The Red And The Blue is a political and policy blog by Yale Stephens. It aims to discuss and analyse the issues of the day in Australian (and Australian state) politics.
Comment and alternative viewpoints are welcome and debate is encouraged, with the rider that abuse, obscenity, defamatory content and personal attacks will not be published.
Yale is a Melbourne-based freelance blogger and writer. He has a lifelong passion for politics, both Australian politics and in other countries, and has intimate knowledge of Australia’s political, electoral and parliamentary systems.
A conservatively-minded member of the Liberal Party for most of the time since he was 18, he nevertheless speaks independently and critically of his “own side” when issues and circumstances warrant.
Originally from Brisbane before coming south in 1998, he was a “flag waver” as the Liberal candidate for the safe ALP seat of Bundamba at the 1995 Queensland State Election.
The Red And The Blue…clearly, Yale is in the blue corner…
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @theredandblue
Hi Yale,
Kristian Nelson here. I just discovered your site. Very informative. Well done, and hope you are all well.
Hi mate, and thank you! Didn’t hear back from you last time i tried to get in touch; hope you’re both good. We shoud speak soon. In the meantime, feel free to have a look through the site — it’s early days, but starting to get there…Y.
I think flag waving members of the liberal party are as gay as they are I’ll informed about social policy and global economic trends…congrats on the site even if it is inherently obsolete.
I have approved your comment in the spirit of open discussion — I’m yet to censor anyone’s postings here — and also to enable other readers of this site to see just how ridiculous, ill-informed, and wide of the mark your comments are.
Speaking of “ill” — a remedial English class might be indicated for you. “ILL” is spelt just like that, but I’LL keep in mind your misdirected and irrelevant bleatings.
I think before you go accusing people of homosexuality you should get your facts straight, no pun intended.
Then again, perhaps you have a denial complex involving a cupboard or a closet.
Not. My. Problem.
And I think that if you think “global economic trends” are in safe hands in Leftist custody and/or in countries where Conservatives are cleaning up the mess bequeathed by the Left, you should see a psychiatrist.
As for social policy — right now, economic imperatives are paramount, the world over. “Social Policy” might be socially useful and very trendy; but at the end of the day, without economic rigour, your stylish social policies just aren’t going to happen.
Johnson, this site is very openly a) a comment column in which conservative commentary and opinion is posted, and b) a forum in which both concurring and dissenting views are welcome, debate is encouraged, and opinion is welcome.
Nonetheless, thank you for your comment. It shows the intellectual maturity of a ten-year-old. It contains no intelligent substance whatsoever. Perhaps you should just go down to your local Liberal Party office and yell out “Liberals suck!” over the intercom. It’s about all what you have had to say amounts to.
Even so, your childish remarks are your contribution, and in this spirit I publish them — along with what would be to most intelligent people a very reasonable response.
Keep up the good work.
I would love to see your insight into Peter Garrett’s recent gun toting resignation threat and Julia’s capitulation,
Warren
If you have a look for an article entitled “Deck Chair Dancing: Gillard Government’s Dud Reshuffle” you’ll see what I had to say on Peter Garrett, among others…
Just found you. Your blog is a good read, seemingly fair and balanced. Keep it up!
Hi Don, and welcome; glad you’ve enjoyed what you’ve already seen here; I do aim to present balanced analysis and comment (with the rider that I am, personally, firmly in the “blue corner”).
Please feel free to visit regularly, and to comment; all shades of opinion are welcome — one of the objectives of this site is to get people talking about politics and to stimulate discussion; it’s not intended simply as a mouthpiece for the Liberal Party. Occasionally I also cover some controversial topics and/or items that aren’t strictly political in the most direct sense.
I hope you enjoy this site and if you do, please spread the word! I look forward to seeing your thoughts on the issues I raise.
