Campaign countdown: Real Julia tries to pick a real fight

TimB says:

07:55am | 03/08/10

On the topic of alternate debates, I figure if the Greens want a look in, perhaps they should debate the Nationals.

Bob Brown Vs Barnaby Joyce, you know that’d be worth watching .

Jane says:

10:34am | 03/08/10

Desperate politics from this weeks ‘Rool Joolia’.

At the beginning of the campaign Abbott called for more debates, Gillard resoundingly said ‘no’. Too late now. Schedules have now been arranged around the fact that theres no more. Now Gillard changes her mind in a panicked whim because she’s now desperate?....no dice.

But what the ‘rool’ damning issue here is is that she deliberately chose Sunday night KNOWING it was the Liberal Party launch and Abbott would most likely say ‘no’. Noice one.

Deceitful, manipulative, dirty politics/tactics continues from Labor..YAWN.
Nothing has changed -...other than the level of desperation and panic. The ‘real’ deceitful Gillard and backroom ‘faceless’ puppet master strategists are continuing on as normal.
The contrived, fake ‘sincere’ gig is ..........er, pretty much still contrived and fake.

Who knows what next weeks version of ‘Rool Jools’ might want - she might not even want another debate - Who would know?? :O

Next.

dovif says:

01:32pm | 03/08/10

how about an inquiry on whether they found Julia’s knife when they operated on Rudd?

mickijo says:

02:54pm | 03/08/10

I can just see the Backroom Boys saying to Julia, “Go out there and pretend you are real”. It’s a hoot.!Beats Days of our Lives.

Jack Thomas says:

03:12pm | 03/08/10

You know your election campaign is in real trouble when Barnaby Joyce steals the show on Q&A, on a slow news day but only some second stringers are there in opposition.

Even a rusted on like me scoffs at Barnaby, yet Labor and the Greens continued to slide down the toilet bowl. Some classic gaffs and slip ups from Julia’s ex Craig Imerson too last night, seems leaking of secrets includes pillow talk too.

The Greens have slipped further into irrelevance, but on the basis of Labor they look like doing a Steven Bradbury.

I thought people were beign harsh in 2009 saying Kevin Rudd was going to be our worst and shortest in office PM ever. Julia is set to take that wooden spoon in fine style. That is if it really is Julia.

I’m confused, is that photo of the new new Julia, or the old one?

Wok says:

08:00am | 03/08/10

The ALP can hand feed journalists with 30 year old quotes and that’s fine.  Please stop whining like a sick dog when your beloved Joolia stuffs it up and starts doing -mid race, issuing stupid challenges and stays with the citizens assembly.  Open the other eye and take a breath.

Steve says:

08:03am | 03/08/10

Mary, the Liberal spin team are better at producing simple one liners that are basically personal smear.  They started on Rudd before he even got the job as opposition leader.  This tactic became popular after Mark Latham melted down during an election campaign ( they attacked his family). Why else attack Gillard’s partner for a driving offence which happened before he even met her. Of course Abbott has complete deniablity of this nastiness and even blames the other side if they respond with the same tactic.

TimB says:

08:09am | 03/08/10

I think if anyone was screaming “Rudd has to go”, then they probably wanted the rest of Labor to go with him. Might still happen yet :D.

Regardless, a “fair go”?!  She’s didn’t drop down in the last shower, she’s been part of the Labor mess for the last three years. Why should she be treated with kid gloves? Would you want Tony to be extended the same courtesy? I highly doubt it.
Labor had their “fair go”. They cocked it up massively. Julia was an integral part. Now its only fair that they go…away.

The Scarlet Pimpernel says:

08:11am | 03/08/10

If the speeding offence happened before he met her, he is in real trouble, since it was in her taxpayer funded car.

jb says:

08:55am | 03/08/10

Yeah but EVERYTHING this woman does is conniving, condescending and Dingo cunning.
So she only wants to debate on Sunday, so why would that be, oh yeah thats right because Abbott has the Lib party launch that night and she knows he can’t make it, personally I would love to see her debate the economy because the economy is not about getting a credit card and racking it up to the hilt like she thinks…
Abbott should agree to the next weekend don’t think he has anything on then…

Mary Wide Bay says:

09:06am | 03/08/10

Like many of us, I’m neither pro-Julia nor pro-Tony.
I am however pro-fair debate. I am pro-live and let live, I am pro-let’s just get on with it and deal with some real issues instead of light idle banter which is neither here nor there.

Brad says:

09:09am | 03/08/10

Even as a Labor voter, I disagree with the above. Julia received a fair go originally and that’s why she jumped to a 55-45 two party preferred lead. Since then she has run a horrible campaign, which is costing us. There have been cabinet leaks (not her fault),the horrible citizens assembly, the bizarre “real Julia” claims and now it has become a very negative campaign include wanting a last minute debate on the day of the Liberal campaign launch.

bf says:

09:38am | 03/08/10

Yeah Mary I’m with you, while all the over-analysis makes for a fascinating technical exercise, the never-ending attacks on people in public life have become really monotonous. Do any of us want to put our hands up and cop it instead? No.  And neither do the journos.  I’m really over the negativity.

PaulB says:

09:59am | 03/08/10

Julia has a partner?  I thought he was a stage prop.

BobM says:

10:08am | 03/08/10

@Mary Wide Bay - Julia has had 3 years to have a fair go. Only her title has changed - same leaky boat, just a different captain.

Sherekahn says:

10:57am | 03/08/10

The media was responsible for Rudd’s demise. 
As for an ALP politician, Rudd was more like Britain’s Maggie Thatcher creating soaring house prices.
Since when can a multi millionaire be an honest ALP politician?
There was no knife; Julia saw the light long before the media brought Rudd down to 36% popularity.
Dinkum Aussies, unlike modern “Royal Commission dudes wearing BOW ties!” would know that a Slim Dusty is NOT a micro fibre duster.
Perhaps we need to slow down immigration to re-establish what it is to be Australian.

I think Julia’s political theme song should be Slim Dusty’s “looking forward looking back.”

Temerarious says:

10:58am | 03/08/10

Mary, did Julia give Kevin a fair go? No, of course not. That’s why there is so much anger and despair out there with the punters.
Labor realise this and are now so desperate about losing this election that they have people like Bruce Hawker getting on Sky News yesterday and quoting Tony Abbott from 1977 or thereabouts. Even David Speers pulled him up and said “who cares about something that was said 30 years ago”?
Darn tootin’!

