Tony Abbott for PM

[IFocus]

I still don't think he is leadership material. He seems to be ahead by not saying anything. To date, I don't like his policies, or his ability to answer questions when pressure is applied by the labor govt. The only plus side is he isn't Rudd. Well that and he could kick ass in a marathon against other world leaders

Good point the budget reply was a shocker by all, how the Liberals manage things when they actually put some thing up policy wise will be interesting.

Easy to be a knocker but lets see if there is any substance to Abbott and his front bench when they eventually have to start putting up some policy's I expect a xerox copy of Howard,s ideas given their very limited statements on how they would run the country so far.

The problem with the above for Abbott is there is no Costello and others to make it happen.

 

[todster]

So tell me if Tony Abbott wins government will you get the government you deserve ?????????
Sorry Julia

 

[Julia]

Easy to be a knocker but lets see if there is any substance to Abbott and his front bench when they eventually have to start putting up some policy's I expect a xerox copy of Howard,s ideas given their very limited statements on how they would run the country so far.

IFocus, given you are a Labor supporter, your objectivity above is admirable.
I always find it hard to understand those ultra-committed voters who will still defend the party of their choice, no matter how dumb the behaviour of that party.

So tell me if Tony Abbott wins government will you get the government you deserve ?????????
Sorry Julia

It's not an unreasonable question, but one which is honestly hard to answer.
i.e. I'm sure I won't be alone in voting for Abbott (though this could change between now and the election) not particularly because I have any faith in his capacity to be a good leader, but overwhelmingly because I want Rudd gone.
So I suppose if I do vote for Abbott and he gets in (extremely unlikely) then yes, I will have no cause to complain. Gives new meaning to the old "rock and a hard place" cliche.

 

[noco]

IFocus, given you are a Labor supporter, your objectivity above is admirable.
I always find it hard to understand those ultra-committed voters who will still defend the party of their choice, no matter how dumb the behaviour of that party.


It's not an unreasonable question, but one which is honestly hard to answer.
i.e. I'm sure I won't be alone in voting for Abbott (though this could change between now and the election) not particularly because I have any faith in his capacity to be a good leader, but overwhelmingly because I want Rudd gone.
So I suppose if I do vote for Abbott and he gets in (extremely unlikely) then yes, I will have no cause to complain. Gives new meaning to the old "rock and a hard place" cliche.

Surely Abbott could not be any worse than Rudd when one has only to consider Rudd's record in the past 3 years. The waste of taxpayers money is enough said.

 

[Duckman#72]

Good point the budget reply was a shocker by all, how the Liberals manage things when they actually put some thing up policy wise will be interesting.

That's not right IFocus. Almost all major political commentators, including Paul Kelly had said that the budget reply gave the agenda and momentum back to the Lib's. It came from left field, Labour weren't expecting it and it framed the terms that the Coalition wanted to fight the election on. It was one of the only budget supply speeches in recent years that gave a rise in the polling.

Things went pear shaped after "that" 7:30Report interview a few days later.

It has been heavy weather ever since.

Duckman

 

[Tink]

Good point the budget reply was a shocker by all, how the Liberals manage things when they actually put some thing up policy wise will be interesting.

Easy to be a knocker but lets see if there is any substance to Abbott and his front bench when they eventually have to start putting up some policy's I expect a xerox copy of Howard,s ideas given their very limited statements on how they would run the country so far.

The problem with the above for Abbott is there is no Costello and others to make it happen.

Yep, you could see it from day one when he was voted in. He put everyone back where they were when Howard was in.

The guy doesnt like change and did everything in his power to get it back the way it was.

I didnt like Howard, and I see Abbott a replica of him.

Just my opinion.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I have hesitated from posting in to this thread recently as I have rarely seen such garbage comment from so many normally prescient contributors.

The essence of Tony is that he is a pugilist, a boxer. He can take punishment and he can give it.

What he says and how it is interpreted by the lame mainstream media matters little to him. This a fight. The blows of last week matter little in the moment except to the anonymous judges

He has his eye on the clock for each round and the number of rounds. He has scored well against Rudd since he arrived as opposition leader. He is ahead. He will bide his time, jabbing here and there.

After all he's fighting a bloke with no fists, a shallow pitter patter ex-diplomat.

"There is a tide in men's affairs"

And Tony is riding a nice steady wave in to the Prime Ministership.

gg

 

[Julia]

Yep, you could see it from day one when he was voted in. He put everyone back where they were when Howard was in.

I don't think that's quite right, but even if it were, his elevation to the leadership has considerably improved the Libs' standing according to the polls, so there must be a reasonable number of Australians who much preferred things as they were under John Howard.

Given the chaos that has reigned under Mr Rudd, I'd have to say that I'd be one of them.

 

[wayneL]

I don't think that's quite right, but even if it were, his elevation to the leadership has considerably improved the Libs' standing according to the polls, so there must be a reasonable number of Australians who much preferred things as they were under John Howard.

