Hard to know where to begin with this ideological tosh (yes, Malcolm, it's "ideo"). Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Funny how we are the economic envy of the financial world because of Rudd's response to the GFC; even The Australian admitted this. Funny too how planning for the future with the NBM (to name but one policy) draws such opprobium. And funniest of all to accuse Labor of using the Howardesque "un-Australian" criticism. And so on.

By the way, name one clear and cogent policy offered by Tony Abbott? I thought so: there aren't any - only "Don't...", "Stop ..." and "Great big new ..."

As far as as I can see, Tony, most of the time, has his foot in his mouth, and he hasn't, he should have. The Liberal party, sixty years ago, had the best treasurer and Prime Minister, Harold Holt, not one of the parties since have even come close to having such a good economy. It would have been better except that the other Prime Ministers even Bob Menzies, insisted on relying on mining exports, the reciprocal imports have systemically destroyed our own manufacturing industries. The only other Prime Minister of any note, was Ben Chifley, even Bob Menzies shed tears for him, when he passed away.

As far as as I can see, Tony, most of the time, has his foot in his mouth, and when he hasn't, he should have. The Liberal party, sixty years ago, had the best treasurer and Prime Minister, Harold Holt, not one of the parties since have even come close to having such a good economy. It would have been better except that the other Prime Ministers even Bob Menzies, insisted on relying on mining exports, the reciprocal imports have systemically destroyed our own manufacturing industries. The only other Prime Minister of any note, was Ben Chifley, even Bob Menzies shed tears for him, when he passed away.

Whilst I'd agree that Labour has been pretty weak since Rudd and Julia has not performed well, there is nothing Tony can now do to appear as a credible leader. The Libs would do well to be rid of him ASAP.
As for economic credibility...Howard was a lucky man, inheriting the positive results of Keating's "recession we had to have". The financial systems were stretched to the max and we *almost* followed the rest of the West into the GFC. Rudd's bank guarantees may have saved us to some extent but the moral hazard involved in banking is now a real threat. Too big to fail should not apply in Australia...that's what governments and transparency are for! (Too much "commercial in confidence" in semi-private business.)
Now we have no public prime assets to sell off and the workforce is over-taxed it will be interesting to see where the next government gets it's funding from. It won't be from the "highly successful" (parasitical) uber-wealthy...the shrinking middle class will cop it again.
Now we really have the economic tiger by the tail, alas I think the winners and losers have already been selected.

What I would like to see is true, sustained and intelligent argument/discussions in Parliament on climate change and the carbon tax, not the incessant personal mud slinging by both Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard, they waste too much time. Their actions in Parliament are a disgrace. This posturing in Parliament must surely be because no one acutally knows what to do about climate change.
As I see it the main question to be asked and answered is; What and how will a carbon tax in Australia help the world's climate change problems by stopping the big polluters?
I think it needs a country bigger than Australia to start work on carbon reduction. I think that whatever we do would be so little in the overall scheme of things it will be a useless exercise. This is the government that the people voted in and Julia has to find a way to govern properly within it.
Julia Gillard needs to stand up to Bob Brown. Bob Brown seems to have an agenda of his own.

MAREELORRAINE, nobody who has been in parliament over the last forty years, knows what to do about anything. Fifty years ago, we had a good economy except for the mining exports that were starting up, and not one of the parties in power since have had either the integrity or the intelligence to know how do we get the economy of our country back out of a recession, and back on track, they just don't have a clue, and won't listen to anybody who is not in their "wonderful?" party. We need a new party, who works on their own constitution to make really acceptable, and ensures that all members sign that they will honour and obey that constitution. Not one of the existing parties follow this, they follow the demands of having a constitution, but promptly forget it, and don't care what it says.

I supply below a comment from the CEO of Google. The comment repudiates just one part of the OLO article but the arguments about waste in the efforts to save the Australian economy from the worst of the GFC is similarly refutable.

Google Chairman and member of the US President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Eric Schmidt speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona:

"Australia is leading the world in understanding the importance of fibre. Your new Prime Minister has announced that 93% of Australians, which I guess are all the folks in the cities, will have gigabit or equivalent service using fibre, and the other 7% will be handled through wireless services of a nature of LTE*.

This is leadership from Australia, which I think is wonderful".

We are the economic envy of the world in spite of Labor's BER and other bungles.

While Tony Abbott has a few issues of foot in mouth with regards tackling Labor, he can rest re assured that Juliar is doing most of the damage to Labor for him. Her moral outrage in the face of her lies rings hollow.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/labor-support-drops-after-carbon-tax-deal-20110228-1bbmp.html

Juliar's credibility and honesty has sunk to a new low, and with it her ratings and that of the greens.

