the U.S. government designated the animal as endangered in response to a petition filed by animal-protection groups. The Australian government, which bans hunting and commercial use of koalas, sees no scientific evidence that it is likely to become endangered anytime soon." http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/05/0510_020510_TVkoala.html So basically the US who have no idea what is going on in Australia BOW DOWN TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS and list it as endangered. Meanwhile in Australia in certain areas Koalas are so prolific they are hurting their environment. As for the rain forrest MASSIVE amounts of Australian rainforest is protected. I can only guess what the BS in PBS stands for. You're a dick. If you really want to get pissed about something try the Japanese hunting wales for 'Research Purposes'... or better yet fix your own country first.
  
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  Users... the only thing keeping 1st level support from being the bottom feeders.
18. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Ghaoth · 2012-05-20 18:19 · Score: 2
  
  "have trampled all over aboriginal people and their traditions, beliefs, and moral rights" - Just like every other country in the world that has been conquered - and most have at some time. "A people should know when they are conquered" and get on with life.
  
  --
  Nos Morituri te salutamus
19. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Genda · 2012-05-20 18:49 · Score: 2
  
  Yeah, but it sounds funny because the folks who say atheist as a slur here in the U.S. frequently do so through missing front teeth.
20. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by VoidCrow · 2012-05-20 19:04 · Score: 2
  
  Would you, Quintus?
21. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Rik+Rohl · 2012-05-20 20:22 · Score: 2
  
  The crocs only eat the bears once they've run out of tourists.
22. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Anonymous Coward · 2012-05-20 20:38 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  We have Drop Bears Sir, nothing comes close to the terror. Not even the most poisonous snake or spider in the world nor the largest white pointer can come close to that. Even the military run screaming should one of their own be taken in some desert exercise, shredded in a few vicious slashes to be eaten and regurgitated to it's young. Drop Bears strike fear into our very community and on a daily basis. http://australianmuseum.net.au/Drop-Bear
23. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Anonymous Coward · 2012-05-20 22:44 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  You are obviously American as the significance of the parent comment has completely escaped you.
  1: Being "crushed" is completely immaterial. If the US got into a war with Russia or China or France then it too would cease to exist within 30 minutes, except as a radioactive hole in the ground. The only Asian power that could militarily threaten Australia is China..the rest would have their asses handed to them on a plate if they tried anything. If the US attacked Australia then it would win, but at heinous cost. It wouldn't be any walk in the park like Iraq. The lamentations of American mothers over the piles of their dead children would rise into the night. No European country would dare attack Australia as it does not lie within their capability to do so and they're not foolish, unlike the Americans. They know their limitations.
  2: Australia is a Middle Power, globally influential in mainly keeping foolish powers like the US in check. In that regard it excels and punches well above its weight.
  3: Africa is universally recognised as the poorest continent in the world, yet if it suddenly disappeared the global shakedown would ensure that Americans are begging by the roadsides in short order. So what's your point?..answer: You don't have the wit to understand that you don't even have a point.
  4: The Soviet Union was a great power and when it disappeared everyone noticed, yet it was still a shithole. The US is a great power, if it disappeared everyone would notice, and yes, you guessed it....it's a shithole. So again your point means nothing.
  Imagine it this way..... there is a sprawling ramshackle house housing 100 members of the same family. One of the family members is wealthy, but the rest are either poor, to very poor. They have poor teeth, are not educated, are dirty, can hardly hold a decent conversation and can't afford their electric bill. Down the road is a smaller house, with a family of 6. They have no debt, they all work in good jobs, they have two cars, a house full of the latest gadgets, good health, nice teeth, tertiary educations, money in the bank, their house is clean, neat, peaceful and paid for.........and sometimes at night the yokel family up the road gets drunk and yells out 'Goddamn we're gawna kick yer asses ya goddman edumacated rich people down thar!" as they swig their moonshine, take drugs and shoot each other.
  One day the large family moves out....gone forever and everyone in the community really notices their passing, but not for the right reasons............meanwhile the smaller family are nice and comfortable, and everyone likes them...they don't start trouble, the police aren't at their house every day and they're just happy doing what they do. What incentive could there possibly be for the smaller family to start living like the large one ?
  Now, I don't expect you to really understand, as you're one of the yokels, but do try.........it's not hard and it might even just change your life for the better.
  .
  Now, off you go boy....... I'm sure your $7/hr job is beckoning you...I mean, you ARE employed, even in a menial capacity, right ? Sorry for asking but when dealing with Americans one never really knows.
24. Re:If Julian Assange gets elected by Jeeeb · 2012-05-20 23:10 · Score: 2
  
  I'm not the previous poster but I did watch the documentary.
  It says that forest (i.e. bushland - forest was probably redubed for the American market) is being cleared at a rate close to the Amazon in Queensland. Not rainforest. Most rainforest in Australia is protected.
  It should have said was though. Those rates of land clearing have since decreased. Although they still are too high. Australia needs to keep better care of its bushlands. Rainforests though I think you'll find are well cared for.
  It says nothing about Aborigines... at all... So I'm not sure why you brought that up in your original post.
  Most of the documentary is about the efforts being made to understand and conserve Koalas. Things like researching their behaviour. Treating sick Koalas. Developing vaccines for common Koala diseases. Building under pass and other ways for them to cross roads.
"Internal Poll" by DesScorp · 2012-05-20 06:03 · Score: 3, Insightful

Because they'd never lie about his chances in an attempt to drum up support. Oh no, that would never happen.

