This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Tony Abbott for PM

Jump to new
Tony Abbott getting a grilling on Q&A at the moment...he looks uncomfortable, and struggles for answers...and the whole um um um um um, thing makes him look not to confident, and ive a feeling his self comparison to Jesus may not go down to well.

He's just not electable....not a credible alternate PM.
 
I have it recording at present. Do agree with you about his habit of multiple "um"s. He also does some weird thing with his tongue which sort of makes a clicking noise in his throat. Very disconcerting.

But yes, of course he will get a grilling on Q. & A. Tony Jones is as far to the left as Kerry O'Brien.

I'd like to see a bit more of Chris Uhlman in a presenter's position. He seems rather more objective.
 

Maybe his new acting lessons will give him a new image in line with Rudd. Yes I agree, he has to overcome his idiosyncrasies if he is to make an impression like Rudd. Rudd is a master at acting as most people would agree. I hope Tony watches a reply of his performance last night and quickly learns from his mistakes, otherwise he has no chance of beating Rudd!!
 

You should have saved your post to after the show SC.

I thought he did pretty well, as did most of the media outlets according to todays reports. In fact The Australian said he managed to "woo" the audience and the headline read "Softer Abbott proves a Winner".

Once again some of the questions were a joke. Jones is really starting to paint his colours to the mast for mine. Why the continual line of questioning to Abbott regarding Jesus. Why does Abbott have to speculate on what Jesus would do about the refugee boat people? Jones asked that question a couple of times. And why does Abbott have to be a spokesperson on "all things Catholic" as he correctly stated. They even asked him about what the Vatician's next move should be with regard to sexual misconduct!!!

But the worst of it was the video question put to Abbott by a woman which in a nutshell basically asked "When am I going to stop being embarrassed by you as an opposition leader?". If the question came from the audience fair enough - but this was reviewed, edited and aired with full ABC consent. It was a question that was completely subjective and in my opinion was only played to mock and misrepresent the level of dissatisfaction with Abbott.

All in all - he did a good job. His mannerisms are quirky and can be offputting - but if you can look past that, he actually answers questions and I believe that he answers them with conviction and belief. He seems to be learning not to get "riled up" by comments and be ultra agressive in return. Being measured in his repsonse is far better.

Duckman
 

How utterly depressing.

Are we (the electorate) that shallow and stupid that we choose our leaders because of acting ability?

What about ideology, policy, capabilities etc?
 
So_Cynical said:
...He's just not electable....not a credible alternate PM.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with you there. Duddy might have his pitfalls, but Maggot is definitely the greater of the two evils at this point in time.

Society generally can sense this and will always vote in the lesser of the two.

Just my , FWIW. Used to be a bag full of candy. Now it can't even buy you one
 
Julia said:
But yes, of course he will get a grilling on Q. & A. Tony Jones is as far to the left as Kerry O'Brien.
I'd like to see a bit more of Chris Uhlman in a presenter's position. He seems rather more objective.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as as an unbiased compere, and by definition an ABC presenter on a political program will have a left wing bias, as well as a left-leaning audience.

While Abbott had some support in the audience, I noticed that whenever he was asked a nasty question, (as many were) a section of the audience applauded the questioner.
 

I see this comment a lot about these guys being lefty's but generally I think they sit in the middle some where its just the Liberals / Abbott are currently extreme right wing which BTW is why Labor will win the next election as they occupy the middle ground.

Malcolm Turnbull tried to get the middle ground but could'nt pull off the politics.
 

The point about Jesus was about showing compassion to boat people if you were a true believer rather than turn them away.
 
IFocus said:
The point about Jesus was about showing compassion to boat people if you were a true believer rather than turn them away.
Click to expand...

So will Kevin Rudd be asked about it as well? Will Kevin Rudd be asked about the split between the High Anglican Church and the progressive left? Will Kevin Rudd be asked about his views on the ordaining of married gay clergy in the Anglican Church?

If Kevin doesn't wish to discuss it - does that mean he has less faith or is not a "true believer"?

IFocus I understand "the point" behind the question - I just find it astonishing. Abbott made a good point when he joked he's running for the job of Prime Minister, not "up for canonisation". Why stop at showing compassion to boat people!! If Abbott were a real "true believer" he'd spend the night in lion's dens and pits full of serpents. Which media outlet will be the first to ask Abbott to do that?

Duckman
 
wayneL said:
How utterly depressing.

Are we (the electorate) that shallow and stupid that we choose our leaders because of acting ability?

What about ideology, policy, capabilities etc?
Click to expand...

