58.5-41.5 Morgan Poll today. :)

Nuff said.

I have good reason to be terrified Ruawake

Rudd will never be like John Howard, I'm not saying Howard is perfect, but the only reason Rudd is leading the ALP is he is the best pick of a poor bunch, just think how much further Australia would be if we had a strong opposition to our government, someone to push them to be better, bring new ideas and policies.
Instead we have the ALP who’s best policy idea is, its time for a change, 12years of sitting on the side line and that’s all they really have, that and waiting to see which public opinion poll they should follow next.
Australia needs more doers in Government, less lawyers and people whose first interest is to cover there arse, instead of getting the job done.
I would like to see someone like Dick Smith in politics, someone with ethics, character and a true love for our country not his own ego and status.
If Rudd was more interested in Australia and Australians, than himself then he would go a little further.

Afzo. The coalition did not create the boom; they facilitated and prepared for it. When the Govt inherited the hopelessly inefficient waterfront, the Federal Debt and outdated taxation system, they set about getting Australia ready for when a "boom" should appear. Thus the pitched waterfront battles to triple productivity and to break Union Power. Then elimination of the debt, along with the $9 Billion per year needed to service it. Then reductions in company/individual taxation rates, as well as raising of threshholds for individuals (paid for out of the saved $9 Billion?). Added to that all types of investment incentives (out of the $9 Billion?) Then, strong encouragement to get people off the dole/off welfare and ready for working in many very well-paid jobs. All these measures, needless to say, were opposed vigorously by Labor.

Had labor been in Power as the embryonic "boom" began, it would've stalled immediately; the ports hopelessly unprepared. Of course, in the event of a downturn, the coalition has clearly positioned Australia brilliantly to counter it. Flush with cash, the option to pump-prime is now available. The GST, so vehemently opposed by Labor (ho hum; more economic ignorance) now takes pressure off the Commonwealth to give states grants, thereby maintaining funds for harder times.

Here are two questions to ask Mr Rudd. A) How will he know what policy to follow when he hasn't got Howard to SHOW him what to do? and B) What would he have done about the warld's least efficient waterfront if he'd been PM throughout the 90's? I'm not sure about the answer to A but to B it is "Whatever the unions wanted". Or? Cheers.

Pegasus. The left has not disappeared? Do you mean they've all died, or what? Haven't you noticed where they are? Try having a look, for instance at the Australia/Venezuala Solidarity Site which supports a declared socialist (Mr Chavez) and has a list of prominent Australians who want him to come to Australia to "educate" us. 70% of the signatories are Union Officials! All of them are ALP members! Now you know where they are.

What did those damn socialists do ? Well they deregulated banking...and reduced tariffs..oh, and they floated the dollar..and they flogged off which bank ?..and introduced national competition policy ..

Somehow I struggle to picture Kevin 07 locked arms with with Hugo and Fidel singing the .

Young Liberals are funny , they're like old time Marxists without the berets and facial hair.

Hey Punter. Good Aussie name. Like it mate.

As to my socialist comments. I thought we were talking about Australia not Venezuala. Are there any people in Australia who believe in socialist ideals and ideas? Of course but there's no political party other than the Greens who have anything like socialist policies. There's also people who believe in white supremacy but they don't have a Party either do they? Unless you count the Libs who they support under the table.

Unless you were too young or asleep the left moved to the right when Hawke stole the Libs ground in the 80's. As such there is right, (Rudd and Labor, look at how State govts operate, similar to Howard) far right (Howard), middle right (Attilla the Hun) and the "left", Greens. As in "what's left?", not lefties.

Those who hang on to the leftie and socialist rubbish are talking about the past, not today. If you want to discuss the world's political views then write an item instead of introducing irrelevant comments here.

If you question that please tell me what Labor policies Rudd has that are socialist. Do take note though that Howard uses one of the most socialist policies of all. Medicare. Is he a socialist?

Communicat obviously hasn';t heard Costelloe's comments from "that book" where he is "worried" by Howard's over spending pre elections. But you don't agree with Costello do you? The wonder Treasurer. Is he right about Howard or not? An answer would be good.

As RU wrote. 58.5 / 41.5.