Michael says:

11:42am | 03/08/10

I’d say 3 years was a fair go? We’ve seen the fake julia, the new improved julia, now with added realness, we’ve seen the angry liar caught out julia, we’ve seen it all and yet, we’ve seen nothing of any real value. Expensive, very, but cheap and tawdry cliches and drivell and nothing more from this woman or the rest of labor. She stabbed rudd in the back and justified by saying the party had lost it’s way. She was half right. They never knew where they were going and were almost totally aimless - and they still are. Mary, you really need to open BOTH eyes and have a good look at the last 3 years of labor and make a critical assessment. Are you happy with how your many hundreds of billions have been spent/squandered?

dovif says:

11:46am | 03/08/10

Sherekahn

It is easy to blame the media for Rudd’s demise, but the media reports news only, you need to find where the source of the news came from. Before Rudd was backstabbed by Julia, Crean, one of Julia main supporter, was leaking that noone was consulted about the mining tax, that Rudd was a loner, his employee need to find out more from Rudd’s employee.

Then there was the leak of Chinese “Rat f**cker” story, which sure look like an ALP leak

Quite Simply Julia did an assassination via the media. Now element of the ALP is using the same forum back against her

Michael says:

11:47am | 03/08/10

Really Mary, adjusting her technique? Is that like a mulligan? A do-over? Why didn’t she just say “oooh, no. wait. I wasn’t ready… Not fair! Not playing anymore!.What do you think this is Mary, a game? Playtime for labor? If gillard is such a rank amateur then she is definitely not up to running our country! And from her performance over the last 3 years, that much is abundantly clear!

dovif says:

11:55am | 03/08/10

Mary Wide Bay

If you really want a real debate, then you should be pretty upset at Julia atm.

If Julia really want a real debate, then I would assume that Julia would not want to pick a date, where she knew that Abbott would be at the Liberal campaign launch. This would suggest that Julia did not want a debate in the first place.

The real Julia is standing up .... and really it is a fake Julia, who wants to say she wants a debate, but picks a date in which she knows that is impossible

Andy says:

12:20pm | 03/08/10

Mary, she;s been given a chance when Deputy PM and also Education minister overseeing the debacle of the School Building program.  The reason the press and the public are giving her a hard time is becasue she deserves it. Now she wants another debate so she can talk about the economy. Gee, wouldn’t have been an idea to do that in the first debate?  I am a real Aussie and find your insunation insulting. Real Aussies DO question and query and make up their own minds. Surely your not backing her just ‘because she’s a woman’? Back whoever you think will lead the country, not just because they are the same gender as you!

Tired of all the neocon hypocracy says:

12:24pm | 03/08/10

What the hell is wrong with changing tactics mid stream? If this was a football match, and the side that was losing badly had the opportunity of half time to reassess the game plan, yet they continued to play as they had in the first half, they would probably be booed off the field…  yet if they at least modified their game plan they might not do so badly.

Also, what is so sacrosanct about a campaign launch? Abbott has been campaigning up and down the country since he removed Malcolm Turnbull by the narrowest of margins. (Kevin Rudd also had the opportunity to take Julia’s challenge to the vote but chose not to).
Also, I hear ‘Joolia’ used the expression ‘moving forward’ to excess. Has anybody noticed the many times a day Abbott has screamed ‘great big new tax’ since since he took over? Maybe you are getting familiar with the ever popular ‘faceless men’? like as if the libs don’t have faceless men from the business community and the miners.

Moggy says:

12:53pm | 03/08/10

Gillard was the one who called the election Mary! And now she has to face the music. The faceless men of Labor have stuffed up big time. They thought that because Gillard appears to be a nice “Mumsy” sort of woman she’d tug at all our heart strings & we’d elect her.  They forgot that the electorate’s intelligence is growing because as the years go by we are becoming better educated. In other words we see through shams! Just consider the TV ads in this campaign. Liberals are targetting the Labor governments debacles; Labor are playing the man, which in a modern educated society is very very passe!  I voted for Rudd, but quickly started to doubt him, & long before the slavvering media hacks did. I’ll be voting Liberal this time & there’s nothing that Labor can throw at Abbott that will change my mind. We all saw the billions & billions that Labor has thrown away. We all know that Labor is borrowing $110,000,000 A DAY from China to keep the government afloat…AND Mary….we ALL know that Gillard was second in charge of the governemnt when all this happened. But probably the most disgusting thing that he gang of four did was to use the countries State Emergency money legislation so they could use OUR tax money on TV ads in what was Labors campaign to nationalise the mining industry. They are a dishonest, inept rabble.

Brad Coward says:

01:25pm | 03/08/10

I would expect that we’ll see an even newer version of ” real Julia ” to counteract the damage done by ” real Julia ” since yesterday.  Give her a fair go ?  Yes, exactly like the fair go that she gave Mr Abbott when she refused to participate in more than one debate during the campaign.

Typical, ” it’s my bat and ball and I’m taking it home unless you play by my rules ” attitude displayed by the PM when agreeing to a debate when she would be the only one prepared to speak. 

Completely gutless Labor at it’s best !

Pat McCann says:

03:18pm | 03/08/10

What happened to “Gillard"giving Rudd a fair go, and not going behind his back to stab him,  must have been a double whammy for Rudd knowing the polls were bad..agreeing with the MOB to hand over to Gillard before election and wouldn’t it have been great to be a fly on the wall on THE NIGHT that no-one can EVER, EVER mention?  If she was fool enough to OBEY the MOB then get rid of her!

Marg says:

05:10pm | 03/08/10

Yes Mary we were screaming Rudd must go BUT we didn’t ask Julia Gillard to “step in”. That’s what pople do when they go to the polls! I wouldn’t vote for that frump if she was the last politician on earth. A Prime Minister is someone who leads their party to an election and winds that elec tion. THEN they become Prime Minister.

