Yet another stupid statement form K Rudd, leading into the election.

He said he would reverse the changes made to single patenting payments, WHEN THE BUDGET ALLOWS FOR IT.

What a joke!

So one can only assume this means once Gonski is funded, with no money.

Then there's the NDIS that has to be funded, with no money.

Of cause there is the blow out of the NBN, again placing unplanned pressure on the budget, and of cause, we have Kevins very own illegals debacle that has to be soughted.

So, at what point does he think the budget would be in a position to allow for it.

Seriously, during this campaign he has literally taken one foot out, only to make room for the other.

At least Julia Gillard would be feeling a bit better of late, knowing Kevin was just a splash in the pan.

rehctub - To me this is an absolutely desperate move to BUY votes.

I suspect in the next few days we will see more BLATANT vote buying announcements from Rudd.

Simply put he was in power and could have done a lot of things he did not now he is saying I will do all this for you let me back in.

NO Kevin 2013 you failed.

In this election the evil I do not know is better than the evil I know.

People are stupid.

Next question......

People are stupid.
Poirot,
Correction, only those who support Rudd.

individual,

Hey, hey...I stand corrected.

It's a well established fact that Lib supporters are the suppositories of all wisdom.

: )

Lol Poirot, you really are naughty at times!
Naughty, but nice...

Both Rudd and Abbott must think people are stupid if either of them think many people really want them to be Prime Minister after the election.

Abbott wouldn't stand a chance if ANYONE else headed Labor.
Rudd is showing his true colours now, as his position slowly unravels.

No one with any intelligence really wants either of them as PM, but what choice do we really have?

From what I have seen this may well be the first election in a very long time (or since forever) which is determined by the calibre and qualities of the individual candidates standing in each electorate (or State/Territory, as the case may be).

We have been assured so often that one man (or woman), or one front bench, does not make a government, and on this occasion the 'Party-line' stands in such disarray (on both major sides of the fence) that voters may at last have to follow their instincts and support the candidate who makes the most sense.

With so many parties in the running, anything is possible, but I wonder how many voters will make the effort to get to know the candidates - to sort out the wheat from 'the chaff'?

To those who say Labor voters must have low IQs and short memories I would like to respond with the below facts:

John Howard and the Coalition were responsible for changing federal energy legislation allowing State owned energy utilities to “self-regulate” and charge what they like for electricity.

They changed the competition laws of this country enabling Coles/Wesfarmers and Woolworths to decimate thousands of small businesses and have an absolute duopoly on every consumable item including food, petrol and the kitchen sink.

We can also thank the Coalition for changing the media ownership laws allowing one highly influential person to now control 70% of the print media.

The finger can also be pointed directly at them for creating the structural deficit we currently have in the budget due to an overly generous middle class welfare system ie. Family Tax part A and part B, naively assuming that the GFC or the like will never hit Australia? It is now politically impossible to claw back.

And who can forget Work-Choices. What you need to ask yourselves is, if it had been fully bedded down at the onset of the GFC, where would your jobs, houses and the economy have gone? By the law of the land employers or the banks would not have had to care one hoot let alone two?

And finally we can be eternally grateful to John Howard and the Coalition for introducing the worst social policy in Australian history, the infamous Baby Bonus. Since its inception the statistics of child abuse and neglect in this country have reached abhorrent and unprecedented levels.

As for short memories and Low IQs, I have not forgotten that the GFC was caused by neo-liberalism at its worst and ultimately the Coalition’s end game is to privatise everything including Health and Education.

On that note my vote will always go to the party prepared to implement social policies for the greater good and on this front the Labor Party have always been streets ahead of the Coalition.

It is a difficult choice this election.
Policies are not getting the scrutiny they
deserve, personalities seem to take center stage.
And personalities are not something we're going
to have to live with. It will be the policies.

I guess the choice is - do you vote for the
leader with defective policies and defective
personality - or the leader with only
the defective personality - but excellent policies?

It depends what's more important to you - doesn't it?
And the size of your IQ. And how much you're influenced
by the MSM.

I think the saddest thing about the parties and the leaders is that we as a voting public expect them to change things all the time. I sometimes think that most people would be happy with no change at all, at least if something is working. But I suppose thats the problem with politics. Maybe democracy is just as stupid as the people?

I do find it interesting that at last the lefties have admitted to themselves, publicly, that their chosen leader is a drop kick. The fact is of course, that it is now impossible for them to do otherwise. They have been dragged, kicking & screaming, to the truth, by the man's crazy antics.

Yes I know it must pain them greatly to even start to admit that those telling them this fact for some years were right. Some still cling to the idea that Rudd/Gillard have better policies, they just don't tell us whether that is last weeks policy, this weeks, or next weeks. Perhaps they don't know themselves, unable to keep up with the constant changes.