I’ve been reading your blog for some time (and enjoyiing the prose and the ideas) but never ventured into the “about” dimension and always wondered who is behind it. My wife one day commented that I should create a blog, by my response was that there are plenty out there already. I spend too much time on Andrew Bolt’s, and try to cover a whole raft of realist science blogs regarding the climate fraud. Perhaps when I am, fully retired………..
Thanks for the message karabar, and my apologies for the delay in responding; I am glad to hear you enjoy the articles and discussion covered here. As always, I simply ask that you spread the word if you do enjoy reading — the scope to advertise and market an independent blog is limited, and as such I am reliant to an extent on readers spreading the word. By the way, I do hope to resume “normal” frequency of posts within the next few weeks.
If you intend to start a blog, I wish you the very best!
Thank-you for the reply, Yale. Unfortunately I won’t be reading your blog very much in the next two months. My wife and I are off on a two month cruise on Saturday morning. I’ll check in when we return.
Not doing Responses on your articles anymore Yale? Kind of suggestive that you are not prepared to entertain alternative views. Bit sad!
Hi Deknarf…I am not sure exactly what you are talking about; this column has always welcomed discussion and alternative points of view. As you know!
I have no idea who you are, and I suspect we don’t know each other; thus, you may be unaware of the colossal demands on my time at present which have seen my postings here fall from six or seven each week to an average of one to two…so if you mean I am not responding as frequently, you’re probably right.
Fortunately, I should have more time for posting articles and communicating with readers in the next few weeks — in the meantime, however, I derive no income from this column, and so other activities have to take precedence.
If, however, you’re talking about something else altogether then I am at a bit of a loss…whilst we clearly differ in our outlook at a fundamental level on questions of the political, I certainly enjoy your input. If I have been less-than-usually attentive then I do apologise, but beyond that I am unsure as to what might make you think I have abandoned tolerance of differing viewpoints!
Hi Yale,
I found your blog while searching for Myki articles. As much as I don’t really have an interest in politics, I’m still drawn to political discussion. But usually only as an eavesdropper. I’m increasingly finding myself disillusioned with all political parties, especially with their unaccountability with public funds and their increasing desire to protect fools from themselves.
Anyway, I didn’t intend to rant. My apologies. I’ll be following to keep an eye out for more views.
Cheers!
Hi Richard, and welcome; glad to have you with us. “Rants” are welcome here so long as you have an opinion and/or something solid to back them (if you look through the comments in this site, there are many — including a few quite heated debates — and including from viewpoints that differ from mine).
The liberal in me says people should be free to make their own mistakes and opportunities, whilst the conservative in me says there’s no place for big government or big brother…among other things
so I hope you find the articles I post here of interest.
And please feel free to join — or start — discussions.
Hi Yale, I like your diverse opinion. I had heard rumours a few months ago that Julia would call an early election, I was wrong. Is it likely that Roxon had prior knowledge of the arrest of Thompson? I read your old article about Garret and shuffling the deck chairs…. Same old same old.
Anyhow thanks, I appreciate your hard work and intellect.
Hi Fulton, and welcome; yes, the early election was a bit of a hoary chestnut the media put out there, wasn’t it? I don’t think she ever had a chance of winning one, but I wouldn’t have been surprise if she pulled one on just to throw the Houses of Parliament out of kilter to force a half-Senate on Abbott next year.
Looks like this reshuffle was ready to go before the announcements were; the only eyebrow-raising aspects of it were the promotion of a key marginal seat holder (Yvette D’Ath in Petrie) and the holder of the “bellweather” seat of Eden-Monaro into the ministry; I don’t think it will save either of those electorates for the ALP when the election comes around.
I’m glad you enjoy to viewpoints discussed here, and thanks for the feedback; please feel free to comment on anything we publish that catches your eye. And to spread the word; there is very little marketing undertaken of this site and it has grown organically, aside from Twitter and Facebook, so word-of-mouth is certainly a welcome adjunct.
Hi Yale, great website. Can you share your email address? I want to send you something for a 2nd opinion.