I hope we can look at Australia after the election clearly no matter who wins the impact will be felt.
Conservatrives are likly to be the ones who run second in this two horse race but for a start what if Labor fails?
No better chance exists for Labot nore will it for a generation if they fall at this jump.
How do you think that would impact on unions, wages, and the ALP?
Conservative Australia in my mind is blinded in the spotlight of Kevin Rudd, unable to do much more than mud slinging and I truely thing in that week we speak of a debate will start that should be had now.
It seems both partys have followed the voters to the middle and unless the world economy fails very badly not much room exists to move far from there but how do the conservatives rebuild?

We don't need to wait for a week after the elections - we know the results already: WE WILL LOSE.

With two such bad parties as the only viable candidates, there is nothing to look forward to. I have a real problem giving either of them my preference, but due to the existing electoral procedure, this means that my vote may turn informal.

Belly, what do you do if you miss you mother-in-law?
Reload and shoot straight the next time.
I got my mother-in-law a new chair-but she won't let me plug it in....
These gems coutesy of the Bob Dylan themed radio show.
There is an economist who 20 odd years ago won a Nobel for his work that explained that 2 ice-cream sellers on a beach will end up back to back in the centre of the beach selling essentially the same product in the hope that they will win 50% plus one of the available custom..... applicable to politics c2007.Its all bells and whistles, and the differances are strictly at the margins.
One week after a Labor victory? Rudd wondering how he will sell a decision to keep troops in Iraq? How he will shaft Julia? and yes, WorkChoices will be flushed.

In the first week conservatives will heap blame on Howard, some who do not even understand workchoices now will blame it.
A Medea focused on keeping Howard in power will try to play down its bias and pretend they always wanted change.
A struggle to rebuild the conservative party's will bring a brand new leader.
And the great debate this government should be having now will begin, how did they miss use or even not use that mandate?
No minor issue this election will change Australian politics forever, yes Labor could still fail but it looks very unlikely.
A question for conservative and ALP voters.
How could both not see poor ALP policy's and even worse leadership won Howard's elections, not Howard alone, after all a blue cattle dog on three legs would lead better than Latham and Crean.
A side line? the Medea will be full of now hidden story's about the impact of John Howard's wife on conservative politics in Australia.
No lessor role than the spite filled failures Crean and whats his name.
Kevin Rudd? go you good thing!

if the goal of australia's schools is to educate in english, and political theory, their collective mark is: fail, and fail.

australia will wake up after the election and discover changing rulers doesn't bring much relief. <insert usual diatribe against pollie rule, for democracy.> pay attention now: "i tole ya so!" in advance, because i'm so confident you'll get tired of kevvie too. those who've lived through the last five governments will know the feeling.

One week after the election, if the Libs win with Howard, there will be an all out pooh fight between Costello and Turnbull, which Turnbull will win if public opinion is taken into account.

The mood of the nation will shift because it's so tied up with Howard's attitudes. Whether they win or lose, Howard will go.

If Labor win the mood of the nation will shift. Janet Albrechtson and Andrew Bolt will go on prophesying doom but everyone else will be focused on what happens next. Where do we go from here instead of where have we been and who do we hate the most under Howard.

This post is not what I want in every way, but what I think the change in government will bring.
Labor will rule well and not be in danger of being a one term government, whoever some true believers are not going to like the direction it sometimes takes.
Conservatives will look for brand new leaders not wanting any one tainted by the worse reversal of conservative history.
Only the wrong candidate, and it looks a very real possibility can stop a Democratic President in the USA.
And for a while Australia may well be concerned about what direction we look for defense.
Unions are not promised an inside run and must continue the changes bought about by workchoices.
A much easier task without the leg irons, a stronger movement will be the end result of both workchoices and the Rudd landslide.
Do not look for a wimpish Labor government Rudd will do what it takes to change Australia , in my view for the better.
He like every one who thinks issues out knows personal dept will hit us one day, foreign dept is huge and very real and mineral exports could and one day will halve in one year.
By this time next year at east 6 books will have been written telling of the conservative failures and why workchoices was an enemy of productivity in the Australian workplace.

Belly ,I think our greatest folly was to just reduce tarrifs in every aspect of our lives and see the destruction of both manufacturing and primary industries.We have played right into the hands of big business and the multi-nationals.

China has a 110% tarrif on all manufactured goods entering their country.We have just 5% tarrif.Who are the fools?No other developed country has a no tarrif policy on primary produce.Why are we the sacrificial lambs?There is no method in their madness.

