In fairness to our media, at least when Kev popped out for a break they asked What’s going on with the economy boss? While when Obama showed, his fan club wanted to know What are you going to do about Iran?

So yes, until someone or something really gets Uncle Sam a bit more focussed regarding those “policies, regulations and reforms to meet the needs of the 21st century global economy” mentioned in Point 1, it is probably a bit early to state “It worked” like they do in Point 5.

Ability has little to do with it I think. They have to keep all the Labor factions happy. You have Rudd and his mate Swan from QLD. Gillard and Tanner from Vic and they pack the rest of the front bench with members from NSW.

Kev -- PM -- QLD
Gillard -- DPM -- VIC
Albo -- Leader of the House -- NSW

It is all nice and even so they all play nice. How long it lasts is another question.

This is where party politics and good governance don’t mix…

Both sides do it.

The Media love it because it plays out like a drama.

I think this is how you can have billion dollar blow outs go unreported but any sniff of tensions in the opposition get the front pages… If you ran a business like this it would fail in months. But an entire nation seems to get by some how. Don’t ask me how.

I also agree re the general direction of the opposition. They really seem to have gone from a team of stars only 2 years ago to a rabble with no one of talent ready to step up. I guess that’s what happens when you no longer have the machinery of government behind you. It must be tough.

I agree that Turnbull would probably be better as shadow treasurer, but then there is no one ready to lead. I actually am growing on Pyne -- he’s morphing from a mincing poodle to a larger dog (but not yet a pit bull). If there’s anyone in the opposition who could step up, I think it’s him.

Tanner sure does seem like a bit of a diamond in the rough. But the Gov cannot afford to give him more power, simply because:
- it would suggest that Swan got things wrong
- he is not necessarily aligned with what KRudd and his buddies want to achieve economically
- they are probably scared of him

I despise Hockey -- he emits some kind of evilness. I am not sure if that is a fair assessment, but from my experiences he sure seems it (you know he even had a blog on his website with a fictional diary about a cat he rescued or something like that. To make him seem nice -- see Bridge-it).

The Opposition doesn’t really have anyone of any worth left. Turnbull has been a shocking leader and should probably be in Hockey’s position instead. The Julie Bishop experiment was awful too, as was the Brendan Nelson one.

What I think they need to do is acknowledge that things are not working and do a complete reshuffle. They should get together, decide on policies and actually have something to work with, rather than the crap they’ve been doing lately. To give people some confidence in them.

It is probably a shame for the Libs that Barnaby Joyce is not in the upper house. At least he has some conviction (no pun intended, although most pollies are crims in some way).

I guess when you have a lot of old parliamentarians in your party, you get stuck with a lot of old ideas. Not that the new(?) ideas of the current Gov are particularly good.

As for Joe Hockey, if that is the best the Opposition can do as far as an alternative Treasurer is concerned then they deserve to be out of power. It is no use complaining about the Government all the time if you don’t offer the people a viable alternative team to run the nation.

If every man and his dog can see that Swanny is in the shade of Tanner, it makes me wonder why Kevvie is happy to have a second rate performer as treasurer. Perhaps it’s Kev’s version of a sick joke.

The more I see of Hockey, the more I worry as well. He’s the Liberals’ version of Bomber. The opposition is struggling right now.

Yes, I would very much agree about Macklin. It is really quite sad because she has quiet an important portfolio that is often overlooked in favour of the more glamorous issues such as the GFC, NBN, ETS ect.

Let’s not forget the undisputed favourite of the media -- Gillard. Her service delivery record is going down hill fast. A computer in schools was an absolute mess. School halls and buildings for schools that don’t want or need them all in the name of spending for the sake of spending. Also the restructuring of the workplace relations system by making it less flexible at a time when flexibility would help people keep a job and get people back in work. She has too much on. Trying to do too much and there are now too many things slipping through too many cracks.

The lack of accountability has really deteriorated with this government. If just one minister from the previous government had these kinds of records there would be a massive outcry but this sort of mismanagement just seems to make this government more popular… I don’t know why?

Though, I will give credit where credit is due and I have been very impressed with Tanner. I think he has a very good temperament and attitude and seems to be in it for good governing not just short term political points. Also (in what would probably be an uncharacteristic choice for me) I have liked Bill Shorten. He would never agree with my views on workplace relations or much else for that matter. But, in his parliamentary secretary roles he has seemed genuinely interested in the issues and seems to sincerely want to help people. And in my books that is always a good thing and I hope he keeps up that attitude.

The opposition really needed to have sorted them self out by now…

Then there is our beloved media…do they even bother trying to dig into issues any more?

I agree that Conroy is useless. The other contender for the most pi$$weak minister title is Jenny Macklin -- a joke. I’d also nominate Peter Garrett -- would probably be a reasonable performer but he wears his straightjacket with too much pride.

I did see some of the interviews and media commentary on TV over the weekend of Rudd’s US trip. The journalists no longer report and research – it is just regurgitation of what ever the leaders put in their press releases. It was very poor. I guess they don’t want to get yelled at by an overtired Rudd??

I see even Wayne Swan was claiming credit for putting together some reforms! Does anyone think that Swanny has any idea of what he is doing?

Swanny is the most inept minister in the current gov’t. I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever that that goose has any idea what he’s on about. He spits out soundbites and talking points that his minders feed him. Has anyone seen him try to answer difficult questions on the spot? Greg blogged about his performance on Lateline recently. He’s a disgrace.

I see even Wayne Swan was claiming credit for putting together some reforms! Does anyone think that Swanny has any idea of what he is doing?

Haha, that is pretty funny. I certainly don’t

I totally agree with the comments about the sycophantic Australian media who follow Krudd lapping up and dutifully reporting every word he says….whether it is right or wrong.

For those who don’t know what sycophantic is:

syc·o·phant (sk-fnt, sk -- n.
A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.

One day (hopefully) soon the media will have a new nickname for Krudd -- Y2Kev -- another big and expensive beat up over nothing!!