All says:

08:33am | 03/08/10

I gather that the day Gillard wants the debate is the same day that the Liberal launch is to be held.  She expects him to dash off at her demand to appear in a debate at her chosen location with only a subject she chooses. She has all day to prepare while Tony attends the Liberal launch then has to dash off to Gillards location with no preparations. Would Gillard be prepared to interupt the ALP launch to dash off to a debate on that day with Tony Abbott if he so demanded. Answer “Don,t be stupid”

Jason CR says:

08:51am | 03/08/10

Her Heinous wants a 2nd debate on her terms only and on one issue - the economy.
Abbott should agree on one proviso, a 3rd debate in the last week of the campaign and on 3 issues. Mining tax, ETS and Asylum seekers.  They were the 3 biggest issues facing her government she told us back on June 24.  Lets see how she’s dealt with them.
Also throw out the worm and hook them both up to a lie detector test.  That would make for good TV.  No need then for Labor party leaks.

Jane says:

12:18pm | 03/08/10

It’s all a moot point if the ’ iJools2.0’ decides mid week she doesn’t want another debate now - especially if Abbott agrees to the day of LABOR’s campaign launch….instead.

The rate she’s chopping and changing, writhing and squirming with desperate faux makeovers daily, who knows what she* may pretend to want next.

* -denotes faceless puppet masters

DT says:

07:25pm | 03/08/10

Joolia you are starting to sound desperate, not that it surprises anyone who is interested in politics. Try reading The Weekend Australian “How Rudd Bet The House”, Inquirer, June 19-20, 2010. You were there, deputy at the time and Gang of Four member.

Youdy beaudy says:

09:34am | 03/08/10

The Scarlet Pimpernel, you build up the former liberal treasurer there ole bean but I and many others would probably like to know where the 1billion odd dollars of tax payers money that Costello invested on some white elephant went, and why he didn’t have to answer to the taxpayers over that little beauty.

Wasn’t the money he lost coming from superannuation funds that he had his hands on. Well you want honesty in Government and that little mismanagement just conveniently disappeared under the radar. Talk about economic management. Why don’t you dig up a few of his stuff ups and put them on here so we all can read the truth about the Liberal Howard Costello Abbott Government. And why did the people chuck them out and even Howard lost his seat as well, and Costello never became Prime Minister as he would have liked to. Go and ask Abbott about that one.

Bruce says:

10:09am | 03/08/10

It is interesting, I listened to the interview where gillard was challenged if she was interested in doing another debate, she specifically said she would only do another debate only about the economy, nothing else. As I understand it she was the one who said she was not interested in doing another debate after the first debate. Personally, I think the debates are a waste of time, boring, smile fest and more about personality and who has the biggest cheezy grin and makes the best ‘motherhood statements’. I am actually embarrased to see our politicians trivialised by taking place in these media events. The best debates take place in the parliament, where they are supposed to take place.

DT says:

07:27pm | 03/08/10

The Scarlet Pimpernel, Tony Abbott offered her three debate, she declined. Game, set, match.

TimB says:

08:15am | 03/08/10

Weak opponent Nosthow? Care to explain why the polls are now 50-50?

Oh that’s right. It’s an anomaly, isn’t it? I mean how could the people even think of turning away from St. Julia?

It’s ok Nosthow, just stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and repeat “la-la-la”. No need to worry yourself with that nasty thing called reality.

Diamantina Dick says:

08:28am | 03/08/10

Just keep on underestimating Tony Abbott, it has worked well so far eh!

Nicole says:

09:03am | 03/08/10

nosthow, you sound as desperate as your Queen. Look at the polls and you’ll see who the people want, Abbott. He’s your next PM. Now go and cry in your corn flakes.

Youdy beaudy says:

09:45am | 03/08/10

Nosthow, The thing that we must note is that Julia Gillard and Labor have to fight an election against a coalition which has 2 political parties involved. So they have to be like Jack the Giant Slayer.

So one political party fighting 2 political parties hardly seems fair. If it was fair then the Liberals and Nationals would have the guts to play fair and run independently of each other. Now that would be fairer for us all. And yet with all that competition Labor can still in the polls have a 50percent following.

So a vote for the Liberals is a vote for the Nationals and vice versa. Very unfair indeed, why not 1st past the post. Let them run their own races independently and see what happens. That coalition should be made illegal by the Australian Electoral Commission. It is very unfair. 2 against one, well not exactly the Australian Way is it?.

Joe Blow says:

09:59am | 03/08/10

oh dear nosthow - do you see the irony in the fact that Gillard’s ‘idea’ on giving School Principal’s control over their schools, comes straight from ‘Battlelines’.  Maybe if you read it (as JuLIAR obviously has) you too might have a good idea one day.

MarK says:

10:01am | 03/08/10

*snicker*

From the most popular PM “ever” to fighting for their political life. That is Labor.

It could well be that Abbott kills off two Labor PM’s in a year.

If Labor loose this election the internal bloodbath that follows will be a sight to see.

They could sell tickets to the first few meetings. Paul Howes and Arbib might turn up missing. Ahhhh the possibilities. Cannot wait to be honest. There is nothing like Labor in pure anger mode. Beats everything for a spectator sport.

Are you entertained indeed.

Macca says:

10:19am | 03/08/10

@Youdy beaudy, “And yet with all that competition Labor can still in the polls have a 50percent following”

Actually, Labor only have 38%, almost only 1 in every 3 people are going to vote for the current government on the recent polls. The 50 - 50 is based on preferences, many coming from the Greens to the ALP

TimB says:

10:21am | 03/08/10

Youdy beaudy, sorry to burst your bubble but you’re quite wrong.

The Nationals and the Libs don’t compete for seats. Generally if you have a Liberal candidate, you won’t have a National candidate, and vice versa. So the Labor party isn’t fighting “Two against one”

The preference deals between Labor and the Greens on the other hand….that’s a lot closer to the “unfair” situation you’re describing.

The only reason Labor are on 50-50 with the Coalition is because of Green preferences. The Coalition primary vote is much higher than Labors. Labor wouldn’t win the election if not for those Green preferences, simple as that.

Bruce says:

10:58am | 03/08/10

Youdy beauty. You speak as though a coaltion party is something unusual. They exists in many forms throughout the world. You do not have to vote for a coaltion if you do not want to. As long as a political party declares it up front, whats the problem. Its not like the labor party who exist under one name with 3 different political types, such as the left, centre and right wing labor elements within one political name.

