Teal and Loathing
by lechblaine
“Scott Morrison was on a slippery slope from the Promised Land to rock bottom. To win the 2019 election, he invented the focus-grouped “ScoMo” persona: a suburban strongman with a soft spot for fossil fuels, home-cooked curries and speaking in tongues. A vote for him was a protest against inner-city elites. But in pulling it off, the one-trick phoney might have built a coffin for the Coalition.”
So begins my 11,000+ word essay for The Monthly about the 2022 election campaign, which you can read here. I travelled around for six or so weeks to try and gauge what the hell was about to happen. I reckon it will genuinely go down as one of the most interesting in Australian history.
Lech Blaine 
Hi Lech
Loved your article in The Monthly – well-researched and very well-written! You have a lovely way with words, particularly the Australian turn of phrase, and a nice touch with portraying real people in a few words. The article is a great study of all the mixed emotions and opinions of people around the country before the election and ends with a bang with the surprising and most welcome outcome of the election. Well done! I look forward to reading more of your work.
Barbara (70 years, retired landscape architect, mother and grandmother, Bundeena NSW)
Watching Lech on Q and A. He should be running for high office. Thoughtful, respectful and direct in his delivery.
I think that’s is the best article I have ever read about the election. Your down to earth approach and the people you met took me to places that no one else has bothered to do. I loved the people and the language they used. Thank you.
I voted Labor and watched the election coverage while in the UK. So very exciting.