Obama Big In Oz

A recent news story revealed that Barack Obama is the preferred candidate for up to two thirds of Australians. A survey revealed that if they were able to 76% of Aussies would vote for Obama as compared to only 13% who would vote for John McCain.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear this.

However, if Barack Obama wants to keep his favourable Aussie approval rating he really needs to brush up on his Strine (Aussie slang).

I thought I would volunteer my services to educate him on the finer points of the Australian vernacular.

The first phrase he really needs to learn which will endear him even further to his Aussie fans is NO WORRIES.

No Worries is an expression of cheerful reassurance. It means Don’t Worry. The impact of this phrase is compounded when coupled with You’ll be right, mate! (everything will be OK, my friend). I actually think the words will slip quite easily off Senator Obama’s tongue, particularly when Bruce the Brickie asks him how the Wall Street Bailout will benefit Aussie shareholders –

Then there is FAIR DINKUM which is used to emphasize that the point you have made is genuine, honest, true or truthful. Many people use the more modern abbreviated term: FAIR DINKS!

Finally, there is CHOICE. This is used to outline how fantastic, welcome or worthy something is. Many people say it after their first sip of beer on a hot summer’s day or if they’ve had a really good weekend. The correct pronunciation is to elongate the O and the I into a Y so it sounds like CHOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYCE!!! This is usually accompanied by a nod of the head. I think Senator Obama could pull it off quite well.

In all seriousness though, I wish Senator Obama all the best in the election on Tuesday. I will never forget when he said this. It inspires me every single day –

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

I hope that change comes…..

26 thoughts on “Obama Big In Oz”

  3. Well, since you put the funnies to the side at the end….

    This is actually a very painful post for many of us that love our country. While yes it is good to laugh and candidates do open themselves up to it, the issues at hand are NOT funny. Too many people are not paying attention and just voting on party tickets (this is both sides of the fence, so I’m not applauding it on either side) or they vote on what I call “Rock Star Status”. I hear the media talk about how “personable” a person has to be to be elected, and it makes me ill, because I know it’s true. We should look for a person of wisdom, integrity, and virtue – and I’m not endorsing the Rep. camp either.

    Do Americans want change? YES. However, I think what most Americans want is a return to the Constitution. We want our freedoms back. Most Americans are unhappy with the socialistic turn our predecessors have inflicted on us. I’m not talking Bush or Clinton or Reagan or Carter – I’m talking clear past Eisenhower… and we have had a steady decline and into socialism by EACH president. In my opinion, Eisenhower is the worst. I am still studying JFK, so my own verdict is still out with him.

    What SHOULD Americans be looking at? They should be looking for the candidate with integrity. They need to be looking for a voting record that corresponds with the FOUNDING FATHER’S constitution – that beautiful document that gives us all the wonderful privileges that we have. It is not a living entity, open to interpretation. If we had a President that would do that, we would not be in other countries’ businesses, and no one outside the US would give a damn how we voted.

    It is a simplistic view, but I am of the opinion it’s not as complicated as some would have the citizenry to believe. I believe issues are presented in complicated ways in an effort to confuse the general public. When in fact, all they need to do is read their Constitution, study it’s principles… and suddenly who to vote for becomes clear.

    And now I have written a blog entry in your comments… and a serious one at that. 😛 But then, you know how I feel about all this. I’ve written about it before. 🙂

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  6. Oh, I think this is delightful. To learn some insider Aussy speak is wonderful and I suspect senator Obama would appreciate the welcoming spirit of the post (though I’ve no way of knowing that…pure speculation on my part). Clearly the issues are deadly serious, but a moment of good natured humor is pretty darn healing. 76% of the vote eh? That would be so Choyyyyyyyyce!

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  7. Has anyone looked into the LA tape as a matter for Homeland Security ?
    Seeing Obamais running for the top of the chain of command it only reasons
    that you look into any associations with known terrorists. We cant have a
    terrorist loving President. Unless he has something to hide where is the
    hard. Wait its the hard question again. the DNC says run a way.
    Under the Patriot Act they don’t have to give it to GOP but they do have to
    turn it in to Homeland Security .
    email your congressman NOW put the word out to all that will listen.

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  8. You know, of course, that ‘dinkum’ comes from the name of Sydney businessman John Dincombe, who was noted for his honesty and fair dealing.

