April, 2010
Shanahan: Voters not impressed by Rudd’s “tough guy” image 
Newspoll: Labor feels the cold chill of its asylum freeze
The latest Newspoll has Labor’s two-party lead at 54-46 — down from 56-44 — while the government’s asylum claim freeze has produced a huge swing towards the Coalition on the question of which party is best to handle asylum seekers, reports William Bowe.
Welcome back to the Hotel Rwanda
In many ways it’s now good days at the infamous Hotel Rwanda, but, says Jon Rosen the horrific events of the Rwandan genocide still hang over the country thanks to its revisionist history government.
The day I met Obama
Barack Obama fan boy (and ABC’s Washington correspondent) Michael Brissenden spills on his 25 minute encounter with the “tallish, slim, well groomed” POTUS, which included a surprise visit from Sasha and Bo.
Which poet had the best beard in history?
A look at the classic book Poets Ranked by Beard Weight, which yes, is exactly what it sounds like. Lord Tennyson gets a mention, but winner of the best beard is Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph.
Now health reform is ticked, is climate change next for Obama?
The passage of health reform by Barack Obama has brought whisperings of the climate change bill being brought back to life. But does Obama has the political will to push it through? asks Sophie Black.
Voters strongly back Govt over asylum seekers — and want migrants to go bush
New Essential Research polling shows strong support for the Government’s decision to stop accepting Sri Lankan and Afghan refugees — even from Green voters.
Political snippets: Has the Nielsen poll caused Labor to panic?
Quite a contrast this morning to how the Fairfax papers have handled the Nielsen poll and the treatment The Australian normally gives to a Newspoll. Plus Murdoch turn his propaganda guns on UK Labor, tweets from the backbench and more.
It’s tough being a third party in Britain
The British media is buzzing with excitement today after a spate of polls showing a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats. The comparison between Greens and Lib Dems is an interesting one.
Sydney left in Melbourne’s wake as Avalon and Tiger do business
It looks like game, set and match for Melbourne when it comes to taking the title of the growth centre for Australia, as Tiger announce that Avalon will become its second Melbourne airport.
Eyjafjallajokull: Ashes and angst as airlines navigate holes in the clouds
The pyro-electrical storm that is raging over the Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland is getting upstaged by an outbreak of greed versus caution, airlines versus authorities, pilots versus pilots and passengers versus travel insurance companies.
The final insult: Stokes refuses to attend Seven EGMs
Kerry Stokes has taken the unprecedented step of declaring that his job as executive chairman of Seven doesn’t include fronting retail investors at tomorrow’s shareholder meeting.
It’s war: Anzac Day dissenters create bitter split between historians
A bitter academic feud has erupted over Australia’s Anzac Day legacy, with the authors of a new book questioning the day’s origins accused by a rival historian of intellectual dishonesty, writes Andrew Crook.
Essential Research: Mandate for Labor on health, refugees
Voters are standing behind Labor on refugee policy and health reform as leaders nut out a deal in Canberra today, with new Essential Research polling giving the government a strong mandate on both key issues.
Guy Rundle: Rundle’s UK: Tories snookered by a Lib-Dem rise
The UK snooker championships has just commenced at the venerable Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with a blinder of a match. Meanwhile a volcano erupted. Oh, and an election…
Mungo MacCallum: Health debate shows up unfinished job of federation
The Great Health and Hospitals War has been a pretty unedifying affair. But it has had one useful outcome: even the staunchest conservatives are now having second thoughts on reserving so much power for the states.
Do we still need state govts?
It isn’t the GST that should make the premiers fear the “thin end of the wedge”; the entire purpose of their existence is in question.
Remember us? We’re called nurses
Nurses are the people who will be critical to achieving health reform on the ground, since doctors aren’t alone in providing front-line health care, writes mental health nurse Kim Ryan.
Business As Usual: Bidders line up for AXA … cloud over crucial Greece meetings … US foreclosures roll on …
Volcano delays key Greece meeting between the IMF, US housing foreclosures roll on and the jobless recovery goes on. Plus, China tightens the screws on property and other business tidbits of the day.
Who benefits from Turnbull remaining in politics? His party, and the rest of us.
Malcolm Turnbull is likely to reverse his decision to retire from politics, and stand again in Wentworth this year. That decision would be a direct boost to the quality of Australian public life.
Revenge on the Vampire Squid for taking US to the edge of Depression
The charges against Goldman Sachs (or as Rolling Stone famously dubbed them, the Vampire Squid) go right to the heart of the slump, credit crunch and everything that went with it, before and after.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Qantas vs. the volcano
Qantas tells Crikey we got it wrong and they got it right. Plus, Crikey readers weigh in on health, election speculation dates and young conservatives in Queensland.
Crikey Clarifier: Did Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit achieve anything?
A two day talkfest on nuclear security was held in Washington this week. Does that mean we’re all safer from a nuclear attack now? Crikey intern Elizabeth Redman asked international relations expert Professor Richard Tanter.
