So, the Australians head to the polls, next Saturday I think, to elect a new.....prime minister? This is a parliamentary system and I clearly have much to learn.
Things Are Different Here Observation #1
The current prime minister, Julia Gillard, "officially" launched her campaign on.....Monday morning. Yesterday. 5 days before the election.
That doesn't mean that hasn't been heaps and mobs of campaigning. Just that it only "officially" lasts 5 days.
Officially, American campaigns get started when the candidates are "chosen" by their parties, usually in July or early August for the November election. That's still 3+ months ahead (even though they may have been campaigning up to 2 years already).
Things Are Different Here Observation #2
Her leading opposition suggested they have a debate. He put that out there....yesterday. The debate will be....tonight. They're still arguing over whether it will be a 30- or 60-minute debate.
Can you imagine two American presidential candidates needing, oh, roughly 48 hours to arrange a debate and work out the specifics?
Things Are Different Here Observation #3
Ms. Gillard is not married. Her long-term steady is routinely referred to as "her partner". Again, something I don't think we're as straight-forward about in the US. We're getting there but we still have strong expectations that our high-level leaders be clearly married or single.
Is her "partner" a male or a female?
ReplyDeleteHer partner is male. And it's completely accepted that they live together without benefit of marriage. I can't even imagine that being OK in the US electoral process even for straight people.
ReplyDeleteHaven't noticed any gay candidates yet. I'll keep an eye out and let you know how that's handled.