Belly if Gillard dropped the Carbon tax the balance would return to where it was, but Bob won't drop it, Labor has made some lifelong enemies from faithful friends this time around.

About what I was saying regarding Costello's brilliant financial stewardship, understand that it was about one point alone that I am grappling with Lexi over. My personal summation of Costello as treasurer is that under his watch Australian households credit debt grew by over 200% but the banks and industry had record NET profits. Whatever his balanced budgets did, they did not do anything for us.

belly,
As you know I am very cynical of both major parties, but the current government is the worst in my living memory and i intend to do all i can to be rid of them come next election. Dispite what you, Lexi, Susie and Poirot say, the Libs cannot be worse.

It is not just Gillard, but her big lie does not help, the Labor party puts too much emphasis on its leader and not enough on policy. You seem to go for pop star leaders over substance. Rudd was dropped because his polling dropped. Gillard replaced him "gee, our first woman PM, that must be worth a lot of votes" No reference to ability.

On the other hand Turnbul was dropped by the Libs because they disagreed with him on policy. See the difference?

I have seen a list of 50 Labor stuff ups (mine is not that long)and even this morning another emerged. NBN stuff up in Qld will delay roll out. Don't know extent yet but will come out. (add to list)

So having people, especially Ministers, with compedence is very important. That does not come from giving 'jobs for the boys'.

Dear Banjo,

Just a few corrections.

Tony Abbott has been all too happy to embrace the
irrational rage and conspiracy theory in his quest
to tear down Julia Gillard and get his hands on the
office of PM.

It was Abbott who marshalled disquiet among the climate
denialist factions of the Liberal Party to challenge
Malcolm Turnbull in November 2009, when a deal with
Kevin Rudd on the CPRS had already been done. It's
Abbott who has regularly tweaked his message to appeal
to those who don't believe in climate change.

Believing the science? Protecting the environment?
Perhaps not burning quite so much coal? Hardly a radical
agenda.

But that's the problem with climate change and politics in
general in 2011. It's because of politicians like Abbott
that these issues have become so thoroughly politicised
that many conservatives don't
believe Australia's top scientists regarding issues like
climate change. They really do see a sincere attempt by
the government to embark on a moderate reduction in
Australia's greenhouse gases emissions as a kind of
conspiracy to withdraw liberties and increase taxation.

In short, people are irrationally angry and one of the key
stokers of the conservative rage has been the utter
political expediency of conservative politicians like the
leader of the Opposition and his cheerleaders in the media.

Drawn by ruthless ambition, Abbott in recent times has
entertained few qualms in his pursuit of the government,
to the degree where he has been willing to attack the
government with virtually every weapon available.

Much like the US Republicans, the Liberal Party in Australia
has recently seemed surprisingly content in advancing
positions that clash with the legacy of the Party's more
noble traditions of reason and prudence in a libertarian assault
on the foundations of government itself. Robert Menzies
would not approve of what's currently going on in the party.

Lexi,
Must dosagree. The wheels fell off the AGW wagaon when it was reveled that the scientists were fiddling the figures and since then it has only got worse for them by more revelations about the work of the IPCC and the wild claims about massive sea level rises, etc. Rudd dropped the ETS because he could see it was unpopular.

But Labors troubles is not only about the carbon tax, there is a host of other issues that have been badly handled as well. The ideology on 'illegal' boat people was put before common sence, as there was no need to do anything. Labor made a rod for their own back on this and other matters.

I could produce my list, but why go on, you won't conceed and Belly probably will not heed my words so my argument is wasted here.

I will keep my powder dry until an election is called.

Dear Banjo,

Wise move.

I'll do the same.

There's no point in arguing when you
can see that you're not going to achieve
anything constructive. I guess politics,
religion, and possibly football are just a
few of the subjects
that bring out all sorts of emotive responses.

I have seen claims that are extraordinary, just today, here in OLO.
About this government, yours while not a view I share Bazz is well down the list.
Reality must play a roll, some of the comments are emotive and uninformed.
Some folk know little about subjects they comment on.
Now is it not true the polls show Abbott pounding Gillard.
Any one care to say not true.
The same polling, exactly, says if Gillard left/Rudd returned, Labor leads in the polls.
Why?
And why believe the polling that suits you but not the stuff you do not like?
I warn this country, while you look at Labor only,you ignore a party lost and straying from its life path.
Abbott is no leader his team may well win, if he leads then it is another train wreck.