They've done wonders for Obama's popularity.
I agree, syd. A few days ago I heard a reference in a current affairs program to Barack Obama's weekly address to the nation. If Mr Abbott had the demeanour to do similarly, perhaps once a month, being honest about the realities Australia needs to face and asking the people to support him and his government, surely there would be a whole different 'feel' to the collective view of the government?
They've done wonders for Obama's popularity.
Two words sum up the mood of the nation: Fed up.
Six in 10 Americans are dissatisfied with the state of the U.S. economy, more than 70 percent believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, and nearly 80 percent are down on the country’s political system, according to the latest NBC News / Wall Street Journal poll.
The frustration carries over to the nation’s political leaders, with President Barack Obama’s overall approval rating hitting a new low at 40 percent, and a mere 14 percent of the public giving Congress a thumbs up.
They've done wonders for Obama's popularity.
Sigh.Yes we can't
Sigh.
I wasn't talking about the effectiveness or otherwise of Obama's talks. Just the concept.
Which should have been obvious.
Should also have been obvious from the other content of my post that I'd rate the likely effectiveness of Mr Abbott trying any such similar approach as minimal also.
Yes indeed. Problem is, if this third party told the plebs the truth, warts 'n all, with a proper prescription to drag our country back on the right path, how many votes do you think they'll get?
Yes, exactly what I was trying to say, thanks, syd.Labor were able to achieve some very difficult reforms in the 80s, so I believe the public can be brought along IF you explain it in a logical manner AND the costs of change are fair and seen to be fair by the community.
Howard was able to get the GST through at an election, though yes it nearly cost him it.
Reform is hard, but if you're going into politics to make things better then shouldn't you already be prepared for the difficulties of being in office? Hockey definitely seems to be ill prepared with his wha wha tantrums against the media and pretty much against voters.
No need to scare the voters, but if you pick a few of the major issues we need to face up, present a reasonably well thought out plan, share the burden, I'm pretty confident you will get the voters support.
FWIW, according to a profile in The Saturday Paper this weekend, Brandis "was practising in commercial law whe he entered the senate in 2000. But his appointment as a Queen's Council six years later raised some eyebrows among [Queensland] barristers.<SNIP>
As for Brandis, would you believe he is a QC ? Anyone so bad at explaining things as he is should never speak for anyone in court.
Yes, Wayne, it was obvious. I don't much care about Obama's popularity or otherwise. But I do care about Tony Abbott's lack of popularity and was trying to keep the thread on the title.Julia, I wasn't responding to you or your points, I was responding to banco's proposition that is was helping his popularity.
Which should have been obvious.
I think this particular government is doing a very bad job, but I also acknowledge that governing is a very, very hard job.
TREASURER Joe Hockey today argued his fuel tax increases weren’t unfair to low income earners because they couldn’t afford to own cars anyway.
He's just stating the facts.What is it with Hockey?
He later released figures he said showed average weekly expenditure on petrol in absolute terms increased with household income, from $16.36 at the lowest income quintile to $53.87 at the highest income group.
His statement quoted Census findings that households in relatively disadvantaged areas are less likely to own motor vehicles than those in relatively advantaged areas.
It said where motor vehicles were owned, households in relatively disadvantaged areas were most likely to own only one car whereas households in relatively advantaged areas were more likely to have two or more cars.
Hi there IFocus, has Joe Hockey actually ever paid for a tank of fuel in his whole privileged life?
Hi there IFocus, has Joe Hockey actually ever paid for a tank of fuel in his whole privileged life?
As the Abbott government prefers to fund roads than public transport, how are all those poor people going to get around to all those jobs they have to apply for ?
I think it just shows who Abbott and Co really care about, or not.
Plumbers and Electricians don't use public transport to get from one job to the other so good roads are essential for these tradies to get around faster and cut the cost of their services..
Smart thinking.
I think you will find that tradies usually work within a local area, and don't usually travel on the tollways that the government is proposing to build.
Horace I travel nearly 1000 km a week in my trade.
And I'll tell you what, when I hit that Bruce Hwy in the morning there are tons of tradies obviously not working locally.
Plumbers and Electricians don't use public transport to get from one job to the other so good roads are essential for these tradies to get around faster and cut the cost of their services..
Smart thinking.
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