Another piece of R & R (rant & rave) piece by an Australian journalist - long of rhetoric and short on fact.

If this the best that can be offered as 'informed opinion' then you will understand why I no longer read much Australian journalism.

To present Kevin Rudd as a slight variation on John Howard is to miss an awful lot of very important differences which already are starting to emerge: signing on to Kyoto; planning to reduce Australian troops in Iraq; new policies in health and education; and so on. And this just after three weeks in office. Many switched their votes to Rudd after too many lies and misrepresentations from Howard, too many very careful usage of words to misrepresent and too much emphasis on economics to the detriment of other important aspects of our society. If Rudd turns out to be nothing more than Howard in new clothes then I for one will be severely disappointed. I do not expect this to be the case !

Drivel....pure and simple-minded twaddle.

The most surprising thing about that article is that it appeared in a highly conservative American publication, and concluded that the the Labor government was "right wing"! By American standards, even the Howard government was practically left wing, supporting as it did socialised health-care and tertiary education.
Of course, by northern (continental) European standards, even the Greens here would barely qualify as "left of centre".

A fair and balanced presentation in my view. Contrary to one comment, signing Kyoto has no practical consequence, and there is little difference in practice in Rudd's plans for Iraq. There will be a lot of (non-creative) tension between Rudd's wish to cement Labor in government and those left of him who hope to move the government leftwards.

Yes! fair and reasoned comment. It concerns me however that the most successful and stable government in living memory is tossed out in favour of a party touting all manner of indescript and vague polices whilst all the time purporting to be "Economic Conservatives". "Latent spendthrift tendancies" indeed. Surely all those under 35's 'Howard Haters' arn't expecting to be better off in 12 months. This election outcome is the wake up call you had to have, that you could of avoided, if you'd been around to learn from the past.