Lexi I live just out side both areas.
You are quite right.
In SM a little Tony Abbott lives.
In the coming months, may be weeks, Labor will have leadership.
It is still tainted by deliberate ignoring of Rudd's blemishes, with intent to take his place.
Reality is staring this country in the face.
Truth and good policy is not an issue.
On both sides.
Labor is out standing ,on the back bench, and in parts of its Cabernet.
Rudd lost his return ticket, he could have breezed back in right now, but he lost his chance.
Knowing what he knew he unleashed,during an election, you can not do that.
But a horror awaits us all, conservatives are going to win, without almost instant leadership change.
And win with no policy's or direction, another generation of Australians Will l live in a false and fraudulent time, as was the case post 1975, in a dirty pool built and filled by conservatives and Medea Barons remote from other than their cooperate interests.
Power has controlled this country's politics before.

Dear SM,

You are entitled to your opinion. However, that's all it is. Polls are only good for the time in which they're taken, and then it depends on the questions asked (remember the Republic referendum?), and the people interviewed. We all know things can change in a flash. You keep putting Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor down, and forecasting their doom. I too have relatives in Port Macquarie - and they don't agree with your take on things. Also, I wonder if you'd still be forecasting doom and gloom had they decided to support Tony Abbott during the last election? As Tony Windsor stated - Abbott begged them to be made PM.

I watched Q and A last night - if you didn't - you should try to get hold of last night's transcript of the show. It will be available after 2pm today. It just may give you an indication of what people are actually feeling about the government. As Anna Rose, Youth Climate Coalition, and Judge Felicity Hampel - County Court of Victoria, indicated - people are looking at long term solutions, not
quick fixes and instant gratification. And when things do come to fruition, when the 2011-12 Budget will get Australia back in the black, when more people are in jobs, when opportunities are more spread out, when there is a bigger workforce and more targeted investments in skills and training, and measures are put in place to encourage participation - when there is a regional solution to the refugee problem, et cetera - Abbott's rhetoric will end up on the dust bin of history - where it belongs.

cont'd ...

A small correction - I shouldn't refer to Abbott's "rhetoric," as they say on the news - it is a mindless, repeatitive mantra about nothing. "Blah, Blah, Blah,!" is all that's heard.

Dear Belly,

Make a note. Australian voters are not that stupid. Why on earth would they vote for someone who says nothing, offers nothing, and
simply condemns, attacks, and bleats. The same goes for the other party members. Did you watch Q and A last night? Eric Abetz was so out of sinc - coming across as a neanderthal - where do they get these people? You know what's coming the minute you see Abbott's face on television. I simply change the channel. And the same goes for all of his colleagues - Joe Hockey is an embarrassment (I used to like him once). But man, he's blustering, and arrogant...

Anwyay, wait and see what happens in the next three years - it's too early to judge yet. All the doom and gloom will disappear when the government achieves results - empty mantra's and fear mongering won't be able to compete with positive outcomes.

Sorry Lexi I am not holding my breath.
It is true Abbott is nothing.
But he soon may be gone Turnbull is a harder target,
We [ALP] are getting leadership change watch and wait.

Lexi,

It must be very frustrating for you that while you disagree with what Abbott says, but the rest of the "stupid" voters seem to be listening to him.

The labor and coalition voters are not as harmongenous as they used to be, and Abbott has been carefully eroding labor's support in one segment at a time, such as visits to steel works (union supporters). His other focus is Labor's incompetence and continuous backflips and broken promises. We are sure to hear more about the Building the Entertainment revolution.

Juliar might be talking up a storm, but the chances are that she will change her story whenever convenient, and so her word carries no weight.

It is interesting that the Greens support is also eroding.