- Joined
- 16 June 2005
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- 6
That's exactly why I'm a bit nervous! It seems a forgone conclusion such as the demise of NSW and Qld Labor... but Rudd at least did facilitate some fundamental change in Labor internal practices and policy, where the state's failed to do.
Given that neither Abbot or Rudd is highly respected or trusted, the fear that the LNP might win control of both houses again and force through unpalatable change, a-la workchoices, asset sales and severe spending cuts, might cause a late counter swing to the 'reformed' Rudd, the lesser of two evils, which might over correct to prevent LNP control of both houses and inadvertently vote Rudd back.
The other factor is the historic high number of minor parties, where their preferences will go and who they will support on key policies.
I just have a bit of a concern with the LNP not putting their most popular (and arguably most respected) leader to the public and they haven't played their most respectful and strongest policy hand.
Whiskers, it is generally acknowledged that Abbott has been a highly effective opposition leader and probably that is why so many attacks have been made against him personally. He's clearly not a misogynist and yet I heard him say recently that he noticed Julia Gillard in an airport (I think) and he went up to her and acknowledged kindly it had been a bit rough lately. I think I heard that on the Kitchen Cabinet Show. After the way she persistently slimed him, it shows the strength of character he has to acknowledge her when she was going through something tough, imo.
He has run a well disciplined campaign, albeit with the odd minor stuff up, but it has overall been a well oiled and planned machine. Totally in a different league to Rudd's shooting from the hip, policies on the run and making nonsense up about the opposition.
If you are referring to Turnbull, I don't know that he could have pulled this off against Rudd. His own polling when Rudd and he were leaders was going down dismally (see newspoll archives). After Abbott took over, the preferred PM figures started improving for Abbott compared to Turnbull and the polls for the libs began to overtake labor and have been pretty consistently in front ever since.
I have been unsure how Abbott would transition from opposition leader, but he has gained respect from me during this campaign with very little negative coming from him about Rudd. It seems he has already started to move out of the negativity required in opposition to a more positive potential PM.
Interestingly, it is Rudd who has behaved more like an opposition leader with so much negativity while Abbott has been the positive leader. And labor gave in to the popularity contest and brought the previously popular Rudd back as leader and look at where that's got them. I am glad the libs did not play musical leaders game!