Quite interesting comments here.

I’ve already commented on a similar topic over at Larvatus Prodeo In Exile [they've had server, etc. problems on the original LP site for several days now].

I’d get in early with the other harmless overcooked spinach leaves if I were you, before you miss out-
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22768910-5014075,00.html

For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.–1 Timothy 6:10

As for the list, 1 and 5 are big steps, the rest is just filler. Has anyone clarified by the way whether the trade centres being in ‘all schools’ includes private schools?

Work Choices is winning as an argument based on fear rather than current situation. As per 4 corners and its marginal candidates, people expressed fear for their kids and for the future, rather than actually complaining about their current conditions. There are some people who’ve copped a poor deal by now, but I suggest the election-swinging aspect is about fear.

Not saying that’s unjustified- but the point, returning to Shiel’s call for quick action, is that a slow windback is much more what the populace (marginal populace in particular) want than a sharp yank.

As for health- negotiating’s fine but how about spending some money on beds?

As for education – how about ditching the trivial laptop junk and fixing the basics; our local highschools can’t affort toilet paper, decent classrooms, and good teachers. I am told, for example, that there is a manifest undersupply of language teachers in Melbourne. Why isn’t this an issue?

We probably won’t be using laptops in 5 years anyway…

It would be good if this was with a pathological supervisor who detested slow workers.

Meantime, cs, Rudd seems to be concentrating on the positives, which is probably the wisest election strategy.

Saint, Howard has taught us well? Ya? ; A mark a yen a buck or a pound zat clinking clanking clonking sound is all zat makes the vorld go around. It makes the world go round. Moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney

It won’t be Rudd, but one day, maybe, we’ll get a leader who says that the air we breathe and the water we drink i.e, the environment, is central to everything, not the effing economy. Howard’s greatest untruth, that marked him out as a small, fearful, man and no leader at all.

I find this list interesting, not for its contents but for its omissions.

Indeed. But what a political checklist for the punters.

In the current environment, the phrase “live in the Lodge” has a real power out there in the suburbs, i believe. Let’s hear a little more of that line for a day or so. It highlights the incredible fallacy of Howard’s battlers thing.

And bring on Thursday, the PM at the Press Club. I recall clearly Keating’s last stand there. The sentiment in the room came across, palpably, as the journo’s – the interface, who’d gone the distance for so long then – realised the man was gone, tired, disbelieved, but at core seemingly loved and believed in his country. Not here to pick up on anything than the last point: for Howard at core seemingly loves and believes in something else, with his country being used to perform some task towards that. I doubt there’ll be that same sentiment in the room on Thursday.

That truly great symbol is now growing clear again: may the Coat of Arms never be worn for such opportunism, morning walks or not, again.

Anyway, I find this list interesting, not for its contents but for its omissions. I would have thought next year’s Budget would be a top priority given most of that work gets underway after Christmas/early New Year, no?