I do not disagree with one word arjay but what is the answer?
I shop buy Australian but who else does? far too few.
It was a PM from my side who said we will become a service economy! we must retain our own industry's the USA is finding more and more jobs going of shore.
I understand the incoming ALP government will take me and you in directions we do not want to go.
But no government can be all things to all men I watch with interest what awaits us.
While the thread is about that week just maybe it is time we debated a new direction for this government while awaiting its death, clearly no support at all for our industry's exist in this falling tree of a government.

One week after the election Australians are going to wake up and realise that they have made the worst possible blunder and put themselves back under the thumbs of the unrepresentative minority. It does not matter what Kevin Rudd says or tries to do he will have to accommodate the union movement or he will not be able to govern. Editorial opinion and that of political commentators all over the place are making that very clear. A majority of the electorate do not seem to be listening and even seem to want to embrace "the good old days" of union interference.

Communicat thanks! I always get a grin from posts that blame the voters.
Yes my mob blamed them for not clasping that dill Mark Latham to their breasts in 2004.
Some although he never faced an election blame the polls for the reality Simon Crean was as handy as an ash tray on a Harley was public knowledge.
However your post was great! it highlighted the Conservatives failure to understand why they are on the nose.
And again the tactic of false or misleading fear tactics against Labor not policy's.
While our economy booms average Aussie is doing it hard, Howard so loves his battlers he is constantly making more of them.
Rudd by this time next year will have proved he is to be a great and successful PM.
The question may well be asked why plan if you are a conservative for that week?
For middle Australia a great new direction, for conservatives a self inflicted wound.
John Howard Sir if you like go with grace now!

Rudd by this time next year will have proved he may one day be a great and successful PM, but that 2007 was not his year.

After Costello presents buget 2008 John Howard advises Parliamentary Liberal Party is time to select his replacement.

Peter Costello wins the vote, not as clearly as he wanted, but a win.

Peter Costello accepting his win announces his intention to introduce a bill for popular election of Governor-General, nominating John Howard as best Candidate from Liberal Party.

The ALP argues over whether a Referenda should occur, quibbles about the wording, widespread public support ensures Bill passes setting Sat, Dec 6, 2008 (first saturday in December every 3rd year) for election of Governor-General.

The ALP struggling internally to agree on best candidate to oppose John Howard in first popular election of Governor General.

John Howard faces voters on Sat, Dec 6, 2008 receives clear but closer than expected win

During the first week of the new Labor Government there will be celebrations all around.(Put some champagne on ice now!)

Howard will fold his tracksuit and retire (hopefully forever) to a country cottage in Siberia. We will have regained Kirribilli House for the taxpayers and all BBQ equipment will be auctioned off. The great divisive policies of JWH will be burnt together with the extremely unpopular WorkChoices legislation. Pensioners, Disabled and the under-privileged will be able to breathe again after Howard’s uncaring and degrading attitude has been silenced for good.

The new Labor PM will immediately move to restrain the ‘unruly elements’ of the Union movement. The Unions will realise that this is the time when self-control is going to be most important. “Big Business” (with the exception of Peter Hendy) will accept the facts that Labor has all Australians at heart and not just the upper echelon. Rudd will ensure that those who work hard and consistently will remain rewarded with generous salaries. The resources boom will continue for some time and will not end because of a Labor election win. The sky will not fall in and pigs won’t fly.

The second week gets even better. In the third week, when we have all recovered from our self-inflicted hangovers, the country will be steaming towards an unstoppable economic boom which will include the reduction of foreign debts and the bringing home of our Iraq
based soldiers. Australians will be Australians again, wearing the broad smile which comes with the satisfaction of having disposed of one of the most unpopular PM’s this country has ever seen.

You have heard it here first!

Hansh
Disabled Pensioners will be able to breath again?
Let me tell you- thousands are mis -using the sytem.
The Howard Government have at least tried to address that.
A few months ago I assisted a neighbour by driving her the center link.
Across the road sitting in a park drinking booze were a large number of youth.
I walked over while I was waiting for my elderly neighbour.
Got a smoke lady? I was aked.
Sure I said but why dont you buy your own.?
Nah cant afford it I am on disabilty P. Umm I see- Hey said his buddy dragging on pot- So am I.

I said Oh I see.
I gave them a smoke while I studies them[ There were three left in the packet after they passed them around]

Some of their mates were making a general nuisence out of themselves with skate boards.

I talked to them for a good ten minutes or more and managed to establish most were on disabilty.
Well maybe they got that right if their attitude was anything to go by.
Yep I am sure I know what all the young bludgers will vote.