perhaps the deeper issue is the intelligence and character of politicians. you wouldn't dare hand your power of attorney to such people, yet you are content to hand over power to run the country.

maybe the deeper-still issue is the ignorance and servility of the electorate.

Thanks Foxy, I am yet to decide on my vote (having the opportunity to vote for the first time due to my recently acquired citizenship) - though am swinging more one way than the other I have to admit. But I am absolutely with you on the way to rectify ... they should have sacked the sitting candidate and Jacqui Kelly. Taken a strong stand on what can only be described as criminal behaviour - or at best, behaviour not befitting of people running the Liberal party.

When it comes to marriage, I think there was a parallel drawn with Kevin Rudd's wife and her business interests affecting Labour's decisions? So in this case the marital situation mattered, but now it doesn't ...

Now the Labor Party would not be involved in dirty tricks,would they?

Don't you love the high almighty Labor supporters who see their sacred party as being the only one to hold the high moral ground.
No mention of how Cronulla was seen soley as a the fault of anglo racists,when in fact the locals had been putting up with racial abuse from Lebanese Gangs for decades.That episode was a shameful manipulation of a community under seige by these thugs and the left wing media and Iemma made the Local Cronulla people scapegoats.What a farce!

The "New Progressives" of Julia Gillard's ilk are the same old socialists who will destroy our economy as they have done before.

Dear Arjay,

Just a little something to 'lighten' things up ...

Men who think they know it all are a pain in the neck to those of us who really do (smile).

And, what's the difference between a politician and all other men?
Honesty.

Actually Arjay, that was a very apt summary of conservative persuasion techniques.

Boo! Socialists! Lebanese! Economy! WhoOoOOo!

Corri, I asked some serious questions, for all to consider. Do you really think the Howard/Costello camp would answer them … in a reasoned and rational way – judge for yourself?

DEMOS is right – there is a deeper issue about the “ignorance and servility of the electorate.”

Corri, you say this thread is far too one-sided, but do you really think we can expect anything more?

At least Arjay gives an attempt to justify the actions of the Howard/Costello machine.

Problem is, there are intransigents out there that will deny anything that casts dispersions on their belief system – it seems they have an inability to differentiate truth from fiction, right and wrong - as the Liberals have so clearly demonstrated (Howard/Costello would be spitting chips that Kelly/Chijoff were caught out and now are distancing themselves of course).

People stuck in the past accuse others of adopting the “high moral ground” when they feel their own stance is threatened by the morals they themselves purport to advance – they are hypocrites and sadly, don't know it.

We can see an example here on this thread. We see it elsewhere; on the AWB scandal, Tampa and “children overboard”, climate change, work “choices”, Telstra sale, Senate control, human rights, national security, Iraq war, indigenous and racial issues, Bushism, auditor general's report, interest/inflation rates, fear, fear, fear, and so on.

The recalcitrant claim “reds under the beds” and invoke negativity in the minds of the willing.

Excuse me Corri/Foxy, these people’s brains are stuck in the sand and refuse to live in the 21st century – deny and delay is their mantra, power and control is their aim.

Foxy, you’re nice – and if it wasn’t so serious, I could lighten up.

TRTL, you have lightened me up … but,

I am as mad as hell and refuse to take any more – I AM OUTING … I VOTED LIBERAL LAST TIME … NOT THIS TIME!