--
Life is hard, and the world is cruel
1. Re:"Internal Poll" by bloodhawk · 2012-05-20 10:29 · Score: 2
  
  At the moment a maggot invested week old corpse of a Kangaroo could poll better than the labor party so that really is hardly a suprise. For that matter a maggot infested dead Kangaroo probably would smell better than the labor party too.
2. Re:"Internal Poll" by TapeCutter · 2012-05-20 13:10 · Score: 2
  
  Except it doesn't make sense, Gillard has basically branded him a terrorist in public and was serious about it, particularly early on in the saga. The only minister who initially stood up for Assange's rights was KRuddy the foriegn minister, note that providing proper consular assistance and supporting freedom of the press are very different from supporting a senate run. I just can't see the Labor party or even the Greens offering him pre-selection so he would have to run as an independent, but where? - Which electorate is that fond of him?.
  
  Personally I wouldn't vote for him, he's doing a fine job "keeping the bastards honest" from the outside and I think he should stick with that, unwavering ideology of any colour doesn't make for a good politician in my book. The same can be said of Peter Garret, he did a lot more good as a government critic, now that he is a minister in the labor party he is bound to vote along party lines, which in the eyes of the public just makes him look like he "sold his soul".
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
Immunity by koekebakker · 2012-05-20 06:11 · Score: 5, Interesting

Would this grant him political immunity? ;-)
1. Re:Immunity by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2012-05-20 06:41 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Sad really when you think about it. Citizen Assange can be set up, framed and generally gone after with impunity. Politician Assange, dearie me no, he's important! Might cause an international incident!
  The system is so broken.
Government allegiance & perception of independ by poity · 2012-05-20 06:13 · Score: 2

If he becomes part of the Australia gov, then future Wikileaks exposés on governments that are Australia's economic/geopolitical competitors would be more easily called into question. Releases on China, Japan, NZ, Indonesia, even the US, would at the outset be accused of having pro-Australian political motivations behind them.

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your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
Oh really? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-05-20 06:15 · Score: 2, Funny

So how long before OpenLeaks posts the real poll results?
1. Re:Oh really? by davydagger · 2012-05-20 15:29 · Score: 2
  
  openleaks was never real.
  I was a cover for microsoft funded mole to leave and shred documents under some cover of credibility. Don't believe me?
  http://openleaks.org/ - hasn't been touched since 2010 and their security certificate has expiried.
Re:Government allegiance & perception of indep by Sique · 2012-05-20 07:13 · Score: 4, Informative

Because WikiLeaks can only publish material it gets. If they don't get material about Russia and China, they can't publish it. WikiLeaks doesn't actively go for material, they just offer a platform to publish it.
If you want something about Russia and China published on WikiLeaks, go, get the stuff and publish it!

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.sig: Sique *sigh*
Re:Ouch by BatGnat · 2012-05-20 07:33 · Score: 3, Insightful

Residents of the U.S.A. elected George W. Bush; how could he be worse than that....
And you call us 'batshit insane'?
Re:I dont think so.. by sco08y · 2012-05-20 08:36 · Score: 3, Funny

from memory he has a criminal record for hacking in Australia yeah?
you cant be in parlment with a criminal record...
Nope, only a handful of convictions (treason, bribery, etc.) are disqualifiers from Oz parliament. His main problem would be he'd have to renounce any dual citizenship.
If they do vote him in, the beauty of democracy is that it thoroughly rewards masochistic voters.
A Real Chance by GrahamCox · 2012-05-20 11:45 · Score: 2

Looking at the choice currently facing the Australian voter, a three legged sheep would stand a "real chance" of election.
No by Sycraft-fu · 2012-05-20 13:20 · Score: 3, Informative

There's no such thing. You are thinking diplomatic immunity. Diplomatic immunity is granted to any accredited diplomat working in the host country. It also can be, and is, granted to politicians visiting on official state trips. However it isn't something that happens by magic. It is granted by the host nation, meaning the nation the person is in.
What's more, it can be waived. If a diplomat commits a crime the host nation can ask the parent nation to waive immunity. Depending on the relationship between the nations, this can happen. An immunity waiver isn't up to the diplomat, it is up to their government.
So even if immunity applied (it wouldn't since he was never granted it) Sweden could ask the Australian government to waive immunity on the rape charges. Australia probably would.
It is not this magic shield that protects any politician people seem to think.
Re:Here comes the begging for campaign donations by TapeCutter · 2012-05-20 13:45 · Score: 3, Interesting

Pauline Hanson was the last ideologue to mishandle campaign funds, she was jailed for it. This is not the US, the guy with the most money is not the automatic winner here. Our politicians benifit greatly by pointing out fraudulent behaviour by their enemies to the federal police, if they are not prepared to take it to court then they are simply preaching to their own choir and nobody else takes it seriously.

Having seen the bombardment of political ads in the US I was stunned as to how nasty they get. At least the politicians here put some effort into their bullshit and attempt to make a reasonably civil and coherent argument in their advertising. I look at some of the attack ads in the US and think to myself; "the attacker must think I'm an idiot", I thought the same thing when they put Palin up for VP. Republican's treated their suppoerters as morons by selecting a village idiot as a VP candidate, they deserved to lose.

--
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.