Despite being detained, Julian Assange can run for Senate. So he does. - Polidicks

[IMG]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01945/Assange_1945960b.jpg[/IMG] Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange (Photo: AFP/Getty Images) [QUOTE=The Telegraph] Mr Assange, an Australian citizen, is on bail awaiting a British court decision on his appeal against extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations. He strongly denies the claims, saying they are politically motivated and linked to the activities of WikiLeaks, which has published thousands of confidential documents on the internet. The whistle-blowing website said it appeared that the 40-year-old's current legal situation did not rule him out of running for Australia's upper house. "We have discovered that it is possible for Julian Assange to run for the Australian Senate while detained," WikiLeaks said on Twitter. "Julian has decided to run." WikiLeaks said it will also field a candidate to run directly against Prime Minister Julia Gillard in her lower house electorate of Lalor, in Victoria, in the elections, which are due in 2013. Each of Australia's states is represented by 12 senators, with half-senate elections for some 40 vacancies generally held at the same time as national polls for the lower House of Representatives. The "state Julian will run for will be announced at the appropriate time", WikiLeaks said. The Australian government has previously blasted WikiLeaks, with Ms Gillard describing its release of US diplomatic cables as "grossly irresponsible". Ms Gillard's government ordered Australian police to investigate whether WikiLeaks had broken Australian law, but they reported back in 2010 it had not broken any under their jurisdiction in releasing the cables. Mr Assange is fighting being sent to Stockholm because he fears it would open the way for his extradition to the US to face charges of spying linked to the leaking of classified military documents by US soldier Bradley Manning. Manning has been formally charged for allegedly turning over a trove of classified US documents to WikiLeaks in one of the most serious intelligence breaches in US history. Wikileaks.org was set up by a group including Mr Assange, a former computer hacker, in late 2006 to let whistle-blowers post sensitive documents on the internet without being traced. The group has since released thousands classified US military documents on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and more than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables, many of which were deeply embarrassing to Washington. [/QUOTE] Source: [URL]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/9150013/WikiLeaks-founder-Julian-Assange-to-run-for-Australian-Senate.html[/URL] Interesting to say the least, I'd be happy to have him in Senate.

I wonder what would happen if he wins.

I still remember him before his hair was white [/hipster] Anyway more power to him. It would be a fun ride if he got in.

Thank god, just when I was beginning to think he was dead in some ditch somewhere

Now that is win win situation.

Skeptical about this. He's the face behind WikiLeaks, but several people were really unhappy with how he handled the administration, which lead to splinter sites like [url="http://openleaks.org/"]OpenLeaks[/url]. I support his general project, but I can't say I'm so sure about the man himself.

Can't be worse than Abbott.

[QUOTE=Marik Bentusi;35173902]Skeptical about this. He's the face behind WikiLeaks, but several people were really unhappy with how he handled the administration, which lead to splinter sites like [URL="http://openleaks.org/"]OpenLeaks[/URL]. I support his general project, but I can't say I'm so sure about the man himself.[/QUOTE] it's not as if hes running for pm, this way he can get across his views without screwing up on other sides of things

The other senators would probably rip his limbs off in the upper house but I would vote this man

Snippity snip

Not really a smart move on his part, and there is still that talk about his poor management of the site. I can either see it this way, A: He doesn't get elected. B: He gets elected but screws up like people believe he did with the site. Or C: He gets elected and does well. Though even if its C, I am sure others in the Senate would try and vote against his ideas.

[QUOTE=Neo222;35174372]Not really a smart move on his part, and there is still that talk about his poor management of the site. I can either see it this way, A: He doesn't get elected. B: He gets elected but screws up like people believe he did with the site. Or C: He gets elected and does well. Though even if its C, I am sure others in the Senate would try and vote against his ideas.[/QUOTE] Its a publicity stunt, really I doubt senate is high in his books at the moment Wikileaks are also fielding a local candidate to run against julia gillard in her own seat. I'd say that's where the action really is.

Who would want a rapist in power?

[QUOTE=BrainDeath;35174500]Who would want a rapist in power?[/QUOTE] We already have tons of criminals in power by now

[QUOTE=BrainDeath;35174500]Who would want a rapist in power?[/QUOTE] Well it was a prison colony.

His hair was a different colour last time I saw him.

if only he ran for pm...

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;35174867]if only he ran for pm...[/QUOTE] You don't run for PM in any country. [editline]18th March 2012[/editline] He doesn't really have a chance to get in. First of all, he can't be sworn into Parliament, since he won't be able to attend. Second, the next election is in 2013 for new Senate members taking their positions on July 1 2014 - who knows where he'll be. Third, he has no chance getting in due to STV (single transferrable vote) not favouring one member parties.

[QUOTE=Zethiwag;35174849]His hair was a different colour last time I saw him.[/QUOTE] In every picture/piece of footage I've seen of him, his hair had always appeared as a bleached white like in the article. Also, this is hilarious news to me. The funny part would be where information about if news about any corruption of him gets leaked as a result of coming into power (if that's the case).

[QUOTE=DogGunn;35175482]You don't run for PM in any country. [editline]18th March 2012[/editline] He doesn't really have a chance to get in. First of all, he can't be sworn into Parliament, since he won't be able to attend. Second, the next election is in 2013 for new Senate members taking their positions on July 1 2014 - who knows where he'll be. Third, he has no chance getting in due to STV (single transferrable vote) not favouring one member parties.[/QUOTE] Its a publicity stunt to keep his name in the news.

[QUOTE=Simski;35173789]I wonder what would happen if he wins.[/QUOTE] "And now to the next order of business, Senator Julian Assange will introduce bill number 264, the "Elimination of Jewish elements from journalism and other media" bill."

[QUOTE=Capitulazyguy;35176618]"And now to the next order of business, Senator Julian Assange will introduce bill number 264, the "Elimination of Jewish elements from journalism and other media" bill."[/QUOTE] "Security Cameras Are Required Everywhere" Bill. :v:

Would this make him more untouchable if he does become a senate?

[QUOTE=jordguitar;35176541]Its a publicity stunt to keep his name in the news.[/QUOTE] Exactly. [editline]18th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Capitulazyguy;35176618]"And now to the next order of business, Senator Julian Assange will introduce bill number 264, the "Elimination of Jewish elements from journalism and other media" bill."[/QUOTE] lol?

Julian has really cool hair I wish my hair was that cool

[QUOTE=Simski;35173789]I wonder what would happen if he wins.[/QUOTE] He gets impeached.

[QUOTE=asteroidrules;35186542]He gets impeached.[/QUOTE] No such thing in Australia.

[QUOTE=Sam Za Nemesis;35177202]That's his 'natural' hair colour, It became naturally white since his childhood [I]experiment[/I] with a cathode ray tube that went wrong.[/QUOTE] ...Ok, that's pretty cool. "So why's your hair white?" "SCIENCE!"