Rudd needs to remind us why we elected him

RT says:

05:26am | 06/10/09

When is Rudd going to fulfill his promises to ‘fix’ health and the Murray-Darling system? What about his promises to do something about fuel prices and grocery prices? These were all key election promises and it seems Rudd and co are hoping the voters will forget. It seems Australians elected Rudd because we were tired of the ‘mean and tricky’ Howard but we are seeing a triumph of spin over substance.

Wayne says:

06:57am | 06/10/09

Quiet there RT, don’t tell anyone, especially the media. They drive his spin.

chris oakden says:

07:38am | 06/10/09

when is rudd going to fix war veterans super and pensions there was so much press over single pensioner rises (witch was needed) that no seemed to notice that war vets where got nothing for there super or war service wounds again.

Liz says:

08:13am | 06/10/09

So much to do! Fix the Murray,hospitals,the dental service,public housing and take control where the States are making a mess and won’t grasp the nettle.

Me says:

08:19am | 06/10/09

RT, those things mightn’t need fixing at all if they hadn’t all been broken during the 11 years of the previous government. What was Howard and co doing all those years? Sitting on their hands?

Jolanda says:

08:33am | 06/10/09

I am yet to speak to a person who did vote for Kevin Rudd.  Everybody I know didn’t.  So I wonder who voted for him or , whether the voting results were manipulated and tampered with by employees of the Government.  In my experience Government employees have become experts on manipulating results and in covering up any attempt by any human to openly and honestly seek the truth about things.  Education - Keeping them Honest.  http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/

John B says:

08:33am | 06/10/09

Me - the point is he used these issues as electoral promises to win votes, now he’s in he’s doing nothing about them. He and his Government very confidently promised to fix thses problems and even had deadlines put on them. No deadlines have been met!

RT says:

08:47am | 06/10/09

@me - yes that may be true, but Rudd has been in government for 22 months now and he promised to fix these things. The period where a new government can blame its predecessor for problems is pretty short, I reckon. @Jolanda:  most people I know voted for Rudd. You need to spread your circle of acquaintances, or maybe you’re the type that people will agree with, just so you’ll shut up.

Patrick says:

08:50am | 06/10/09

Have you spoken to all of Australia’s 13 million or so voters Jolanda?

RJB says:

09:19am | 06/10/09

Jolanda, I attended a 21st a few years ago that was attended by some university students, several of them had part time work polling for a well known pollster. They openly admitted that they often did not record correctly, the voter intention of conservative voters. Everything can and probably is, manipulated for a purpose.

Harris says:

09:32am | 06/10/09

I don’t know many people who like Rudd either. Whether I speak to people at the corner shop or customers through my job or work collegues there seems to overwhelming agreeance he is a dud and a phoney, and people can’t stand him. I hear very few people (actually no one) stand up and say what a wonderful Prime Minister he is….and yet look at the polls???????Please explain???

Old Clive says:

09:36am | 06/10/09

Not having gone to university,can some university trained person explain to me what the words, manipulate and lying, really mean, apart from trying to gain power, and denigrate your opposition.

Mark says:

10:06am | 06/10/09

I woted for him because he was not John Howard
Then again i am in a rock solid Liberal seat so my vote doesnt really matter,
And i knew it wouldnt matter, my actual first preference got 1% of the vote

Whatever happened to campaigning,
The current polictical system is a joke,
That members only campaigning is building an absurdly prominent mansion on a main road and sticking up cheesey banners from his balcony/lawn… yawn.

I have since moved, to an even stronger Liberal electorate that provides a seat for Julie Bishop of all people

Jade says:

10:12am | 06/10/09

Rudd is a dud, the only people i know that actually think he is doing a good job are the ones that have there hand out taking the money he gives them.  The rest think he is a knob! = ]

pc says:

10:13am | 06/10/09

Old Clive -  I went to university and I’ll do you a deal. I’ll tell you what lying and manipulation really mean if you tell me what the coaltion policy on any issue is?

Brenda says:

10:48am | 06/10/09

The only reason Rudd the Dud was elected is because we were sick of Howard! quite simple really…....

You can call me Al says:

11:09am | 06/10/09

I think the biggest success has been his handling of the GFC. Following the negative quarter last December, the country could have spiralled into a deep recession like those that are hitting all economies around the world. He reversed the trend with early action in his stimulus packages, in concert with the Reserve Bank lowering interest rates.  The scaremongering about debt, is really not the same as sparing the nation from an unemployment rate of that could have easily reached 10% instead of the now projected 6.5%. That equates to about half a million people less out of work. As we head to a recovery and China still buys our minerals, our debt will start to evaporate faster anyway.  There is a long way to go, but so far he is doing well. Regarding stories about tantrums on planes, hair dryers and other issues about his swearing etc, these are being generated by one news group and are more about smear than any substance.

Jim Wiltshire says:

12:03pm | 06/10/09

Veterans get LESS than any other sector of Australian society, and that includes old age pensioners. When is Rudd going to properly recompense the very people responsible for him and the rest of this country to be able to say “I am Australian”?

Carl Palmer says:

12:17pm | 06/10/09

I’ve got an idea he should get a few reviews going to show everyone that he is on top of things :- )  He should get on the world stage, strut his stuff and flash his McLean’s that should impress. Dam, Bill forgot his name, oh well he did say our PM was really really smart. As for the debt, hang in there sunshine, the ride is going to get very bumpy but he did save Australia and told the world what they needed to do to get the financial system fixed. I’m so please that he was the architect of Australia’s robust financial system - he is ssssoooo good.

Don’t worry all’s good, the Henry tax review and the introduction of that other new tax should help with the higher repayments that will come our way – real soon.

Michael says:

12:32pm | 06/10/09

I voted Labor to get rid of Howard, Abbott, Costello, Brough, Downer, Ruddock, Turnbull, Hockey, both Bishops, Robb, Pyne, Tuckey, and every other Coalition MP who lined up behind their leader to support Pacific solutions, ‘children overboard’ selective memory, ‘cleaning up’ the waterfront, the whole shameful litany of Howard’s years acting against the humanity of the Australian people. The job is far from finished. The jobs are far from finished for Rudd and his government, too, but I might point out that many of his election promises have been scuppered by the un-led Opposition’s practice of opposing anything and everything just to be opposing. This is the politics of spite, which ultimately spites the Australian people, not the party in government.

Julie says:

12:55pm | 06/10/09

I bet if Labor stay in power for 11 years there will be alot more shit to throw at Rudd and his team than there is to throw at Howards years.

Keith says:

12:56pm | 06/10/09

@ Michael, I voted Labor similarly, but in particular, the triumvirate of Howard, Ruddock and and Downer, and the eventual fall guy Reith, just to underline the politics of fear.

Aikon says:

02:33pm | 06/10/09

I last voted Labor when Keating was elected. I though both he and Hawke were right for the country at that time.  But never again. After witnessing the charade Rudd and his gang put before the Australian people during the last election campaign, with the seemingly full support of the mass media, it became crystal clear to me they had zero policies of any substance of their own.  Labor has a habit of selecting celebrities as candidates, why?  Is it to cover-up policy shortfalls, or to ensure elections become popularity based rather than policy substance based?  What does Rudd stand for?? I don’t know because the man will simply not answer a question and the media seem to avoid asking the hard questions.  I will never vote Labor again…nor the Greeny’s for that matter.