If it takes a drought like the current one to get rid of the Rodent, then it might even be worth it.

"After 16 years of continuous economic expansion they’re looking for something grander" states Graham.

Indeed they are - dont underestimate the yearning for the truth every now and again - we've been starved of it for a while under this regime.

Equally the "BOOM" in the boom times has had the effect of blowing a large number of people out of the economic water -

Head lines in the Hun suggest the Feds may release Commonwealth land to take the heat out of the lack of affordabiltiy of Australian housing - a feature of our market for years - so why now I aks meself.

At the same time they will contend lack of land is the states fault.

Dont be surprised if they very soon look seriously at the incidence of bankruptcy, mortgagee sales as well as the lending practices of financial insitutions prior to the election - when i say a serious look that is all I mean - they will just look at it long enough to give the impression of acting.

- post election all eyes will return to admiring the rising stock market and commodity prices. The only indicator of economic prosperity this government relies upon

The grander things the electorate are looking for is vision, integrity and justice - once hall marks of good government - as for this mob those things would seem to be some what forieign concepts.

Interesting logic in the article....except he didn't account very well for why the Coalition is doing so well in WA.

If the argument is that WA has no water problems then the author is not up to speed. Significant agricultural areas in WA have been in a state of drought for four years, not least those areas that are supposed to grow chickpeas and other pulses. The water table around Perth City has sunken to critically dangerous levels.

Labor in WA is on the nose for reasons of high scandal and corruption and this has obviously been a major factor in the national Coalition's support there. Added to that the demise of their local hero Kim B.

Still, I'll give the federal election to Labor, but just by a nose at present. There's a lot more water to go under the bridge before we get to mark our ballot papers

'Howard’s a good card player, but even the best can’t take every trick.'

The problem that Howard faces this year, is that those who have have been tricked hold all the aces this round. They know it and can't wait to show.

The first time voters, comprising the young and new citizens, will be looking for a leader that plays the game fairly, no tricks, just a full house of policies that can deliver sustainability, prosperity after peak oil and social justice.

Oh, and casting a vote may reflect the hope of war weary citizens of regaining the credibility we once enjoyed in the world, before becoming known globally as best mates to a neo-con oilman who loves a high stakes game that every day seems to be leading humanity closer to a place we don't want to go - Armageddon.

those who are looking forward to rudd getting in, ought to go back and read animal farm, it ends something like "couldn't tell the difference".

any pollie is closer to any other pollie than any pollie is like a people.

"Faced with a choice between certainty and uncertainty, they have always gone for certainty."
Regrettably, the only certainty about John Howard is that he won't change.
Death by water - now there's a good notion, but I'm not fixated on drowning as the only way.