What does the Robot R2ME2 Kevin Rudd and his appendages ,socialist Lizard Wonder Woman,Green Lurch have to offer us?Union lassise faire chaos,Gough Whitlam spending sprees,unemployment,inflation,high interest rates and recessions of the eighties and nineties?

R2ME2 is very quiet about future economic prosperity and short on policy.

Runawake. I am not particularly partisan in this. I am simply watching the "market". After the Haneef business I heard several comments from people who walked into my business (this is in Qld) along the lines of "What is Beattie talking about? He let Patel (AKA Dr Death) run away to the US. In fact Qld health PAID for his ticket". This was in reference to Premier Beattie calling the AFP Keystone Cops, after he and his govt had allowed a fella who may have caused 100 deaths to do a runner. Many voters would have preferred Dr Patel to have been "held" until the evidence was gathered. That scorn may be reflected in the Fed election, just as Mr Rudd is hoping for parochial Qld support. Meanwhile Howard is greeted by cheering medical staff (and a thankful community) in Tasmania. Meanwhile the unions are "on the nose" in WA. Meanwhile Bracks is playing it tough then chickening out in Victoria. And so on.

Each small ripple rolling toward the govt (or away from Labor) could soon be a wave. Thus turns the tide. It isn't definitive yet, but the signs are there. Cheers.

With John Howard and Kevin Rudd gearing up for their next face to face confrontation tomorrow when Parliament sits for the start of an eight-day stint, it's hard not to believe Rudd will have a psychological edge. Yesterday Michael Sullivan of Sportingbet Australia announced he had taken a $100,000 bet on Rudd winning the coming election. Sullivan said the unnamed punter got on at $1.70 and the size on the bet firmed the ALP to $1.60 favourites. "Punters have all but declared Rudd a certainty. At this stage we can't find a punter who wants to be on Howard and the Coalition," Sullivan said.

Given the Crosby-Textor research leaked today we see the reasons for John Howard's desperation.

Yaaawn.

This article seems like yet another painful way too much *in-my-face* attempt by a minority group Costello supporter to keep the pressure on for leadership change, trying any desperate measure possible.

It is too simplistic and unjustified to blame one man who has been an effective leader, for the diminishing fortunes of the government. The government generally - or more specifically, those collectively in control of its "brandname" - must share and take responsibility. There is also the electoral fatigue factor -- fatigue with the government as a collective! Finally, there is the Rudd factor.

It seems that there is probably more chance of a camel passing through the eye of a needle than Costello becoming PM

Wah wah wah. What rot. It's WorkChoices. Costello or Howard are gone, October, November or January. Iemma told them, before that Brack's,before that Rann and Lennon on the same day. The media does not understand it. The punters are angry, people know when they are worse off, no matter how stupid they are. The ghost of Bruce is amongst us, Punter get your money on Maxine, the odd's are still great, and she will bring it past the post.