Waiting, Waiting ...

[Matilda]

It's really getting to nail-biting stage now, with the decision of the three Independents expected this afternoon.

I think Julia Gillard has proven that her negotiating skills are superior to Abbott's – she knows how to persuade, where he just blusters and bullies in his old-style Abbott way. "Gentle and Kind" have gone out the window. And the ability to negotiate and compromise are very important in a leader – somehow I can't visualise Tony Abbott ever successfully negotiating with other heads of state on anything at all. It's just not what he does.

But given that the Independent's rural constituencies are inherently conservative, and they all want to be elected again, it's impossible to second-guess them.

[Esra Star]

1. Labor have always been better at negotiating.

It seems that their relationship with the Democrats and now the Greens
is better that the relationship between the Libs and the Gnats.
That said, I have steeled myself for the decision.
How stable do you think the government will be?
Will it make christmas???

[depakid]

2. Katter's backing Abbott

A backhand at Gillard for his friend and paisan Kevin Rudd.

[Matilda]

3. They each need the remaining two now.

If it goes one-all; it's back to the polls for us.

I'm not feeling good about it right now.

[depakid]

4. Oakeshott's D-Day doodles

Could the secret to the nation's future be contained in the scrawl on independent MP Rob Oakeshott's folder?

A little after 1pm, Mr Oakeshott emerged from fellow rural independent Tony Windsor's office, where he has been in last-minute negotiations with the third rural independent Bob Katter.

Mr Oakeshott walked from the meeting clutching the folder, on which was scrawled a number of notes and other pen marks, snapped by Fairfax photographer Andrew Meares.

One of the most notable pieces of scrawl is the number 77, which is crossed out. Alongside it, the figures '76/74' can be made out.

There is also the mark '2/3' on the folder, which is full of messy, but legible writing.

The 76/74 split is significant as it indicates two of the trio could be supporting a Labor government, with Mr Katter now siding with the Coalition.

Other words able to be identified are "Ted Mack", "national policy", "local outcomes". The phrase "best interests" is circled on the folder.

Near this is the phrase "judgment call; six of one, half a dozen of other".

It is also possible to see the words, "no mandate" and "everyone has to find a way through" - with another arrow pointing to "mid-term review".

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/nations-secret-scrawled-on-folder-20100907-14ywr.html

[depakid]

5. Windsor to Labor

NBN:

You do it once, you do it right and you do it with fibre!

[Matilda]

6. And Oakeshott!

Blessings on them both!

I was just doing the banking and some stupid woman in the bank said it had gone to the Coalition. When I got back to work, the news just came through that Oakeshott had declared for Labor.

All I want to see now is the political execution of Karl Bitar and Mark Arbib. Their heads should definitely roll after this debacle

[depakid]

7. Transcripts of both rural independents' announcements

Transcript of Tony Windsor's announcement

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/transcript-of-tony-windsors-announcement-20100907-14zew.html

Transcript of Rob Oakeshott's announcement.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/transcript-of-rob-oakeshotts-announcement-20100907-14zex.html

[Matilda]

8. Meanwhile, the count for the Senate continues.

It could still take another 2-3 weeks for the Senate count to be finalised, but in Victoria, the last seat could conceivably go to the DLP's John Madigan, who looks like finishing just ahead of Steve Fielding (not quite counted out yet). I really thought the DLP was dead and buried decades ago.

And in South Australia, Family First is still in the race, and could take the last seat from the Libs. So we get rid of Fielding only to be possibly saddled with another F.F. nutter. God forbid we should end up with two of them, but in the Senate, almost anything can happen.

According to Antony Green, these crazy Senate results are all down to the preference deals done by the parties, and which we don't always know about. I think these deals should be outlawed, and preferences allocated above the line. It all gets too insane otherwise.

[gemini_liberal]

9. The SA race

The last place is basically a competition between two different types of shit.

Liberal: David Fawcett, the extremely conservative, smug, do nothing, one term former member for Wakefield (who only got in on the back of the 04 landslide.

Family First: Bob Day, the ultraconservative, Christian fundamentalist who was a member of the Liberal Part and their candidate for Makin in 2007, then jumped ship in 2008, after they didn't preselect him for the Mayo by-election. He basically thinks he can buy his way into power (he has an awful lot of money and his campaigns are self funded.)

As much as it hurts to say it, I'd prefer Fawcett.

Either way, whoever it'll be, it'll be a seat in the 3 traditionally centre-right seats, rather than one of the traditionally centre-left.