JOINT STRIKE FIGHTERS

No quibbles about the technology.

A trip to the US has left me convinced the JSF really does offer an advance on alternative fighter aircraft options for the RAAF.

The issue is to balance the cost against the need.

But, as this column for the Canberra Times points out, the decision that will emerge from this process is far from certain . . .

L'ETAT, CEST MOI

Separation of powers is a pretty important concept in a democracy: there's a reason for it.

Things must not only work appropriately, they must be seen to be 'clean'.

Image from Channel 9

Which lease to the question, what sort of relationship can the new Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, have with the mother-in-law of his political opponent. Really.

Goodbye Quentin Bryce.

For the sake of the constitution, the country, your son in law, and the ALP.

Go.

FIGHTING OVER THE DUNG-HEAP

I'm a bit slow.

This is the image the Canberra Times used to illustrate the story below that I titled, "Where now for the Left".

I didn't, at first, appreciate that they're fighting over a dung-heap.

How appropriate . . .

CAN I HAVE SOME MORE, PLEASE

Government is largely about money. Dividing the spoils. Sharing out the bounty.

Which is fine when there's more coming in than you need.

Another great News Ltd Image

The problem faced by the new government, however, is rather the reverse.

Its success (or failure) is likely going to rest on its ability to keep different constituencies happy, as this article for the Canberra Times points out . . .

WHERE NOW FOR THE LEFT?

So, Labor's out.

Just part of the cycle? Or is this actually a significant moment?

How does the left rebuild? Can the 'Left' find enough common ground to rebuild?

Karl's analysis doesn't hold much sway today

In this bit of News Analysis for the Canberra Times I argue the problems besetting Labor are deeper than is immediately apparent . . .

THE END

I'm posting this a day late, I'm afraid.

It appeared in the Canberra Times on the morning of the vote.

Photo from the Brisbane Times

Nothing more to be said, really.

This is the end . . .

JUST WHEN DID THE CAMPAIGN FALL APART?

There's no doubt in my mind when Rudd lost the campaign.

Labor was gone, we knew that. But then came what for me will be the defining image of this election battle - Kevin Rudd's brush with Barry O'Farrell. And when a NSW Premier wins a defence debate you know your re-election bid's in difficulty.

Andrew Meares captures the confrontation.

This piece, for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's blog The Strategist considers the way Defence issues have been used for partisan political advantage during the campaign . . .

NEARLY OVER, NOW

And so it draws to a close.

He's had a good time, as this photo by Andrew Meares shows.

This is todays column from the Canberra Times . . .