The fact that former supporters like Greg Barns are now amongst its strongest critics just goes to show how extreme this government has become.

I agree, Peter Costello's attempt at dog whistling is a desperate move to shore up support in his play for the top job. He's seen playing the wedge work brilliantly for the incumbent so when all else fails why not take a leaf from the same book. Sneekeepete's view that it might be Downer who is the anointed one after all is no doubt a further catalyst. There aren't as many opportunities for a treasurer to play the race card as for someone in Downer's position, so why not create a few of your own. And what better venue than The Sydney Institute!

As a side issue, I am constantly amazed at the difference between the two Costello brothers. There must be some heated (or icy) dinner conversations when they get together. Or perhaps in the interests of family harmony politics is kept off the menu.

Referring to Redneck's statement that Christian fundamentalists don't resort to suicide bombing. Why would they? They have the world's most powerful military force and its biggest and deadliest arsenal of weaponry executing their every wish - spreading democracy and Christian influence far and wide - not to mention wealth-creating opportunities. With the US army on your side, who needs God? There's certainly no need to get your own hands dirty.

The average Muslim fundamentalist who just happens to resent his people's land and resources, not to mention their minds, being taken over by Western imperialist and capitalist forces has no such luxury. His only weapon is the fact he doesn't value his earthly life the way we do in the west.

All I can think of is that Costello must be a bit of a slow learner, it has taken him ten years to work out the same thing that Aussies have been saying for years.
For the past decade our country has been divided by the question and problems of immigration, ghettoes have been established, ethnic gangs , not police, control the city streets and finally our leaders twig that there is something amiss .
Well!Hurrah! the penny has dropped at last......now let us have some solutions. Hopefully it will not take another ten years,it will be too late by then.

All,
I thought I would never see the day when you described yourself as "intellectually depraved" good man, they say a problem lessens after you first admit to it.

Costello's just another politician, he is carrying on a long tradition of "divide and conquer" nothing new in that. Although the undermining of social cohesion may cost him the chance at the Prime Ministership. Sadly if it does we would get Beazley, what a bloody choice!

Both parties should be in pursuit of generational change, it's time for some new blood, new policies, new creative thinking, we have much confronting us, water shortages, alternate sources of power, social cohesion, reuniting the nation, reintroduction of a fair days work for a fair days pay {both sides of this issue} international relations, industrial relations, national population distribution plan, a limit to our population, goodness me, I don't see either John Walker Howard, or Kim Beazley handling any of these or other pressing issues.

In the previous decade infastructure has lagged behind population growth, roads, health, water storage and conservation, a raft of issues need tackling urgently, nobody seems to be addressing these issues, why? Do we need to grease someone's hand everytime a government contract is let? Developers are making money hand over fist, no public facilities, who pays, US. It's time to stop this nonsense, and for governments of both colours to govern, represent the people who elect you.

Whether it's the blue team or the red team, the public is quickly becoming sick to the back teeth with you, address these issues or a third party will eventually come into being.

Media in Australia are pushing points of view to reflect media barons view point.Prime Minister Howard is using right wing Talk Back hosts throughout Australia. Family First has a Senator elected only because Victorian A.L.P. was trying to protect the possible loss of a Senator from their state. Family First is a right wing Liberal supporting party. Just look at South Australia when Family values and Channel 7 current affairs show Today Tonight attacked morals on liberal M.H.R. Trish Draper. Media can make candidates and members of parliament look like turkeys.

Bronwyn, you've got it right. The evangalistic Christian religion is the most deadly for this country, considering its weaponry and constant removal of peoples freedoms throughout the world. Consider the christian religious right and the massive economic control they have through multinational corporate monopolies. Take the religiously controlled USA Haliburton, it now has control of many aspects of our defence supplies and government contracts. We have a government thats dictated to by the US evangelistic white house, so you can see why Costello is pushing their barrow. As to him and his brother, both the same, just different disguises and hats.

I hope the time comes when this country finally decides it has had enough of the demonic and despotic monotheistic warmongers and throws them all out. But I reckon we are in for a very rough ride. Lets hope everyone wakes up before we have lost all our freedoms and a religious state is forced upon us, in the name of good government and security against the islamic threat. Not a bad ploy they are using to gain full dictatorial control

Christian fundementalists for example the Assembly of God, the Baptists are a sight to behold at a lecture on a Sunday morning. I say lecture as theit parishoners seem to be hypnotised, and they are lectured from the pulpit by fundamentalists on how they should live, where to send their children to school, and many other aspects of their lives as if they were robots taking instruction.

Please don't take my word for it, attend a service on a Sunday morning and see for yourself, it will be an eye opening experience for any who either do not believe in God, or those of us who do. I came away shaking my head, Peter Costello is a member of Hillsong, George Dubbya is also a member, please attend, and let us know what you discover, I promise you, it will not be what you expect.