Tim Blair

When is a flip not a flip?

When its not Howard.

I'm not very impressed by this move. Not only am I not convinced on the price increase, but Labour is doing it so that it can fund election promises rather than to balance the budget. On the other hand, the Coalition seemingly aiming to deplete the surplus with extra spending just before elections (as opposed to post-election promises) is also fairly dirty pool.

Maybe Latham can trade in his tailored suit for a gym suit. It'll make the back flips easier to perform

Andjam:

I agree with you by and large - pre-election enticements and promotions are now at the very limit of what the public will tolerate.

Time for some socio-cultural policy from the government: the PM needs to respond to Labor's largely crackpot ideas on social matters lest these be interpreted as 'visionary' and gain traction.

In Tuesday's Question Time, Ando used some interesting phraseology while attacking Labor's meddling ideas on families and children. Speaking to the Labor call for Commonwealth service agents (or some such thing) throughout regional Australia, he referred to the Opposition's plans for 'Food Police', 'Homework Police' and 'Reading Police'.

The government should cultivate the portrayal of Labor as an Opposition with a censorious bent. In the midst of football finals and the Olympics later this year, a wowser alternative PM may take a hit in the polls.

Forget "It's Time". Here's Mark Latham's new campaign theme song.

"After all, the Hawke and to a lesser extent the Keating governments were able to implement sensible economic policies despite the demands of their own supporters"

Given the national debt they ran up, I'd hate to see an irresponsible economic policy.

I am shocked and appalled by the flippancy of these comments!

Paddy could be right. I'd be happy to see Latham support the free market, but until now he seems to be trying to appeal to the hard left of the Labor party. Could he really be such a barefaced liar as to turn around straight after the election and continue down the road of free-market reform?

I think he could be ...

"We can trust Latham to allow his more rational side to emerge again if he should win power."

Latham's not a guy who'll act crazy but then come to his senses and pull up short when the critical moment arrives. He's a guy who'll go right ahead and break that arm.