L is for Liberal, but clearly not for loyalty

Darren says:

12:24pm | 07/10/09

I predict that Pia Ackerman and Christopher Pearson will be the next leader/deputy leader of the liberal Party - or Joe Hockey/Julie Bishop, or Tony Abbott/Julie Bishop.

stephen says:

12:30pm | 07/10/09

Fred and Wilma.
Barney and Betty.

BW says:

12:32pm | 07/10/09

Seiously, what’s the media fascination with the oppostion all about? Surely they would better spend their time keeping the actual government to account?

iansand says:

12:33pm | 07/10/09

The answer to “Where is this all going to end up for the Liberal Party?” is “In government”.  It might take them a few elections, and a few more leaders, but they will get there in the end.  It is all part of the fun.

Two things:  “I never vote, it only encourages them” and “No matter who you vote for a politician always gets in.”  Everything else about politics is entertainment.

Maozze says:

12:33pm | 07/10/09

It’s got to be Wilson!  Time for the Mad Uncle to take the reins.  He seems to be running things from the back bench anyway.

Me says:

12:36pm | 07/10/09

Turnbull will not step down, he has never run away from a fight in his life and he will not run away from this one. If the Coalition wants him gone they have to dump him themselves.

He will survive a little longer, only because nobody else wants the job. His own party hates him and as soon as some poor fool is dredged up and convinced to challenge him, he’s gone. The Coalition may eventually decide that anybody else would be better than Turnbull and some loyal party member will take one for the team to ensure they aren’t entirely wiped out at the next election.

simon says:

12:37pm | 07/10/09

Here is a prediction Rudd will hand over to Gillard next election.

god forbid we should get bogged down (involved) in finding the right path (policy discussion) when we can have institutionalized government renewal visa vi the NSW and Queensland ALP Governments.

Or is it just me that realises that the opposition are not the ones in power and deserved of observation by the press.

Nancy says:

12:46pm | 07/10/09

And L is also for Leader.
Loyalty to Leader is less important than Loyalty to the Liberal Party.
The current Leader has failed, therefore a new one is required.
I see no conflict at all in Hockey stating his loyalty to the current leader, whilst admitting discussions about an alternative are taking place.

Kwas says:

01:00pm | 07/10/09

Simon, I hope you’re wrong. The idea of having to listen to Gillard’s patronisingly slow monotone more often than I do today depresses me hugely.

Zedimus says:

01:04pm | 07/10/09

HA! That photo says it all, Turnbull trying his best to drag the rest of the class into the 21st century and all little Joey has done is find a new way of passing notes around.

All the Lib’s have to do to win is listen to what they were told at the last election, not play games on their phones during work time.

Craig Tudman says:

01:22pm | 07/10/09

The Barnaby for PM campaign has started!

Jools says:

01:26pm | 07/10/09

Will Joe become as haggard and looking like an old man if he takes over from Malcolm. What I find amusing about the liberals is that they have no backup leader. What if Malcolm were “to fall under the proverbial bus”, have they a succession plan??? Suspect Mal will keep on keeping on, like a dog and his bone.

A says:

01:33pm | 07/10/09

Joe Hockey and Malcolm Turnbull both have that creepy “Costello grin” and snide voice that seems to have plagued the Liberal leadership in recent years

Ben G says:

01:35pm | 07/10/09

They don’t need a new leader, they need a new backbench! I’m not great fan of Turnbull, but do any of the idiots on the back bench actually realise what happened at the last election?
It doesn’t matter if you yourselves don’t believe in climate change: The vast, vast majority of your constituents do.
Most of them pretend it has something to do with the business community, the very same business community that lined up behind the ALP last election because they realised that the ETS is coming and they can either be a part of it or not.
So you can put Joe Hockey at the helm, you can put Turnbull at the helm, you can have Jesus Christ of Nazareth at the bloody helm, it won’t make a lick of difference if Wilson Tuckey spends his days drilling holes below the waterline.

Hendo says:

01:40pm | 07/10/09

There seems to be a universal view that Turnbull won’t be leader for too much longer. I’d be surprised if he was ever elected to the position again, let alone as PM, because:
* Utegate/Gretch was pure political poison and although the media caravan has moved on, Australian’s won’t soon forget Turnbull’s utter stupidity, misguided zeal and political immaturity.
* It seems he’s deeply despised by many in the party.
* The guy threatens to quit if he doesn’t get his way = politically petulant and churlish.
* I reckon Mr and Mrs Australia consider him a toff who’s only in politics for the thrill of power.
* He wanted to be a Labor MP back in the 90s cos he hated Howard = questionable loyalty/principles.
* He seems to crumble under real pressure (ask Kerrry O’Brien) = unfit to lead the country.
* He dobbed in his mate Kerry Packer = dobber (see also Utegate).

Are Australian’s really likely to ever elect him PM? It’s only my opinion, but I reckon he’s not too long for the political landscape in Oz. I’m more interested in where he’ll pop up next.

