I see Arjay is on his high horse [again] on those mysterious "hard yards" and 'rugged individualism'. Qualities that he never reveals lest others have done it harder than himself I suspect.

Hard yards? More like six inches of erect sausage sticking up from the middle of his head

I don't at all miss reading these horrible examples of "Journalism" that comes from the so called Surburban Intellectual Mags of wealthy Sydney siders.

It's funny how the word Socialist popped up about 5 or more times during the article. This "red is under the bed" fogey attitude delluding any hope of a factual or engaging argument .

This article was as misleading as any Socialist Propaganda is. As for Kevin Rudd, his "me too" politics style and honing in on the unpopular workchoices is his safest bet to win. To be a conservative is the easiest way to defeat the stubborn Howard who would happily be Prime Minister until let's say his mid nineties...if health permits ofcourse. The fact is Rudd and Labour are very similiar to Liberal. At it's best they might a few more social interests (e.g No more workchoices) but generally despite people like Gillard and Peter (who was he again) Garrett - the Labour party know the conservative Australian Electorate. So Conservative that we have collumist like this one who defines Socialism as lower Bank Charges when transferring money from a foreign Swiss Account.

A joke to say the least.

Rainer you have affirmed my argument.Now tell us how your philosophy with a socialists Govt will make Aust a better country?

I'm not even trying to bait you Rainer and you keep tugging my line.

I believe that this article should be offered a more public forum in national Op Ed pages, to allow the message of the dangers of nutty Kevin and his union buddies, to be more widely considered by the obviously irrational Australian voting public. I am sure that many people will immediately come around to your well argued case for sticking with John Winston Howard until his planned retirement from politics sometime at his leisure in the next few years. What a vision for a dynamic competitive Australia.

"..........by the obviously irrational Australian voting public." (Quote:Colin Campbell)

Really? I think you might be right. They certainly were. But they won't be this time...

Both party's and even those who support them have changed much in the last 50 years.
Once a true Socialist party the ALP is now only in the insults thrown by conservatives unable to confront the likely hood of rejection at this election.
Once a true Liberal party , Howard now seems for the present to own his party.
He one day will be called to answer by history and those who are tasked with rebuilding it.
However my childhood in a different time saw people who though like the threads author.
Born to rule, we working class, yes that was us then, had to hold our hats over our hearts to be talked down to ,another time not now.
Labor and its followers have 11 years of heart break behind us that heartbreak was daily and very real.
And mostly self imposed! we took idiot policy's to the elections, and more unlovable leaders last time.
Yes we did .
Now Howard and his little lady have in their own mind become our royal family, even denying the will of the front bench.
Self imposed defeat, threads like this highlight the party is no longer Liberal, no longer in touch with its heart land.
Right wing rabbits have fought for branch control and lost state elections they should have won.
Turn this around in a month or take your own 10 years in the wilderness.
Tapp, thanks for you service to another poster, mate understand low in come workers bound for even lower wages, are best served by a Labor government.
To win they must not be other than mainstream.