The great health debate wrap-up

I looked for some reporting of the great health debate between Rudd and Abbott in the Bulletin this morning but to no avail - nothing, nix, zilch

So for those who look to the local rag for real news, I offer this summary of the best of this morning's blogs:

The Great Health Debate: the reaction - from Larvatus Prodeo

Throughout this term, the Liberals have mistaken public support for the adulation of the commentariat, and much of the ‘media narrative’ reflects nothing more than the navel gazing of the opposition/journosphere

And again in No one watches daytime tv; and other Health Debate myths

As anticipated, commentariat memes very quickly emerged after the Great Health Debate – “Abbott was disadvantaged because he didn’t have a policy”, “Abbott came out swinging”, “He was authentic”, “Rudd played to The Worm”, “It’s not important anyway”, “No one watches daytime tv”.

Presumably the press gallery wizards got these stunning insights direct from Liberal spinners, or maybe Laurie Oakes. But, it’s always interesting to see how quickly and unanimously these memes develop, and how they reinforce the existing ‘media narrative’, which brooks no contradiction.

When the Worms Turn – The inside info on audience response from The Possum at pollytics.com

One of the most important things (the worms) demonstrated – and something that the polling has been suggesting for a while now – is that Abbott has very little political room to move and his support appears to be generally soft.

Rudd does negative better from the Piping Shrike

It has taken a few months, especially given Labor’s natural inclination to make Abbott into an extremist that he is not, but the government looks as though it starting to have Abbott’s number.

@PremierMikeRann Twitter 23 March 2010

PM scored strong win against Abbott in health and hospital debate at National Press Club. Abbott too weirdly negative for mainstream Oz.

 Comprehending the Great Big New Health Debate from the Political Sword

It seems that Kevin Rudd is fully back to his 2007 form. While he exhibits that, and Tony Abbott relies on negativity, carping criticism and unconvincing alternative policy, he will flounder around, flailing his arms wildly, landing few blows, and exhausting himself while Rudd waits patiently to land the killer blow.

Federal politics changed ominously for the Coalition today.

 Are Our Leaders Showing Vital Signs? By Ben Pobjie at newmatilda.com

This is the choice we are faced with: a bureaucratic serial killer on the one hand, and a scantily-clad sex fiend on the other. We cannot get this wrong — the good health of our children, and our children’s children, makes it crucial that our decision is slightly less terrifying than the alternative.

Abbott’s Bingle by John Quiggin

…the debate reminded us that Abbott was an undistinguished health minister whose policy agenda, to the extent that there was a consistent one, went nowhere. His only contributions of any note were attempts to turn his personal prejudices into law. Now, he has no policy, and it’s a safe bet that anything he comes up with won’t stand up to even momentary scrutiny, as with his alternative to the ETS.

And finally Fiona Katauskas at newmatilda.com