Maybe That Newspoll wasn’t an outlier after all: the latest Morgan poll has shown a 5-point drop to the ALP. But it was a small sample size. And a new Newspoll of QLD marginals shows a strong swing to the party. What does it all mean? Our heads hurt.
ALP 
Myopia and forgetfulness the preferred direction on foreign policy
When the Rudd Labor government was elected two years ago, there were high hopes that it would leave behind the more negative foreign policies of its predecessor Howard coalition government. What we have, though, is a foreign policy shambles.
Kerr: Rudd betrays his party roots for publishers
Kevin Rudd showed celebrity means more to him than education and ideas by supporting the publishing industry over cheaper books for consumers, says Christian Kerr. His ALP forebears would not be impressed.
Newspoll: Labor’s lead slumps
Labor’s two-party preferred lead has dropped from 59-41 to 52-48 in the latest Newspoll, their smallest lead in almost two years.
Crikey Says: Rudd leads the nation, not the ALP
The Coalition should give up — its best and brightest have left politics and now work for Kevin Rudd. And Rudd’s power as national leader now looks unassailable.
Could the polls actually be undercooked for Labor?
The ALP has been surging ahead in the polls of late, but Possum Comitatus has found a curious anomaly. Is it possible Labor’s vote is even higher than the headlines are suggesting?
Guy Rundle: Asylum at last from the sado-conservatives
It’s a measure of how debased Australian politics became in the Tampa years that we can now be surprised that a government would confront its opponents with the fact that they imprisoned children, and score points from it.
Barns: The ALP can’t be trusted on asylum seekers
The ALP’s performance in opposition on the issue of asylum seekers was “weak, gutless and equally odious as that of the Liberal Party”, says Greg Barns — so why should we trust them to be any better now?
Guy Rundle: The basic right to fight and kick and scream to find refuge
With the 260 Tamil refugees refusing to leave their boat in Western Java and threatening to set fire to it, the asylum-seeker issue is the only game in town.
Labor’s super reforms have only just begun
Chris Bowen has made it clear he regards superannuation as one of the great Labor reforms, and one that can be wielded effectively against the Coalition.
David Epstein’s spin won’t save Qantas
Former ALP hack David Epstein has avoided providing any illumination on the sensitive issues for Qantas shareholders — like why is Perth hosting their next AGM? — but spinning a line is his favourite game.
Why the ALP should mobilise unenrolled voters
What would have happened in the 2007 election if those missing from the electoral roll actually enrolled, turned up and voted? wonders Possum Comitatus. At least another four seats to the ALP, by his calculations.
Essay: Labor acts to keep the bankers honest
The Labor Party has a long and colourful history of trying to keep Australia’s banks on the straight and narrow. Has it succeeded? asks Christopher Joye.
Kelly: Coalition assure Rudd’s power for many years to come
PM Kevin Rudd should give a hearty thank you to the Opposition, because thanks to Malcolm Turnbull and disagreements over climate change, they are about to hand Labor another two terms on a plate, writes Paul Kelly.
102 seat landslide for Labor
If a Federal election was held today, the ALP would most likely win a whopping 102 seats in Parliament — a 19 seat gain on their current position, says Possum Comitatus. Start panicking, Malcolm.
How to become a federal MP. Part 1, the ALP
With the federal ALP preselection season about to begin, we thought it time to shine a light into the murky tributaries for funnelling candidates into the highest office in the land.
Rudd will go to the polls on August 21, 2010. Here’s why
Malcolm MacKerras predicts the double dissolution will be effected in July 2010, causing a general election for all members of both houses to take place on August 21, 2010.
No good Newspoll for Turnbull
Yesterday, The Oz published the latest Newspoll, claiming a drop in support for Labor (see Crikey’s take here). Except, The Oz missed the big scoop: the Coalition is looking even worse than it did during Kevin07, says Tim Gartrell.
Henderson: The media sings along to Rudd’s G20 tune
There’s no doubt Rudd played an important role in the recent expansion of the G20’s power — but he certainly didn’t do it alone. So why is the media happily churning along with the ALP spin cycle by painting him as a lone visionary? asks Gerard Henderson.
Election hypothetical: who would win?
What would happen if if an Australian election had been held in the last 3 months? Possum Comitatus crunches the figures — and things look very good for the ALP. Only regional Australia gives the Coalition some hope, according to today’s Newspoll.
Talking the Town: Launch of The Making of Julia Gillard
ALP factions and fiction at the launch of Jacqueline Kent’s new book, The Making of Julia Gillard, last night. Social butterfly Andrew Crook has the inside scoop.
Young Liberals find their campus saviours: the ALP
Young Liberals could be ruling campus bully-pulpits for decades to come, this time in coalition with a reliable partner — the right wing of the ALP.
Labor cannot fail Indigenous Australia again
Generally, Labor may have been Aboriginal Australia’s party of choice, but recent challenges with the Coalition implemented NT Intervention highlight Labor’s need to re-engage with Indigenous leadership again, writes The Australian.
School signs, spin and other half-smart Ruddy capers
The Government’s proclivity for spin and half-smart political strategy is re-emerging, with its signs-in-front-of-schools plan and attempts to sell award modernisation.