    Whoever wins the election, I hope he turns out to be ‘dinkum’

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  9. Hi Selma,
    I’m afraid I’m going to have to tell you off. I don’t know whether to come to your page first or A.N.’s, he’s got a ‘ripper’ of a post on today, as usual, and so do you! 🙂
    Simply, by using humour, you have unleashed genuine passion (and concern), it must be a ‘gift’ that we straight thinking Aussies have, not that I’m biased of course!
    After reading texasblu’s post I have come up with a new definition for ‘KISS ARSE’ (this excludes personalities and people and is ‘just’ a message) Keep It Simple Stupid And Return Strong Ethics.
    The United States of America was ‘built’ on the basis of the Constitution, when everything is ‘turning to shit’ the best thing to do is rebuild from the ‘foundation’ up, in other words you return to your ‘roots’ (and that was a pretty good mini-series too!).

    I meant what I said about your blog too. I was speaking to my daughter last night and recommended, very strongly, that she read your ‘work’. Brooke is a qualified audiologist (Masters) and also has a Bachelor in Speech Pathology so she’s reasonably ‘switched’ on but she is also disillusioned with the ‘corporate’ world so I figured that a dose of your ‘reality’ would be good for her, FAIR DINKUM!

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  10. Hi Selma,
    I just sent you a post and it ‘disappeared’ in the ‘system’ so I’ll try again and hope that it doesn’t turn up twice.

    I am afraid that I am going to have to ‘tell you off’. You have made things very difficult, I don’t know whether to come to your page first or A.N.’s and he’s got a ‘ripper’ of a post on today, as usual.

    Its amazing isn’t it, you apply some straightforward Aussie humour and look at the passion that arises (clever girl 🙂

    After reading texasblu’s post I have come up with a new definition for ‘KISS ARSE’ (this excludes people and personalities and is ‘just’ a message), Keep It Simple Stupid And Return Strong Ethics.
    The United States of America was ‘built’ on the Constitution, when everything is ‘turning to shit’ the best thing one can do is return to the strength of your ‘foundation’ and ‘rebuild’, in other words, return to your ‘roots’ (and that was a pretty good mini-series too!).

    I meant what I said about your blog too. I was speaking to my daughter last night who is a qualified audiologist (Masters) as well as having a Bachelor in Speech Pathology, so she is pretty ‘switched on’ but she is completely disillusioned with the ‘corporate’ world so I have recommended, very strongly, that she reads your ‘work’ to get a dose of ‘reality’, FAIR DINKUM!

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  12. NANNA – I’ll teach you to speak like an Aussie if it’s the last thing I do. LOL.

    LINDA – I hope so too, I really do!

    TEXASBLU – I certainly didn’t mean to cause offense to you or any other Americans. It just struck me as funny that the media should report on Obama being so popular in Australia. I think the man himself has a good sense of humour and I would hope he wouldn’t be annoyed by my facetiousness. I think the Aussie sense of humour (which very closely mirrors the British one) is quite different from the American one. We do like to stir the pot a bit.

    That said, I am a huge fan of Obama and I think (although you will probably disagree with me) that your point about the most suitable candidate being a person of wisdom, integrity and virtue completely applies to Obama. I don’t talk politics often on my blog but in ‘real’ life I talk about it a lot. And I am quite LEFT in my leanings.

    I am obviously not as well-versed on the constitution as you are and I completely take and acknowledge your points. And I totally respect your opinion. At the moment I am wishing I had decided not to go with this post and am thinking: ‘Me and my big mouth.’ Too late now. OOOPS!

    NAT – he has given me more hope than any politician I can remember.

    MELEAH – I love that. You come up with the best names for people!

    KAYT – I’m just having a bit of fun. You should have heard my friends and I before the last Aussie election – everybody was a bloomin’ comedian. I know it is a serious time for all in the US and I do not mean to trivialise it in any way. 😀

    SF – you know, I’m starting to get really sick of this whole post. Obama a terrorist? I scoff in your general direction. Did you know that Gov. Schwarzenegger really is The Terminator? They remove the chip in his brain at night and keep it in Fort Knox so that computers don’t take over the world just like in the movie. For real. Keep taking the pills, mate.

    TRAVELRAT -I didn’t know that. Tell me why I posted this, Keith. I must have lost my mind for a moment.

    CHRIS – two comments for the price of one. I haven’t read Anthony’s post yet but he does have the knack of addressing the hard-hitting issues. You are the voice of reason. Texasblu is very knowledgeable about the constitution and I know how much it is revered by many Americans. However, it was not my intention to have a dig at the Constitution or at US politics for that matter. This election is a subject that arouses much passion – you are right there! I think I need a drink.

    Thank you for your kind comment re. my blog. I am so glad to have you as one of my readers and please tell your daughter she would be most welcome too. Now I have to go and write a completely facetious, irreverent post about John McCain and his knowledge of macroeconomics…..only joking. Even I am not that much of a glutton for punishment.

