Tony Abbott for PM

Mofra · 10 February 2011

Julia said:
This is not anything to do with Churchill. We are discussing Ms Gillard.
And the discussion is relevant because it goes to whether she is a genuine person or not, or just another hypocritical politician.
If, as some of us believe, she was just turning on the faux tears in order to ramp up her ratings in the wake of such widespread media commentary about how wooden and robotic her behaviour was during the floods, imo that's relevant.

I don't believe the tears were fake, nor do I believe it is a major issue relevant to leadership anymore than whether Turnbull drives a Mercedes or BMW, or what colour speedos Abbott wears to the beach, or who Greg Combet had lunch with last week.

The substance of policy is my major concern and I believe there are many who think the same - harking back to the election campaign, many pundits described it as the least inspiring in living memory and lack of substance/major vision (NBN was out there before the campaign) contributed to the poltical malaise we are currently faced with.

Julia said:
And please, Mofra, just stop labelling anyone who criticises Ms Gillard as automatically a supporter of Mr Abbott. It just ain't so!
?

Certainly wasn't aimed at you Julia and I apologise if it sounded thay way.

awg · 10 February 2011

drsmith said:
Avoiding tricky questions from the media is standard fare for politicians, but the usual tactic is to try and change the subject.

Why Tony didn't try that as a minimum, I am at a loss.

Unfortunately I have not seen footage of Abbott and Rileys moment

Is there a link ?

Being fairly bad-tempered myself, I can understand the "red mist" probably descended

Julie Bishop probably just finished shreiking at him:

On occassion I have declined to speak as I knew threats or vile language would emanate,

the body language of intimidation or violent urge can be deciphered

Have seen this plenty of times in the workplace with alpha males, a zillion times on the sportsfield, Tonys sporting nature to the fore

( also had to deal with many angry, or potentially violent clients, body language was critical, no-one ever clocked me at work )

what a BS of a job, I am not a fan, but his initial comments were not innappropriate, having to endure this beat-up would be exasperating to say the least.

drsmith · 10 February 2011

awg said:
Is there a link ?

Includes Laurie Oakes summary.

Another example of flat footedness (as Laurie Oakes puts it) was the "I'm no Bill Gates" interview on the 7:30 Report on the day of announcement of the Coalition's broadband plans during the election campaign.

For these supposedly highly media trained politicians, it should be water off a ducks back.

It's Snake Pliskin · 10 February 2011

Tony handled it well in saying I gave you the answer you deserve.

When will the media report REAL news instead of sideshow stories of no real importance in which they think is the news.

drsmith · 10 February 2011

Below is a longer cut of the interview itself.

His mistake, I suspect, was to take the line of questioning personally and not professionally. This may have compromised his thought processes in considering a response.

That, perhaps in conjunction with lack of perepration is what I feel led to the lengthy head nodding silence.

You could almost hear the cogs turning.

Julia · 10 February 2011

Mofra said:
The substance of policy is my major concern and I believe there are many who think the same - harking back to the election campaign, many pundits described it as the least inspiring in living memory and lack of substance/major vision (NBN was out there before the campaign) contributed to the poltical malaise we are currently faced with.

I totally agree about the uninspired nature of the election campaign. Further the performances all round since then have been even more uninspired, if that's possible.

Certainly wasn't aimed at you Julia and I apologise if it sounded thay way.

Thanks, no worries, Mofra. I'm just a bit alarmed at any suggestion that I'd see Mr Abbott as the answer to the most desperate person's prayer!

drsmith said:
You could almost hear the cogs turning.

Thanks for posting the link. I hadn't actually seen it. It's pretty dreadful.
Seemed to me he was working hard to contain his anger.
For a politician with his level of experience, as you suggest he should have been able to deal with it.

It's just difficult to see the Libs keeping him as leader. The government has got so much wrong and continues to struggle. A competent opposition should be able to get them tossed out, but little chance if they keep Mr Abbott in his present position.

awg · 10 February 2011

drsmith said:
Below is a longer cut of the interview itself.
You could almost hear the cogs turning.

thx Doc,

You cant see full body or face for complete assesment

but head nodding like that was one I never liked seeing, a classic dissonant signal.

I did see footage of him in pre IV preparation and he looked distinctly distracted, like he was in a mongrel of a mood already.

Had a tough boss who I respected and looked after me, but I knew never bother to disagree with him when he had a red face and veins on his temples were showing.

I wonder just how bad of a temper one can have to be leader/ PM?

Hawke, Keating, Rudd, Whitlam? had major tempers & swearing

Honestly, the dude looks like he wants to just hit someone every time I see him on TV

Mofra · 10 February 2011

awg said:
I wonder just how bad of a temper one can have to be leader/ PM?

Hawke, Keating, Rudd, Whitlam? had major tempers & swearing

His battles with Kerry O'Brien (especially when caught out lying about a meeting with George Pell back in his Workplace Relations Minister days) shows his temper - but I would still suggest Mark Latham had it over Abbott & the PMs you listed in the temper stakes.

