A win too late to save the Prime Minister

Zac says:

12:31pm | 27/02/12

Al,

How can this be BS when labor was telling us why they should NEVER EVER be left any where near government? I would have thought this is BS if they were not running the country. They are not only running the country but they are wrecking it as well. Party lines will not help the voters and the country. So think again…...

Al says:

12:51pm | 27/02/12

Zac - its BS as no matter who won, there were no real changes in policy proposed.
It was simply a waste of time and has directed attention away from what is more important, the policies being implemented and the ability of the government (whoever leads) to run the country well (or not).
What policy has this result changed? None.
What actual impact has it had? None.
Where is the article on something other than this infighting (or the Indian cricket team) on the punch? None.
A big waste of publishing space and the peoples time.
Sounds (and smells) like BS to me.

JR says:

02:26pm | 27/02/12

Zac - If they are wrecking the country, then maybe this leadership struggle has slowed the wrecking ball.

Zac says:

03:09pm | 27/02/12

JR,

Then I would welcome it every 6 months.

Borderer says:

03:16pm | 27/02/12

Al,
Over? I hardly think so. Gillard is now waiting to see what happens next. Rudd is popular with people but not the party, after being smashed in the vote it means that unless there is a severe blood letting he will never lead again, Rudd’s ego can’t stand that. Rudd is known to leak information, he just has to force them to an election, Gillard’s support is slaughtered at the polls and he should be right to take back the helm as opposition leader. His other option is to quit the party after protesting over the mistreatment of his supporters post vote, Gillard will punish them, she can’t help herself.
She has till May at the latest, fair work should have come back with their findings, Rudd would have been approached to form his own party and Gillard would have had a further 3 full months of screwing up everything she sets her mind to.

JR says:

04:14pm | 27/02/12

Zac - I give you points for making me let out a small laugh at work

Anyway I doubt you are alone in your view.
Yet I believe a fresh election could help, although no guarantee.
And while we’re at it, let’s get a new and uncompromised GG.

I don’t have an issue with everything the Government has done, but the way the have certain things is reprehensible, lies,deceit and unethical behaviour. But they seem to believe that the end justifies the means.

OchreBunyip says:

10:31am | 28/02/12

This sideshow is a handy distraction from the policy vacuum. If you demand real political analysis then the emperor will be recognised as having no clothes.

Nilbog says:

12:58pm | 27/02/12

It’s too humiliating for him to stay and keep quiet.

He’s just copped a very public bitch slapping, either raise hell or slink off into the night.

VVS says:

01:01pm | 27/02/12

I always saw the Rudd supporters as anti-Gillard and the Gillard supporters as anti-Rudd so a 3rd choice would be the smartest bet to ensure political survival at the next election.

There is too much hate for both of them within the ALP for either to be leader.

Cause I doubt either can win.

Ben says:

01:19pm | 27/02/12

To topple Gillard would run the risk of losing the support of the independents. They’ve both made clear that they made the deal with her, not Labor at large. In the case of a spill, all Tony Abbott would need to do would be to do a deal with one of them not to run a coalition candidate in their seats, and he’d have an election. Far better for Labor to back Julia all the way to the election, while grooming the ‘third candidate’ as opposition leader. I’m not sure it would be all beer and skittles for a coalition facing a hostile senate.

mr g says:

01:11pm | 27/02/12

Silly boy, but keep doing what you clowns do best. Keep repeating the same crap, over and over again and some moron might be attracted. It worked for a number of propagandists over the years. No facts, just outlandish statements of pure fiction sprinkled with a bit of fear, and a ‘liberal’ dose of anti-Australianism.
Keep saying “Carbon Tax” when there isn’t one, keep talking of the ‘refugee problem’ when your bloke shut the gate on off-shore solutions, thereby ensuring a “problem”.    Forget about the record amount of legislation passes by this Parliament. A total of 96% of which had your chosen party’s support. Yet Abbott, and the sheep-like ATMs of the outer perimeter of political acumen, say that the ALP are doing badly.
Our economy is the envy of the world, but Abbott and the rest of the nay-sayers would talk down the Nation, (to the Nation’s detriment), and still say that they are loyal Australians. They are not! Each broadcast lie about this great nation’s prospects is a declaration of disloyalty toward Australia. There is a name for that, and it ain’t nice.
Power has become more important than proper governance, and power has become more desirable than management of the affairs of State. An analogy may be drawn by Beckett. “The Church rises to rule. It is more fitting that it should stoop to serve”.
And do any of you really believe that the Melbourne overlords can take a punt on the abrasive, foul-mouthed, servant of Rome? Silly, sad, little billys!

marley says:

01:33pm | 27/02/12

@mr. G - “servant of Rome?”  Geez, the 1950s are a long time gone, and that kind of sectarianism should have gone with them.