Many of them are now, or still, denigrating Tony Abbott, as a sop to their conscience, to perhaps minimize the embarrassment this realization brings.

You have to admit it to yourselves folks, 3 of your last 4 leaders were disgusting people, & you knew it, just did not want to admit it. Abbott has highlighted how disgusting they were.

It is time to grow up people. The libs did, when they were silly enough to try first Nelson, then Turnbull. They diced them quickly when they were found wanting. Hell they even resisted the lefty push for Turnbull when the polls told them he would win for them. Unlike the left, they would rather lose, than win with a drop kick.

So this is your challenge. Pick a decent person as a leader. Yes it is hard in an organisation controlled by unions, & academics, where quality is mostly a deficit, but you have to do it, or become irrelevant.

Dear Hasbeen,

Each of us will pick the Party that will deliver
what we think is best for the country. And the
good thing about that is that we can always vote
them out of office if we don't like them in
three years time.

The result will be interesting after Saturday.

Snickerkid, I have to question your thoughts on work choices.

Given the mining boom, I have little doubt many people's wages would have increased, as the demand was far outweighing supply and, given the competition for workers between mining companies, any thought of slashing wages would have seen a mass exitist of workers from any such company.

At the same time, work choices, if it were still in, may well have saved many jobs, as many workers would have been happier to take a pay cut, than to loose their jobs as they did.

Given that the mining boom is retracting, I can guarantee you that wage/condition deals will be on the table, as businesses struggle to stay open.

What many fail to recognize is that many wages/conditions enjoyed today, are as a result of an inbalance between supply and demand during the boom times.

Given that inbalance is now correcting itself, all I can say, is brace yourself, because if you are one of the beneficiaries of this inbalance, life as you know it is about to be turned upside down.

Further evidence of this is in recent figures released by Westfield, because the most likely cause of depleting profits, is that many retailers are paying less rent, or none at all.

Watch this space.

Tony Abbott has hot daughters though.

And he sees their brain as their greatest
asset!

Jessica Rudd is also lovely -
as is her daughter Josephine Tse!

About time. It seems we are past misogyny...

"Tony Abbott has hot daughters though."

"And he sees their brain as their greatest asset!"

Which goes to show that he has never looked down on them.

<Does Rudd think people are stupid?>

He continually refers to voters as 'punters'.

He does patronise them with with all of that superficial 'nerd' image and by talking down to them.

Everyone doesn't have a head as big as a planet. So regrettably very few can be as 'Progressive' as Kevin.

Yes, I guess that although our
brain is supposedly guaranteed to have
a certain capacity - too bad that for
many it's often running empty.

In answer to your question rechtub yes!
Both sides are taking us for mugs.
Entering the campaign we heard how broke we are, untrue but helps panic the chooks.
Both sides have promised to waste cash by the ton.
Rudd seems unable to sell his policy,s, right now as badly, well nearly, as Gillard failed in that area.
However long before Rudd used the words I have reminded all Abbott is no Howard.
We are about to let him remind us all of that.
Bet those who fell for the con job say in 12 months they voted Labor!
If nothing else Labor will reform and while Tassy and SA look likely to go, state and federal governments will be our come back helpers.

Belly, glad to see you back. I've been wondering if you still had net problems, or something was reducing your posts.

Still mate, I have to say it is time for you to reduce your fearless forecasts. Political predictions do not seem to be your strong suit, particularly where Tony Abbott is concerned. I can't count the number of times you have written him off, in so many ways.

It really would be a pity if you went on writing him off for the next 9 years he will be a great Ozzie PM.

Abbott's daughters - "Which goes to show that he has never looked down on them." - but he will readily use them for political advantage when the need arises.

Nothing new there.

"If you want to know who to vote for, I'm the guy with the not bad looking daughters."

Yer all class, Tony....(and it's obvious you have no respect for the intelligence of voters - using your daughters' looks as election fodder)

Sheeesh!

Politics, loathe it or ignore it,
you can't like it!

They are quite hot though. There's no denying it really.

'not bad looking'? Such understatement.

I don't know, when politicians say nothing they are accused of being robotic, when they state the obvious they're 'using' their families.

Abbott's off the cuff sexism and un-PC ramblings are much more believable than Rudd's 'sh1t-storm' and 'suck of the sauce' gear.

The poor guy seems pretty horny lately, all these comments about sex appeal and pimping his daughters, it must be hard to get his needs met on the campaign trail.

Perhaps a visit to Scores is in order.

