Because of my interest in the seat of Brisbane, and my historical connection to it (I lived in the electorate for over a decade), I contacted Kirsten Lovejoy, the Greens candidate, to wish her well, and tell her a bit about my journey. We met and spoke for a while, and I came away feeling impressed. Kirsten is a quality candidate – articulate, intelligent and passionate, and is a great choice for Brisbane. She’s surrounded by a smart team, and I’m confident she will do well.

Her team suggested that my story could be of interest to other former conservative voters, and suggested that we should go public. It’s not something I’d normally do. I’m not really interested in being in the political limelight any more. I’m not interested in being elected as a candidate or running for any form of public office. But I thought that my public support would help Kirsten win the seat. Since I don’t have the financial resources or the time to help her in other ways, I agreed with Kirsten’s team and went public.

The end result was this article by Joshua Robertson from The Guardian. Being inexperienced with media, I was worried my words would be twisted and used against me, but to his great credit Joshua faithfully reported what I said. Joshua had a “bigger picture” insight into the whole thing which I had overlooked: There are other former conservatives out there who are now more politically aligned with the Greens. The most high-profile example that comes to mind is former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.

After Joshua’s article was published I received numerous messages of support from former conservatives, which confirmed this.

It’s important because the public perception is often that the Greens are on the fringe of the political spectrum, to the left of the Labor Party. I think that over-simplifies a complex issue. Policies about The Environment, Social Justice and Political Compassion are mainstream issues. They matter to most people. It’s just that our major political parties conveniently choose not to see it that way.

There is much more to our political narrative than this banal “Jobs and Growth” mantra that the Prime Minister and his team keep repeating. The politics of compassion and conscience must never be conditional upon economics, or business activity, or profits.

The Guardian article was widely read. Tom Elliott from Melbourne’s 3AW noticed it, and interviewed me on his show.

Tom hosts a talkback program on a commercial radio. After listening in for a while I realized that most of his listeners were probably more politically conservative than me, so they might be interested (or dismayed) that a former conservative took the path that I did. Tom jokingly described me as the “biggest swing voter in Australia” which I thought was quite funny.

The interview was a lot of fun. I tried to be as honest as I could about who I was and was not really interested in bad-mouthing the other side. Vitriol makes for good theatre, but it doesn’t really advance the debate, or educate anyone. So when Tom asked me a few questions about my past, and why I made the choices I did, I tried to be as accurate as possible without bogging him down in unnecessary details.

He was interested in what it was that caused me to change my political allegiances. He also was curious about my opinion of former PM John Howard, current PM Malcolm Turnbull, and about the ALP. Finally he wanted to know whether or not I thought the Greens would ever form a government.

I was grateful that it wasn’t his intention to make me look silly – he seemed genuinely curious.

For what it’s worth – and in my very limited experience, I think he does his job very well.

At the same time as all of this, GetUp! asked if I’d like to be involved in a radio ad for their campaign. I jumped at the opportunity, and was delighted to meet Dr Peter Pohlner – a leading Cardiovascular surgeon. While we were waiting in the studio we had a chance to talk about current issues, and I learned about some of the amazing work he does here in Brisbane and overseas in developing countries.

Here’s the final cut of the ad which is currently being broadcast on local radio stations:

My experience of political activity is a positive one. Many of us have strong political opinions, but our society tends to frown upon political debate in polite circles. As we watch events unfolding in the news we feel either frustrated or excited, but mostly powerless. Political involvement helps address that issue. I’ve been fortunate to say what I believe and have people listen. I’ve also been able to meet passionate engaged people. None of this would have happened if I had kept my mouth shut and just shook my fist at the TV when I saw news stories that angered me. The key was to express my opinion, an get involved with like-minded people.

I recommend it, regardless of your political persuasion.

There won’t be a uniform swing, and while the ALP will pick up some seats, it will also lose one or two.

Call it wishful thinnking if you like, but I like to think that most Australians aren’t going to get duped by “Mr Me Too”, aka Kevin Dudd.

If I am right, most of the Australian media are going to look like a bunch of idiots and will have a bucketload of egg on their faces.

If I am right, someone needs to ask who paid whom to get such blatantly biased reporting from all streams of media including the ABC.