I thought the Gillard Government had their sixteen seat majority wiped off the map at the last election? I also thought she lost a further two seats to boot?

Why do we even need to question what the Libs should or should not do? Unless of course the ALP voters want to continue ignoring these facts and walk around in a daze, hands on ears mumbling La.La.La!

What part of a good political flogging do we not understand? And upon what trend line can either the ALP or the Greens survive the next election?

merv09, there must something wrong with my memory. I seem to recall the fifties and sixties being what I called a “stop go”economy. I seem to remember we went from credit squeezes to time of plenty from budget to budget. This was the norm under Mr. Menzies and his successors. Wages and welfare for the lesser well off were atrocious. Health was beyond the reach of most. I must admit that PM McMahon, who I believe was one of worse PM, did raise pensions and benefits for the first time in many years. Under Menzies we partook in two wars, that led to massive inflation. The result of the wonderful economy management that the economic collapse after years of stagflation, which caught all off guard, including PM Whitlam.

Yes they were wonderful years.

"We are the economic envy of the world in spite of Labor's BER and other bungles.

"

Disagree, are the envy of the world because of the alleged bungles. Thr Rudd government kept the money circulating.

One can only assume the Fearless Friar is not big enough between the tits?

Tony Abbott can sit back, as the agricultural and business communities are warning of job losses and higher food prices with the carbon tax.

As described by Blue Scope steel, this is economic vandalism.

It would appear that Juliar has no non core promises. Every thing is at her political whim.

Too right Flo, Kruddy kept the money circulating all right.

The only trouble was it all circulated into the pockets of Labor mates, & shonky contractors.

Unfortunately it was all Chinese money, & the poor fool tax payer will be paying it back for a generation.

Labor & money, a no no.

I went to a working class pub yesterday afternoon.

Something I haven't done since my 20's.

My mate and I both conservative voters were hugely surprised when Juliar came on the tv at about the six news. It didn't seem to matter what she was mouthing the curses and abuse in the public bar was a torrent and appeared to be on the edge of riotous.

We looked at one another and left.

I think what's happening to Juliar is exactly the same as what happened to Rudd.

My mate and I reckon we are shortly going to see the second of three successive one term Labor PM's ... all seen off by Tony Abbott.

Going by yesterdays reactions I reckon labor are near dead everywhere.

Hasbeen, it might have, but I have seen little evidence to support that. I take it you are alleging that all building companies, big and small are friends of Labor.

As far as this argument on the economy goes, it is immaterial. The money spent saved the economy.

In Short Malcolm thinks Tony is great and Labour can't dress themselves in the morning unassisted.
I think the only fact we can get from this largely fact free OLO piece is that Malcolm hearts Tony.

BTW citing the EIU report about the NBN was the funniest part, to not say why anybody with half a brain would dismiss the report was very telling. South Korean small Australia Large. Malcolm their is more to Australia then that little on the East Coast.

saw Joe Hockey on the ALPBC tonight and no hard how the interviewer tried to turn the issue into something about the Liberals, like all the current day lefties, she couldn't get any traction and was reduced to attacking Malcolm Turnbull's divisiveness ... which is yesterdays argument.

Joe was truely right when he spoke of the outrage in the community.

It is huge.

Labor's brand is a mess everywhere and won't recover by changing leaders.

Watch for the Greens vote plummet everywhere as well.

Julia didn't really break her election promise. The carbon tax is not being introduced by a government she leads; it is being introduced by a government led by Bob Brown.

As the only demand on you to join a political party, seems to be "Promise to agree to accept the decisions of the majority", I can't accept that those people who do join, have any integrity and little intelligence. By the demand of the Electoral commission, everybody or if a party, has to have a constitution. The dependable parties demand that you sign that you will honour and obey their constitution. None of the parties demand that, they have no integrity, and little intelligence, and this is shown by the decisions they make in parliament. That old saying is still apparent, "If a politicans mouth is moving, he/she is lying.

What I gain from your article, Malcolm is this.
You disagree with economists that the governments spending during the GFC innoculated Australia from the GFCs effects.
You Have forgotten that the term "Un-Australian" became widely used under Howard.
You do not understand the difference between a project being technically successful and it's financial success (You don't need the latter for the former to succeed).
You did not read the EIU report correctly or have misunderstood it (Report differentiated between public and private money and assigned a good Vs. bad to each).
You have not been watching question time for the last few days (moral outrage from Abbott reaching pantomime proportions)

Really I could just swap the party names in this article and it would be just as (in)acurate.

