How our PM rates

Editorial & Letters|Friday, May 28 2010 | Free article|Subscribe for full access

Other recent news:

School relocation2
THE RELOCATION of the Riverland Special School has been ongoing since 2004 when the governments wanted to redevelop the existing site when there was around 40 plus students.

Embellished headline1
IN REFERENCE to the police report headed 'Teen bashed at fundraiser' in a recent edition of The Murray Pioneer (30/3/10), I would like to express my disappointment in your reporting of the incident.

Cut immigration now
IN MY 65 years I've never voted Liberal, or Labor for that matter.

Schapelle’s horror story3
SCHAPELLE CORBY'S on the cover of Woman’s Day again.

TEXT THE EDITOR3

I HAVE recently finished reading a book titled How much are you making on the war, Daddy?, written by William D. Hartung.

The book was written in the lead up to the 2004 US presidential elections, post the invasion of Iraq.
The mood of the US voting public was swinging against the government of the day and many parallels can be drawn in the lead up to our 2010 federal election.
Two quotes from the author highlight why the US is in such a state of disarray domestically and in the international arena.
"Our hard-won democratic right are not something any President should take lightly, much less sacrifice to some allegedly higher purpose or goal. George W Bush doesn't realise that, and that’s why he is not fit to be the President of this republic at this crucial moment in history."
And:
“It’s time to stop treating our democracy like a spectator sport and start reminding ourselves of our responsibilities as citizens. It’s time to stop whining, put down the remote, and start to take concrete actions to drive Bush and his whole gang of ideologues and scan artists out of Washington.”
Could the same be said for the current political climate in Australia. Is Kevin Rudd fit for his duties as our Prime Minister?
Raw figures produced by an Essential Media Communications (EMC) poll taken in the week ending May 14, 2010 show a disturbing trend against the government and especially Kevin Rudd.
The poll results have been backed by private discussion from within the Labor Party.
EMC poll results for Kevin Rudd included:
q Good in a crisis: 44 per cent, down from 60 per cent.
q Visionary: 37 per cent, down from 49 per cent.
q Capable leader: 55 per cent, down from 72 per cent.
q Down to earth: 47per cent, down from 56 per cent.
q Out of touch with ordinary people: 55 per cent, up from 41 per cent.
q Arrogant: 57 per cent, up from 46 per cent.
q Narrow minded: 43 per cent, up from 32 per cent.
Labor Party’s 2010 budget has been a K. Rudd PR machine smoke screen, trying to diffuse the damage inflicted on the Australian taxpayer by the numerous failed policies and stimulus programs initiated by a desperate government.
Again the question has to be asked: Is Kevin Rudd fit to be Prime Minister and is the Labor Party representing the voters’ wishes and being responsible with our taxes?
ANDREW KASSEBAUM
Winkie