That being said, he is an evil reptilian dude who will sacrifice your baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6M9vnkok8Q

Spot on, Snickerkid. When Labor goes too far by all means let the LNP step in. Sadly, a lot of what Labor brought in needed another term to bed down (NBN, NDIS, C-pricing especially), things that people support. A charter of media honesty would be a good inclusion but Rupert has headed that off at the pass.

The economy is in good shape (good GDP figures today), even given the revenue blows, but a miracle appears to be needed on Saturday. Won't be long before we are re-aquainted with Ye Olde Abbott slime-ball tricks. I can hardly wait, not.

Oh yeah, and Gonski, of course.

PS Why even insult our intelligence with "Direct Action"? Why not just put the dosh directly into PPL for rich bit**es? Oh, that's right, business is really paying for it, my bad.

Houellebecq, "They are quite hot though. There's no denying it really"

OEM, authentic, too. Yay!

Not like the lady boys and other risky propositions on the Labor side. LOL

Luciferase, the sad truth is we could have had all these, and some, had labor not wasted so much in such a short time.

Sure, there was the GFC, but seriously, I am sick and tired of Kevins mob using this as an excuse, some six years on.

At the end of the day, labor can't blame the GFC for all the stuff ups they have made, (the mother of being the illegals debacle) and all of which have costs us ten gnoskis.

However, without doubt, labors worst move was the way they effected many people's/companies confidence.

They were warned, but failed to listen.

So, when TA does become leader, and when he does implement cut backs, (which any responsible government must), just remember what could have been, and where we could have been had voters not decided, its time for a change, some six years ago.

rehctub,

"Sure, there was the GFC, but seriously, I am sick and tired of Kevins mob using this as an excuse, some six years on."

I'm sure you would have much preferred a recession, high unemployment and soaring interest rates.

You fellas just don't get it.....

Austerity tipped many economies into recession.

It may yet do the same here once Abbott gets his mitts on things.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/australia-you-dont-know-how-good-youve-got-it-20130901-2sytb.html

"While other countries fell into the global recession, Australia maintained strong economic growth, low government debt and a triple-A credit rating. With this record, you might expect the federal election to be focused on how to convert the strength of today's economy into resilience for the future. But instead the political spotlight has fallen on the perceived problem of government debt, with alarming proposals to bring austerity ''down under''.

For an American, Australia's anxiety about deficit and debt is a little amusing. Australia's budget deficit is less than half that of the US and its net debt is less than an eighth of the country's gross domestic product."

(Joseph Stiglitz is a professor of economics at Columbia University and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in economics.)

For all their posturing about the Libs being sound economic managers most people have forgotten or weren't even aware that when Howard became PM Australia was number 6 on the international list of economic performance.

When he left we had slipped to number 10 with an ongoing legacy of structural deficit.

Expect austerity soon, but only at the bottom and with further relief at the top.

"It's in their DNA".

.....I'm sure you would have much preferred a recession, high unemployment and soaring interest rates.

No, not at all Poirot.

I have no problem with spending to stimulate the economy, and avoid reseccion, but surely even you and your supporters acknowledge that there's a huge difference between spending and waste.

It's the WASTE that's has caused the mess we have, unless of cause you are one of this who think we are in great shape.

Now if you do think we are in great shape, then please tell me why we are robbing Peter to feed Paul?

Now as for unemployment, sure, we have very low unemployment, if you support the measure of a job being ONE HOUR PER WEEK.

Sorry, that just doesn't cut it for me, as I live in the real world, the one that says that it's an every day struggle just to survive on the basic minimum wage of $600 per week.

You don't earn that in a ome hour week and, it must be recognized that anything less than $30K per year is considered UNDEREMPLOYED.

A legacy created by labor.

rechtub,

"Now as for unemployment, sure, we have very low unemployment, if you support the measure of a job being ONE HOUR PER WEEK.

Sorry, that just doesn't cut it for me, as I live in the real world, the one that says that it's an every day struggle just to survive on the basic minimum wage of $600 per week.

You don't earn that in a ome hour week and, it must be recognized that anything less than $30K per year is considered UNDEREMPLOYED.

A legacy created by labor."

Ahem!

I think you'll find that the "ONE HOUR PER WEEK" was instituted under the government of one John Winston Howard.

Double Sheeesh!

Poirot, the legacy I was referring to was the now all too common world for many of, underemployment.

The one hour per week has been a joke for as long as I can remember and not the doing of labor.

It's just like all governments, that they use this to their advantage, but at the end of the day, the only ones being fooled are themselves, and a few of their supporters.

I hope for your sake you're not one of them.