Of course, it’s just my prediction, and it flies in the face of all the opinion polls, and all the “wisdom” of pundits who claim to be smarter than me.

But I hope I am right.

You need more to govern this country than a twerpy smirk and a photocopier for stealing economic policies. Mr Dudd just doesn’t cut it.

Oh – one other thing, if I am right, I promise to post some priceless photos of the look on the faces of Kevin Dudd, Julia Dullard and Wayne Conn.

A section of Australian voters are still infatuated with Kevin (“me-too”) Rudd, who seems anxious to get this election in the bag while he still has a large lead in the polls.

The next few weeks will increase in intensity, and show up flaws in the conga-line of “wannabes” that are following Kev around. See for example Robert McLelland’s gaffe on going easy on terrorists, or Peter Garret’s hypocrisy about the Tasmanian Pulp Mill. In fact if you scratch more closely at any of the Labor front bench, it’s easy to see the amateurish cracks in the facade that is “Kev 07”.

John Howard should take a leaf out of Neville Wran’s book, who espoused the idea of applying the “blowtorch to the belly” of his oponents – keeping the heat on them to really see what they’re made of.

It’s only when the heat is on, when the pressure is unbearable, when they wish the blowtorch would go away, that you really get to see what someone is made of.

Take your time, Mr Howard. Keep the heat on. The Rudd facade will slowly melt away, until it’s pretty obvious to everyone that Emporer Kev isn’t really wearing any new clothes at all.

Why vote for someone who appears to support one thing, only to find that after they get elected they’re totally different to what you expected? That would be a disaster.

I will be voting for John Howard at the next election because he is definately WYSIWYG. You definately know where this man stands. He is predictable. You know what he’s going to do.

I don’t agree with everything he’s done, but I know when he says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it.

Kevin Rudd is the opposite. He’s Mr “Me too”, presenting himself as a clayton’s opposition leader. Mimicking the Prime Minister on vital issues like Economy (“Echo-Nomics”), Foreign Policy, Taxation and Indiginous Affairs, he tries to present a “not too scarey” version of the Labor Party that isn’t going to frighen the voters, while placating the left with platitudes about Climate Change, Iraq, and (of course) Industrial Relations.

I.e. they dont’ really stand for anything (especially if it’s unpopular). All they want to do is get elected.

But ask yourself this. Why would the Labor Party want to get into office if they were just going to mimick the Liberals?

There’s only one answer – they’re definately NOT WYSIWYG. They want your vote, and they’ll dress up in sheeps clothing so you can’t see the wolf.

If you’re not convinced, check out the conga line behind Kevin Rudd – the ones who he wants to make ministers in his government:

Deputy prime Minister and Minister for Industrial relations: Julia Gillard, former student radical and AUS president
Treasurer: Wayne Swan, former ALP state secretary
Attorney general: Joe Ludwig, former AWU official
Minister for Trade: Simon Crean, former president, ACTU
Minister for Transport and Tourism: Martin Ferguson, former president, ACTU
Minister for Finance: Lindsay Tanner, former state secretary, Federated Clerk’s Union
Minister for Environment and the Arts: Peter Garrett, lifelong anti-American activist
Minister for Infrastructure and Water: Anthony Albanese. Former assistant general secretary, NSW ALP
Minister for Human Services: Tanya Plibersek, former student union official, UTS
Minister for Immigration: Tony Burke, former official Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union
Minister for Resources: Chris Evans, former official Miscellaneous Workers’ Union
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs: Alan Griffin, former official Federated Clerks Union
Minister for Primary Industry: Kerry O’Brien, former official Miscellaneous Workers’ Union
Minister for Superannuation: Nick Sherry, former state secretary, Federated Liquor and Allied Trades Union
Minister for Sport: Kate Lundy, former official CFMEU.

And waiting in the wings are:

Greg Combet, candidate for Charlton and former ACTU president
Doug Cameron, NSW Senate candidate and secretary of Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
Bill Shorten: candidate for Maribyrnong and national secretary, Australian Workers’ Union
Richard Marles: candidate for Corio and former assistant secretary, Transport Workers Union.

Get the idea?

A vote for Kevvie is a vote for the ACTU – government of the People, for the Unions, by the Unions.

That’s what you get – but it’s not what you saw. Sort of like the opposite of WYSIWYG.

Kev07? Not bloody likely.