Keith says:

01:51pm | 07/10/09

Paul, it’s apalling. I referred this to my wife, and you know what? She agreed, she said, “it’s apalling”. My neighbour over the fence who has some interest in politics, said, “I’m appalled”.  Nancy writes, (to paraphrase) Liberal Loyalty in her estimation is less likely to lead the leader to Liberal leadership in the current climate of leadership controversy, which possibly invites a us to a Malcom in the middle situation. Now Malcolm, if it’s percieved he is really in the middle, ought not be in the middle of a middling, or piddling, or even a middle piddling situation, of having a threat from a bishop or an abbot. It depends on his board game skill.

peter says:

01:51pm | 07/10/09

is it just me - or has Turnbull gone even worse since the kamikaze kid - aka Mark Westfield - joined his staff - maybe Mark is getting back at Mal for suing him all those years ago

Worker says:

01:59pm | 07/10/09

Kim Beazley would be PM now if he wasn’t stabbed in the back by Rudd, so please spare everyone your one sided dribble.

BB says:

02:07pm | 07/10/09

The last election was about *Work Choices* not global warming (since rebranded as climate change).

Hendo says:

02:18pm | 07/10/09

Dear Worker,
Didn’t Kim Beazley lose the leadership cos he developed some worrying,  Latham-esque health issues, and because he thought Karl Rove had won some gold Logies and was married to Belinda Emmett?

shabangabang says:

02:21pm | 07/10/09

Meanwhile, the splineless, could-have-been/should-have-been leadership contender is gooooooone!
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26177732-421,00.html
Thank you to the selfish Liberal gits for jumping.
In my opinion, members who jump early without seeing through to the end of their term should be forced to fund the by-election. With the pensions they get upon retirement, we all know they can afford it.

Aikon says:

02:36pm | 07/10/09

I’m with you BW.

Eno says:

02:43pm | 07/10/09

Onya Shabang!

Where there are people from the back benches proclaiming that the coalition had no plan for an ETS prior to the election - an election I seem to remember following - is there any hope for them?

Are we about to see the Greens - or possibly even the Nationals become the dominant opposition?

The Lib’s boat appears to have sailed..

deano says:

02:52pm | 07/10/09

Can’t wait to find out tomorrow what job Ruddy has offered him to leave so quick….
Wasn’t Costello harping on only weeks ago that he believed if you had been elected you should serve out your full term!

acker says:

03:10pm | 07/10/09

Surely the Liberal’s will see the light and elect a Victorian party leader.

Like the NSW State Labor party and most other rusted things linked to Sydney. The NSW Liberals are also in decline.

mcdazz says:

03:22pm | 07/10/09

simon says:

“Here is a prediction Rudd will hand over to Gillard next election.”

Plucked right out of thin air I bet.

bella starkey says:

03:30pm | 07/10/09

I reckon Dutton should contest the Wentworth preselection next time round

Henryk says:

05:36pm | 07/10/09

True loyalty in politics is a rareity!!

Mark says:

06:45pm | 07/10/09

I personally find this to be a power stuggle by the Liberal Party MP and their own leader Mr. Turnball.
Labour had a similar factional brawling in the late 90’s, but nothing like the ultimatium given by Mr. Turnball;  ‘Do as I say or I’ll pack my bags and go’.
Tthose sort of comments are akin to primary school antics. A party is a group of people who collectively make decisions. It’s not authoritian!

Alex N says:

06:52pm | 07/10/09

The way things are going John Howard may make a reappearance as leader (OK - someone will need to find him a seat - maybe Peter Dutton’s old one would do).  Can’t really see Hockey killing off his future by taking over yet - better to let Malcolm T go down in flames and hope there’s a few left in the party room.  Seriously, what a shambles the Coalition (so called) has become - all wandering over the paddock without a shred of discipline while moaning and whinging how we’re all being ruined.  A good spanking to them all might wake them up to the disaster they;re building for themselves.

Patrick says:

07:37pm | 07/10/09

Andrew Bolt will eventually lead the Liberal party. There will be no deputy as the Liberal Party will have only one member: Andrew Bolt.

Daniel says:

08:11pm | 07/10/09

It was only a matter of time for this guy. Nelson wasnt much better. Turnbull will be replaced with more political deadwood.

William Ordburger says:

08:49pm | 07/10/09

Isn’t the issue here the collapse of the Libs’ economic leadership credentials? Who is the Shadow Treasurer that has overseen that collapse? Who is it that has failed to put a dent in Wayne Swan since Julie Bishop made way for him? That has been too busy counting numbers to do his job?  That is now undermining the leader?
Joe Hockey ought to take some time out on the backbench for disloyalty and non-performance. But I guess he and the other little backstabbers are out to show Turnbull doesn’t have the support to impose discipline. Turnbull really needs to reshuffle his front bench. At the moment he’s got a rabble of self-seeking opportunists.
Is Joe Hockey really the one to restore the mantle of “better economic managers” to the Liberal Party? I’d stick with Malcolm. He at least looks sincere.