Q.Pham says:

01:39pm | 27/02/12

@ Against the Man
Now look what you’ve done, you’ve gotten mr g’s little panties all in a twist and it’s causing him to dribble crap.
Bad AtM !

RyaN says:

02:40pm | 27/02/12

@ATM: She’ll be doing the bogan dance tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TG8vbdheoE&t=040

Yuri says:

02:41pm | 27/02/12

I think I now understand why both Rudd and Gillard were campaigning based on how they would be the best person to prevent Abbott from gaining the PMship.

He is just so powerful; even when not in Government he can destroy the business confidence of the nation with a single sentence (when the economy is going so well, too). He can cause the government to self-destruct in a leadership squabble. He can force the government to change or drop policy (border protection etc.). Apparently he even controls the hate-media as well.

If he can do all this from opposition, no wonder Labor are scared of the idea of Abbott being PM.

Against the Man says:

03:09pm | 27/02/12

Welcome back mr g. Now I remember 2 Sundays ago I predicted a BIG week for the ALP. And you said I was talking BS. That week which was the Four Corners program started the domino effect which led to today. Now I don’t think I predicted BS. And you ended up looking pretty foolish. So I guess the silly boy is you. I know more and am smarter than you and I’ve proved it. Gillard….17% in the polls? Ooops guess who just made themselves a silly billy?

mr g says:

03:16pm | 27/02/12

Marley, you are deluded or simply in denial. George Pell,  Santamaria, Abbott’s oath to the catholic heirarchy, all of these are present factors, and they bode not well for a Nation like ours. 1950s? Do you think that the aims of that most evil institution, the Vatican, have changed in 50 years?
Q.Pham. In typical “no fact” criticism, a method employed by most people with nothing of substance to add, you brilliantly came up with the chidish ‘panties in a twist’ summation. Boy, would you be an addition to the debating team. What finesse! What persuasive emphasis!
I notice that neither of you, nor ATM, nor TimB, nor any other respondent had one word to say about the essence of my post. But you did substantiate my argument by the paucity of political nous evident in your juvenile reply, (which of course wasn’t a ‘real’ reply. Just a silly little coupling of Abbotisms).
The next election is miles away, and the result of that election is presently unpredictable. Except to “experts” like you wishful children who lack understanding of the real world. Do you believe that you are given intellectual credence by your much announced adherence to the “born to rule” mentality that pervades the Liberal Party?
I’m glad there is no god. He would be so disappointed in you all.

RyaN says:

03:16pm | 27/02/12

@Yuri: Tony Abbott walks into the room, puts out his hand and says “Come with me if you want to live!”

Q.Pham says:

04:10pm | 27/02/12

I think mr g’s twisted panties must be made of hessian. He’s certainly one irritated little chappie !
Cheer up mr g, you never know, Labor might scrape themselves up out of the gutter before the next election.

Against the Man says:

04:16pm | 27/02/12

mr g have you heard of Seano/John A Neve or TChong or Unionist or Against the Grain or persephone or acotrel or nossy? You have just joined them on the DEFEATED pile

You haven’t figured it out yet have you?

mr g says:

04:59pm | 27/02/12

@ATM. Still cutting and pasting, I see.
I called ‘bullshit’ on you for two reasons. One, you pretended to impress us all by ‘your’ expert analysis, (it was on Four Corners, for fuck’s sake!), and two, your ‘domino effect’, (that’s where all the pieces fall, not just one), merely resulted in our Prime Minister cementing her position as Labor Leader. Wow! You sure are “smarter’ than everybody else.    Look at your logic. A Party has a leadership spill. Let’s say, Brendan Nelson, the bloke chosen to fill Howard’s shoes when the whole of Australia, and especially his own electorate, emptied him in hatred, is challenged by Turnbull. The Party turn on Nelson and install Turnbull. Then the same mob of “loyal” members turn on their failed messiah, and with Abbott’s machinations working overtime they throw Turnbull to the wolves. (One vote is a landslide!). Now this Party of turncoats see that Abbott is a very much disliked prospect as a P.M., so what do they do? And you think that the now-united Labor Party has problems?
By your ‘logic’, the Libs are in ruins. Abbott is on the way out, and the only possibility then is the ‘loyal’ Bishop, who knifed not one, but three consecutive leaders to whom she was deputy.
Ambition, Dim-Tim, should be made of sterner stuff.
You said that you are smarter, and know more than me. And that you have “proved it”. Of course you have, little Timmy. You keep on believing that you are so smart. Now go and play with your boats in the bath, There’s a good boy.

