Health may not be the winner

Friday, 19 March 2010   Tactics   Leave a comment 

There is something very politically useful in Labor’s health reform plan for the government, namely the anti-political attack it implies on the state governments. But what is the basis for that attack?

Rudd and Gillard are campaigning against an arm of government. However, it is worth noting that they are also campaigning against the parties running them, including their own.

Destroying Abbott

Wednesday, 3 February 2010   Tactics   15 comments 

Now we know what Turnbull was talking about.

No going back – an update

Friday, 29 January 2010   Tactics   5 comments 

There is some sign that in responding to Abbott’s threat to turn the clock back and resume the old left-right ding-dong, there is part of the government’s strategy that is conceding to it much as Labor did in the last election.

It could be possible that rather than Rudd needing to fear Gillard, there could come a point when the threat is the other way round.

Bring back Costello now! Round 2

Wednesday, 25 March 2009   Media analysis   19 comments 

The Liberal party is being driven with one eye on the road in front and one on the rear view mirror – and it is getting increasingly confused which is which.

Staring at nothing

Monday, 16 March 2009   Media analysis   10 comments 

The media’s refusal to see the depths of the Liberals’ political problems is why they keep getting the leadership dynamics wrong.

The fire this time

Monday, 2 February 2009   State of the parties   3 comments 

At the moment the government is benefiting from several factors that are highly unusual for this downturn.

Review of 2008 – Labor

Wednesday, 24 December 2008   Key posts, State of the parties  Comments Off 

It was the political assault on the old power bases of the party that was the underlying theme of federal Labor in 2008.

Tetchy

Thursday, 4 December 2008   Tactics  Comments Off 

… both sides are heading into an unprecedented economic crisis with little in the political arsenal to handle it.

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