Lexi
'He has stayed true to his beliefs' Yes even though his belief was a fairytale. Abbott also is sticking by his belief that man made gw is c-ap although he is a touch hypocritical by agreeing to the same targets. As for Gillard who advised Rudd to delay action and then promised no action and then did a filthy deal with the Greens and self centred independants ( that is as sleazy as it gets).

Lexi,

"My preference in politics doesn't lie with politicians who have a worrying tolerance for hate speech, or a noisy contempt for one's political opponents."

I guess that rules out Juliar and Swan for starters.

SM,

Thanks for proving my point.

As constant target of a double smear campaign, Swan and Gillard are entitled to a few disdainful words, in my view SM.

Particularly Wayne Swan, whom has already been recognised as having done a fine job as Australian Treasurer in International Forums, despite the bleatings of the LNP whom possess an economic plan that is nothing more than a wish list.

Harking back too my ascertains that Costello himself in the end left an un-funded black hole in the Federal Budget, I see still remains un-addressed by anyone on the conservative side of the discussion.

Frankly, I think that discussing the historical effect of LNP Govt's on Australia's economy would prove to be embarrassing for LNP supporters. If you looking for 3 things you would remember about the Howard Govt, (1) the GST, (2) children overboard, the drawing of the political race card), and (3) Workchoices. None of these things have enhanced our lives for mine.

As for your rabid view of boat people Austin, the defining factor as to the question of numbers arriving on our shores is dependent on the push, not the pull. Policy has far less to do with it than TA would have us think, supply and demand is determined by the level of conflict out there in the world.

Julia's going: it's a matter of time: by Dennis Shanahan

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/julias-going-its-a-matter-of-time/story-e6frg75f-1226344120623

"The Labor leadership is now an empty shell. Gillard has lost public support and internal party support, and her agreement with Peter Slipper and Craig Thomson in the parliament faces months of uncertainty as the federal police investigate allegations of Cabcharge fraud against the Speaker.

Despite the leadership vacuum, no challenges are planned, nor are challengers prepared to come forward."

Dear Rainier,

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the media hype -
especially from newspapers that have a very conservative
leaning - such as the paper you've cited from. It's all
too easy to speculate about leadership changes.
Especially when the Prime Minister is passing legislation
that is proving not to be popular. But that's what a
Prime Minister is supposed to do - to govern and legislate.
And not to seek the voter's approval on every piece of
legislation. That would be horrendous - and nonsense.

Talking about leadership changes - it is time
that the Liberal Party realised that Mr Abbott is a
millstone around the Liberal Party's neck. And that
the better alternative would be Malcolm Turnbull -
or any other competent front-bencher the Liberals have
to offer. Mr Abbott is simply too polarising and
unacceptable to 70 per cent of the population.