Tator says:

05:01pm | 27/02/12

Mr G,
“keep talking of the ‘refugee problem’ when your bloke shut the gate on off-shore solutions, thereby ensuring a “problem”. “
Considering that it was Gillard and Rudd who removed the “Pacific Solution” which was minimising the number of irregular maritime arrivals, it is a bit rich to try and SPIN the problem back onto the Coalition when it is the ALP’s OWN policies that created this issue as they repealed a working solution.

Our economy isn’t as strong as you think it is as GDP per capital growth is minimal and it is only population growth keeping our GDP growing.  Companies are less profitable and thus paying less company tax which is why company tax receipts are down and half the reason behind the larger than normal deficits.

mr g says:

09:27pm | 27/02/12

@Tator.  You didn’t quote your source nor your figures. Why do you belittle yourselves so often with Abbott-like non-scripted BS and then imagine that you are all experts? ATM, you, TimB, and the rest of the “experts” who are ignored except by each other don’t have a clue.
Incidentally, “GDP per capital growth” is perhaps something you read in the Liberal booklet, “Economics for Dummies”,  proudly authored, (or co-authored), by Hockey, and for sale at all Liberal rallies at your nearest phone box.
Will someone preserve our sanity by refraining from attempts at quoting Abbott. “The ALP are in trouble”, he screams. No, the ALP are in power.
The Libs, propped up by the anonymous Nationals are in trouble. The Libs have not won an election in my lifetime. Labor outpoll the Libs every time, and you blokes, girls, and Abbott all know it. Dummies.

mr g says:

11:09am | 28/02/12

@ATM@5.16…Figured what out? That you and Nostradamus,(?),
are the only folk capable of forecasting events 18 months hence? Or should I remind you that you and the rest of the no-substance brigade were predicting an Abbott victory in 2010 just 3 days before the Liberals polled 30% of the vote.
Now you want us to give you credibility a year and a half before polling day. Are you mad, or has Abbott’s unthinking rage-dribbling filtered down, (way down), to his ignorant minions.
Using the names of people who have a perfect right to vote as they choose as ‘examples’ of defeated losers just tells me that you young lads and lassies are as bereft of common sense as is your beloved temporary leader.
But keep it up, children. You’ll pick it up as you grow.
And no, I haven’t figured it out yet. Has your therapist?

Popp Suckett says:

02:46pm | 27/02/12

I have a friend that says your friend is full of it.

Zac says:

03:06pm | 27/02/12

suckett.

May this poll at NineMSN will make you happy…

Do you think the Labor party is fit to lead the country?

YES: 20656

NO: 88292

jay-ded says:

04:06pm | 27/02/12

@Zac.  My parents live in Tasmania and can’t wait for the NBN.  Why?  Because where they are they have to use a 24K modem.  Remember those?

year of the dragon says:

07:37pm | 27/02/12

jay-ded says: 05:06pm | 27/02/12

“@Zac.  My parents live in Tasmania and can’t wait for the NBN.  Why?  Because where they are they have to use a 24K modem.  Remember those?”

I’ll bet. The main question is everyone else is paying for your parent’s lifestyle.

Eve says:

07:50pm | 27/02/12

illegitimate government you are joking, libs and nats can’t govern in their own right,  currently we have ‘minority government’ ( doing a great job) consistent of ALP/independents, thanks to TA who couldn’t organise a chuck raffle if his life depended on it, he so wants to be PM and do anything (his own words, not in writing), he will never get there, our PM will win the next election and run for another 3 years a full term and not going to the ballot box every time someone spits the chips. The next liberal PM it will be MT down the road.

Philip says:

08:06pm | 27/02/12

Jay-ded why should I have to go to work and see the pay confiscated in taxes to give your parents a faster Internet connection? Are your parents some sort of royalty who are entitled to have everything on the backs of others as free stuff? Can I get free stuff from them?

DocBud says:

09:46pm | 27/02/12

It’s the Australian way, Philip, all thanks to compulsory voting. It encourages political parties to use the money of people who won’t vote for them to buy the votes of those whose votes are for sale to whichever party offers them the most free stuff.

