Koko I think Obama (like Rudd) realises he is on the nose after driving the US into massive debt and is attempting to cover his backside by urging 'the brothers' to re-elect him.



If the Republicans can dump the likes of the old war horse McCain and that stupid Sarah Palin and be serious with their candidate they might have a chance to oust this once favourite of the masses.



Its ironic that both Obama and Rudd are concentrating on Health issues.

"Its ironic that both Obama and Rudd are concentrating on Health issues."



Not a coincidence, methinks.

No because it is a winner as far as most folk are concerned and they are easily bamboozled as we will in time find out.



Unfortunately most likely after he is re-elected for another term - as far too many folk seem to be ignorant of how bad things really are and just hope it will all go away and I am afraid they will try to believe him when he says he will fix health.





The doctors are not helpful as they are so anxious for change they are muddying the waters.



Did it here in Tassie over the Devonport Hospital that Howard took over and Rudd promised to keep and run as a community based board hospital to see if it would work well for the whole of the nation but then reneged on his promise and handed it back to state Labor with the 3 years of funding from the Feds in the forward estimates already and allocated so Rudd couldn't get it back. the doctors wanted the hospital closed along with the Burnie hospital and a new one built in Ulverstone which is in the middle of the 2 to as they put it save them time travelling between hospitals - and never think of the patients having to travel farther too. Still didn't get the oncology promised by Rudd and now never will nor the super clinics not one. So all these conflicts of interests when it is the interest of the patients and their care which should be uppermost - but aint - sad eh?

Perhaps Rudd HAS to please too many cooks cooking the pot; we don't know what's going on behind the closed doors.

In times past Doctors threatened to stop working etc. and you can't run hospitals without all specialists etc.



In America voting is voluntary so perhaps Obama is saying to the people that usually don't bother - take an interest, go and vote*

Of course if one out politicians said that we'd never hear the end of it.

For the US health plan there is little love for it among the masses. Several states, 25 or more, have decided to take the Obama health plan into court as being unconstitutional. There are other lawsuits also being prepared for various reasons. The Obama health plan has committed the states to actions but requires the states to pay for them. There are states now obviously bankrupt and can not perform as required. Think of California, New York, New Jersey, and others that are near bankrupt or officially bankrupt.



For the past several years there has been a movement about overspending and driving the US debt up. This started when Bush was in charge and now with Obama in charge he has created four times as much debt in one year than Bush created in eight years.



Health care in the US has always taken a low priority compared to debt, jobs, small government, which Obama has failed to take care of. Our hope is to replace as many of the congress persons that support Obama in this falls elections. Then begin to bring down Obama in the next elections in 2012. Obama's popularity has fallen dramatically in this first year and a bit as president. He is acting as a dictator rather than as a president.



http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform



Do people like Obama?



http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_month_by_month



And a notice from Pravda about Obama's nasty ways published about a year ago.



http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/



Obama is bad news for the US in particular and the world in general.

.

Perhaps Rudd HAS to please too many cooks cooking the pot



If I can stray off topic for a bit -- Mara your defence of Rudd is commendable but why PROMISE these things when you know you wont be able to deliver? In other words, why LIE to the electorate?



When this clown was running for election, in normal public servant mode he promised EVERYTHING and has so far broken around 40 promises that have been listed elsewhere.



I realise politicians have loose lips and will say anything to be noticed and elected -- like Abbott and his 6 month maternity leave. They will break the odd promise or two and do a couple of back-flips etc but Rudd must have set a world record for changing his mind.



Now wait for the election when the imbecile will be blaming all and sundry for HIS broken promises. The Senate is not blocking everything.



I see the unions have started a scare campaign already about Work Choices, when in truth Labour didn't SCRAP it, just modified it. Oh wait, is that another broken promise?

Tanwin, I think that you could be making a mistake referring to

Rudd as a clown. I would think that is eligible to join Paul Keating,

& Little Honest Johhny to become one of the 3 most political astute

Prime Ministers in our brief history. I think personally, that it is a

great pity, that we are run by political principles rather than good

leadership. Take the maternity leave, for instance. I don't believe

that Tony Abbott thought it was a great move for Australia, BUT, it

will win a lot of young female pretty boy followers of Rudd's & will

not cost him a single vote. At the same time, anybody in Labor

who criticises the move, will push more young married women to

Liberal, & at the same time, none of the upper end of town, who are

going to foot the bill are likely to change their vote to Labor. Great

Politics, but very poor leadership.

I do not intend to try and judge Obama as to whether he is a good or not leader of America.

To me the election of Obama merely signalled a change in peoples attitiudes to those of a different colour by saying that he put up a good arguement(right or wrong) so we will give him a chance.



That is an indication that whoever you are, in the free? world , if you have enough guts to give it a go, whether you are a member of a particular political party or not, you have a chance to be elected if you can convince enough people that your ideas sound good.



As a not so politically astute person as some, to my mind the biggest trouble in every country is the greed and corruption that are entrenched in the systems.



It would take a long time however if we could get enough honest people elected who were strong enough to take a stand over a long period of time and stamp out the corruption at least and maybe reduce the greed then we would all be better off.



Just think what would be available to put to health systems, improving the lot of widow allowance recipients, improve things for those suffering from permanent disabilities, abused children and so on, if the politicians did not get million dollar payouts when they left politics, if they did not get cars, travel etc paid for by the taxpayer once they left politics.



Considering their wages and superannuation scheme they get while they are a serving politician they should be able to set themselves up to the degree that they do not need to rely on perks once out of office.



Any way ,over the next couple of weeks make sure you have plenty of strong coffee, strong tea or a stiff dring handy as we have -finally- the release of the Henry tax report, the federal budget, in WA the state budget, to look forward to.



Might be the last chance to have a cuppa or a strong drink the way prices are going.



Anyway, all the best to everyone and may you have a safe weekend.