Tomorrow night's meeting of the Public Office Selection Committee at the ALP's Head office in West Melbourne could well be the scene of unprecedented left-on-left treachery as they try to resolve who will be the candidate for Albert Park.
So-called Non Aligned group leader Eric Dearricott has attracted much criticism from the Socialist Left faction over his apparent willingness to enter into an arrangement with anti-Left factions to support his candidate, former Port Phillip mayor Liana Thompson.
The Left are very angry that Dearricott's candidate Thompson "won't accept the local vote", code for not accepting Martin Foley who got a healthy majority of the vote.
During the course of the day, the various anti-Left components of the POSC have taken a serious look at the possibility of supporting the non-aligned candidate. Some are concerned about it not being a "good look" for the government to put up two unionists to fill two Labor vacancies. Some think Liana will be a more presentable candidate than a ministerial adviser/ union hack in a suit. Some are attracted to the argument that the factional mix in the caucus should not be disturbed, certainly not in the favour of the Socialist Left faction. Others just love the idea of Foley falling flat on his face. Whatever the reasons, there certainly appears to be a strong possibility of a last-minute stumble for the Left's candidate.
Tomorrow's Night of the Long Knives will be very long indeed for Martin Foley. We will cover the speculation in the lead up to the vote, which could go right down to the piano wire.
Game on.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
RATTERY IN THE RANKS: Left Factions Turn Feral In Feud Over Albert Park
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
PRESELECTIONS: The Latest from Willy and Albert Park
Some are suggesting that the Premier's economic adviser Nick Reece, one-time favourite for contention in Williamstown, might be pulling the pin after failing to make much progress with the tiny number of ALP members (around 150) who'll get to decide the candidate (this system really is a joke).
Nominations close on Friday, with Labor Unity members electorate officer Rhonda Reitvelt, Councillor Diana Asmar, Maribyrnong Mayor Michael Clarke and TWU official Wade Noonan all hoping to do well in the plebiscite on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Albert Park, the Socialist Left's Martin Foley has already "got it in the bag" he has told adviser colleagues this morning. As previously discussed he is likely to be opposed by Liana Thompson, a notionally non-aligned but toxic hag who could possibly boast of low carbon emissions by reason of her broomstick use, Dick Gross, the popular non-aligned former Port Philip Mayor and Alexandria Hicks from Labor Unity.
Game on.
Monday, 13 August 2007
Thursday, 2 August 2007
PRESELECTIONS: We Love The Smell Of Napalm In The Morning
Clownman Paul Austin's summary of who's running in Albert Park is typically off the mark, would someone please buy him a clue. Here 'tis:
Early frontrunner for Labor preselection for Albert Park, Ari Suss, a former senior adviser to Mr Bracks, will not run. (OC: News from the OC so that's correct)
President of the Municipal Association of Victoria, Dick Gross, yesterday confirmed he would seek Labor preselection for Albert Park. (OC: True, he's running)
Other potential candidates for Albert Park include: former Thwaites adviser Liana Thompson (OC: Of the latte sipping Thwaites groupe, Liana T is seen as a serious contender); Alex Hicks, who was a candidate for the upper house at last year's election (OC: A Labor moderate, her homies call her Alexandria, with respect and adulation, an OC informant thought she'd moved to Brighton but they had mistaken her for HSU communications czar Shannon Rees and partner Tommy); Steve Cusworth, who was chief of staff to former community services Minister Sherryl Garbutt (OC: Labor patriot, was interested and would be excellent but has also moved out of the area so he won't be); union official Donovan Jacka (OC: Leftist with an extremely funky name to which we offer respek, but not a serious playa); and Mr Cameron's chief of staff, former union leader Martin Foley (OC: Leftard but none of the local Marxoids seem to like him, possibly the only thing in the rough-head's favour.)
LOL, it appears the leftard retrenched government adviser Liza McDonald has tapped the mat already after one day of death-wrestling with the OC Investigations Unit. Patriots will recall our photograph yesterday of her standing alongside terrorist David Hicks' lawyer Michael Mori. She will be withdrawing her candidacy as she quietly packs up the Thwaico empire and rides off on an enviromentally sound mule.
Austin forgets or hasn't heard about two of the most ambitious candidates who the OC believes are highly interested and are making early stage moves to run, Socialist Leftard and Griffinite Julian Hill (laughably self-described as a "senior public servant", we doubt Terry Moran knows his name but might recognise his facial jewellery) and the leader of the Thwaico Latte Sippers in Albert Park barrista Michael Pearce, a person of such unbelievable self-righteousness that it is highly likely that he might one day disappear up in his own ar*e. The other candidate is former controversial student politician, friend of the OC, Republican supporter Darren Ray who appears to be struggling to get support from his own local leftards over Comrade Red Hill.
In Williamstown, there's a Melbourne Cup field but all of them seem to anticipate that a big name will arrive by parachute imminently. And no it won't be Andrew Gaze who is a white man who can certainly jump but appears unlikely to run. Certainly those talking him up would have done well to follow the OC's Cassandra like advice:
In Preselection Madness, Andrew Gaze is being considered as a candidate although apparently hasn't been asked yet, in some circles considered a precondition or at least a gesture of courtesy. Perhaps he could be conscripted against his will.
Conscription has been ruled out at this stage. If it wasn't, Ari Suss would have been the candidate (I sob into my morning latte...)
Game on.
since failed candidate 