There isn’t a party in Australia that believes that the hard working should get to keep as much of their earnings as possible and that governments should only spend what they have to. Look at how Campbell Newman is dancing around Queensland promising to spend our money if we’ll vote for him.

andye says:

07:48am | 28/02/12

@Zack - the nbn is built by nbn Co. This is initially funded by the government, but they have to repay it.  Did you even know this? Do you even bother understanding something before you start complaining aboutit?

Zac says:

10:39am | 28/02/12

andye,

“the nbn is built by nbn Co. This is initially funded by the government, but they have to repay it.”

1. Did you know NBN means No Body Needs it?

2.  How do you know they will repay it?

3.  What happens if they don’t repay it or is not in a position to repay it? Who will bear the loss? Taxpayer?

4.  Why invest in a piece of technology or infrastructure the community doesn’t need?

5. Billionaire telecom business man from mexico and other experts tell us we can get the same project done in half the cost. So why is it costing us this much? Do you think this is incompetence, corruption and mismangement of our tax $$$$?

6. Who is accountable when technology becomes outdated?

Kern says:

01:51pm | 28/02/12

Zac
You poor poor Luddite.

  1. Did you know NBN means No Body Needs it?
I suggest you tell jay-ded who posted above you that her parents don’t .
Everyone that wants to participate in the online education, business and medical revolution that lives in the bush or can’t get anything besides dial up speeds wants it.

  2.  How do you know they will repay it?
How do you know they won’t?

  3.  What happens if they don’t repay it or is not in a position to repay it? Who will bear the loss? Taxpayer?
It’s called nation building Zac. Do you use power from the snowy scheme? Do you drive on every road built by federal funds? Do you live in a vacuum?

  4.  Why invest in a piece of technology or infrastructure the community doesn’t need?
You may not need it because you still use snail mail and dial up. Not everybody is a luddite

  5. Billionaire telecom business man from mexico and other experts tell us we can get the same project done in half the cost. So why is it costing us this much? Do you think this is incompetence, corruption and mismangement of our tax $$$$?
No, I think it is an investment in our future that levels the playing field and is an enabler of a smarter society.

  6. Who is accountable when technology becomes outdated?
Fibre is not, nor will it be obsolete in your lifetime. Copper wire is outdated and crumbling in front of your eyes. Would you rather we just replace all the copper wire network with copper wire.

What an ill informed luddite who exposes his ignorance.
Come back when you understand the subject.

GB says:

12:52pm | 27/02/12

“Get over it,she has the support of most of her collegues,unlike MisteRabbitt.”

Yes, because all we keep hearing is how divided the Liberal party are don’t we Karin.  Projecting the shortcomings of your own party on to the opposition won’t help one little bit.

And Turnbull had his shot. As soon as he backed the ETS, on top of the Godwin Grech UteGate fiasco, he was gone. Rest assured, Mister 18% won’t be coming back anytime soon but you ALP acolytes hang on to that dream.

Ross says:

12:55pm | 27/02/12

But no support from the Australian people - Oh except you.

Ross says:

12:55pm | 27/02/12

But no support from the Australian people - Oh except you.

Denny says:

12:55pm | 27/02/12

That is so far from the truth its laughable. Dont try and visit the sins of labor on the Coalition. In the unlikely event that there was a spill in the coalition ranks there would be only one person voting for Turnbull - himself. If it any endoresment for Turnbull, Rob Oakshott would vote for him. That would be enough for anyone to feel good about themselves.

Karin says:

01:04pm | 27/02/12

Turnbull had his shot?

With half of the Libs voting for him?

That means either the Libs are a “no principle” lot or those who supported a more enlightened leader like Turnbull are just biding their time.

Cookie Monster says:

01:22pm | 27/02/12

And Abbott is still stomping on Turnbull supporters how? Give us some examples Karin of current stomps.

GB says:

01:27pm | 27/02/12

@Karin.<Yawn>. Let me guess. If the Coalition change their leader to Turnbull, you’ll consider voting for them at the next election, right?

Gillard is done for says:

01:47pm | 27/02/12

What a ridiculous observation.  I don’t care how much support she has from her colleagues, it is the Australian people (remember us, the voting public) that she should be seeking support from.  But keep up your infantile banter against Tony Abbott because clearly it is working very well.