Given the chaos that has reigned under Mr Rudd, I'd have to say that I'd be one of them.

Howard grew arrogant and detached... and too attached to the Neo Cons. He turned into a cynical pork barreller and Australians weren't fooled.

The old Howard would still be in government, Australia was basically in good hands... in fact, if Pete was handed the reins, there would be no Rudd... and no encroaching socialist totalitarianism in Oz.

As I said once before, Abbot is a Liberal leader for the times; maybe not the most ideal Liberal leader, but as GG pointed out, a pugilist. Australia needs him right now to save it from an Orwellian dystopia.

IMNTBCHO

 

[Julia]

True enough, Wayne, but if you had the choice of Howard as he was when he lost office, and Kevin Rudd, which would you prefer?

 

[drsmith]

True enough, Wayne, but if you had the choice of Howard as he was when he lost office, and Kevin Rudd, which would you prefer?

Howard.

One difference between Howard and Rudd is that the former at least avoided rolling the pork barrel into the fire.

I would prefer Howard to Abbott but that's a choice between two rather poor options. I would prefer Costello to both of them.

 

[wayneL]

True enough, Wayne, but if you had the choice of Howard as he was when he lost office, and Kevin Rudd, which would you prefer?

Howard, grudgingly. I'd forgoten how much damage the socialist cretins could do in a term.

 

[todster]

I have hesitated from posting in to this thread recently as I have rarely seen such garbage comment from so many normally prescient contributors.

The essence of Tony is that he is a pugilist, a boxer. He can take punishment and he can give it.

What he says and how it is interpreted by the lame mainstream media matters little to him. This a fight. The blows of last week matter little in the moment except to the anonymous judges

He has his eye on the clock for each round and the number of rounds. He has scored well against Rudd since he arrived as opposition leader. He is ahead. He will bide his time, jabbing here and there.

After all he's fighting a bloke with no fists, a shallow pitter patter ex-diplomat.

"There is a tide in men's affairs"

And Tony is riding a nice steady wave in to the Prime Ministership.

gg

More like sittin on the fence ,boxer and catholic nazi

 

[Julia]

The essence of Tony is that he is a pugilist, a boxer. He can take punishment and he can give it.

He can hand out the punchy one-liners in attack mode, gg, but he's shown himself to be less than skilled in coping with the more subtle attacks from e.g. Julia Gillard who easily walks all over him.

What he says and how it is interpreted by the lame mainstream media matters little to him. This a fight. The blows of last week matter little in the moment except to the anonymous judges

I don't know if that's true or not, but anyone who discounts the influence of the media is simply foolish. They create the opinions of those too apathetic or lazy to scrutinise the politicians for themselves.

I may be wrong, but I also believe the voting public are well and truly over politicians spending tax dollars attacking each other, rather than spending that same time in constructive policy delivery.
I don't want a boxer/pugilist for a Prime Minister. I do want a statesman who can conduct himself on the world stage with dignity and who is truly representative of the wishes of the Australian people. Not someone who's simply on their own personal ego journey, as Mr Rudd has shown himself to be.
FWIW, I reckon Tony Abbott is more sincerely motivated by what he believes is good for Australia.
Not so sure, though, that most of the population are agreeing with his ultra conservative values.

He has his eye on the clock for each round and the number of rounds. He has scored well against Rudd since he arrived as opposition leader. He is ahead.

Yes, he's ahead, but essentially by default, because the electorate is so utterly disillusioned with Rudd. If said electorate were really so enamoured with Mr Abbott, the votes lost from Rudd would have gone to Mr Abbott, not the Greens.

And Tony is riding a nice steady wave in to the Prime Ministership.

Too early to tell yet, gg, and if he does get there he's going to need to develop some more defensive skills along the way. Already, the constant uttering of "that great, big new tax" is starting to sound as irritating as Mr Rudd's "you know something?".

And I'm astonished that in response to "that great, big new tax", the government have not hit back with some comment about Mr Abbot's own big new tax on companies to pay for his supa dupa totally excessive parental leave programme.

 

[springhill]

FWIW, I reckon Tony Abbott is more sincerely motivated by what he believes is good for Australia.
Not so sure, though, that most of the population are agreeing with his ultra conservative values.

Julia, these 2 comments sum up both Abbotts pros and cons.
Con: His religious hardline will not wash with the public, who (i believe) are sick to death of religious propaganda, whether it be Catholic, Islamic or any other faith. My belief is people in general want to live a 'good' life without the confines of religious laws/commandments. Such laws are not applicable in todays society.

Pro: Wholeheartedly agree, Abbott is (sometimes misguidedly) driven by what is best for Australia and for us as a community.
Pro: He is not Kevin Rudd. I believe Rudd is driven by nothing more than a quest for power and influence.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

He can hand out the punchy one-liners in attack mode, gg, but he's shown himself to be less than skilled in coping with the more subtle attacks from e.g. Julia Gillard who easily walks all over him.

