Gday foxy, well in some ways a return to the Menzies era may be just what the people want.
That true old fox valued accountability and a few of Howard's cabinet would be gone if serving under him.
I invite others thoughts on DEMOS and the idea we are worse of for party politics.
I truly fear fragmentation of Parliaments world wide, some country's appear to be basket cases forever because of such practices.
Howard is gone, no rabbit out of his hat this time only about 8% of us are not already committed.
It would take almost all of the non committed to go for the old fellas old ideas to turn this election.
Medea experts are giving the debate to Rudd I can see why Mrs Howard is unwilling to let old John have another two.

Belly, I remember the last time Jo Bjelke-Petersen was re-elected in Queensland in the 80s. We all thought he was far too old for another term and had practically no chance. Everyone I knew thought that anyway. He was a lot older and of far more obvious senility than Howard is now.

So don’t Howard out.

I’ve got very strong feelings on how I’m going to vote. But I still wouldn’t say that I am committed to that vote. I’m receptive to what Howard and Rudd have got to say and I’m willing to change my vote if either of them can somehow convince me of that (currently I feel that neither of them deserve my vote).

I reckon it is the same for many who think that they are committed to voting in a certain way. I bet the potential swinging vote is much greater than 8%.

Lets get in on record I think I have an understanding of Australian politics.
And have zero doubt Rudd will win, in a mini landslide.
Why? passing for policy's the conservative fear and lies are not policy's.
I suspect both party's will regret not spending that tax rebate on health schools water and yes training future generations.
But the horse called self interest always wins, both party's lacked the guts to return that money via services.
Hold me accountable, understand many who will vote do not understand the AWB scandal, climate change turn around by Howard, and a host more but Rudd will win.
Believe me! the unions in charge thing is rubbish!, not now not ever will Rudd let that happen.
Howard had a chance to smear Rudd and took it.
Search however for your self the complete turn around John Howard is doing on Iraq, climate change and what ever else he can steal from Labors policy's.
Those who remember know Sir Robert Menzies did the same quite often.
On the record Kevin Rudd will win, and do a very good job.

Bugger! That confounded missing word syndrome strikes again. Correction to my last post;

Don’t COUNT Howard out!

So what happened to the ‘count’?! It was there when I sent the post. Frrrrk!!

Belly,

“On the record Kevin Rudd will win”

Yeah most likely.

“and do a very good job.”

Now that I seriously doubt….because he’s basically just gonna be a Howard imitator.

What do you think he would do significantly differently that would result in an overall assessment of him having done a good job at the end of his first term?

I would like to side step that one Ludwig, but truth has value.
I am on record both as a Rudd detractor and supporter, I held high hopes for Bill Shorten, still do.
Rudd convinced me to switch from a great bloke Kim Beasley, he has turned my party's head in the right direction.
He has my total support now and forever, he however will not restore union power in the workplace.
He by good government and actions that seem not Labor ones , by the time he leaves office have restored the ALP name in financial management.
He indeed is a financial conservative at just the right time for the ALP.
He will indeed act on climate change and Iraq ,yet strengthen our ties with America not weaken them.
I could go one for pages, it will take place , but what do you expect of a renewed Howard government?
Are any of his pledges non core promises?
How many more flip flops like climate change can old John do while charging Labor with not having a policy?
Let us return to Rudd how is he doing 12 months after he takes office and he will be liked by even more.

Enter the Clowns:

Here we go!..Here we go again!...(You can sing along to it if you want to!)....the good old-fashioned rhetoric espoused by the two major contenders in the (yawn!) forthcoming Federal Election.

The bombastic and ill-conceived promises of exorbitant expenditure by both of the hopeful combatants, using the well-worn adage of "Mine is bigger than yours!"....(Q: How can you tell when a Politician is lying?...A: His lips move!)...and by the way, that wasn`t a worm, it was a snake coming from each of their mouths!

Well Possums (Ostriches) I have some really bad news for you all out there in Droughtyland,...all of those promises, if they are kept, have to be paid for out of the Public Purse, which means that on top of the rapidly escalating food, fuel, housing and other commodity items,....the inevitable sure-fire way to gather the extra revenue required to fund them all, will be the increase in the GST levy from the current 10% to between 15% and possibly 20%, ...which will bring tears to your eyes!

If only we had the chance of electing to Leadership, a politician who had just one ounce of "intestinal fortitude", we may just possibly see a genuine effort to curtail the present outrageous and totally unsustainable level of indebtedness that is leading the this country down the road to ruination!

Envisage the future!....Australia with depleted mineral resources and no farmers to produce food!

Everybody wants it ALL now,...but nobody will want to accept the responsibility when it all goes bad!