Dear rehctub,

Try this on for size.
It's to provide a bit of balance to your arguments
taken from the Main Stream Media.
It's always good to read a variety of opinions
from different sources. Unless of course you've got
a closed mind, which I don't believe you have.

http://newmatilda.com/2013/09/03/biggest-lie-election-2013

Key Coalition policies "not" submitted for costing.

"But missing from the independent costings will be the analysis on three of the Coalition's key policies: broadband, Direct Action and the plan to stop asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat."

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/key-coalition-policies-not-submitted-for-independent-costings-20130905-2t6dm.html#ixzz2dyRiNOo6

Lexi, cost of living pressures, in many cases, are self induced.

My argument, the same one I put up in 07, is that confidence would be rocked by labor, and it has been.

The problem with no confidence is that people, be they big business, small business or even little people, they are all reluctant to spend money, if they are not confident of replacing it.

So, I would suggest the two hardest hit by this fall in confidence has been retail, and tourism.

So while your link may be a worthwhile one, it's not what I am on about.

Poirot.....Key Coalition policies "not" submitted for costing.

Yes well it appears you may have a short memory, or just convenient thinking, as as I recall, labor didn't release their costings until the night before the election, so in effect, the coalition is in front on that stage.

As for the missing links, I would suggest it would be near on impossible for anyone to come up with a reliable figure, as not even labor themselves, or their faithful new leader have a real handle on just where we are here and now.

I just hope for Kevins sake that there is a $70 billion black hole, otherwise he will be running short of face space to fit the eggs.

Dear rehctub,

May I politely suggest that you actually read
the link I provided earlier. It clarifies
the entire situation regarding economic "confidence,"
in our community and why we should not believe
the spin that's currently being politically flaunted
for political gain.

Well, that was a joke....

Hockey announces costings....no detail...8 pages of what?

These are not extensive costings.

A few questions and Hockey and Robb scurry away.

Yep, should be an interesting few years if these jokers take the helm.

Dear Poirot,

It scares the heck out of me especially
when the Coalition has announced that there
will be a Commission of "Audit," which is
a Liberal tactic that has been used in Victoria,
Queensland, and NSW to not tell voters the
massive cuts that will be heading their way
in basic services and infrastructure, health,
education, transport, and so on. It now appears
that everything is on the table - despite the
re-assurances that this is not so,
in the Coalition's attempt to garner votes.

We need to ask, why haven't they costed their NBN,
their "stop the boats" policy, and their "climate-change"
policy?

Instead we got - 8 pages of nothing.
This is simply treating voters as mugs.

Lexi,

"We need to ask, why haven't they costed their NBN,
their "stop the boats" policy, and their "climate-change"
policy?

Instead we got - 8 pages of nothing.
This is simply treating voters as mugs."

The voters are quite happy to be treated as mugs - it seems.

The sheer incompetence of these bozos is breathtaking.

What's more to the point is that the people who are treating them as saviours can't see it.

Amid the trumpets and fanfair, what do we get?

8 piddly pages and no detail - that's Hockey's "budget emergency".

Gawd help us.

Foxy,

(Sorry, so used to Lexi:)

......

rehctub,

Joe Hockey and his coterie of clowns obviously "does" think that people are stupid.

(and he's probably right, judging by support for the dodgy incompetent Coalition)

They've just back-flipped bigtime on the internet filter.

Here's Turnbull on Labor's internet filter, 2012:

"This was always a bad idea. It was a bad for freedom, it was bad for freedom of speech."

Just gets funnier : )

But then again, Malcolm Turnbull says there's no backflip on internet filtering policy document - poorly worded and incorrect.

Never a dull moment when you leave it all until the eleventh hour - and you're the LNP.

Stay tuned.

“There is no instance of a large economy getting to growth through austerity,"

"Austerity leads the economy to perform more poorly. It leads to more unemployment, lower wages, more inequality.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/joseph-stiglitz-austerity_n_3048330.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Dear Poirot,

Thanks for your insights and the link.

I've just come across Dennis Pryor's earlier
summation of the language that is much used
in election writing, in this case very
applicable to the Coalition's election "plans for
all Australians" that are - designed:

1) To impress the peasants.

2) To make the simple and obvious appear innovative,
learned and insightful.

3) To conceal the writer's poverty of ideas and
expression.

Example: A translation of Hamlet's simple line 'To be or
not to be, that is the question,' would read as follows,
if written by the Coalition writers:

"The homologous polarities of a dichotomous option
in terms of (a) an exitence-type situation of
continuing life-maintenance and (b) a non-existence
situation vis-a-vis life-continuance are the terms of
reference presented for cognitive consideration, report
and recommendation."

Sheesh - is right!

Foxy, I have read that link before and ask the same question again in response.

