In fact the pathetic and either homophobic or political cowardice of the whole ‘marriage’ word position is difficult to understand, and I have tried in more appropriate forums to have it debated but without any true luck. If ever there was a position lacking substance the marriage word thing is it.

Bill Weller in one of his rants above said

Oh Adan i just love it when you have a go its makes me feel that i am hitting a raw nerve. The only thing i have seen changed in the gay culture is that i don’t get bashed or threatened standing up for Gays or Aboriginals like i did 25 years ago. I find it strange the ALP doesn’t give Gays full rights as heterosexuals but when a party is moving to the right i suppose it would be going to far to make EVERYONE equal!

2001 was only *barely* an increased majority.

2004 was certainly a failure, for this reason amongst others. IMO 2001 can plausibly be considered as either a failure by the ALP, or as an election with unusual circumstances.

“he is arguably the most successful PM”

What is unusual about Howard is that he has been more successful in the second half of his tenure than in the first.

And furthermore, which of the ALP’s failures over the last 15 years or so have really been failures.

There was no surprise in losing 96 – the surprise was winning 93.
Nor in 98, almost noone thought they could win – but nearly did.

So the ALP’s ‘terrible’ record federally in recent times really comes down to its failure in 2004, with a question mark over 2001, balancing against the Liberal’s real failure in 1993.

Nah, this silly person reckons it about the 1990 election

Peacock as PM would have been much less odious than Howard, who would have never got a second shot at the leadership. And Paul Keating would have had 6 years rather than 6 months to broaden his policy focus and gone on to lead a successful multi-term government

And more importantly what ‘Australian clothes’ will the Asia-Pacific delegates be wearing for their photoes together? My bet is those hats with the corks around them. Thongs/ traditonal aboriginal clothes won’t be the image we will promote and i don’t think the government will try anything cutsie like clothes which demonstrate our multiculturalism (they’re phasing that idea out anyway).

Many of the parties could use APEC to springboard they’re campaign. Remember how last time George was in town the Greens had a bit of fun? Well, he could certainly play a part in their campaign, quite good timing for them, labor could leak. Do you folk agree?

All that just before the election. How can it not be reasonably significant? Personally I can’t wait to see what unfolds during it and what George, Hu and Helen (Hope she has to pronounce the word six again at some time – Chaser I love you) will have to say!

That’s why Newspoll presents its breakdowns not from one poll but from three months worth of polling.

Incidentally, I can’t find the referred to state-by-state breakdown from today’s Nielsen; only the city/rural and age breakdowns linked from The Age’s front page.