THE DONKEY VOTE

Brad, Brad my dear friend, worms are not healthy and I’d hope any Labor or Liberal policy regarding worms would be a plan to rid them from the intestines of all Australians and more importantly from any political debate.

Whenever the whole TV debate thing comes up in any election, regardless whether it is State or Federal, producers are always quick to want to throw the worm and the reason why is pretty obvious, it’s based on initial reactions.

These initial reactions usually create controversy cause as I’m sure we all know, as humans we sometimes over-react to suggestions, ideas and of course policies before we get a chance to think them through or hear the reasoning behind them. Like them or not they also can influence people, no one likes being the odd one out, so if you thought an idea was good, but the worm thinks its bad, naturally you’re going to start questioning your own thoughts, so considering this debate is meant to be a chance for individuals to get to know the future Prime Minister it should be free of distractions.

Anyway let’s get off the worm and onto Mr Rudd’s new ads that were launched today. First off full credit to the man for being willing to undo the Liberal marketing campaign by calling it scaremongering, he certainly has taken a lot of the bite out of the ads now, but instead of then promoting his own policies he just says he wants to revolutionise education, health, tax and so on… ok so how?

He doesn’t go through any policies, instead he just has a shot at the Liberals marketing campaign…wow thanks for that… really a wasted opportunity on his behalf, but that said maybe he is concerned people will start putting the pieces together that many of his policies are the same as the Liberals?

That’s right the Labor party has come out with another identical policy to the Libs, this time is they will audit Commonwealth land to see if they can help ease the housing affordability crisis….good work Rudd…the Liberals announced this back in July…

So that must take the identical policies number up to 5…

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John Howard still has copped out on Kevin Rudd’s challenge to have three debates. Howard will only agree to having ONE debate this Sunday night at the Great Hall of Parliament House and he refuses to debate in the presence of the worm! This move smacks of fear of the worm’s powers.

Half the fun of the election debates was the worm. And now we won’t have a worm. It is outrageous. I hope Kevin Rudd launches some strong Pro Worm Labor Party policy, it should be part of their platform.

NEWSLINK - Just one debate: PM

It is a very weak commitment from Howard especially having a debate before all policies of both parties are on the table. A series of debates would have been the best all round option. But Howard must still be reeling from his debating defeat at the hands of Mark Latham and certainly doesn’t want to give Kevin Rudd the opportunity to record a 3-0 KNOCK OUT!

I will be very underwhelmed if this Sunday is all we get and I think Australians will in turn be short changed. But the lack of a worm also allows Howard and the Coalition to deny Labor a decisive victory for all to say and to claim that the victor is a moot point.

Last month, Labor suggested a format involving at least three debates, including one with audience participation through an internet forum such as YouTube.

“It’s arrogant for Mr Howard to say there will be one debate, he just expects people to roll up with his rules on pay television, not the networks, and that’s it, all over red rover,” Mr Rudd said.

“That’s the height of prime-ministerial arrogance.

“It’s much more decent if we have, as I have already proposed … three debates across the election season.

“I’d hope Mr Howard would agree to that.”

Mr Howard has also insisted that the “worm” - a graph that tracks the audience’s reaction as the debate progresses - would not be used.

“And why punish the worm?” Mr Rudd said.

“Everyone in Australia likes the worm. Let’s be friends of the worm.”

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Sheldon 3:27pm - The tax cuts and unemployment promises by the Government are a pretty standard tactic by Howard but you wonder whether it’ll win him many votes. I think people are wanting something a little different than tax cuts, more change.Howard however has to foxus on stability to contrast with the danger of changing to Rudd. Good strategy by Rudd to avoid announcing his tax policy early, economics is one area he can lose points to Howard so best not to get in a debate about that until later into the campaign after consolidating his position.

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