If we are in such great shape and, people are doing so well, why are we robbing Peter to feed Paul and, why are people reluctant to spend money?

Foxy,

Excellent!

The Coalition are going gung-ho to impress the peasants.

It's working because every paper in OZ save the Age is barracking for them and the same goes for electronic MSM.

But yesterday's car-crash "costings release" and internet filtering debacle gives us a roolly big hint of the incompetence of these guys.

They're rank amateurs who've relied on MSM beating their bullsh!t drum....and Oz is set to vote them in!

Dear Foxy and Poirot,

Sorry, but these descriptors apply equally to Mr Rudd and the Labor lobby, but Mr Rudd puts it across with greater finesse (some of the time).

Is't possible the MSM has indeed a more accurate appreciation of 'the Big Picture', and hence, contrary to accusations of regurgitating 'spin', are in fact endeavouring to provide a wiser perspective on the clamour assailing our consciousness?

The moving hand writes, and having writ ....

Come Saturday/Sunday, shall we be any wiser?

Or, shall we continue to 'storm', vaingloriously, against outrageous fortune?

The die is cast; nor all your Piety nor Wit ....

Dear rehctub,

You've really got to stop reading all the BS in
the MSM and falling for the Coalition's spin.
The facts of the matter were explained in the
link I gave earlier. And as Ben Eltham pointed out -
Inflation in Australia is
low. Ordinary hoseholds are not seeing prices for
essential goods and services shoot out of reach.
ABS data confirms that consumer inflation is below
2 per cent. We're not seeing falling wages and
high unemployment. Since the GFC, wages have risen
steadily, while unemployment has held below 6 per cent.

As for why people are buying into this spin - can be
explained by this additinal link:

http://newmatilda.com/2013/09/04/abbotts-easy-ride-polling-day

If something is repeated often enough, some people will
come to believe it - especially when things are being aided and
abetted by the very powerful MSM. Getting any other sort of
message out becomes that much harder.

Your problem Poirot, is that Australia is not a large economy and the Australian Dollar is not the global reserve currency, as with the US Dollar. We cannot simply borrow with impunity, as the Americans can.

So your Stiglitz solution will not work here, sorry.

Thanks Yabby,

I take it that's why we're in a deep recession (not)

Perhaps that's something we can all look forward to.

Yesterday's mishmash is only a sample of the incompetence we can also look forward to.

Fasten your seat belts, folks.....

Poirot, our economy has been propped up by the mining investment bubble, which is slowing down. Creating a housing bubble is not going to fix the economy, nor is borrowing ever more money. I am no fan of Abbott, but the other team is even worse. They have been a disaster for agriculture, for instance. Business has lost confidence and without business investing, you certainly will have a recession.

Foxy,

This sums it up well for me.

http://www.brw.com.au/p/leadership/tony_abbott_wins_free_pass_to_government_BsmO65OXfDqC2fEaMAMsLJ

"Can there be any doubt that we get the politicians, and the governments, we deserve? None. This election has nothing to do with substance; nothing to do with the best people for the job; nothing to do with probity, propriety or policy. Barring the greatest imaginable upset, Australia will almost certainly have a new government on September 7.

Even if we accept the well-worn political adage that oppositions don’t win elections, governments lose them, it is difficult to bring to mind an opposition that has done so little to earn government.

More to the point, the Coalition appears set to claim government having connived its way to election day without exposing itself to scrutiny of its costings and savings for restoring the budget surplus."

"Its mendacity will almost certainly be rewarded with government.

For the most part, Abbott’s evasiveness on the Coalition’s economic strategy has attracted little condemnation from voters, the media and business groups. Nor has the unaffordable and poorly conceived $5.5 billion a year paid parental leave scheme – a major imposition on the Australian economy for very little social or productivity gain – attracted the scrutiny (and derision) that it deserved. Not to mention absurd and expensive policies such as the 15,000-strong Green Army or the Indonesian boat-buyback scheme."

Dear Poirot and Foxy,

Too little too late; crocodile tears.

Six years and a lifetime to learn from past mistakes; but to no avail.
Labor has indeed introduced marvellous and remarkable social/societal innovations - like the old aged pension, medicare and compulsory superannuation, etc - but nearly always seems to insist on running 'like a bull at a gate' to introduce the next, and the next 'big thing', throwing caution to the wind and rushing headlong without due care for fiscal and budgetary limitations (or for any resultant impositions on 'business').
It has then been up to successive conservative governments to 'wind back' to within manageable (and still efficacious) boundaries.
Thus does it seem almost inescapable that history will continue to repeat itself, over and over, ad infinitum - unless the racing leopard may in time be able to change its spots, and learn to hasten more slowly (as did Hawke/Keating - for a while).

