I am unhappy that Rudd, Gillard and Abbott are all discussed in such negative terms. I think they possibly all got into politics with mixed motives. Among their motives were personal ambition and a sincere desire to make things better. I see nothing wrong with either motive. I think Gillard is the best of the three. However, Abbott may even turn out to be a good prime minister. I regard Rudd as a failure, and as Keating said, the souffle does not rise twice.

One reason all three are discussed in such negative terms is that the media focuses on their personal qualities rather than their policies. I would be unhappy with any of them as a next door neighbour. However, one might be a lousy next door neighbour and a perfectly good prime minister.

Hi there DAVID F...

I quite like your summation on the 'terrible trio', perhaps Mr Abbott may well make a half decent Prime Minister, until he's elected it's all rather a matter of pure speculation ?

Your correlation, as to who you'd prefer as your next door neighbour was again interesting given you'd prefer none of them ? I'm in the same boat, as I'm sure none of them would care to reside in our modest neighbourhood ? I suppose at the end of the day, it's real, honest to goodness leadership that's needed in this country, together with some plain, good old fashioned (transparent) honesty ! I suppose we don't have a need to like our Prime Minister, just as long as we can trust him/her with whatever decision(s) they make.

As an example say, boat people ? If they promise to stop the boats, then stop them. If they have no intention of stopping the boats, don't give an undertaking that they will ! Misleading or deceptive conduct, will very quickly disillusion the entire electorate, as well as casting a dark shroud of uncertainty and cynicism amongst the voting public. And if they can't stop them at all, then admit it, without trying to shift the blame to others for your mistake in judgement. Often a government initiated, bi-partisan approach, will give the government more 'brownie points' than any attempts to blame the other side.

The electorate are NOT stupid, not at all. Any evidence of recurrent effectuation of either; deception, obfuscation, or mendacity, by any 'alleged' responsible government, will very quickly turn the electorate completely against them ! And if perpetrated enough, people will simply stop listening altogether, whatever the truth is they may be trying to get across !

<< How Labor can get themselves with 2 such horrible people their only choice for leader I really can not understand, but surely they could come up with at least someone better than this pear. >>

Right on Hazza.

I don’t get it. And I don’t understand how you and the good people of OLO cannot consider or promote anyone else as Labor leader. They have MUCH better people than this ‘pear’.

As I have said many times, Bob Carr and Kelvin Thomson would make excellent leaders. Also Craig Emerson. And just about every other sitting member would be better than the incumbent and former PM!

It's been a perfect act of self destruction, this past three years.

As I said back in 2010, given enough rope they will self destruct and I couldn't have written the script any better, as they have done a marvelous job.

Not only have they self destructed, but they will take those back stabbing independents with them, hopefully along with the greens as well.

They (labor) are screwed, because they can't be negative in their campaign, because the past two terms are full of negatives.

They can't be positive, because nothing positive has happened, unless of cause you call passing legislation and dreaming up UNFUNDED policies, a positive.

As for Kevin, my tip is he has a nice little job lined up, but is hanging around to offer a glimmer of hope to the poor old, easily led, or should I say, miss led, followers.

If not for the FOUR HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR PRICE TAG, I would be suggesting the past three years was well worth the wait.

Oh well, once again we will leave it up to the libs to pull us out of the poo.

Until next time.

David Gillard insults us daily by expecting us to believe the rubbish she spouts. You can't expect to insult people without copping it back. As I said the insults are simply hers bouncing back to where they come from.

Luddy did I really do that? Well it is probably because it's such a fruity subject.

Dear Hasbeen,

No politician on the scene today has a monopoly on rubbish. I don't feel insulted at all by Gillard. I think she has a lot of guts and is a clever politician. She outsmarted Abbott in getting the independents to back her government. Frankly I am somewhat afraid of Abbott and of what will happen to the environment when he gets in. Somewhat but not completely afraid. If, as seems probable, he will get in Abbott may prove to be conscientious in preserving our environment. What politicians say when they are out of power may be quite different from what they do when they get in power. There may be nothing at all wrong with that. In order to do their job properly they may realise that it is best to do something other than what they said they would do.

Newman has been trying to make the cities inside the Great Barrier Reef iron ore and coal ports. With shipping going in and out there it is only a matter of time before there are more oil spills and damage to the reef. I think Tony Burke in declaring national Parks in the seas around Australia has done a great job in preserving our fisheries by giving fish breeding places. He is concerned with Australia's future in contrast with Newman who seems only concern with next quarter's balance sheet.