Yes I agree Wayne on your last line, but a lot of the naive judge an MP by his/her toothy smile and their acting. This does appeal to many irrespect of their political beleifs. This type fall for the spin and BS that Rudd puts over all the time.
 

Exactly, Duckman.
And Glenn Stevens last week talked about his devotion to Christianity.
I don't see the media rushing to ask him how much God guides his decisions on interest rates e.g.

Given the quite unreasonable focus on Tony Abbott's Christianity, I think he's being pretty damn good humoured about answering the incessant questions which say more about the media asking them than they do about Abbott's religion.
 
Julia said:
Given the quite unreasonable focus on Tony Abbott's Christianity, I think he's being pretty damn good humoured about answering the incessant questions which say more about the media asking them than they do about Abbott's religion.
Click to expand...

Well said Julia. I thought he's been pretty obliging as well.

Duckman
 
IFocus said:
...the Liberals / Abbott are currently extreme right wing which BTW is why Labor will win the next election as they occupy the middle ground.
Click to expand...

Bob Brown and his Greens occupy the extreme left which they took over from the Labor party when it moved slightly toward the centre. Even the Labor right is still left of centre.
 
Duckman#72 said:
If Abbott were a real "true believer" he'd spend the night in lion's dens and pits full of serpents. Which media outlet will be the first to ask Abbott to do that?

Duckman
Click to expand...

In fairness to Tony Abbott, I thought he already did enough of this working in Parliament on the front bench of the Liberal/National Coalition.
 
trainspotter said:
LMFAO at "Tour de Farce" ... this guy needs to decide if he is a genuine contender for the top job or is he trying out for the next Nutri Grain Iron Man event.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/pol...harity-bike-ride/story-e6frgczf-1225850857602
Click to expand...

Abbott told Barrie Cassidy he meets more "real" people through participating in his triathalons, bike riding and other sport events than Rudd would meet in a year. He's probably right - although there's an argument that real people are at home on the couch.

Of course it's all political. As opposition leader - it's a great opportunity to get yourself known, get the profile up, all for a wonderful cause and in the meantime promoting healthy lifestyles. I can't see much of a downside. Provided he doesn't compete in the Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon in a fortnights time (that might be a tad of an overstretch) I say keep going Tony. People are attracted to a positive healthy mind/healthy body approach to life. The "worm" showed it wants a positive "can do/will do" Government. What better way to be seen by the public than bike riding for charity while the media and ALP take cheap pot shots at him from Canberra.

It will be interesting to see if the ALP take the opportunity to toss in some "media distractions" over the next week.

Duckman
 

The boat people saga is high on the political agenda and a likely vote winner for who ever takes the harder line in this case Abbott and the Libs do hence the questioning in line with Abbott's values I though it quite clever.

I also though Abbott answered well but dodged the question all the same he is after all a Polly nothing more.
 
Calliope said:
Bob Brown and his Greens occupy the extreme left which they took over from the Labor party when it moved slightly toward the centre. Even the Labor right is still left of centre.
Click to expand...

Labor is not following a left agenda under Rudd after all he stole the ETS of the Libs and echoed all their policy's and under spent Howard in election promises last election.

Rudd / Gillard are a powerful political machine and the Libs know it as they push to Libs into the extreme right. This is evident as Abbott try's to soften his image with the public policy on the run and hogging the headlines.

Liberals in the 60's and 70's held the middle ground and labor way over to the left, the liberal party today resembles little of that successful era and is today run by the extreme right.
 
IFocus said:
The boat people saga is high on the political agenda and a likely vote winner for who ever takes the harder line in this case Abbott and the Libs do hence the questioning in line with Abbott's values I though it quite clever.
Click to expand...

That's fine, but I have a big problem with the inconsistant line of questioning towards Abbott. Please explain how Abbott's "values" are different to those of Rudd's. Are Catholics more religious than Anglicans? Are Catholic values stronger than Anglican values? Why does Abbott have to reconcile his religious faith with his position as Opposition Leader but Kevin Rudd is not required to reconcile his policies back to his Church's teachings? It is an irrelevant, double-standard, mischievious nonsense.

IFocus said:
I also though Abbott answered well but dodged the question all the same he is after all a Polly nothing more.
Click to expand...

I thought he answered the question as well as he could. What is the right answer anyway? Who would really know? Obviously Tony Jones and ALP supporters were wanting him to admit that Jesus would "open his arms to refugees". I thought Tony did a good job providing an example of Jesus taking a stance on an issue. I think everyone here on ASF knows my views on religion, however, heaven help us if we start valuing the worth of each Government policy based on a "What would Jesus do?" test.

Duckman
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more...