Why expect kids to punctuate when the PM can’t?

Ian says:

04:28pm | 10/08/09

Is it true Rudd never finished high school?

Phil Rudd (no relation) says:

04:34pm | 10/08/09

your just knit picking the internets is all about the meaning of the message and getting it out quick its never being about how the grammar is write or not

Tails says:

04:37pm | 10/08/09

Ruddimentary typing skills indeed.

DGD says:

04:37pm | 10/08/09

What a load of RUBBISH you have just written.

I’d rather a PM that can think and be bothered to answer directly to the people than one that can pass your typing exam..

This is a tiny minded and petty attack on Rudd in my opinion. If it;‘s the best you can do as a journalist go and get a job in a $2 shop.

Tony says:

04:38pm | 10/08/09

Cliche, froth, bubbles, blah, blah blah…. Mr Rudd is the Kyle and Jackie O of politics, what did you expect?

Tekko R says:

04:39pm | 10/08/09

“Which makes you wonder: will live blogging exercise be extended ton other ministers?”  Your line Paul. “ton other ministers?”
Kettle calling the pot black?

Geoff says:

04:43pm | 10/08/09

the man’s got a lot on his plate - serving up a carbon emissions plan that doesn’t reduce things, rolling out a broadband network that will be filtered enough to draw envious eyes from China and Iran, and chasing after an Opposition who keep chasing after themselves… oh and a Labor party without the support of the labourers…

iansand says:

04:44pm | 10/08/09

Quiet day in the newsroom?

Chris says:

05:09pm | 10/08/09

Quiet day in the PMs office obviously. Talking to a bunch of ALP mates (invite only) rather running the country?

John says:

05:11pm | 10/08/09

“Which makes you wonder: will live blogging exercise be extended ton other ministers?”

Comedy GOLD.

KitttyKattz says:

05:24pm | 10/08/09

Spot on ‘iansand’!  Honestly, this is just an example of poor typing skills, which I’m sure is a little further down on the PM’s priority list to improve.  One of the trade-offs of our various new forms of communication is a truncated form of the written word.  Why bother typing the complete word if you’re not a typist and inserting punctuation when it makes it less efficient to do so, the whole point of SMS and text messages.  Personally I’d rather have a PM with typing skills that may be ‘clunky’ than a President who couldn’t speak an intelligible sentence, even with auto-cue etc.,  Really, find something worthwhile to put your journalistic ‘skills’ to.

Eric says:

05:25pm | 10/08/09

Heheh. It’s funny, though even while I’m no fan of Kevin, I appreciate his efforts in this case.

Pricey says:

06:51pm | 10/08/09

DGD Says,
“This is a tiny minded and petty attack on Rudd in my opinion. If it;‘s the best you can do as a journalist go and get a job in a $2 shop”.

That should be a 2 dollar shop, since it isn’t actually for sale! If only KRudd was as gooda spella as you.

LM says:

07:03pm | 10/08/09

Dear Paul Coglan,

Today you posted a picture of Kevin Rudd typing on a lap top asking for a caption. Apparently you thought it needed one - because people with platinum hair shouldn’t use laptops? Go figure…

Then you tell us he can’t spell or punctuate in a live blog situation? Like you’re never made a typo when you’re being rushed? Or perhaps it’s his keyboard skills and not his knowledge of grammar that needs improvement? But you still find this unacceptable? Fine.

Based on your 2 (utterly futile) posts today on Kevin Rudd I’d say that you’re not a fan of the man. You’re probably not a fan of the Labor party and prefer the opposition or the Greens - who knows. Either you’re not a fan of Labor or you’re trying to write some kind of highly observational thought piece that hasn’t been done before and this seemed like the right opportunity. 

But what if your article was based on some personal bias why not say it up front? How about you tell us who you voted for in the last election? Your bias is pretty apparent so why not declare it up front so we all know? why or why not? This could be the subject for your next thought piece. 

We don’t allow politicians to undeclared private interests and if we know they are religious we hold them accountable for their decisions right? So why don’t we make journos more transparent?

Ben from Perth says:

07:12pm | 10/08/09

This is a lousy article.

I’d rather suffer KRudd’s typos in an educated discussion on something that matters than the polished type of something as pointless as this article.

marce says:

07:22pm | 10/08/09

Not just glass houses, as you say, but the pot calling the kettle black too!

