You raise an interesting discussion here, runner.

I think everyone is entitled to a basic level of respect, and I think the office of the PM is entitled to some considerable respect, too. However, I don't think anyone deserves any more respect purely because they have taken that office. Julia Gillard, in my opinion, is as fair game as any other person who puts herself out there as a public figure and, in doing so, invites close scrutiny. If she stuffs up, she does so on a public stage and is open to criticism.

That said, the criticism should (in my opinion) be framed in the same basic way that we frame our criticisms of other people. Name-calling, for example, is puerile and disrespectful. I find it rather sad that people resort to calling her 'Juliar', just as I find it sad that people call our current premier (here in QLD) 'Anna Blight'. The former may be a liar, the latter may be a blight on our state, but it is my opinion that cheap shots like this say more about the insulter than the person being insulted.

Similarly, mocking earlobes, ears, budgie smugglers, penchants for lycra, daggy clothing and bogan voices suggest that the attacker has no real argument to lean on and has to refer to cheap blows. Ridiculing a foolish decision is one thing; ridiculing a person for who and what they are (as a product of genetics, upbringing or surf club affiliation) is another altogether.

Indeed Pelican- though to be honest I think the improbability that Keating or Rudd would go ahead with a Workchoices policy is really only because they wouldn't want to alienate workers unions and their votes than any principle against it- and that includes their regular voting base.

Are we Representative of public debate.
You bet we are.
We are just as likely as any human to both over estimate our own thoughts/opinions ideas.
And denigrate our politicians.
We look at them from our place in the world,our needs and wishes.
No different than the not in my back yard mob.
We make demands on a bucket of cash, ignoring that bucket is the only cash we have.
We find it so easy to find fault, in all but our self.
Life/politics is, at best,compromise.
I understand why others have different views than me,that is why humanity has progressed out of the caves.
Understanding our own words and opinions, strengths and weaknesses are no different than anyones is hard to except but needed.
Last? understanding just a few, are quite incapable of considered thought, that too is reality,Why we invented words like Bigot.

Belly:>>We make demands on a bucket of cash, ignoring that bucket is the only cash we have.<<

Belly given your political persuasion it is difficult to find credibility in your "we find fault in all but ourselves" and the above statement.

FIVE SHORT YEARS AGO WE HAD A 20 BILLION DOLLAR BUCKET OF CASH, NOW WE HAVE A BUCKET WITH A HOLE THAT REACHES WAY DOWN TO AN 80 BILLION DOLLAR DEBT.

Wake up, talk facts, not scatter gun rhetoric that blames the sheep and not the drovers dog.

with all respect due..[lexie]

you say...""The Internet is great!""

do i read..sarcasm?

""It's a place..where:..People can go on
and make comments about others

they
don't actually know,""

now lets be fair
i know julia...have 'known'..her public/face..for years

i have personally heard her say...
'no carbon tax'..'govt i lead'

i have studied many pm's
personally spoken with many of them

i know how the system works..and have long reviled how it works

for you to say we collectivly dont know
mate lets be honest..most of us talk..*from our previous experiences

by what little we are let to know

KNOW..thats not our fault..
[its those..who hide]

but you compound that
you only think..[presume us..to NOT know]

how do you..'know'?

you said
we dont know..""or what drives them""

again dear lexie

the party machine backdoor mens club
run by the public servants..and collusive groups
of business/public services...running the 2 party scam

is a thing i know
[was invited to join
and refused in a firm manner,]

""and make assertations""

assurtion..:'in confident
and forcefull statement'

juliar frequently does firmly
confidently..and forcefully assert..her ass-osiations/assertation's

ya really think she dont?

she is also adept..at casting dispertions
and application of spin and inuendo

she can give as good..as she is given
[much..im presuming..as you can]

and sure you dont take
the personal attack low road
but she sure as heck does..!

""about things
without personally knowing the details,""

mate i comment on things..i was forced to learn
from personal experience..

no one could know
the complete circumstances..but me..
[and the others assosiated..with the experiences]

""the circumstances,
the motivations involved,or the contexts
in which events..took place.""

clearly your talking in generality
not specifics...either

""And they""

*as you

""can do this and have
complete confidence..that
they actually know..what they're
talking about.""

i cant refute..that you think to know
but if you think..you got some evidence?

then by all means...present it

""Gotta love it!""

there is no..gotta nuthing

i will cry..if i so chose
or laugh..lol

you know her better?
please explain?

Respect?
SOG I respect your right to an opinion.
But not your opinion, or understanding.
Not your over estimation of that understanding.
Mate not the idea it is, in every matter we clash over, me who needs to wake up.
But now just maybe,a chance exists, we are both wrong.
See I think, yep, true, any one who thinks only the view they hold has Merritt.
Is insane, or has closed the door to learning anything forever.
LOOK at the rest of the world, CRISIS,look at us.
Who can say if we acted differently we too may be now and forever in a depression.
You claim a left background a Socialist bent.
I can see nothing of that in you.
Bloke,you in your twisted twin towers USA did it , can never convince me of anything.
Respect may just be you dropping the inference I am a lessor man than you for being so proudly different that you.