Not sure how I will feel on the 8th. Won't be happy with either Abbott or Rudd as PM. If one of the two majors has to win (and that is a given in a 2-party dominated system) my wish is an ALP win but 1. Rudd loses his own seat and 2. Lots of good independents, Greens and minor party contenders in the Senate to keep the incumbents honest.

YES!!

My thoughts exactly, Pelly.

Are you pair mad?

You have just described a recipe for an Italian or French type parliament, with total chaos.

OK Luddy, if as you tell me, you are not rusted on, perhaps you are rusted off. Off good sense that is.

The last "Mediawatch" program has a bit to say about the "real" Rudd and the character assassination by Murdoch press, with a nice spot on Rupert himself talking about enjoying the exercise of power and media concentration (towards the end).

Just a question diverting from the topic, but how is it we are supposed to be having a (concocted) "budget emergency" when we're all going to kick goals and be winners despite a current and predicted revenue shortfall? Are the "prominent Australians" chosen by the LNP over Treasury to vet its figurings simply going to ignore basic facts in taking their part in its ruse? I wait to find out with bated breath.

The 'real' Kevin Rudd stood up last night at the Rooty Hill RSL and outperformed Tony Abbott on a question and answer format. Rudd came across as the more positive of the two with generally better answers to the audience questions than Abbott.
Pelican I'm can't follow your logic with Labor winning and Rudd losing his seat.
"Lots of good independents, Greens and minor party contenders in the Senate to keep the incumbents honest." I support competent independents being elected in the lower house but as Hasbeen said you can end up with an Italian or French type parliament. What we do need is a bit less adherence to the party line and more input into the public debate by Labor and Conservative members in general.
The Senate is vital as a house of review and the present balance is what is most effective in avoiding unmandated legislation, like "work choices" being introduced by the government of the day, because they can.
If Abbott wins the The Greens and others in the Senate have a responsibility to pass legislation for which the government has been given a mandate, even rubbish which gives $75,000 to millionaire baby makers, Abbott would have a mandate for that, and should not be opposed.
I am confident 3 years of Abbottism is just what Australia needs, if he lasts that long. After 3 bumpy years the people will "see" how good conservatives are in government. It will be the rejuvenation that the progressives and left side of politics need

<< Are you pair mad? >>

Haz, what’s mad about this…

1. Labor is more progressive than the Coalition. They’ve got a better longer-term outlook, while Abbott’s mob is basically hunkering down in the same old tried-and-failed short-term-focussed strategies.

2. Labor would be better off if Rudd wasn’t there. They’d have a better chance of extending their proactive policy platform into a sustainability-oriented one.

3. We’d all be better off with a Labor government that did this than with a mob of Coalition incompetents!

4. Even they didn’t do this, they’d still be better than the Coalition…. although only just!

5. Rudd absolutely does not deserve to be PM, due to his incredible stuff-up with border-protection, his increase in immigration as soon as he won power in 07 and other misdemeanours.

6. A few independents and minor party reps would be good in the mix, although not holding the balance of power.