Slow and steady has its place (dull and 'ordinary' though it may be).

To take license with a quote:
Well may we say "God save the Queen", for nothing will save PM Rudd and Labor. (At least until the next round, or two, on the merry-go-round.)

Saltpetre,

"Too little too late; crocodile tears."

Are you holding up Abbott's motley crew and their dodgy pre-election presentation as something of quality?

"It has then been up to successive conservative governments to 'wind back' to within manageable (and still efficacious) boundaries."

Howard sold off $72 billion of government assets to achieve his surplus (and $40 billion of the debt he paid off was left over from Fraser)

He didn't build on anything - and he enjoyed robust conditions regarding the world economy.

Dreadful.

(Sorry mate, but if you believe that MSM is on the money and that Murdoch's shameful behaviour is an indication of healthy democracy, there's nothing I can do for you. People are basically sheeple, blown this way and that by big headlines and simplistic slogans and pamphlets

Foxy, I challenge you to spend an hour or so today, a your local news agent, or even a bakery, where real people frequent, and ask them if they think they are in great shape.

I find it amusing that on the one hand you accuse me of getting caught up in the spin, yet on the other you refer to our unemployment being 6%.

I also fail to see how a 70% increase in power is not excessive.

Perhaps it's not an essential to you, but I can issues you it is to ordinary folk, and they will vote with their feet.

Wake up and smell the roses my dear.

BTW, I almost put Lexi, instead of Foxy, so tell me, are you one in the same?

As I have said for three years now, the election that Julia Gillard bought would provide enough rope for her to hang themselves, and I was right.

I was also right to suggest that Kevin Rudds biggest enemy was going to be time, and I was right there as well, as even his greatest mentor has said it was a mistake to delay the election.

While it's been a tough three years, it's almost (ALMOST) been worth the wait.

Yes, rehctub,

Foxy used to be Lexi, who used to be Foxy - and now she's Foxy again.

Have to post this.

Australian election 2013 - the graphic novel.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2013/sep/06/australian-election-2013-comic-strip-graphic-novel?CMP=twt_gu#/?picture=416651951&index=15

Worth a peep if you feel like a giggle.

Butch,
While I look forward to the results tonight, I remain disgusted at the lies, deceit and incompetence of the last 6 years.

I am hopeful of at least some responsible financial management for the next term and the illegal entrants stopped. I am also hopeful that the multicultural ideology will finally be dropped officially and the AGW rubbish abandoned.

I also hope that Labor can rebuild with some competent candidates that have some common sense and practical experience in life. Am disappointed that they attracted so many votes now after the debacle of the last 6 years.

If the polls are correct, we can have positive outlook for the next years.

"I also fail to see how a 70% increase in power is not excessive."

Of course, carbon pricing caused all that (perhaps 10% of it, actually)and we will expect power prices to fall after today, by 70% and by the same logic as you have damned Labor, rechtub.

Such lies and distortions by the LNP, aided and abetted by Murdoch, are promulgated on online in fora like this. Telling the same lie over and over, Goebbels-like, makes it a fact as far as you are concerned, rechtub.

Laws to make the press accountable for lies (not opinion) should have been pursued harder by Labor, but of course the media headed that off, hysterically screaming for the right to factually lie embedded in a right to freedom of expression.

How much do we deserve our democracy if we are only willing to defend it from outside aggression but not from internal media abuse? I have not seen the likes of such bare-fanged allegiance to one side of politics as we have seen over the last three years from MSM and, IMO, the ABC has gone harder at the government than at the opposition, especially with sound-bites and the 24 hour news-cycle giving little real right of reply to the ilk of hysterical claims like a 70% power cost rise carbon price causation.

An opposition has never had to do so little to win government, and many, many Australians are now going to find out the hard way that they should have demanded more from the media.

BTW, rechtub, I don't think any other poster starts threads based on half-cocked misinformation as much as you, but at least you do seem to withdraw once you are properly corrected (after your mud-sling has achieved its purpose)

Am considering learning Mandarin.

After googling Rudd's academic background, it appears that only a proficiency in that language is really all one needs to become a P.M.[or used car salesman to Mandarin speaking folks]. Forget obtaining degrees in economics or finance etc. etc. - obviously these subjects are of lesser importance in obtaining high office.

Gotta zip folks! :)

Quite so, Luciferase.

rehctub spouting 70% electricity increase - as if it's connected with Labor's carbon tax (around 10% actually) - and not, as the reality is, a product of gouging by state utilities is typical of the lies and fabrications floating around in the vacant head space of the electorate.

