Corin McCarthy, don't be too hard on yourself, Howard has form, when it comes to not telling the truth. How do we tell when he is or is not? 80% of people surveyed thought he was telling pork pies, and given his track record, Children overboard, the never ever GST and many more, how can people trust this man, it's impossible, his theory is as old as Nepolean, divide and conquer, and have people anxious, so that they are much less likely to change horses. It is typical Liberal Party approach, like his predecessor Pig Iron Bob Menzies and "the reds under the beds", this is only an updated version, Australians seem to forget why we have employed ASIO, and the Federal Police, it is to keep us safe, they have been around for decades, and the arrests in Sydney and Melbourne proves it. Personally I believe we are under little chance of attack, as these agencies always have suspects under survielance, since Hodel St nearly 30 years ago.

Whoever replaces Blair and Bush are matters for the public and politicians of UK and USA respectively, Australia is a bystander in such matters and will need to adapt to whatever outcome the electoral processes of those sovereign nations resolve.

As for Australia - John Howard will not go on forever and change will happen. When it does I am sure the Liberal coalition will resolve the issue in their usual exemplary manner.

They have never been so bereft of talent or desparate as the Labor opposition who basically threw all their support behind a bipolar thug, a cynical strategy which has resulted in a deeper malaise and aggrevated decline in their political fortunes.

Sadly Costello and Beazley have no colours to show us; a bit like the hapless emperor without any clothes really.

Costello languishes like an evergreen aspidistra in Howards ever present shadow and Beazley, indeed most of the ALP, base every move on what Howard does - they rely on him to come up with an idea to agree with - terorrism and the like - or an initiative that they can oppose because some one told them thats what an opposition does.

The ALP for the longest time has forgotten that an opposition is supposed to present the image of a government in waiting, a viable alternative and a model of leadership.

Costello like the spoiled prince of the sun god is just waiting for the current ruler to drop off his perch - no one has told him the old buggers feet are so firmly glued to that stick that even when he's dead his supporter will try to kid us he's just resting.

Costello's only real claim to fame was the Dollar Sweets case against the unions a very long time ago - since then, particularly in governemnt, he's been on auto-pilot assuming his rise to the top is gauranteed.

We need niether Costello or Beazley to show us their colours - and I suggest beige is the best we'll get - so much as we need new ideas.

Gee, it's great that all you educated people know this, but their are a bunch of idiots out there that do the real voting.

They are the same people that go, "Look McDonalds is really healthy now, let's all feed our inner children" and walk off merrily skipping to the golden arches with the lovely acoustic tune from the ad in their heads.
They also go, "Oh John Howard's workplace agreements aren't so bad, look at the lady nursing her baby, and listen to the lovely acoustic tune, well, he's right we need to do this so we can move ahead." And then they continue watching Australian idol to see about the more important votes that are being counted.

It doen't matter who we vote for, if the US and England vote for the right wings we will get them too. We don't have minds of our own.

As a Labor party activist we have to understand the party lost the last two elections Howard did not need to break into a trot to win.
Crean/Latham? good lord how could eather win?
However the party has swallowed that humble pie and the chances of Gillard ever leading us are zero.
The party can no longer endlessly look for leftist votes to gain power while turning its back on the new conservatives we helped Howard creat.
While Kim will struggle to win he would lead extremly well,however Steve Smith and Bill Shorten hold the future of ALP voters no other will do.
Shorten should win one of about 15 byelections to remove ALP dead wood in the second quarter of next year.

Belly, can u tell me exactly what has Bill Shorten ever done? He as i understand it was an Organising Works graduate from the ACTU now defunct Organising Centre. He allegedly has a wealthy Father in Law. I have heard some say he is the Business Community ALP canditate.I have seen him speak and have been less than impressed. Belly i am desperate for a new Labor Leader, but it sure aint Billy.I have heard others talk about Mark Butler the SA LHMU Leader. He is from the left so i suspect his prospects are dim. He certainly has the ability, although i hear his background is the Libs, with two former direct relatives Liberal State Premiers. The poor punters , is there a clever Train Driver on the horizon.