Barbara says:

11:00am | 03/08/10

@ Youdy Beaudy - The Nationals are a separate party who also run candidates against Liberal candidates in a number of seats.  They give their preferences to the Liberals as the Greens give theirs to Labor, so what’s your problem?  Let’s say we do away with preference votes, what do you guess will happen next?  The Nationals along with the Greens and every other minor party will no longer exist because they will not be able to apply influence and represent the people that vote for them, because those voting will know that their vote is completely wasted.  The only alternative will be that people will have to vote for either Labor or Liberal – that’s it.  Now the major parties no longer have to worry about the environment or rural communities because they no longer get representation enough to influence policy.  You really need to get your tunnel vision looked at.

Roja says:

11:02am | 03/08/10

“The Nationals and the Libs don’t compete for seats.”

Is that a core or non-core promise? 

The Libs and Nats are competing in WA, where the Nats are not preferencing the liberals.  They want to represent WA and not the Coalition who have failed them.  So much for paradise.

That and there are seats in the Senate, where they have no choice but to compete.

TimB says:

11:27am | 03/08/10

@ Roja, my mistake. I was speaking generally. I knew there might be an exception somewhere, but I wasn’t sure.
In any case in the WA situation you describe, the Coalition does not exist as it does in the other states so Youdy beaudy’s point is rendered moot there anyway. Not to mention QLD where you simply have the LNP (Liberals + Nationals) running as a single entity.

You’re right that they compete in the Senate, but again, not relevant to the point that Youdy beaudy was making, seeing as Government is only formed from the party that has the House of Reps majority.

So far so good says:

12:21pm | 03/08/10

nosthow,

Have you heard that joke about the guy who fell off a skyscraper? On his way down past each floor, he kept saying to reassure himself: So far so good.

That’s what your comment reminds me of.

Brian Taylor says:

01:07pm | 03/08/10

if Abbott is as weak as you suggest, please explain why Julia is running scared of the polls? he must be doing something right
as far as I know, Julia is the only one to addmit that shes been running a fake campain so far

Roja says:

04:56pm | 03/08/10

@TimB - Fair enough, was just pointing out the small hole in that particular statement.  The Nationals are in fact a bit of a basket case depending on the location withinin Australia (they are all but non-existant in SA).

However when it comes to ‘two against one’ people have overlooked the liberals semi-capable but very well financed ally family first.  They do indeed preference the liberal party in the majority of seats and depending on the number of evangelical christians that live in the electorate are a reasonably useful ally.  Not greens popular, but enough for me to call it ‘two against two’.

What I will not argue over is the relative mental stability of either the greens or family first.  Both sides of this democratic process can call them the cousins that are part of the family, but we don’t really talk about much…

Marg says:

07:33pm | 03/08/10

nosthow, you are hillarious. Having the REAL DEAL Joolia is really an advantage to the ALP. She really is their greatest asset..hahahaha
PS she’s really Rudd with lipstick.

Joan says:

08:41am | 03/08/10

What a trick,  a desperate woman with more faces than Tara of `United States of Tara` offers to debate Abbott on day of Liberal Campaign Launch,,,,, this is not a real offer but a phony offer, anyone can see that but of couse the dumb media, who have fallen for it hook line and sink. Gillard now plays the scam artist with bogus offer. Another boring debate? Not for me…more interesting daily watching the many faces of Gillard.- which face will she display today?

Robert S McCormick says:

07:42pm | 03/08/10

Youdy beaudy,
You seem to forget that the National Party did a stinking, rotten deal with the ALP in South Australia where a National Party MP actually becam a Minister in the Stae ALP Government of SA. We all know why she, Karlene Maywald, did so. She did it, just like Joolya did, for her own personal benefit: A Ministry, in which she was an abject failure, and all the financial & other perks that go with being a Minister in any Government. The voters, just as, at the moment, it appears they will of Joolya on August 21st, took care of her at the last State Election. If ever the Liberals should pause before they decide not to run a candidate in a national Party held seat it will be when they reflect on the way the National Party betrayed the non-Labor side of politics in SA

Evan Findlay says:

11:31am | 03/08/10

MarK,
Both Liberal and Labor internal polling still show a slim victory to Labor but the coaliton has certainly put themselves in the contest. Labor would need to wrestle the momentum back off the Liberal party if it wants to retain government. Issues like “The real Julia” and requests for a second debate are not going to work in their favor, nor will ripping $300 million in dividends from Medibank to fund policies.
Labor needs to return to traditional ground like health and education whilst promoting their success in keeping Australia from recession.

All Abbott needs to do is keep his mouth shut and refrain from the usual right wing diatribe he normally immerses himself in. He doesn’t need to debate Julia, in fact he would be stupid to do so and just remain diplomatic and don’t attack the man, or in this case the woman.
What I would love to see, if not voted out by their respective electorates, is the likes of Shorten, Arbib and Howes expelled by the party for their act of political bastardry against Rudd.

Dash says:

12:03pm | 03/08/10

Evan, Labor should thank:
A. The Liberal party for leaving them a surplus to splash about and;
B. China’s appetite for our resources
for keeping us out of recession.
Also, ask yourself what Labor state governments have done for health and education? They are the ones who despite getting 100% of the GST did little for State health and State education!
Polling also shows the LNP to have more of the primary vote. Time for a first past the post system I say. Rid us off the backroom deals.

Evan Findlay says:

12:31pm | 03/08/10

Dash,
Two points. Firstly, with the amount of tax revenue that the Howard/Costello government received through corporate tax and personal tax, and it was high because of low unemployment and the China resources boom, the question should have been put to Howard, Why only $20 billion dollars of surplus when nearly $360 Billion in tax revenue. And secondly, if Labor should thank China for their resources appetite and saving us from recession, which is correct to a point but a little shallow in thinking, will the Liberals thank China also for providing the surplus that you continually keep harping on about. Will the Liberal Party correct the misconception they fostered onto the electorate that somehow through their economic prowess and lack of policy and reform initiative that they were the reason for the surpluses?

dovif says:

01:52pm | 03/08/10

Evan Findlay

Definitely, China’s appetite had a lot to do with Australia’s success, but why was Australia so successful, when compared with other countries like Canada, South Africa, most of Africa and Brazil, who have plenty of resources?

