Comments on: This is no time for playing Senatorial politics

By: Joel B1

Joel B1 — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Just to follow up. My main criticism of the Rudd Government is their inability to act like they won the last election.
In support of this I mention Rudd’s 7000 wd “essay” on world economics. Surely he has better things to do?

By: Graemel

Graemel — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

If your proposition has legs - and it well might - we are certainly in trouble. This Ruddbank proposal to bail out the banks from their screwed up lending to the Property sector is simply another Swan exercise in utter futility. It’s taxpayer money and to say otherwise is total fallacy.
As we wait for another piece of Swan non-brilliance, it is worth re-iterating that the pre-Christmas hand-out to a select few is now being widely debunked as a wank that did nothing - other than to help Woolworths and Harvey Norman have a reasonable quarter - for the long-term good of the country or even the poor people. Now he is dreaming up another package to get rid of some more of “our money” and no doubt he has a select few in mind yet again. Bet it won’t be me!!

By: Joel B1

Joel B1 — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I’m not so sure the average voter is as dumb or uniformed as you posit. “Our man in Washington” B Obama has indicated strongly that’s he’s not happy with the bonuses of Bank executives despite the banks needing to be bailed out.
A suggestion that this money is going into the bonuses of poor performing execs will be about all it takes.

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Well, well, well.

You've got a bit of problem here haven't you Mr Primal. Subtext to your earlier piece, echoing the big press in Sydney today, is stupid stupid stupid NSW ALP for not DECIDING to sell off the $15 billion in public energy assets, preferring to save jobs and avoid a fire sale. Because a decision 6-12 months ago would be implementation time ... right about now champ.

So here Primal tells us socialising the cost of the investment property market - a spiv game if ever there was, unlike actual public energy infrastructure - is probably good politics. Kev and Julia good (who just happen to be your bread and butter in the Gallery there), Latham with Freckles Rees and union hack Robbo very bad.

Man you belong in Animal Farm.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Amusing to see Tom McLoughlin, the New South Welshman, with his gander up about an issue close to home for a change and about which at least, he might reasonably be expected to have an understanding.

However, Bernard Keane is quite correct. The Opposition have limited options to “oppose” in this environment.

The government only talk “through the media, over the media, to voters” with the media’s sanction. The repetitive key phrases are used for the news sound-bite and here again the media do not demonstrate enough of this cynical abuse by this Rudd government of media strategies from Blair, Bracks and Brumby.
It takes an article from one of Labor’s own to do what the MSM should be of itself doing:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24981420-7583,00.html.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

This article was meant to be non-judgmental, although I guess it proceeds from the basis that the Rudd Government is cynical enough to exploit even the GFC for its political ends. Perhaps I’m revealing my own cynicism in simply assuming it, but it is most certainly the case. Despite my previous rants about the Opposition’s response so far, there’s a very definite role for them in challenging the Government, proposing intelligent alternatives (Malcolm nicking the green depreciation idea this week was intelligent theft), and for the Greens and Xenophon to use the Senate’s review role. It’s simply the case that in the current public mood, that will effortlessly be portrayed by the Government as hobbling its response to the crisis.

To quote the great Dubya, I love democracy.