Citizens say the darndest things … Watch out Janette! … Telling Howard where to go.
Worm
Costello v Swan: A worm on both their houses
Peter Costello and Wayne Swan were put to the worm today. On the face of it Costello wormed strongly, sending Nine’s nimble nematode into positive territory repeatedly during his opening remarks to the National Press Club debate with Labor’s treasury alternative. Jonathan Green writes.
Campaign Top 10
It was a strong day for the PM yesterday across all media types, the Crikey/Media Monitors Daily Campaign Index shows, writes Christian Kerr.
How press club journalists turned on the worm
The whole Board of the National Press Club – including some of the nation’s most senior journalists – agreed to the conditions for the debate, but at least some of them now think they made a mistake and that it was right and good for Channel Nine to use the worm, writes Margaret Simons.
MacCormack: Howard suddenly worm-eaten
For a debate that covered such worthy topics as interest rates, taxation, industrial relations and the response to global warming, the longer-term impact of Sunday night on the election campaign seems to lie with utterly trivial matters that have taken on a heavy symbolism, writes David MacCormack.
Abjorensen: Long live the worm, anti-authoritarian
The worm gives us delight in getting our own back at authority in a harmless way that is not yet illegal. Indeed, it would be quite un-Australian to banish the worm, writes Norman Abjorensen.
Farmer: Does the debate result really matter?
The Liberal campaign team will surely be disappointed with the performance of their man but in the total scheme of campaign things the debate probably will not amount for much, writes Richard Farmer.
Reality Check: Serious at last
Good to see the Melbourne Age this morning living up to its serious image. The top five items on the paper’s website for once are all about the federal election, writes Richard Farmer.
Mungo: By polling day the debate will be a distant memory
Labor supporters are understandably chuffed by the not so great debate, so they might as well enjoy it while they can; when people go to the polls in 30 days time it will be at best a distant memory and at worst totally forgotten, writes Mungo MacCallum.
Reality Check: A fearless prediction
Okay. I know I’m big picture oriented and that my imagination rules but I can get it. The websites of the tabloids tell me so. With the left brain versus right brain test still at the top of the most read stories chart on three websites for the umpteenth day in a row I finally succumbed and took it. So let it be known that I am one of those right brainers who sees the lady spinning clockwise.
