Nixon in 1968 unlike Obama 2008 was elected as a minority president with only 43 percent of the vote. Yet in 1972 he won what in some measures was the most lopsided election in American history with 61 percent.

From tea parties to the election in Massachusetts we are witnessing the single greatest political pushback in American history.

In every election in American history both parties have their cliches. The party that has the cliches that ring true wins.

We've had Town Hall meetings we've witnessed election after election in which the American people have taken a position on the President's health care bill. And the bottom line is the people don't like this bill. They don't want it.

If the states and territories do not sign up to fundamental reform then my message is equally simple: we will take this reform plan to the people at the next election - along with a referendum by or at that same election to give the Australian Government all the power it needs to reform the health system.

Most of the provisions designed to fix what ails our health system don't kick in until 2014 which one wishes administration officials had noticed is two years after he has to win an election.

I think about my parents all the time especially on Sunday when I'm at Mass. My mother always said 'We do not pray to win elections. We pray for people's health we pray that God's will be done we pray that we do our best. But we do not pray to win elections.'

Some of you read with me 40 years ago a portion of Aristotle's Ethics a selection of passages that describe his idea of happiness. You may not remember too well.

Apparently a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.

Although my seat is a contest between Labour and the Lib Dems it could well make the difference between a Labour and a Tory government at the next election. In terms of international development this choice is a very clear one.

In Scotland the indication is that for the Westminster elections at least Labour voters are satisfied with their government.

People know something has gone terribly wrong with our government and it has gotten so far off track. But people also know that there is nothing wrong in America that a good old-fashioned election can't fix.

Now let me be clear. The path I lay out is not one paved with ever increasing government checks and cradle to grave assurance that government will always be the solution. If this election is a bidding war for who can promise the most goodies and the most benefits I'm not your president. You have that president today.

Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.

It is our job as members of parliament to legislate with an eye to the long term future to look over the horizon beyond the next election and ensure that as far as we can what we do today will make Australia a better place a safer place for future generations to live in.

A lost election can have the jolt of a drop through the gallows door leading to a dark night of the soul in which the future presses down like a cloud that will never lift.

I mean it's funny playing music how of course you want it to do well you want them to like it but it's not competitive like an election it's the Olympics it's not a Formula 1 race. The Billboard charts are just to show you what people like.