What can one do if so many people are determine to spout rubbish as truth?

Six months down the track, they'll be laughing on the other side of their faces.....

I stop reading posts like rehctub's once
they start talking about "real people." And telling
others to get out into the "real" world, et cetera.
I deal with the public in the large regional library
where I work. And one thing comes across very clearly.
Many people aren't happy with either major party, for a
variety of reasons.

Anyway, we shall see what the voters decide today.
The press coverage and analysis that will follow should
also be interesting.

Enjoy your day

But not as interesting (or colourful) as the analysis you're likely to hear in front of my telly tonight.

Lol!

Lucerifares, poirot and foxy are having a whinge already as they know the SMH and the Age have now abandoned Labor. They just ignore the 50 plus Labor Lemons that has been circulating for a couple of years. I notice that no Labor supporter has suggested that any of the 50+ lemons are incorrect. Nor do they acknowledge the outright bias of the ABC.They also do not acknowledge that the Murdock press supported Labor at the 2007 election. Any private media outlet has a right to support whom they wish.

Any reasonable person would be incredulous that a government could stuff so much up. Without doubt the most incompetent government in Aus history.

If the polls are correct, we can look forward to responsible government for at least the next couple of terms. I don't expect the new government to be perfect but certainly a vast improvement over the current mob.

The headline of this thread goes too far.

Rather than "Does Rudd think people are stupid", it should have been, Does Rudd think. At least here the answer is obvious, & a clear NO.

Rudd is incapable of rational thought. He operates by thought bubble. His ideas, such as they are pop into his head, complete & to what ever passes for his mind, perfect. No need for thought, his lemon all come complete, ready to bestow on the adoring peasants.

I wonder if these adoring peasants will ever wake up to what KRudd they have been adoring?

Hasbeen,

"Rather than "Does Rudd think people are stupid", it should have been,...."

"......Murdoch, Abbott & Co. "know" people are stupid."

Dear Hasbeen,

It's not only a question of- Do the leaders think,
but can they talk as well?

And, it is obvious regarding both thinking and
talking, which one of them would function better
not only domestically but on the global stage
representing our country.

One can't think, unless
it's all pre-scripted, and as for talking?
Photo-opportunitues have been pursued.
They're not up for scrutiny.

We're told that we get the government that we deserve.
Well, I don't deserve arthritis, or a heart condition,
yet I've got both.

Foxy foreign leaders are not all stupid, unless they come from the EU.

They, just like switched on Ozzies, are all going to say privately, watch out for that slimy bugger Rudd. Don't trust him as far as you can kick him.

"They, just like switched on Ozzies,.."

LMAO!

Mr Murdoch has his finger on the switch.

Look what happens when he.....

Dear Poirot,

Talking about stupidity ...

On the one hand
Joe Hockey tells us that, "We must all tighten
our belts," and how bad the current government
has been, while at the same time they're
also telling us that "we're not increasing taxes,"
(due to the success of the government's
economic policies? - that the government's policies
have been so successful that the Coalition will be
able to afford to make substantial cuts in taxes).

Yet we know that tax cuts are an impossibility - and are usually
delivered only in election years and are invariably
a conjuring trick - check for hidden taxes and charges
in the small print, and for "Commissions of Audit".
The fact is that the government
always ends up with more of our money.

seems like some on the left are already displaying violence even before the result is called.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/special-features/protesters-clash-with-abbott8217s-security-in-heated-scenes-at-the-polls-in-sydney/story-fnho52jo-1226713576129

obviously kids who never got a smack or learned to lose graciously.

Ar the good old carbon tax again.

I didn't mention the tax, yet, as usual, you labor lovers jumped down my throat, however, if you actually care to read my post, all I said was.....I .also fail to see how a 70% increase in power is not excessive.

Perhaps it's not an essential to you, but I can assure you it is to ordinary folk, and they will vote with their feet.

But hey, I don't blame you lot for feeling the way you do, because after all, you had your leader sacked, then offered your unconditional support to Julia, the new Julia and even the new new Julia, only to have her fall flat on her face and be replaced by the new Kevin, al, in the space of six years.

While the wheels may well have fallen off your bus, it was always your choice to get onto the bus, and boy what a poor choice you made.

I did tell you that Rudd needed to call a snap election, but, as usual, you once again offered your loyal support, only to be let down once again.

Dear rehctub,

If you're worried about the wheels falling off
the bus - at least wait until after the election
results are in - and what comes after that.

At present our country is in pretty good nick.
We're not Spain, Greece or Ireland - yet.

Oh Dear rehctub, butter wouldn't melt in your mouth. You haven't moved on from http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5911 with your half-arsed attempt at deceit.

