Butch as normal you have a firm grip of yourself. Would you really think Abbott would not do as Julia has done if it were he who was in the same situation.
How long before Abbott puts his foot in it again. What the early election date has done is probably stop Turnbull taking over, from Abbott, as was the plan in about 3 months time.
A proven mutant, if it aint written down by someone else , he is lost for words.
A long lead up to an election , will give him enough time to double cross him self 200 times.
So take it easy butch , there is no rush.

Belly,
Maybe AGW is not a PC argument but I agree with Newman, now is not the time to discuss such. There is too much to be done now, getting people back in homes and restoring services and cleaning up, etc.

The time to discuss all matters relating to the floods is after the work is done.

For a practical bloke, you amaze me that you believe in AGW as there is still not evidence of human involvement in any change in climate. The CO2 theory has taken a hit as there has been no warming for 16 years despite record ammounts of carbon being emitted. We are aware of many things in nature that humans have no influence over. Tides, eartquakes and so on, so why do some think we have an influence on the world climate. It is a religion because those that believe do so without evidence.

On top of this the 'experts' predictions have all been found wanting and corruption was found among the scientists promoting AGW. It really made me laugh when Rudd claimed a few hot days in Adelaide was evidence of AGW, before leaving for Copenhagen. This year the alarmists were at it again over a few hot days in january, at the same time unprecedented cold was covering the Northern hemisphere.

Sorry but I think the ALP picked the wrong horse in this race. The best stategy is to remain sceptical untill clear evidence comes along.
The number of believers in AGW is dwindling each day.

Since I've run out of posts on SM's thread - and Thomson's case "is" political.

I'm inserting this link here....spindoc and others will be interested in tearing it apart, although Greg Barnes, being a barrister probably has a healthier notion of the presumption of innocence than the rabble on OLO.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4495056.html

Belly, in answer to your questions,
one, yes I do think the climate is changing, but then again I can remember it changing in the 70's with floods and cyclones common place.

Two, yes I do think we contribute, as I simply can't believe that we don't contribute by allowing so much polution, that we generate, from cars, trucks factories, even increased animal food production. Unfortunately, there appears to be no science to confirm this, so given I am no scientist, I have no option other than to accept thier view.

Three, the key word in your question is WE, as we are just a very small contributor in the global climate change.

If it were an Australian climate change issue I would understand the price on carbon, but it's simply not and, in uncertain financial times, the last thing we need is a trading handicap.

579, I think you would agree that with the timing of the election call, and CT arrest, labor is currently leading the stuff up race one nil.

Self praise is no recommendation.
I understand that.
And know my words here will brand me a big head.
But in current company any one who can see both sides is going to find it difficult not to stand out.
First not too many who express silly thoughts right down to stupid stuff, are not going to make any difference come election day.
My mate Banjo, in effect, says after a road wreck, the last people we need are those who investigate and ask, why did it happen!
Those here to defend my lifes love the ALP, too must know, we are nackered, by our own hand.
And if defending us, as blindly as the Liberals here defend their team, we deserve no better.
We must act right now, some members of parliment are, by leaving a sinking ship.
Act to never again, see NSW LABOR PTY LTD OWNS US.
To get an end to our power brokers, stop Steven Conroy or Bill Shorten being rewarded for stabbing us, and our leader.
Fear, justified, of Abbott and or his replacement is sweat well invested.
But look at what we face in our own party.
Rudd may leave too, on the last day it is clear he will not be returned he may go.
Is Australia worth fighting for?
Can balanced understanding posters, not see we are given the choice of tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber?

Yes Belly, that's exactly what it has come to.

I knew that several years ago, and I say this as Julia replaced what was our most popularly voted PM since Bob, and was in labor's own words, a better option.

The slide was obvious, as she struggled to keep pace with Tony, who himself came a distant second to John Howard, as far as popularity and respect went.

Since bargaining her way into office, Julia has spent more time suring up her position, than actually running the country, Craig Thompson, Peter Slipper and the hasty way she called a ballot against Kevin Rudd, as she knew she had to act fast, as the people, not the faceless men, wanted Kevin and she knew it.

It is either a coincidence, or yet another show of damage control by her when she called an election some 220 odd days latter, about the same time as CT was arrested.

My tip is it's the later.

As a PM she has gone from disaster to disaster and has spent more time sleeping with one eye open than any other PM in recent history.

As I have often said, politics here in Oz is simply a race to the bottom.