Some of the reasons includes the following
Australia has a free market, thanks to Paul Keating
Australia has a more efficient and cheaper waterfront… thanks to Howard
Australia no longer have militant unions at the mines .... thanks to Howard
Australia has strong trade ties with China ... due to excellent foreign reade work taken under Howard
Until recently, Australia has many incentices for Miners to call Australia home and encourages our miners to expend, see BHP and Rio Tinto ... we encourage the growth of the mining sector, so we gain the export dollar, which in turn help our economy ... which this government tried to stop

Dash says:

05:24pm | 03/08/10

Evan, you miss the point. The Howard government used the money to firstly pay off Labors debt racked up by the Hawke and Keating governments. They introduced the GST to fund state government spending and they SAVED the surplus and continued to bring down surplus budgets. If Gillard and Rudd were in power during the Howard era, they would still have found a way to deliver a defecit because they’d have spent the money on bribing the electorate with cash splashes or funding silly schemes or allowed it to be rorted. Just as happened with the insulation fiasco and the school halls rorts. Not to mention the NBN black hole and things like grocery choice and the 2020 summit which wasted millions and returned nothing. Rudd told us he was a fiscal conservative and then spent more money than any other previous PM! Labor does not know how to be fiscally responsible. When was the last Labor surplus budget?

Aitch B says:

09:04am | 03/08/10

Couldn’t agree more, Paul.

By announcing her change of tack she’s leaving herself wide open to criticism if there’s no apparent difference in the way she goes about the campaign. It will be very interesting to see who the ‘real me’ really is. I suspect no different from the ‘unreal’ one we’ve seen to date.

Also, she would have known that Abbott was doing the Liberal campaign launch that night. All it is is an opportunity for her and her followers to bag Abbot and take cheap shots for not doing it. He wanted more debates - she and the ALP machine said no. Now they want another one and he says no. Fair enough in my book….....

BobM says:

10:25am | 03/08/10

Will The Real Julia please stand up!

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/the-leaders/the-reals-on-the-bus-20100803-113te.html?autostart=1

Paul Neri says:

12:23pm | 03/08/10

It’s so unfair. When Tony said something along the lines that his off-the-cuff comments weren’t to be given the same weight as his considered opinion, he was crucified by Labor for not stating what he really meant i.e. for being false.

But then ... but then Labor turns around and does exactly the same thing but true to its “one rule for the girls and an other for the boys”, it sits there quite unselfconsciously wanting us to overlook this inconsistency!

Labor is a joke. When it was the working man’s party it had a concrete (pun intended) ideology. Clear-cut objectives that didn’t stray into all fields. Labor should dismantle itself, reform as a worker’s party and hive off all the intellectuals and starry-eyed types to the Greens.

Rosie says:

09:35am | 03/08/10

I think you are a Labor voter trying to lump Tony Abbott in with Julia Gillard’s big time “stuff ups” Tony Abbott is becoming more and more inspiring day by day. Please say what you have to say but leave Tony Abbott out of the equation.

Labor had some many advantages at the beginning of the campaign.

1. First female PM
2. A first term Party that was seeking to be re elected.
3. The Polls were in her favour, preferred PM & preferred party and it seemed there was no way the Liberals were going to win.
4. Very polished speaker

Labor can now blame themselves for making it easy for Tony Abbott and the Liberals to take the momentum away from them.

watchingwithinterest says:

10:17am | 03/08/10

The government is trying to play small target politics.  Oppositions don’t win elections governments lose them. As a result the fact that the government is not out there setting an agenda for a seond term why would an opposition give them a free kick.  All the opposition is doing is merely mirroring the government and who can blame them.  When the liberal party were in government they went to the elections to obtain a mandate and they were prepared to lose the contest for it. ie: workchoices, GST.  This government is not prepared to take that risk if they were they would be out there compaigning for an ets and would likely have had a whole lot better chance of retaining government.  Australians don’t want a government that is not prepared to stand and fight when the going gets tough

MarK says:

01:46pm | 03/08/10

+1 internetz for Galaga mention.

Well played Tails

Tails says:

03:08pm | 03/08/10

As I said, it was the best analogy I could think of.

Eric says:

09:11am | 03/08/10

I love the smell of Labor desperation in the morning.

TimB says:

09:17am | 03/08/10

This is what you base your vote on? What a candidate looks like?

The scary thing is you vote and that there’s others out there like you.

Joe Blow says:

10:03am | 03/08/10

It’s not that we are seeing the Messiah in Abbott.  It’s that we can see the MESS that is the Labor party and the schizo-fraud that is Gillard.

XLabor voter says:

10:07am | 03/08/10

Ray,I gather you are one of those Gullible Gillard believers, in other words, a boofhead.  She was the Gold medicare julia,powerbroker controlled julia,backstabbing julia then school rorts julia,also pink batts julia,false julia,union controlled julia-how many julias are in the closet?? Wake up you dunce and vote for what is best for the country and it sure aint julie Dillard as she has sent this country broke. I used to always vote Labor but woke up to myself after the Gillard/Rudd team were like embarassing AMATEURS! (and still are)

RJB says:

10:12am | 03/08/10

Gee Ray, you have really articulated your analysis of where we are positioned in terms of evaluating a change of Government. Your intellect is wasted on blog sites you should be sitting among the Labor strategists with your demonstrated ability to get to the real issues.Bet you practised your thoughts with paper and crayon first.

Gregg says:

12:31pm | 03/08/10

Hey Ray, Howes that like being hit for six!
Ask your man Kevin.

Yvonne says:

09:23am | 03/08/10

well said Super D

iansand says:

10:20am | 03/08/10

How dare the ALP try to get positive press during an election campaign.  Surely there is a law against such chicanery?

Jane says:

11:55am | 03/08/10

Absolutely spot on Super D.

It would be hilarious to see Abbott nominate Labor’s campaign launch day for a debate instead!!!

Dirty, deceitful Labor - “Whatever it takes”

MarK says:

12:47pm | 03/08/10

I agree ian.

All self serving real Julia stunts should be banned as well…...oh wait, was that the real Julia that wanted the deabate of her choosing under her rules the night of the Liberal PArty campaign launch after refusing to more than 1 previously or the fake Julia she admits to trying to lie to us with.

It gets so confusing. Are these promises she makes real ones or fake. I can’t tell…...

Andrew says:

02:44pm | 03/08/10

Left leaning media???? If you say it enough maybe you will believe it hey. You would probably call fox news in the states fair and balanced as well. Can you explain the left leaning of the media for me? Can you add readership/viewership numbers to back it up?

