Comments on: Newspoll: 56-44

By: William Bowe

William Bowe — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:52:44 +0000

By: Socrates

Socrates — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:49:27 +0000

All this economic news actualy underlines that the budget strategy was essentialy correct: don’t spend too much till inflation is under control, wait till it is trending down, and then you can deliver on social reforms in the pre-election budget. Best strategy for Labor, and best for the nation too. It should get Labor reelected. The relief to mortgagees from reducing interest rates will far outweigh the benefits of any tax cut on petrol. Labor focused on the main game (inflation/interest rates) and ignored the distractions (tax on fuel prices which are unstable anyway). That will show Labor has deliverd on a core promise (focusing on teh cost of living).

Meanwhile the coalitions blocking stunts in the Senate on budget revenue measures have done their reputation as economic managers no good at all.

By: Socrates

Socrates — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:44:40 +0000

Rx, Dario, Ron

I think we are all agreed on Turnbull: he is not up to running the economy. He never was. He is a smart lawyer and a deal maker. That was the world he worked in and was very succesful in. But I doubt he’s ever done any economic analysis. Without treasury and finance experts to brief him and make him look good, he will struggle.

By: The Finnigans

The Finnigans — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:38:40 +0000

I can just imagine in tomorrow QT, a real killer question from my local member, Mr. Nelson:

“Mr. speaker, my question is to the PM. Can the PM please explain to the people of Australia, why 9 months into the office, the inflation is at a 15 month low, current account deficit at a 3 year low and the economists are predicting that there are likely to be 4 interest cuts in the next 12 months, starting with one tomorrow. Not to mention the $22B surplus”.

Come-on Mr. Rudd, please explain yourself and see how you twist yourself out of this jam.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:26:06 +0000

touche Rx , perhaps with a more special smirk than normal

By: Rx

Rx — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:20:25 +0000

Ron at 733,

While Turnbull fluffs his lines Costello smirks and lines his undies.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:10:50 +0000

727 Rx asks:

Can Malcolm keep both balls in the air at the same time(?)

The answer is Yes, if he stands on his head. Can’t say the same about Costello.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:55:39 +0000

yes Dyno agree , that was my point , he should hav waited like any sensible finance person would to understand what economy is doing and why RBA thought about th drop

By: Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:53:41 +0000

Re: Palin “The baby was 2 months premature and she already knew that it was likely to have Down’s Syndrome, but instead of getting to the nearest hospital when her waters broke Palin gave a 30 minute speech and then flew from Texas to Alaska, which apparently is a 6 hour flight. Factor in another couple of hours getting to the airport, check in, etc.

Being tough is one thing, being stupid is something else!

Or was it more sinister than that?
”

Sounds criminal to me. Certainly not like a good fundy Christian trying to protect the sanctity of life. Who in their right mind would take a 6 hour flight 30 minutes or so after their water had broken? And if the plane had been told she wouldn’t had been allowed on the flight.

By: Dyno

Dyno — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:43:01 +0000

Agree, however, that Turnbull has little to gain from second-guessing the RBA’s thinking, given that this thinking becomes public soon enough.