I'd agree Julia, I have quite an admiration for Gillard, for a leftie, she has guts and a wider view of the world. She is intelligent and articulate and win or lose she will be Leader of the ALP by January 2011.

I don't know if that's true or not, but anyone who discounts the influence of the media is simply foolish. They create the opinions of those too apathetic or lazy to scrutinise the politicians for themselves.

Tony was a media hack himself, and knows how to play them. Rudd thinks he knows how to play them, but is only good in fair weather.

I may be wrong, but I also believe the voting public are well and truly over politicians spending tax dollars attacking each other, rather than spending that same time in constructive policy delivery.

Agree, Julia and that was part of the reason Howard lost, and Rudd is following him. Rudd is Howard-Lite.

I don't want a boxer/pugilist for a Prime Minister. I do want a statesman who can conduct himself on the world stage with dignity and who is truly representative of the wishes of the Australian people. Not someone who's simply on their own personal ego journey, as Mr Rudd has shown himself to be.

I must disagree, I'm sick and tired of watery leaders like Blair, Obama,the French Midget, the Italian madman and now Rudd and Cameron.

FWIW, I reckon Tony Abbott is more sincerely motivated by what he believes is good for Australia.
Not so sure, though, that most of the population are agreeing with his ultra conservative values.

Sometimes leaders need to lead, and not follow the whims of the population. Look at the huge social problems in Britain from this laissez faire attitude.

Yes, he's ahead, but essentially by default, because the electorate is so utterly disillusioned with Rudd. If said electorate were really so enamoured with Mr Abbott, the votes lost from Rudd would have gone to Mr Abbott, not the Greens.

I don't agree. People often park their votes with muppets like the Greens. They did it with Pauline Hanson before Howard grabbed them back.

Too early to tell yet, gg, and if he does get there he's going to need to develop some more defensive skills along the way. Already, the constant uttering of "that great, big new tax" is starting to sound as irritating as Mr Rudd's "you know something?".

I've told hm that, and so have others. Lets see if he listens.

And I'm astonished that in response to "that great, big new tax", the government have not hit back with some comment about Mr Abbot's own big new tax on companies to pay for his supa dupa totally excessive parental leave programme.

Because they are muppets, led by a muppet who doesn't listen to the other muppets in his party.

gg

 

[moXJO]

I have hesitated from posting in to this thread recently as I have rarely seen such garbage comment from so many normally prescient contributors.

The essence of Tony is that he is a pugilist, a boxer. He can take punishment and he can give it.

What he says and how it is interpreted by the lame mainstream media matters little to him. This a fight. The blows of last week matter little in the moment except to the anonymous judges

He has his eye on the clock for each round and the number of rounds. He has scored well against Rudd since he arrived as opposition leader. He is ahead. He will bide his time, jabbing here and there.

After all he's fighting a bloke with no fists, a shallow pitter patter ex-diplomat.

"There is a tide in men's affairs"

And Tony is riding a nice steady wave in to the Prime Ministership.

gg

Oh please, Gillard beats him up and takes his lunch money every time they have a verbal stoush. I am not saying Rudd over Abbott, but rather we have some poor choices. You only have to look at state government to see voters will put up with a lot of crap from a current government rather then vote in a weak opposition. Abbott has a lot of work to do. Rudd has done a lot of damage and I want him out. But Abbott (while a nice enough bloke) doesn't hold my confidence.
In the end I will vote for whatever government will benefit me the most (over all aspects not just money).

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Oh please, Gillard beats him up and takes his lunch money every time they have a verbal stoush. I am not saying Rudd over Abbott, but rather we have some poor choices. You only have to look at state government to see voters will put up with a lot of crap from a current government rather then vote in a weak opposition. Abbott has a lot of work to do. Rudd has done a lot of damage and I want him out. But Abbott (while a nice enough bloke) doesn't hold my confidence.
In the end I will vote for whatever government will benefit me the most (over all aspects not just money).

Gillard is good, no doubt about it.
The ALP Right though is a sexist mob, and they only allow good looking goyles like Keneally in, to keep the NSW muppet voters quiet, and the seat warm for the next alpha male in the pack.
I cannot see them backing Gillard.

gg

 

[moXJO]

Gillard is good, no doubt about it.
The ALP Right though is a sexist mob, and they only allow good looking goyles like Keneally in, to keep the NSW muppet voters quiet, and the seat warm for the next alpha male in the pack.
I cannot see them backing Gillard.

gg

Yeah my money is on Combet in the distant future. Can't say I like any of them that much though, they all produce the same result.

 

[nulla nulla]

I don't agree. People often park their votes with muppets like the Greens. They did it with Pauline Hanson before Howard grabbed them back.

gg

Kind of ironic that Howard had the extreme right wing political leanings necessary to win back the right wing Pauline Hanson voters. You'd think Tony Abbott would be a shoe-in to secure their votes also.