Julie Coker-Godson says:

03:13pm | 03/08/10

@jb:  “Abbott should agree to the next weekend don’t think he has anything on then… ”  ....and you know this, how exactly?

jb says:

10:25am | 03/08/10

Frank, it’s his parties freaking launch, he can’t do it and your girl knew that.
Man she does not care about you, she only cares for herself and will use you to get what she wants eat you and then move onto the next one that will help her in her plan for world domination, just ask Craig Emerson, when will you wake up to that fact and see it???
In the words of a true politician (Cartman) She is a Sucubus…
Look that one up!

Rosie says:

10:54am | 03/08/10

Frank I don’t think so. If Abbott and the Liberals lose from here, we wouldn’t be devastated but will pat ourselves on the back because to be in this position after being constantly reminded by the media that Tony had no chance against Julia is big deal for us! Also the Australia people would have deserved what Govt they have elected.

Jane says:

12:02pm | 03/08/10

Too funny.
‘Logic’ says, Frank, that dirty, conniving New(fake)Joolia / Labor deliberately chose next Sunday KNOWING it was the Coalition launch day and Abbott would most likely say ‘no’. :0

Ergo, they did it solely to make Abbott look bad….and erase the fact that Gillard herself ‘ran away’ from more debates in the first place….not for any ‘rool’ debate angle.

Who’s scared there Frank?.....sounds to me like Labor and New (fake) Jools…...who are obviously not serious about any debate at all.

The only thing Labor are sincere about is their motto - “Anything it takes”.

BobM says:

12:18pm | 03/08/10

We have the extraordinary situation where Labor under Gillard is now a longer price than Labor was under Kevin Rudd when they got rid of him,” Centrebet spokesman Neil Evans said yesterday.

Says it all really. I doubt that Abbott is the one who is ‘running scared’.

Gazza says:

12:51pm | 03/08/10

I got to say that calling for a debate on the Liberal Parties launch is a good move it make Abbott look scared. He clearly cant attend and I think the debates were to be agreed by a set moderator not by Channel 7.
As for her being a Succubus thats a bit harsh although Emerson, O’Connor and Wilson all seem to get dragged in by her.

But Im hoping that the real Gillard is a Succubus as Im sure it get a few votes

Frank says:

01:38pm | 03/08/10

Change the date then. 
Unless, he is concerned at the possibility that Julia may show him up.

MarK says:

01:50pm | 03/08/10

Thanks for letting Abbott change the date.

While we are moving forward with change lets also change the topic.

Ummm - pink batts, BER, mining tax, asylumn seekers and East Timorese sovereignty.

Pick 2.

Cheers Frank.

Oh by the way what are you doing on the 16th? Watching Labors launch or going to Rudds daughters book launch. Coincidence in timing…........(cue the music from jaws) .............I think not.

Gazza says:

01:56pm | 03/08/10

@ Frank,

Probably not a bad idea to change the date.

Why didnt she take it up in the first place?

I would like to hear Robb and Tanner in a debate

or Dutton and Roxon in a debate.

maybe Rudd and Turnbull lol

Jane says:

02:03pm | 03/08/10

No Frank, he’s concerned that iJools2.0 is using the ‘debate’ farce as a personal cynical opportunity to attempt to get her flailing campaign back on track. That she is using faux concern for the economy as a tool to score points.

Why didn’t Joolia want to debate the economy before? Was it not important then? ...or is it only important when she can squeeze some fabricated mileage out of it? Why didn’t she ANY more debates before?
Again…...she doesn’t give two hoots for anything other than spin, farce and convoluted perception…..and retaining power at any cost.

If she was TRULY concerned she would have agreed for more debates to be scheduled pre-campaign when asked by Abbott. Clearly it’s a panicked ‘campaign/vote fix’ opportunity for Labor…because SHE is scared of losing.
Nothing more altruistic than that.

I hope he does debate her….and cream her once again….he doesn’t have to ..she’s creaming herself.

Frank says:

03:31pm | 03/08/10

He wanted another debate, now Julia has agreed, if he is so superior and he is going to ‘cream’ her, then agree to the debate. 
He can’t lose, or can he?

Jane says:

06:52pm | 03/08/10

Hey Frank - it’s not hard.
He did want more debates….and asked for them at the beginning of the campaign. She gave a very DEFINITE ‘No’. End of story for her.

Too late now, schedules have been drafted on the basis of there being no more..according to Gillard. She had her chance…and shirked it.

He’s not agreeing because she is desperately clutching at straws and calling him to drop everything mid campaignto do so now that it suits her/changed her fickle mind. Stiff.
Nothing ‘scared’ about it….Abbott does not march to Gillards belated beat. She had her chance….SHE knocked it on the head.
Tough.

Sorry it’s so hard for you to comprehend. I guess Labor apologists are looking for every pathetic snippet to hang on to considering how badly they are doing.

jb says:

10:19am | 03/08/10

Holly he got the advice because Gillard told him it wasn’t legal to change the electoral policy and he had to get legal advice to show it was possible,as far as business goes well my dear without business we don’t have job and your remark about unions is just preposterous, unions don’t go out there and take risks designing business plans and employing people…
You are starting to sound a bit like Gillard here just making stuff up and hoping people wont check the facts…

Hamish says:

10:52am | 03/08/10

Holly, what about doing an analysis of Craig ‘the trouser snake’ Emerson’s performance on Q & A last night? I thought the talk about Labor losing the election was premature until I watched it last night. If even the Q & A audience are booing Labor they’re screwed. And Craig’s one of the only Labor pollies with charisma (just ask Julia). I swear Barnaby Joyce got less boos and he was talking about asylum seekers bringing in diseases. Labor are on the nose in a big, big way.

The Coalition do have factions, but they are parliamentary party schisms based on differing views, not union, caucus and organised factional groups based on patronage and personal networks. In the Coalition you don’t get unelected union hacks like Paul Howes knifing PMs. You just don’t.

Miners (and mining workers) would love a return to Coalition industrial policies, especially in terms of individual contracts. It was these reforms which paved the way for the efficiency and success of our mining sector.

