---

Political Sorrow
Sorrow comes in great waves—no one can know that better than you—but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us it leaves us on the spot, and we know that if it is strong we are stronger, inasmuch as it passes and we remain. It wears us, uses us, but we wear it and use it in return; and it is blind, whereas we after a manner see.
Henry James, letter to Grace Norton, July 28, 1883

It was the Slavic sorrow which created characters like Vaclav Havel. May sorrow show us the way on the web. So go directly to Ken Parish who compiled another list of Election Blogs ; Maiden, Hansard, study of Political Sorrows

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Urban Magicians
Have you ever wondered what makes us cling so tenaciously to our beliefs - not just religious beliefs or belief in a political ideology but any little insignificant belief, such as belief in urban legends or the belief in the superiority of one brand over others of equal or better quality? We hold on to beliefs as if they were cherished possessions, like trinkets that have sentimental value but no practical use.
Seeing people climb on George Washington's nose and hang from the eyebrows of Teddy Roosevelt formed my eternal image of America, with all of its grandeur and illusion ...
• My American dream [Nowadays, in a choice historical irony, they are under assault from the cultural left Undercuting appeals to prejudice, hierarchy and custom ]
• · Vaclav Havel was always close to my political heart, @ Eastern Europe Literature we get even closer (smile) My Austrio-Australian Dream (Kafka, Klima, Kundera and mememedia dragon); The good, the bad and the ugly, in order!
• · · JIM DICKINS and LINDA SILMALIS Carr's unbeatable jackpot: NSW Government is earning hundreds of millions of dollars through the state's hotel gambling industry in property leases, taxes and even a direct percentage of the takings from poker machines (Elsewhere: Premier Bob Carr said his government would introduce legislation forcing politicians' staff members to reveal all their income sources.
• · · · MI6 A TEAM of undercover security guards are patrolling Sydney's railway network dressed as surfies, businessmen and office workers to target political troublemakers ...
• · · · · Political Blogging
• · · · · · Antony Loewenstein keeps Kounter-Spinning the Electoral Mews

Candidates, many, many, candidates, will be announced today by the Electoral Town Criers
Pauline Hanson has again an amazing timing (the nominations closed yesterday), the old urban myth has it that it was her Polish ex-hubby who first drove Pauline to enter Queensland political scene as a local councellor at Ipswitch. The young lore has it that Pauline was the last to be interviewed, but the best dressed during the Liberal Party pre-selection for the unwinnable seat of Ipswitch. The local rag ran a number of wild stories about her attitude towards the Aborigines and Pauline jumped before she was pushed to stand against the Liberal Party and win the seat as an independent. This week she will be standing against Senator Len and her former staffer David Oldfield (sic) current caretaker of her former One Nation party.
In the New South Wales upper house election in 2003, Pauline Hanson got 1.9 per cent of the primary vote. But a week is a perfectly long time in the Boland's sticky Queensland, (the land of do not blame mmmmwwaaa I did not vote for John - GST stickers) Pauline needs 14.3 per cent (primary votes or preferences) to get her cold revenge.

Division of Kalgoorlie - Extension of Nominations period
Following the death of a candidate in the Division of Kalgoorlie, the close of nominations date has been extended for that Division only by 24 hours to 12 noon local time Friday 17 September 2004. Nominations for the Division of Kalgoorlie will be declared at 12 noon local time Saturday 18 September 2004. (Section 156 (2) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act applies).