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  13. Some of the responses to this post are very interesting. Responses to things like political satire often differ according to culture. I have read a few blogs today where people trying to lighten the mood re. this election have been lambasted. I think if we can’t laugh at politics on occasion then we are in deep trouble as a society. Just my humble opinion, of course.

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  15. Selma honey…I completely understood where you were coming from with this post and “Good on ya” for educating the masses on our unique Aussie vernacular. I also inwardly cringed and waited for the cannons to fire. This election really seems to have ignited a fire in the bellies of a lot of people and I’ve read blogs lately where I think some people’s sanity is on a hair’s trigger of going over the edge. You are a braver soul than I for even going there.

    Bonza post mate. I have often thought of doing a weekly Aussie expression with a full explanation. That way I wouldn’t have to keep explaining myself when a bit of slang creeps in from time to time.

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  16. MEL – no more political posts, I promise. Only sex and drugs from now on. LOL.

    PAISLEY – have I ever told you what a cool person you are. And I mean ‘cool’ in that 1960s way as someone who has such strength of character and good humour. You really are such a special person. XXX

    GYPSY – never again. I need to appoint you as my editor. You are able to assess how people will think much better than I. You know, doing a weekly post about an Aussie expression isn’t a bad idea. You should do it on ‘The Theme Park.’ I would love that. Thanks for understanding what I meant, hon!

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  18. Oh – I wasn’t offended, and I know you’re LEFT. I’m good with that. Many of my friends are, and that’s what I love about friendship. You can agree to disagree. 😉 Like I said it’s good to laugh – if this had been a month earlier I probably wouldn’t have said anything.

    I’m sorry if my response stressed you out. As for your opinion on Obama, the only thing I look at is that he has only dismally voted 31% constitutional. That is not a President that I want, because when they take office, they swear to uphold the Constitution, and that is treason. But don’t worry – the other camp isn’t all that great either – 60%!!!! BOTH are unfit, IMO, which is why I am voting third party.

    I’ll be glad when it’s over. 😛

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  19. Brilliant post Selma. I loved it. You didn’t trivialize anything in my opinion. Humor is good and important. Sorry my initial reply wasn’t clear.

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  20. KAREN – that’s cause you’re True Blue. Thanks, my dear.

    TEXASBLU – you know I love you, hon. I respect your beliefs and I know we are friends despite being on different ‘teams.’ You and I are an example of how it should be. Just because I think one way and you think another doesn’t mean we cannot see the quality person underneath. I believe that despite differing ideologies people the world over come from the same place(except ventriloquists with those horrible little dummies. They are beyond help). I have met Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Right Wingers, Left Wingers in my life and have found they all want the same thing in life I do. I know you see that as much as I do. You have changed my view of the LDS. I used to associate them with young guys wearing crisp white shirts who knocked on the door at 8AM and wouldn’t take no for an answer but I have read with interest many of your points on religion and the constitution. Getting to know someone of a different creed or race is always a good way to better understanding. I value your input and your friendship. XXX

    KAYT – your reply was clear, hon. I was just being hyper-sensitive. I think it was the 121 comments WordPress assigned to my ‘Awaiting moderation’ folder that got me. I was accused of everything from being a terrorist lover to defaming Obama’s character. It freaked me out because usually I average about 15-20 comments so I was ill-prepared for such an onslaught.

    The good news is that I now know how to instantly get more traffic to one’s blog – put silly little speech balloons next to a politician’s head; and I have learnt some swear words and ways to describe the human anatomy I didn’t know before. LOL. Thanks for taking the time to comment again. You have really cheered me up!

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  21. Hi Selma,
    Don’t worry about stirring a few people up, any publicity is good publicity (apparently!).
    SEX and DRUGS? Don’t sell yourself short, its very important that you include ROCK’n’ROLL and, of course,………….Smooshing Boobies!
    Thats it, I’ve made up my mind, I’m having pizza for tea tonight. 🙂

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  22. Selma–just now getting caught up with your blog…
    I adore these sayings of yours! I want to become an “honorary Aussie”. And I think it’s(an Obama Presidency) “in the bag”(a sure thing) over here. Choyyyyyyyyyyyyyyce!

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  23. Loved the humour of this post. As for Obama, I think I’ve said before that he reminds me so much of Tony Blair. People should never trust a likeable politician. It simply means they can con you more successfully.

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  24. CHRIS – you are a true stirrer. Love it. Actually, I’m having pizza tonight too. LOL!

    LISA – hahaha. We’ll soon find out, won’t we? A nerve-wracking time for all. You are definitely an honorary Aussie!

    ANTHONY – you old cynic, you! LOL. There is a great deal of truth in what you say, however. Only time will tell on that one, I suspect.

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