It's 7.5% on power bills and any attempt, even by truth omission, to attribute other costs to carbon pricing is as much a lie as any in the MSM. You qualify for a job at the Telegraph, where the art of weaving half-truth (or in this case about a seventh-truth)into a richly believable tapestry is enormously valued.

The press is out of control and is as great a threat to our democracy as a foreign invasion.

.....At present our country is in pretty good nick.
We're not Spain, Greece or Ireland - yet.

Lexi, you don't have to wait until after the election, rather, let's see where we go if mining really tapers off.

Luciferase, nice try, however, unlike many here I am the first to admit when I am wrong, as I did in that thread.

So it would appear that the people are not stupid, as it is labor who have lost the trust of the people.

So, Kev has lost the battle.

And, more importantly, has also jumped ship as leader of the Aust Labor Party - and I take this also to mean as leader of the new Federal opposition.

But, why is he jumping ship (though continuing on as the member for Griffith - if he is true to his pre-election vow)?
Has he lost the taste for leadership?
Was this move possibly part of a pact made to gain support to re-take the leadership from Julia in the run-up to the election?
Can it be that Kevin has after-all been all puff, and little substance?
Will he now pass into obscurity? Or, has he perhaps been offered the post of shadow foreign minister (perhaps also with a view to a not-so-much-later posting as our rep on the UN)?

Labor; more contortions than a cut snake on a hot griddle.

There's nothing like keeping the electorate forever guessing, to induce trust and loyalty, is there?

Fiddlesticks for the whole blessed 'comedy'.
I look forward to someone getting down to some honest labour for a change.
Fingers crossed.

It's very very quite in labor land!

I guess some people have to see it before they believe it, hey!

Dear rehctub,

It's when they're quiet that you have to worry.

Remember a successful Party (and leader) is one
that can lay a firm foundation with the bricks
others have thrown at them.

Yes Lexi, although I would suggest we are talking bolders this time round rather than bricks.

Not only does Tony Abbott and his team have to deal with the huge debt (forget the percentage of GDP and focus on the number) but they will be expected to deal with the unfunded Gonki and NDIS along with his (ridiculous) PPL, possibly without the mining boom that labor so conveniently wasted.

But hey, they have one thing going for them, history and, if they fail, then you will have your say again in three years, but I suggest you don't hold your breath.

The other interesting thing to watch will be whether Kevin tries to once again undermine the party leader.

You know, I can't help feeling a bit annoyed with myself for still getting stuck into poor ol' Kevin after he conceded defeat and quit as leader.
It's one thing to have a go when the fight is raging and there is much at stake, but quite another to kick a fellow when he's down.
When I reviewed seeing Kevin with Therese at his side, giving that fateful concession speech on Saturday night, I couldn't help noticing her smile in concurrence and acknowledgment as he announced he was standing down as leader.
Therese is justifiably proud of her Kevin, and has clearly demonstrated that she has been with him all the way. That loyalty speaks heaps.

Whatever may be, I am satisfied that Kevin gave it his all, and with the best interests of Labor at heart all the way.
And I am annoyed at the likes of Craig Emerson (former boyfriend of Julia G) for all-but demanding that Kevin should quit the parliament altogether. (I never took to Craig anyway, and I wish he would just go away.)
'They' put Kev there to do a job, twice, and he gave it a helluva shot - winning quite brilliantly on the first round at least, to great acclaim.
What very, very poor losers some of 'them' are proving to be.

Good luck Kev, in whatever road you choose. You are a significant part of history, and no-one can ever take that away. Cheers.

I think Labor are never going to rebuild unless they drop the recriminations. Craig Emersons comments epitomize what brought down a once united and powerful political party.

Emerson contributed greatly in my opinion, to the disintegration and compromised Labors image with his childish and undignified behavior at was a crucial time for the Party he served.

There is barley a Labor MP that does not share the burden of blame, particularly when they continue to erode the dignity and integrity of a historic political party that gave us many of the things that make this country great.

Frankly they are not worthy. I look forward to a new generation of leaders. After the last election i now feel its a long way off.

Labor was never united in the old days 2cents, that was part of their strength.

Don't you remember the knock down drag out fights at their annual conferences. They may not have been fully united, but they sure were honest. They were only united in their hatred of "the bosses".

I can remember Hawke who was all in favor of the nuclear industry, wanting to open more mines, but folding his tent & retreating from the fight at one of those conferences.

That was when he lost my respect, & with Richardson's help, the Labor party lost me.

Their contrived agreements at conferences, & acts of mutual undying love is what started the rot which resulted in the marionette leader, with the real Rudd stand out of sight, pulling the strings.

Thank god he is finished.