Sorry David not January 1 2006 but January 1 2007

'Keeping Our Interest Rates Low'

Old Johnny had a crack at this one.

how funny, he does not control the economy on his own and there are hundreds of factors outside his control that influence this. yet many of us took the bait as fear is the most powerful emotion in decision making.

I think we as voters should realise these guys are either desperados, decievers or incompetant when big claims are made and things promised.

Johnny is Gone as much as i like him, Rudd will worm his way in as is his style. The test will be if we like him once he is in, but at least he is a Doer and will have a go.

Dear David,

I suspect that many other voters would share my view that Peter Costello should serve a stint or multiple stints as Opposition Leader first. If he has the stamina for THAT role - a considerably more difficult role than Treasurer, where you are hand-fed your lines by talented economists - THEN he might deserve the top job.

Come to think of it, a Rudd PM and Costello Opposition doesn't sound like too bad an option after ten years of Howard's say-anything-to-get-elected slipperiness.

David don't let your passion for the monarchy get in the way of your feelings for Malcolm Turnbull... the question whether we remain a constitutional monarchy or beome a republic was only ever a question of symbolism and is a 10th order issue compared to the water issue.

The REAL test for Turnbull is whether he can actually deliver a decent national policy on water. He's smooth and he's said a few interesting things on the topic, but if he can't deliver a good policy in this area then he doesn't deserve the top job either.

The banner headline promised so much - The political outlook in Australia in 2007 and beyond - as did the teaser - There are no limits to the promises some politicians will make if sensing an electoral loss.

I was let down by both - no outlook - just a rather weak analysis of the prospects of those who might follow Howard - and no skinny on the sort of promises we might expect to see either

All we got was a warning of an impending Republic - and the intimation that there were conspiraotrs on the hill who would introduce one by stealth.

As well as that we also got an assertion that "experts" - (who?) predicted a flood of post republican referenda and plebiscites moodelled on the french - well I aint no expert but that does come as a surprise to me as a very casual observer on the republican debate.

I actually dont like what Flinty writes - but this one - at least by virtue of the promises inherent in the lead up interested me - how dumb was I?

I wonder if Flinty knows something we don't - such as a challenge to the Howard leadership?

• Costello Vs Rudd?
• Turnbull Vs Rudd
• Nelson/Bishop Vs Rudd/Gillard

I can’t help but feel it is - all nicely embedded (but barely concealed) inside his favourite coffee table topic.

And I wonder what the other queen in his life knows?

Well said, Skeptic: "the question whether we remain a constitutional monarchy or beome a republic was only ever a question of symbolism and is a 10th order issue compared to the water issue".

That said, I continue to prefer the symbolism of the big picture (sharing a monarch with countries like New Zealand, Canada and the UK) to that of the small picture (choosing to cut those family ties in favour of being a mere 20 million people huddled on their own somewhere near Antarctica). I've never been one for parochialism.