Comments on: We’re the party that ate itself: Democrat insiders tell

By: vivienne

vivienne — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Clarification: Stephen Swift left Lees’ office 15 months before Stott Despoja became Leader. He worked on every Democrats election campaign since Janine Haines was Leader. Sam Hudson continued as Stott Despoja’s COS til shortly after the 2001 election.

By: Matthew Fowler ADP Kingston Candidate

Matthew Fowler ADP Kingston Candidate — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I find it interesting to note no mention seems to have been made regarding YADs (Young Australian Democrats) especially the National Spokesperson Laura Chipp, daughter of Don & the increase in South Australian membership if not else where.

By: james

james — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I am not going to comment as to why the Democrats did so bad. There are a multitude of reasons, from internal issues to public disenchantment. All I am going to say is “Thank you Democrats, for doing your best in the last 30 years to keep them honest”.

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

No.Minimal GRASSROOTS ACTION (3rd essential plank along with RESEARCH and MEDIA): You had last 2 but as far back as 1995 you were MIA in Wentworth. Slick flyers, good posters, quality reps but (cliche) no ‘green activism’ (too snooty?) now GreenAction 07

By: Dexter Gordon

Dexter Gordon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

A sad attempt to rewrite history.
The Democrats demise was triggered by the idiocy of the gang of four who got rid of a popular leader without thinking through the next step of who would replace her! D’oh!

By: Robert Simms

Robert Simms — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Dear Editor,

I’m not surprised by John Cherry’s self serving attempt to rewrite Democrats history given he was one of the gang of four who got rid of Senator Natasha Stott Despoja from the Democrats leadership. He was also a self styled architect of the failed GST deal which he seeks to portray very differently.

He has never been elected and seems to have forgotten the fact that the polls crashed under Meg Lees’ leadership. Ordinary Democrat members remember the reality of that time and the fact that all members wanted and achieved a leadership spill in 2001. Senator Stott Despoja didn’t challenge Meg Lees. She was drafted. She also gave the party a lifeline which included the re election of four seats (the same result as 1998 all against the odds) and an increased house of representatives vote. Those same seats are up this time and would be reelected had she still been leader was it not for the efforts of Mr Cherry and his ilk.

The Democrats haven’t won a seat since some in

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Good one Cherry!!! Did the appointment of staffers to vacant senate slots have anything to do with it?? Did that disillusion hard working members. Or the YAD takeover. Or a would be senator with a law degree who didnt know he should only vote once.

By: John

John — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

You forgot former SENATOR VICKI BOURNE, the only MP/Senator/Party in my 40 years expereience who ever refused to meet with a lobby group on the grounds that she knew everything anyway from her staffer’s briefing!

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The Democrats were destroyed for all time by the gang of four and their “10 point plan”, which stripped away the power of ordinary party members and humiliated the popular leader, leaving the party open to being buried by the media. Which it duly was.

By: Lucy Diamond

Lucy Diamond — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The dems decline arises from female boredom with the Senate and their envy/attraction to men of power in the Lower House. First Haines, then Kernot , then Lees.

The Dems were finished from moment Lees married the Rodent.