Mouse says:

01:55pm | 27/02/12

Karin, in regard to Liberal leadership challenges - Turnbull lost to Nelson in 2007. He won it in 2008 against Nelson (by 4 votes). In 2009 there was a 3 way challenge, Abbott, Hockey and Turnbull.  Abbott got the most votes in the first round, Abbott 35, Turnbull 26, Hockey 23. Turnbull then lost to Abbott in the second round, Abbott 42 to Turnbull’s 41.  The ‘no principle” Liberals put it to a members vote, during the day I might add, and Turnbull lost.

This all happened over 2 years ago and there has been no talk of Turnbull trying again from anyone but Labor hopefuls.  So as to an upcoming Liberal leadership challenge, where and who would that be? Are you talking from some secret knowledge or just a pie-in-the-sky fantasy?

If there is going to be any stomping, I think that would be more likely from the gillard camp. I’m sure she will be able to sleep well at night…... maybe!

?

Karin says:

03:00pm | 27/02/12

“Let me guess. If the Coalition change their leader to Turnbull, you’ll consider voting for them at the next election, right? “

poor GB

everything down to which person/leader to vote for?

I personally think policies are more important than personalities.

But then I’m old enough to remember Abbott’s backflips as Howard’s Health minister not to mention honest John himself and his core and non-core promises.

I wonder what the Murdoch press would have done to Gillard if she had used that excuse re the carbon tax.

Chris L says:

03:25pm | 27/02/12

In Karin’s defense I’d like to point out that researched facts have never been considered important in previous posts on the Punch.

Mouse says:

04:16pm | 27/02/12

ChrisL, as always, the true gentleman defending a woman’s honour!  At least this time it wasn’t links….. lol   :o)

Karin says:

12:58pm | 27/02/12

Real journos are a dying breed.Nobody teaches truth in reporting.Lying by omission and contributing outright lies to “sources” within the party,especially Labor, has been the mode of reporting for the past few decades.Shame isn’t it?

Nilbog says:

01:06pm | 27/02/12

Outright lies? Don’t think so, toots.

Today has shown there is a decent percentage of disgruntled MPs in Federal Labor.

They’ve been slinging this mud, off the record, for months. Reporters are allowed to print it, just not the source.

Zac says:

01:11pm | 27/02/12

The Badger,

Reality check - Media V Labor

Is this how you get “them” to concentrate on policy….

“It wasn’t K Rudd who made a pre-election commitment on a carbon tax.  It wasn’t K Rudd who made a particular commitment to (independent Andrew Wilkie) on the question of poker machines,” he said.

“It wasn’t K Rudd who had anything to do with the East Timor solution or the Malaysian solution (to asylum seeker arrivals).

These were initiatives and decisions taken uniquely by the Prime Minister.

“And I’m a bit tired and fed up by this general frame which says that if the Government has a problem and Prime Minister Gillard’s leadership has a problem, ipso facto it’s because of me. It is simply unsustainable.”

antman says:

01:15pm | 27/02/12

Unfortunately, Karin, “reporting” is alive and well. Usually it is just reporting the spin and other BS that is spoon-fed to them without any questioning. If there is any independence of thought displayed by a “reporter”, it is only used to sensationalise. Journalism, on the other hand, died a long time ago.

Karin says:

03:03pm | 27/02/12

“Outright lies? Don’t think so, toots.”

Oh dear.

Shame I’m a bloke isn’t it?

RyaN says:

04:14pm | 27/02/12

@Karin: “Lying by omission and contributing outright lies” well if our prime minister can do it, it must be acceptable right?

“There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead!”

Nilbog says:

05:04pm | 27/02/12

@ Karin

Can still call you toots if you’re a bloke. It’s just more belittling for you…

Cookie Monster says:

01:20pm | 27/02/12

Karin - this is not about you - nobody wants to hear your whinging.

Karin says:

03:07pm | 27/02/12

“Karin - this is not about you - nobody wants to hear your whinging.”

If you were capable of following the discussion you would have realised that I was replying to a poster who asserted that backstabbing only ever occured after working hours.
”

LJ Dots says:

07:14pm | 27/02/12

@Karin, if you were replying to a poster perhaps your comments should have been posted where the comment was actually made, rather than starting a new thread and expecting the reader to somehow predict your intentions. I know, it’s a radical idea, but some good may come from it..

