I suppose it is a free country - but it is a bit irritating when these guys bob up here - Ruddock has done the same as has Hockey - similarly they get untrammeled access to op ed sapce in the metropolitan dailies - so it is not as if they go unnoticed.

Having said that the government is clearly in trouble - among all the other signs of panic - grasping at apparent contradictions in the public utterance of public figures is usually the most desperate of measures -

Rudd actually hasn't said much at all - IR stinks - well they have been saying that for 15 months and most people believe that.

His post budget speech was pretty tame - lacklustre even.

And none of their other policies are exactly "knock your socks off" kind of things.

What is winning the race (so far) is the history of this government - the sins of the past in public and social policy are finally hurting -

And as for economic management some people know that the War on Terror measure have cost our economy $20 billion plus

That excludes the direct costs in Iraq - $1.3bill and Afghanistan $.7bill

Then we have the Senates estimates admission incarceration in the $400mill centre in Christrmas Island costs around $1,000,000 per person per year.

The Pacific Island Solution costs around $193,000 per person per year.

SO Peter's money vault ( awash with our money) is $22-25 billion dollars lighter for those folies alone

I am surprised that Peter Costello rabbits on about privatisation. Anyone who uses Sydney Airport would know that the privatised airport rips off travellers. Also the Commonwealth Bank kept the other bastards honest. The high fees now charged to customers are a direct result of the changes in banking regulation.
If Telstra was still in public hands as a well managed quango we might by now have fast broadband everywhere that it is needed.
His government has led to the common people being priced out of the housing market despite low interest rates, a possibility I pointed out in writing to his government as early as the late nineties.
I spoke to a trolley lad at a supermarket recently. I am sure his parents and grandparents are impressed that he works a 48 hour week with no penalty rates for less than $9 per hour. They will probably some of those after Costello's party with cricket bats.

Peter,

Realist and Pericles summarised what an average voter will vote for.
Dwelling on the past, smear campaigns, dodging important issues (Interest rates, IR) is a receipe to loose voter confidence.

At least Rudd doesn't pretend to have all the answers and have the guts to deal with issues and undo decisions whithout ego. He is not showing up every day telling us how lucky we are to have him.

I voted liberals twice and that was once too many.

Banging on about what fine economic managers they are is only making the coalition look stupid. Economy's booming eh? Maybe it is in Magnateville, but down here in Mobland we have a different economy altogether.

"Will the real Kevin Rudd please stand up?" Indeed. Only if you and John stand up first Pete. When have you guys ever aired your true intentions?

And while you're standing up you might explain how "radical" reform is "conservative".

Dear Mr Costello,

I am a swinging voter and you lost my vote as soon as the ALP elected a credible leader.

Politicians often use "anecdata" to back up a point, you know, saying "all wround the country workers/employers are telling me" this, that and the other.

I've got news for you: many of the people I speak to feel the same way.

I had to laugh last night when Alexander Downer tried to score a point by calling Kevin Rudd a "cynical opportunist"!

People are tired of your Government and many of them understand perfectly well that your mantra about the ALP's alleged incapacity to run the economy is hogwash.

Signing off, we can thank you for one thing though: you had the good sense to give the power to set interest rates to the Reserve Bank. You'll always have our respect for that, and if you have the courage to go the long haul, you'll outlast Abbott and Downer and Nelson and Turnbull (come to think of it, voting for the ALP will at least make politics interesting again - the bloodletting on your side of politics will make great entertainment!)

Over and out

I agree from what I have heard and seen Mr Rudd will say anything to get elected. From Unionists recent public comments they seem to agree, warning him about accepting AWA's.