Budget 2008 - both more and less

Overall the budget didn’t evoke strong emotions and was incremental rather than revolutionary, which probably explains the different points of view represented by these two comments from opposing sides:

"Even though I am a Labor voter, I had Kevin Rudd pictured as a somewhat uninspiring bureaucrat with a savvy media image. The budget dramatically improved my assessment of him as a genuine Labor Leader" - Labor voter.

"Kevin Rudd is all talk and no action. Before the election he gave the impression that he could drive down inflation and the cost of living. It is now obvious that he can't." - Coalition voter.

The Labor voter is relieved that the Labor package is a bit more exciting than was promised in the election campaign, while the Coalition voter is upset that it is actually less-inspiring. That has to mean that Labor should be happy with the budget from on the basis of public perceptions.