Flo, admittedly, Our Governments were probably a lot more honest and more concerned about the economy earlier then they have been during the last forty years. Ben Chifley was a good treasurer, and has been the best Prime Minister, but also, Harold Holt has also been a great treasurer and Prime Minister. His trouble was the power of Robert Menzies, who, when his government was hounded by the papers because one of his ministers apparently was retrieving abandoned tractors and graders from the war zones, islands and jungles, for his own use. Menzies said “We must do something to stop this odour pervading parliament”. His “something”, was to increase the salaries of Parliamentarians, Senior Public Servants and Judges, “To make it unnecessary for them to seek other sources of income”. I believe that Harold Holt's increase of the top tax to 66.6% was right, it put stop on excessive incomes and lowered the costs of goods and services, but the economy was starting to be affected by the exports of the coal, and later by that of our other non renewable, non value added resources, a problem that is now affecting our economy and local manufacturing industries. I can't see Tony or any of our other politicians doing anything to improve on the affects of Ben Chifley or Harold Holt, they haven't got either the integrity or the intelligence.

spindoc, Tuesday, 1 March 2011 10:47:06 AM ; Ah but Spindoc Orstraalya is world famous for it's SHEEP !

Poor Tony - stopping everything and starting nothing.
It's never what he's going to do, it's what he's NOT going to do.

Everytime he opens his mouth he proves he's all smuggler and no budgie.

Imagine the state of the country and our society with that divisive thug in charge.

Even a second rate Labor government is better than a first rate bunch of sore losers trying to whine their way back into office by trashing any attempt at national unity for political gain. It's what the Torys do best.

Stopping Juliar is a good thing. All she is capable is increasing taxes and running up debt for the future generations.

There is a good saying "there is nothing so wasteful as doing something irrelevant well."

The only mistake in this article, is the assertion that this Brand of Spinganda, started with Kruddy & Ju/Liar.

The Politically Correct Thought Police have been around for almost a century now & have been in complete control of the RED/green, getup, GAYLP, Socialist Alliance for at least 3 decades now.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8630135369495797236#

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/the-covert-comrades-in-the-alp/story-e6frg6zo-1225887087909

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/radical-roots-seep-through-at-the-heart-of-greens-20100726-10sj0.html?skin=text-only

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5vajlNhSzWYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=mark+aarons+the+family+file&source=bl&ots=_JqnT4mkHv&sig=23tiin36Jjg84b7-Ttuxxp7L3gI&hl=en&ei=jKD0TOiQD8fzcfH_mMcE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.mailstar.net/xTrots.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/how_gillard_practices_to_deceive/

http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/archives/collections/pdfs/socialistforum.pdf

http://www.crikey.com.au/topic/socialist-forum/

http://www.themonthly.com.au/node/2298

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fabian_Society

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frankfurt_School

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/do-not-feel-afraid-gaia-is-with-us/story-e6frezz0-1225980594646

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8192780/weathergirl-admits-rape-story-was-a-lie

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-pro-abortion-movement-and-the-psychopathic-mentality

http://www.savethemales.ca/160303.html

http://www.heineraffair.info/

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/25/greensvoters/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot

http://australiancontacts.ning.com/video/australian-new-world-order

Almost all GAYLP, "progressive" "reforms" by Comrades Whitlam, Hawke, Keating, Rudd, Gillard, since 1972 have had the effect of tearing down our industrial capacity while building up Communist China's.

This is nothing new, or exclusive to Australia. All allegedly centre left parties in the world outside the "Iron Curtain" were infiltrated by CARS, Communist, Anarchist, Radical, Socialists, following instructions from their KGB controllers in Moscow.

The really dumb part is that these ideologues are still at it, over 2 decades after the Berlin Wall fell. Now they want China to take over the world instead of the USSR.

We have a progressive govt; NBN, Carbon Tax, Toni has effectively done nothing but obstruct.
AU is near full employment, and going very well economically.
$60 billian under the control of costello. Who said the floods and cyclone, was not a big enough disaster to access any money. I think AU is doing very well, under the current political climate.
Au COULD HAVE A SUCCESSION OF THESE HUNG PARLIAMENTS.
So i would rather help than hinder as seems to be opposition policy.
Toni is no match for julia in debate. Could you imagine this man as a statesman. In lybia maybe. But not here.
All good at the moment, unless something breaks.
Turnbull should bring himself forward so there would at least be a chance of a formidable opposition.