Evan Findlay says:

11:43am | 03/08/10

Hamish,
You must of had the volume control down or on mute. When he was booed and pretty much by everyone in the audience about foot and mouth disease you could see the look of anger in his expression that people dared to question and mock him. You would think that the shadow minister for conspiracy theories and delusional rantings would be a lot more thick skinned by now! I mean, he’s forever putting his foot in it.

Hamish says:

12:34pm | 03/08/10

Evan, that’s my point. Barnaby is public enemy number one amongst Q & A audience members and yet he didn’t get it any worse than Craig. If Barnaby has to say stupid stuff like that to get as many boos as Craig, Labor are in desperate trouble. Julia Gillard’s recent actions would suggest their internal polling points to a pretty big loss. The snakemen in the backroom miscalculated badly putting her in charge.

Mitzi says:

01:55pm | 03/08/10

Evan Findley…I didn’t watch Q&A last night. I watched the ABC instead & saw the most disturbing piece i’ve witnessed in many years. It was about people smugglers in Indonesia. It showed, via a hidden camera in a fountain pen Indonesian officials taking bribes & discussing the smuggling program & how they even supply the boat people with fake passports.  The Indonesian’s are laughing at us because we are so easily fooled. Australia is giving these people money to fight the smugglers but these greedy, grasping dishonest thugs are taking the boat peoles money as well, putting them onto rickety boats & sending them off. High government Indonesian officials are behind this racket, not poor fishermen.  And we, all Australians are the patsies. And yet all you Labor loving people are the ones propping up a government that has made all this possible by opening the flood gates again. And would you believe (no you won’t because it’s easier to go along with the party agenda) that most of the boat people interviewed in Indonesia admitted they were after the good life & weren’t refugees!

Mayday says:

04:50pm | 03/08/10

Could some one lock Paul Howes in the tea room and give us all a break.  Why does this guy get so much airspace?
The man represents the AWU,  he pops up everywhere and speaks like an elected member of the parliament and he is not! 
Holly there are Labor Party lobbyists like Bruce Hawker, academics such as Hugh Mackay , Robert Manne et al, the celebrity voters and the media whose Left wing chorus drone incessantly chattering to the masses constantly pushing their agenda.
Its not all one sided and I like the fact we have a right of reply to the comments others make and the details taken on radio still exist but
they are not put to air to due privacy concerns.

Jason says:

04:46pm | 03/08/10

“WE” have already decided?  Sounds like your household is really no better than a trade union.  Do any of you think for yourselves? 

My family members decide for themselves as empowered free thinking individuals with their own minds, needs and values.  Funny enough - empowering the individual to make their own success in life is just what the Liberal party stands for.

Ted says:

11:32am | 03/08/10

Agreed.

Labor are all about power - not interested in Australia or its people. Disgrace.

Here in China, people are so dismayed at the Australian political scene…....Howard was popular, people thought Rudd was a joke trying to talk Mandarin and kiss up to Beijing and Gillard/Swan are just laughing stocks with the silly Mining Tax RSPT/MMRT/whatever it will be called on the next back flip.

Cmon Oz…...put a decent government back in power i.e. 1996-2007 and its prosperity.

BobM says:

02:45pm | 03/08/10

Maybe the Real Julia can tell us if the ALP lose the election who will lead the party? I would suggest that the back room boys in the ALP have played for a huge win win situation here. If Gillard wins the election (after knifing Rudd) they would organise for Shorten or Combet to replace her within the first year or two. If she lost they would put Shorten or Combet into the leadership position. We would then have what was always the grand plan - ex Union bosses finally taking control of the ALP. Shorten, Combet, Ferguson, Creen, Cameron, George the list goes on.

Richard says:

03:35pm | 03/08/10

Just as its a truism that Labor supporters (unlike most Australians) are completely unperturbed by Julia Gillard’s shocking display of disloyalty and treachery towards Kevin Rudd, it is also a truism that Labor supporters insist Tony Abbott is the “Liberal party’s biggest weakness” or that Malcolm Turnbull would be a better leader.

But the evidence clearly indicates otherwise. When Turnbull was leader the Libs were badly lagging in the polls. As soon as Abbott replaced him (standing on his principled opposition to the economically destructive E.T.S tax which former Goldman Sachs banker Malcolm Turnbull openly supported), things started to turn around.

Abbott surprised everyone by being so effective as opposition leader and putting the government under so much pressure that they lurched from fiasco to diaster and eventually made the catastrophic blunder of removing Kevin Rudd (who was a genuinely popular PM, despite a month or two of bad polls).

Far from being the Liberal party’s biggest weakness, Tony Abbott has given them real backbone and belief. The intellectual excercise of writing his own political manifesto (‘Battlelines’) really crystallised his conservative values into actionable policies, and although I’m not a conservative myself (I am a liberal in the true sense of the word), I still respect the strength and vigour that Tony Abbott has injected into the opposition and the politcal debate in this country.

As an Oxford educated Rhodes scholar, a successful Senior Minister in past governments, and a powerfully effective leader of the opposition, Tony Abbot is the best qualified person to be the next Prime Minister of Australia.

BobM says:

02:28pm | 03/08/10

And now we have Samantha Maiden makin g a big deal out of it….

http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/samanthamaiden/index.php/theaustralian/comments/things_you_dont_say_once_let_alone_four_times/

Do I Have To Vote? says:

05:43pm | 03/08/10

What an incredibly precious article by Samantha M.  There are so many things we are apparently “not allowed to say” any more…makes the head spin.

Cameron says:

04:07pm | 03/08/10

The Labor party does not poll 50% at all. They are polling at 50% of the vote now thanks to preferences flowing from the Greens. All preference deals must be published -before- the election.

TimB says:

12:51pm | 03/08/10

Yep. By 0.2% . Oh no. The horror.

Tell me, what was the difference between the old Mining Tax and St Julia’s new and improved version? You might have trouble with that seeing as the figure tends to keep changing depending on what info Labor feel like basing their calculations on today.

Focus on your own teams quadruple somersaults with added spin before you start quibbling over such a tiny adjustment to policy.

nosthow says:

01:18pm | 03/08/10

@Tim B - dont forget our date after August 21 Timmy when you have to come back here and admit you were wrong about Abbott ? I will be here Timmy !  Abbott = Unelectable !

TimB says:

03:32pm | 03/08/10

Sorry Nosthow I tried to reply before and it seems it didn’t get through. Let’s try again.

