Tristan,

while we have the odd disagreement, I much prefer reading your pieces when compared to some of the leftwing rubbish produced in the major newspapers.

While I do not want to claim to be an authority on what is good or bad writing, I think your pieces are improving in terms of reflecting some of the complexity out there.

Whether we agree or not on all matters, it is indeed the battle for resources that makes the difference.

Forget the crap over third ways. A great society will indeed be judged about how best it distributes its resources to balance compassion and competitiveness.

This is the key for the left, to demonstrate why certain trends can or will not work.

Good luck with the quest, I certainly do not disagree with your sentiment, although I will long argue that it is a lot harder than what some would have us believe.

Tristran, I actually think the outcome of the election is a fantastic opportunity for so-called LEFT and RIGHT mindsets to reflect on the reality they have been presented with by a (somewhat sullen) electorate. I cannot agree with your conclusion that the media was biased in favour of the RIGHT mindset over the LEFT mindset. I observed a media singularly obsessed with the 10 second grab, not much else. Perhaps you place too much emphasis on the effect of the media on the voting intentions of the punters. I suspect most had made their minds up some time ago. Finally, I think you are being a bit of a sissy not encouraging the ALP to really kick into itself over the debacle it has permitted itself to become embroiled in lo these last few months. Some retribution at the appropriate level (e.g. public flogging of the fools who directed the PM switcheroo) would no doubt help restore some faith amongst the seriously perplexed former ALP supporters out here in the boon docks.

As usual, Tristan, you need to try to get a grip on reality.

The miners spent "hundreds of millions of dollars" campaigning against Labor? Nonsense. Gillard interrupted the miners' ad campaign shortly after it began. The junior miners resumed advertising only in the last week or so of the campaign.

Labor, the unions, GetUp and the rest outspent the LNP by at least four to one, almost all of it personal attacks on Tony Abbott.

<<Great sections of the media came on board to assault Labor>> Nonsense. You mean all those hacks who had been describing Abbott as "unelectable" from the time he won the leadership? Women's Weekly gave Gillard a front cover promo, replete with digital enhancements and other media ran the pix, too. But that was Fake Julia, I guess.

<<Everything Labor did most of the mainstream media put a 'negative spin' on it.>> What do you suggest? They shouldn't have mentioned two weeks of leaks from one or more of Rudd, Gillard, Swan and Tanner? Nobody need put a "negative spin" on that.

<<It is extremely important that despite what's happened progressives cannot afford to let the Right determine the historical narrative. The Left and Centre-Left need to continue to contest this narrative vigorously by arguing that there was a need for a progressive stimulus, progressive tax reform, and for infrastructure investment, and how such policies resulted in positive outcomes.>>

Which particular "positive outcomes" did Labor deliver, Tristan?

The BER rorting of billions of dollars? Four deaths and more rorted billions through Garrett's insulation program? The "green loans" debacle? Useless wind farms and solar arrays at a cost of millions more? The NBN without a business plan or cost-benefit analysis?
The $900 cheques that stimulated poker machine revenues and Chinese television manufacturers? The proposed "people's assembly" to decide climate policy? Or the $300,000 salaries for four kommissars to tell them what to think? All the extra boats? I could go on.

Labor couldn't campaign on its record. They had over-promised and delivered virtually nothing. And they had a "new" PM who was complicit in every bad decision.

Tristan

The ALP is about to tear itself to pieces. The only reason it hasn't done so yet is that it is desperate to retain power and is trying to present a facade of unity in an endeavour to get the independents to return it to power.

Can you imagine the Labor caucus meetings with Arbib, Shorten, and Rudd? Then throw in Gillard whose authority is absolutely shredded. Add to the mix those labor MP's who have been without influence over either of the former rivals. Underline all this with state based angst and hostilities against both NSW and Queensland (well there is so few of them now it might not matter too much) members. Throw in the viciousness of some of the personalities. Then factor in that there is no longer anyone of the stature of Faulkner to curb things. Add a huge slice of inexperience.

Mate it would be worse than a Friday night p...up down at the old 'painters and dockers' Balmoral pub.

I reckon those that aren't talking to one another are either abusing or scheming. Whatever, there is little prospect of any sort of team approach within the ALP, until all the ratbags from the NSW right are removed ... and there is scant possibility of that occurring.
Take a look at who the NSW right has installed as leaders. Keating, Beazley, Latham, Rudd and Gillard. Name one that over a period has naturally appealed broadly to Australians?

Good luck with your leftie ideals. Though I'm sure you've got buckleys of cutting through in today’s totally pragmatic and ideologically stuffed up ALP. The rest of us are merely dismayed that the great Labor Movement of the past, that of our parents and grandparents, has descended to such a level of spit, spite and s..t.

It now really is the Party of the dregs of the middle class. It is no longer made up of people who are true to themselves. Nobody with self-respect can possibly be proud of it.

Tristan,

I think Keith is on the ball.

Your best shot is to write in a way that appeals to all parties and all voters. While its sounds impossible, this aim should be the hallmark of good scholarship.

I actually voted Liberal in the House (first time) because I believe that Labor was indeed hopeless. On the day, it was hard given my past, but i thought of the rhetoric and waste.

The line that Labor knows best is indeed bs, as is the line that only social democrats can save the day.

Also Tristan, the Coalition, while opposing the economic stimulus package, is on the record to say that it too would have also gone into debt, albeit $20 billion less ($180b instead of $200b). turnbull indicates this.