Can't recall anyone else breaking a cabbie's arm.

awg · 10 February 2011

Mofra said:
but I would still suggest Mark Latham had it over Abbott & the PMs you listed in the temper stakes.

Can't recall anyone else breaking a cabbie's arm.

My apology, completely forgot about that peanut

Was it in Sydney though?... some of those Sydney cabbies are arm-breaking candidates

Sean K · 10 February 2011

drsmith said:
Includes Laurie Oakes summary.

Another example of flat footedness (as Laurie Oakes puts it) was the "I'm no Bill Gates" interview on the 7:30 Report on the day of announcement of the Coalition's broadband plans during the election campaign.

For these supposedly highly media trained politicians, it should be water off a ducks back.

Lorry looks like he's lost weight.

Calliope · 10 February 2011

drsmith said:
drsmith said:

His mistake, I suspect, was to take the line of questioning personally and not professionally. This may have compromised his thought processes in considering a response.

That, perhaps in conjunction with lack of perepration is what I feel led to the lengthy head nodding silence.

You could almost hear the cogs turning.

Click to expand...

He should have clocked the bastard. This would have sent a powerful message to the arrogant Kerry Stokes.

The Sunday Mail 14 Feb 2010.

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Stephen Conroy went skiing with Channel 7 owner Kerry Stokes weeks before giving $250 million to our free-to-air TV networks.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Senator Conroy – a skiing and snowboarding fanatic – met Mr Stokes in Vail, Colorado, last month while the Federal Government was considering pleas from the free-to-air industry to cut their licence fees.

The meeting came a month before Senator Conroy cut licence fees paid by Seven, Ten and Nine for the next two years, depriving the Government of about $250 million.

The decision was controversial because Senator Conroy said it was to protect Australian content, but included no binding requirement for the networks to spend the money on producing Australian content. Instead, it goes direct to their bottom line.

Both Mr Stokes and Senator Conroy last week refused to say what was discussed.

Mr Stokes, through a spokesman, said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" skiing with Senator Conroy.

Click to expand...

IFocus · 10 February 2011

Julia said:
Fair enough. We saw Anna Bligh show leadership throughout both the floods and the cyclone. She still managed to show empathy. She didn't stand in front of the cameras in tears. If Julia Gillard had shown even the slightest touch of genuine feeling in her contacts with the flood victims, then her tears would have perhaps been more believable.

This is not anything to do with Churchill. We are discussing Ms Gillard.
And the discussion is relevant because it goes to whether she is a genuine person or not, or just another hypocritical politician.
If, as some of us believe, she was just turning on the faux tears in order to ramp up her ratings in the wake of such widespread media commentary about how wooden and robotic her behaviour was during the floods, imo that's relevant.

Julia I haven't honestly seen the tears footage and have no plans to do so, politicians crying in parliament is some thing that I can never trust no matter who it is for any reason. The tears they may have been genuine or may not have been as far as the Australian people are concerned it matters not. I believe tears in private leadership in public.

Your comments about "hypocritical politician"

The very nature of politics I am afraid is hypocritical particularity for the party leadership. The best leaders tend to be the most ruthless / hypocritical while getting us to believe otherwise.

I believe right now the Gillard government is head and shoulders above what the opposition have to offer. Could the government be better? clearly so if you look at their agenda its clear there is no way any government could deliver (maybe Hawke / Keating).

Even trimmed down its still stupid

Julia · 10 February 2011

awg said:
Honestly, the dude looks like he wants to just hit someone every time I see him on TV

He does, doesn't he. And that's absolutely no persona for a leader to be projecting.
Totally unacceptable imo.

IFocus said:
Julia I haven't honestly seen the tears footage and have no plans to do so, politicians crying in parliament is some thing that I can never trust no matter who it is for any reason. The tears they may have been genuine or may not have been as far as the Australian people are concerned it matters not. I believe tears in private leadership in public.

Agree entirely. Maybe do have a look at her doing the tearful stuff though. It's worth watching.

Your comments about "hypocritical politician"

The very nature of politics I am afraid is hypocritical particularity for the party leadership. The best leaders tend to be the most ruthless / hypocritical while getting us to believe otherwise.

Sadly you are right.

I believe right now the Gillard government is head and shoulders above what the opposition have to offer. Could the government be better? clearly so if you look at their agenda its clear there is no way any government could deliver (maybe Hawke / Keating).

Even trimmed down its still stupid

I arrived in Australia in the last couple of years of the Keating government. After the blandness of NZ politics, I thought Paul Keating was terrific. I still do.
Have had no experience of Hawke.
Just think: if we were presently to be watching a contest between Keating and Costello, then I doubt we would be feeling as bereft of inspiration as we are.

Sean K · 10 February 2011

Julia said:
He does, doesn't he. And that's absolutely no persona for a leader to be projecting.

Yeah, I agree. Like the Costello smirk. Surely they have been told by their handlers that this attitude does not win votes.

I'm completely adrift with who I could support at the moment.

