I think the ALP were perfectly reasonable in pushing that line about workchoices. This was a policy and legislation that had not been in the Coalition platform before the election yet JWH decided that he had a mandate to introduce such laws. On this basis and on the bais of such lies as the GST, the GWOT, Children Overboard and many others its more than reasonable not to believe Coalition denials that they would not change workchoices.

Yes it’s a phenomenon on all sides, because it is a phenomenon of the politics/marketing complex.

That is the trend of the last twenty/thirty years. Marketing, and marketing-speak and marketing-think. It’s a dangerous thing. I cannot quibble with the salesman who markets a new brand of coffee, even though I might have little respect for his trade. Politics is about human lives, and yes it does hold an exhalted position, even in a cynical laid-back culture like ours.

I don’t mind if Kevin Rudd is straight-laced and nerdish. So was John Curtin. I would appreciate it if he proves to be a serious-minded leader, I would respect that even if he is ‘conservative’ and ‘not left-wing enough’ (both true enough charges).