Mirko you really don't like Rudd, do ya? Neither do I!

I would much rather Rudd pumping money into the lower echelons of the economy to keep it turning over than [Turnbull/Costello] slashing government spending so the government doesn't go into deficit thus plunging the economy into a deep slowdown, of severe recession or depression magnitude.

Smirko is pretty second-rate when it comes to analysis, not to mention history.

First he tells us that:

"The worst we can say is that Kevin Rudd is displaying a level of breathtaking cynicism the likes of which Australian political life has not seen for many a year." For many a year.

His very next sentence?

"The only thing that comes close is the way that the Liberal Party used concerns about terrorism and boat people in 2001 to craft a governing narrative built around the politics of "strong on national security". Comes close eh? I would have thought locking up asylum seekers and their children and milking security fears for political motives was a tad more cynical than writing an essay in a struggling journal.

'Cynical' seems to be Smirko's magic word. According to him, Lindsay Tanner has a big dose of it. Then he would have us accpet that "the government is spending on the poor because economists cynically inform us that they have a greater propensity to spend transfer payments". Economists, no less. Cynics.

Smirko's penultimate sentence?

"The Rudd essay is a political tract designed to fashion a narrative where hitherto none has existed and to opportunistically establish mastery over his political opponents in much the same fashion that Howard was able to achieve following September 11, 2001.

To fashion a narrative where hitherto none has existed? Hitherto none has existed? In much the same fashion as Howard? The likes of which hasn't been seen for many a year? Are you getting confused? Smirko certainly is.

This is the same Smirko who told us the beginning that John Howard and the Liberal Party "used concerns about terrorism and boat people in 2001 to craft a governing narrative...". So the cynicsm is recurrent?

When it comes to cynicism in Australian politics - and writing about it - there are many competitors and a long history.

Surely OLO can find someone a little more competent to analyse Rudd's latest essay?

"The Rudd essay is a political tract designed to fashion a narrative where hitherto none has existed and to opportunistically establish mastery over his political opponents in much the same fashion that Howard was able to achieve following September 11, 2001."

But Marko, have you actually read the essay? Not much evidence of that.

Sledging doth not an analysis make.

Bille and Spikey, the author is Marko Beljac, just in case you were getting him mixed up with Mirko Bagaric. Susan P - ed

He wrote this year 8 indoctrinate essay; - whilst slouching around, ravaging for food and shelter in his 10 thousand dollar a week Holiday house? - You got to love socialism- especially when you are on top of the pyramid.
He has a point with urgent Government reform though.
Here is an Idea- Sack the blooming Lot- State and Federal- and all the useless idiot parasites gravy train’s . Trough snorting looters and all the Ideological psychopath witchdoctors.
There you have it , Australia will recover from the Ruddster in a matter of month

Funny stuff All-! :)