Both parties are a farce and the Greens have had their time in the sun taking the protest vote...

It's almost embarrassing as an Australian.

I had to try and defend Jooolia a few weeks ago when asked by some yanks 'how did she get elected?' I almost sided with them, but, they were American...

IFocus · 11 February 2011

How I understand why Bishop is still around is because the WA liberals are really cashed up and will likely bank roll the next Federal election.

Abbott needs the cash and WA Liberal party has millions he needs Bishop to get it.

Julie Bishop ignites Liberal tensions

TONY Abbott has moved to quell anger within Liberal ranks about his deputy, Julie Bishop, but at least three frontbenchers are prepared to stand for her job after more damaging leaks from shadow cabinet.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...liberal-tensions/story-fn59niix-1226004054232

awg · 11 February 2011

IFocus said:
How I understand why Bishop is still around is because the WA liberals are really cashed up and will likely bank roll the next Federal election.

Wonder what Mals doing these days...sticking around isnt he?

Abbott only got up cause Hockey and Turnbull somehow managed to hash it

Julie got an unkind tag banged on her "political wh..." ..how cruel is that

Logique · 11 February 2011

IFocus said:
...Julie Bishop ignites Liberal tensions...http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...liberal-tensions/story-fn59niix-1226004054232

Thanks IF. It's an exasperating situation, and not the first time they have come after Julie Bishop. I have a fair idea of at least two of these 'shadow' figures. When they get their own houses in order, then they can go around criticizing others. Try putting the party first boys.

I agree with the words of Senators Abetz and Joyce in the article:

...Earlier yesterday, senior Liberals lashed out at "gutless" colleagues for leaking the reports of a rift between Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop.
Leader of the opposition in the Senate Eric Abetz warned that the "very small" number of MPs who leaked the report could not be trusted.
"They know who they are and they know that they don't enjoy the respect and regard of their colleagues," he said.
They were "gutless" because they were not willing to put their name to the source, Senator Abetz said.
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce called on the leakers to reveal their identities...

sails · 11 February 2011

I think this article describes the situation on pretty well.

From the Australian: The first casualty of war damages Seven Network

SADLY, unnecessary additional trauma has been inflicted this week on the widow and family of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney. The memory of this fallen soldier and his tragic death have been revisited and trivialised, not by politicians, but by the Seven Network.

Although we are told that Channel 7 gave Abbott's press secretary warning of the impending interview, we don't know exactly what he was told. Abbott seemed so gob smacked with this, I feel it brings into doubt if he had been told exactly what the questioning and video would be.

While most have assumed that Abbott was ready to hit him, is it also possible that he was shaking his head in disbelief that this incredibly insensitive reporter was willing to add to the trauma of the family to score some journalistic or political points?

Mr Abbott attended the funeral of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney and would have met the family. The disgust on his face during the silence may well have been knowing what the added pain this insensitive journalistic stunt could do to the family and possibly the memory of that funeral flashing through his mind during that silence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr8Dv4e8LJ8

I really doubt that Abbott was fully briefed as to the exact nature of the question. Either he was tricked by Channel 7 or his press secretary didn't convey it properly.

I'm not saying Abbott is the best the libs have, but that isn't what this is about. It wouldn't have mattered which politician they cornered with this story, I don't think Channel 7 did the right thing by raising this insensitive interview by a country mile.

Just my ..

Calliope · 11 February 2011

As Jack the Insider's blog said in The Australian yesterday;

We gripe and moan about our politicians. We sigh at their stage-managed, spin-addled and rehearsed answers. But, really, what do we expect them to do or say when they are subject to attack from the shadows and when every off-the-cuff awkward response or silent moment is examined ad nauseam.

Ruby · 11 February 2011

sails said:
I think this article describes the situation on pretty well.

From the Australian: The first casualty of war damages Seven Network

Although we are told that Channel 7 gave Abbott's press secretary warning of the impending interview, we don't know exactly what he was told. Abbott seemed so gob smacked with this, I feel it brings into doubt if he had been told exactly what the questioning and video would be.

While most have assumed that Abbott was ready to hit him, is it also possible that he was shaking his head in disbelief that this incredibly insensitive reporter was willing to add to the trauma of the family to score some journalistic or political points?

Mr Abbott attended the funeral of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney and would have met the family. The disgust on his face during the silence may well have been knowing what the added pain this insensitive journalistic stunt could do to the family and possibly the memory of that funeral flashing through his mind during that silence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr8Dv4e8LJ8

I really doubt that Abbott was fully briefed as to the exact nature of the question. Either he was tricked by Channel 7 or his press secretary didn't convey it properly.

I'm not saying Abbott is the best the libs have, but that isn't what this is about. It wouldn't have mattered which politician they cornered with this story, I don't think Channel 7 did the right thing by raising this insensitive interview by a country mile.

Just my ..

Thanks Sails. I have just read the article and I think it puts everything into the proper perspective. Great post from you too.

Tony Abbott for PM

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Tony Abbott for PM

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