I’ve seen innumerable errors on Punch ranging from obvious typos to grammatical nonsense, and at least once a failure to check a commonly known date (with absurd results). He’s the PM but you people are supposed to be journalists.

marce says:

07:25pm | 10/08/09

My above comment aside, Tekko R should be shot for crimes against irony.

Using the exact same misspelling in the very next sentence is clearly a joke.

Ben says:

07:52pm | 10/08/09

It shouldn’t be too much to ask that the PM get it right.
I don’t want that to sound like an attack, I’m not saying Malcolm Turnbull or Bob Brown would get it right either. Pauline Hanson definitely wouldn’t.
I just did well in spelling contests in school and I need to feel like it was worth it.

Greg says:

09:12pm | 10/08/09

Points for trying, negative points for failing.. all in all he comes out the same, but at least he tried and now put the thought out there for future politicians that they can do this.

Paulmenot anotherpaulpaul says:

09:14pm | 10/08/09

at least rudd wrote it himself, unlike bishop, turnbull and gretch.

Gibbot says:

10:39pm | 10/08/09

I tend to agree with the thrust of the piece, Paul. I voted for Rudd partially because I believe him to be smarter than his opponents. The education revolution was a party platform that translated into a mandate. Of what use is that promise from a Prime Minister who chooses to sacrifice the basic rules of grammar on the altar of populism.

It’s good that he is reaching the kids, but useless if he is imparting the message that laziness is acceptable.

mikk says:

01:12am | 11/08/09

Punch better get some good proofreaders for future issues. Any typos and mistakes will be jumped on now you have set the precedent. People in glass houses as they say.

Joel B1 says:

08:27am | 11/08/09

Fair shake of the sav bottle, you guys.
Like all Rudd it’s a con job, of course he can spell, punctuate, grammarate (that one does’nt work too well does it?).
It’s to show how hip, kewl, and now he is. I’m only surprised he didn’t manage:

“gr8 2 b ur PM”

Treva says:

08:37am | 11/08/09

Yeah I love when the grammar Nazi high priests, those who are oh most holier than thou come out of the woodwork to play their pedantic games. Simply fascinating stuff. Not. Surely there are more important things to do in life than reprimand some no names from da intertubs for their rubbish spelling skillz. However, I do think that if one wants to come across with some intelligence in any interchange one should attempt to spell and use grammar correctly. So Kev, thumbs up for trying to keep up with the kids, but thumbs down for execution. Try harder next time. As our international representative, it’s nice if you also look smart while being cool. Nice style, poor form.

Adam Dennis says:

09:31am | 11/08/09

Mr Colgan, I fear you’re just stirring the pot. You know full well that it was a webchat, i.e. a significant number of people all chatting to one person who was undoubtedly furiously thinking and typing answers. I will happily describe myself as a grammar and spelling stickler, but in that circumstance there’s probably no spellchecker, and definitely no time to muck around with getting the spelling right - what’s important is the content, the ideas. What’s more, it’s considered very poor form to comment on someone’s spelling and grammar in a real-time situation, let alone when you’re reading a transcript. Paul, you have the capacity to do very good work, but there’s no elephant stamp on this one. Must Try Harder.

Venise Alstergren says:

01:38pm | 11/08/09

There’s one thing all the Rudd-haters are frantic to do, which is to pour liquid manure over him at any price; for any reason. The minute he does anything at all, he is crucified. The minute he does nothing he is lumbered with a vicious scam by the man who thinks of himself as ‘the heir apparent’, ( Apologies to BK@Crikey.) and his merry followers of the Born to Rule Brigade. Of which you are, quite clearly, one of the founding juniors. Regards to Piers Ackerman and Andrew Bolt Paul. They’ve gotta love ya.
If my memory serves me correctly, Kevin Rudd was elected to run the country, not to see if he was a good blogger. Also, Paul, don’t you feel a teeny weeny bit embarrassed by the way you leaped into print to demean the man and took a gut-tumble yourself?
After all, you are paid to write, are you not?

charlie says:

06:57pm | 11/08/09

Now in the interests of fairness to Mr Rudd will The Punch publish this comment? Somehow I doubt it.

Can you spell the word hypocrisy Paul?

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2009/08/11/pm-needs-a-new-keyboard/

[Charlie - more than happy to publish. The error did not appear on The Punch. As for “ton other ministers”, see other readers’ comments. Paul.]