First things first, that wasn’t our agreement. Quite the opposite actually. Feel free to review here: http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/five-reasons-why-rudd-will-lead-labor-to-the-next-election

But in the interest of fairness, I’d be happy to admit I’m wrong….*IF* you can find one post of mine where I have said Tony will win the election. As far as I know, I have never claimed that at all. All I have said is that he is in with a decent shot, as is Julia.

MarK says:

12:26pm | 03/08/10

Yeh we wouldn’t him to fall into Labor’s ways now would we?

Is that TheRealDave or someone else. I get so confuddled by which incantation of people I speak to.

I know it says the real you but is it. Help.

Which Julia are we getting today? The “OMFG the campaign is stuffed Julia” or the other “its all ok I can pork barrel this” Julia.

How does one tell the difference?

Is she genuine when she says it is the real her? How do I know…..

I mean fantasy and fiction are preferable to the real mess Labor has us in now anyway right?

Louise says:

12:58pm | 04/08/10

The economy WAS their strong point.That was years ago.Australians think it is still so ,but it is not!! Its a shame that Australians live off soundbites and slogans so smartly used by Mr Abbott. He will not talk about it because he cannot back up his numbers.Look at his superannuation blowout, a mess.

Rosie says:

02:02pm | 03/08/10

I just wonder whether the media would have picked it up if Gillard was a male??????????

Do I Have To Vote? says:

05:53pm | 03/08/10

We are tougher than they think Rosie, not little wilting flowers!! Most of us also have some common sense & don’t think every utterance by a man is designed to offend women, or to be construed as a veiled sexual remark.

Lou says:

01:38pm | 04/08/10

Yes it is offensive. Any mature adult relates this comment with a very important anti-sexual abuse campaign. You don’t question the respect for women and Mr Abbotts use of this line ,at least 4 times in one speech.  You don,t think that its creepy that not just Mr Abbott chose to use it , but it was written,approved and delivered without anybody in his party questioning its level of taste? Then again the same group sat around and thought Mr Hockeys Paris Hilton line was ok. Yuck. What would the media and public think if Julia said Mr Abbotts clarity on economics is like Bill Clintons on sexual relations?

AdamC says:

04:10pm | 03/08/10

Spot on, Hamish.

And you know the saddest thing about the whole ‘real’ Julia rubbish is that everyone knows that it is just another spun-sugar media confection from Snakepit studios. We all used to think the ‘Ruddbot’ persona was a peculiarity of Kruddy himself. Turns out that’s not the case - anyone (anything?) that comes off the ALP production line becomes a mere device for emitting insincere plattitudes.

So, even when she is being ‘real’ Jools is still being fake. It’s actually kinda sad. But not as sad as her ersatz epiphany about the merits of televised debates. Good on Abbott for not buying into her tawdry games.

BobM says:

03:20pm | 03/08/10

Julia Gillard has not got what it takes. She runs a very poor second to the likes of other great female leaders such as Margaret Thatcher etc. I don’t think I ever saw Margaret Thatcher behave with the flirtatious manner that our Prime Minister does especially to the male reporters who flock around her (Mark Riley looks like he is infatuated with her). She is the Prime Minister, where is her professionalism? Where is Julia Gillard and who is she? Does anyone know?

MarK says:

03:30pm | 03/08/10

Pretty much agree here.

The whole negative on Abbott thing paints her as desperate and mean. Tony is looking positive and acting with gravitas finally.

It is looking good.

P. Black says:

06:16pm | 04/08/10

Julia is another ALP dud!  Who will the ALP backroom boys choose to stab her the back? Boy, they must be worried…

DailyMagnet says:

03:28pm | 03/08/10

Do you do her PR of something Demeter?? The photo shoot was a absolute and complete stinker! I don’t know anyone that saw it (especially the mostly female readership) that thought it was good either. Not even good spin - spewtastic.

They should have left Kevvy in and his super profits tax on greedy miners.

I wonder if anyone can see through the similar smelling spin and hypocrisy of Australia’s richest man and woman telling us that stripping our land of resources is in our best interests, and all the time their contribution to infrastructure in these now FIFO towns is virtually nil and not enough to keep up with the detritis of their operations.  More unpalatable spin.

The ALP are out, bad judgment after bad judgment and too much money mis-spent on PR people that aren’t living in the real world and have a foot on both sides of the fence.

MarK says:

03:29pm | 03/08/10

Go team.

If the Australian Womans Weekly and Barry Hall agree then JUST WOW she must be the messiah.

PS I love the phoney tony thing….your thoughts on the fake vs real Julia eh? Do you agree with Julia attempting to fool the Australian public into voting for her or do you think it is a act of cowardice?

I await with bated breath.

Nicole says:

04:50pm | 03/08/10

Wow demeter. If Barry Hall’s giving her the ‘vote’ shes’ definitely bound to win. *Rolls Eyes*

Jane says:

07:31pm | 03/08/10

Gee demeter - I’d be ‘real’ (sic) careful of the ‘phoney’ word, considering Goolia as already confirmed to us all that the last few weeks she herself has been FAKE….and is now supposedly ‘real’. Oops.

iJools2.0 ‘owns’ phoney.

Marg says:

10:36pm | 03/08/10

Hey demeter, the real Julia should be playing full forward for the Bulldogs shouldn’t she? Isn’t that what she said when asked if she would challenge for the leadership? Or was that the fake Julia.
Picture this; Australia’s first female Prime Minister on the campaign trail in her footy gear!
I’D LIKE TO SEE THAT !!!!!!

I.C says:

02:11pm | 04/08/10

I could stop the Illegal Smugglers and Boat Captains dead in their Tracks with one simple solution.
  Arrest the next Captain of a ship and a Smuggling organizer, if they can catch one, straight outside, and with a full Media contingent around, Shoot them.
End of Boats and Illegal QED.
There maybe repercussions around the world if we did, but that’s the price we would have to pay to stop the inflow of these people.

Belle says:

11:05pm | 03/08/10

5) As a school teacher she would be opposed to the MySchools website because she would know it falsely compares and ranks schools based on simplistic analysis of data. (Yes, I’m a teacher)

fehowarth says:

06:45pm | 03/08/10

I am sure we will again see the real Tony after the elections. Can you imagine him on the world stage if he wins.

Robert s McCormick says:

07:46pm | 03/08/10

Sexism at it’s best