GB says:

01:14pm | 27/02/12

It says more about the general loathing for Gillard than any great love for Rudd IMO Davy. They’re better off with a “cleanskin” challenger next time around. although that may be somewhat difficult, given they were all forced to pick a side in this debacle.

antman says:

01:21pm | 27/02/12

I’m sure that they do care. However, since they have direct knowledge of working with Rudd and know first-hand how chaotic and disasterous he was as a PM, things that the public do not have, then they are absolutely entitled to igonre the public. Their obligation is to deliver a further 18 months of government, not to improve the opinion polls or to provide a leader who prefers to chase the news cycle while nothing gets done. I’m amazed that so few people can understand this fundamental fact.

fish says:

02:50pm | 27/02/12

It wasn’t an election

antman says:

01:31pm | 27/02/12

The public has the attentionspan of a goldfish and is always harking back to “the good old days”, even when they weren’t that good. There’s no Federal general election being held this week or this month. Give Rudd 18 months as PM before the next election and he’ll have run the ALP’s vote down as low as it is now, or lower. However, he would have bought 18 months of indecision and inaction. Gillard was the right option (of the limited choice given), just not the popular one.

marley says:

01:43pm | 27/02/12

Umm, I’d just like to point out, first, that the opinion polls have been a reasonably good guide to election outcomes over the years.  And second, I’d like to say, that no, I don’t think we were being manipulated by that particular opinion-poll because neither I nor anyone else in the general public had anything to do with the decision to dump Kevin.  So if any one was in fact manipulated, it was the members of the ALP caucus.

Fiddler says:

01:48pm | 27/02/12

except the polls are drastically lower now. They did this to grab a temporary boost and call a swift election while dumping all their failures on the outgoing. A bit like they did in NSW, and QLD and SA. Wow, these guys seem to have a tendency to do this. If I were a cynical person I would suggest that they have contempt for the voting public.

Peter says:

02:36pm | 27/02/12

MP, The ALP have good reason to think the Australian public are complete idiots. After the disaster that was the Rudd Government enough of them still voted for Gillard in 2010, not a majority mind you, but enough so that with the help of the independents they were able to hang on to Government. Even now more than 30% will still vote for them.

Karin says:

03:41pm | 27/02/12

“Does Gillard and her cronies think the Australian public are complete idiots.  “

she doesn’t have to ‘think’ so,the Aussie voters have proven themself time and again to be so.

And reading most of the comments here and in the papers I’ve come to the same conclusion.

they say there is one born every minute,by the look of things all in australia.  :-(

Mattb says:

02:53pm | 27/02/12

“That may be so but what about the average australian familie scratching for a living and finding it hard to put a meal on the table every day”

If your struggling to put food on the table or “scratching for a living” in this country, I’m sorry, but you’ve only got yourself to blame. 99% of people with financial problems in this country are in that situation because of their own stupid actions, their own poor choices. Blaming the government is the cop out of those that can’t manage their own lives, it’s piss weak…

RyaN says:

02:14pm | 27/02/12

Where are you going? I am sure Tony will wave if he is nearby.

jaki says:

05:25pm | 27/02/12

@ RyaN
I’m lovin’ your comebacks to this idiot. Keep it up, lmbo !!!

RyaN says:

05:48pm | 27/02/12

@jaki: Thanks jaki, he seems like a nice guy, not much for conversation though, he must be going somewhere.

TheRealDave says:

02:58pm | 27/02/12

If you think ‘you can only vote once’ in an online poll you have very very little idea of how the internet works.

Are you a Liberal Party Broadband policy maker by any chance??

Mattb says:

03:06pm | 27/02/12

How can they stop you voting more than once Sandra?. I’ve got five different means of getting Internet access with five different Internet IP addresses. I could quite easily vote five times without them even knowing. Newspaper polls are rubbish, your a fool if you trust them.

Philosopher says:

03:06pm | 27/02/12

Result now is No 88,118 and Yes 20,611. Steady rate of No majority of well over 80%.

Against the Man says:

03:12pm | 27/02/12

Game over for ALP for at least a decade. Gotta thank Julia for a job well done.

Fraser says:

03:09pm | 27/02/12

Putting all of the shinanegans aside. Would Smith make a good leader. I can’t see JG winning the next election but there again stranger things have happened. Would Smith be a good candidate. What’s the thoughts

Esteban says:

07:17pm | 27/02/12

Smith appears to be a good man. Tells the truth and prefers hard work to spin.

As such he is unsuited to the position.

scumbag says:

08:15pm | 27/02/12

Are you saying you don’t like him?

Against the Man says:

03:21pm | 27/02/12

Gillard is finished.