Today’s winner: Tony Abbott

TimB says:

05:44am | 27/02/12

Schadenfreude means shameful joy. But I feel no shame in the delight I feel today. What do we call that? Also is there a special term if one feels copious amounts of such joy? C’mon Germans, don’t let me down now.

Mal’s dead on the money with this one though. If Julia wins, then she does so after being fatally wounded. I suspect there will be another challenge to finish her off (and not necessarily from Rudd).

And if Rudd somehow wins, the Libs should pay the ALP for all the great work they put into writing their campaign material. Rudd won’t last the distance either.

Bertrand says:

05:53am | 27/02/12

The best Labor can hope for is a thorough cleaning out of its ranks and some serious internal reform, particularly with regard to preselection, and the roll of the factions and unions within the party.

They have handed the coalition the next election on a gold platter. Can you imagine the fun they will have with the election ads next year?

Labor is Toxic says:

05:59am | 27/02/12

Can you believe that we will p[robably have to put up with this garbage for another 20-mths???

acotrel says:

06:05am | 27/02/12

Actually I believe in the level playting field.  If Julia gets rolled today, we could go to the next election with both major parties led by sociopaths !

Erick says:

07:01am | 27/02/12

@TimB - “Schadenfreude means shameful joy.”

Actually it means “taking joy from the misfortune of another”. Schadenfreude is exactly the word you want.

Joel B1 says:

07:27am | 27/02/12

TimB,

It’s not in German but the term “malicious glee” is the most accurate I can think of.

Personally, I’m lovn’ it!

TimB says:

07:34am | 27/02/12

Interesting. That will teach me to listen to Lisa Simpson won’t it .

Thank Erick, schadenfreude it is. I’m still hanging out for a term that describes *extreme* levels of schadenfreude though.

Ally says:

07:49am | 27/02/12

Probably just add an Über, TImB. The Germans really do think of everything.

Saint says:

08:06am | 27/02/12

@acotrel - could you please provide evidence of your proposition that Tony Abbott is a sociopath. There is no need with respect to Kevin Rudd, we have the testimony of his closest colleagues.

Erick says:

08:27am | 27/02/12

With help from Ally and Google Translate, I present:

“Überschadenfreude mit einem Sahnehäubchen”

- Super schadenfreude with a cherry on top!

Ally says:

09:01am | 27/02/12

@Erick. That is a thing of beauty. I’m jotting that down for future use.

Craig says:

09:57am | 27/02/12

I will die laughing if Tony can’t make the most of this ...most golden opportunity…...

There’s been quite a few chances where he’s had a golden free pass and yet failed to capitalise on it.

J says:

10:07am | 27/02/12

Liberal circle jerk lol

Tracker says:

10:35am | 27/02/12

71 Labor MP’s care about their parliamentary pension. My guess is they will start panicking closer to the election and choose someone else other than Ms 26% and falling.

Random says:

10:50am | 27/02/12

How Oakeshott and Windsor can maintain their status of support for Labor (on the original premise that it will provide “more stable government”) is mystifying.

The aftermath of this is that Labor is fractured and without any true unity, which makes a mockery of the Independents premise.

Worse still, Labor still haven’t learnt from the debacle of the NSW election. To this day at all levels, when Labor talk about a united purpose, they refer to their primary task being to support the Labor party rather than representing the Australian public.

Brad Coward says:

10:57am | 27/02/12

The big winner is Tony Abbott !

Old news is good news.

Dissident says:

11:05am | 27/02/12

Erick, don’t trust google translator - it is often about as good as the translation dictionary from Monty Python. My nipples explode with delight!

Kirsche is Cherry. Sahne is Cream. Sahnehaubchen is (essentially) icing.

I think google might have mixed up the context by using cream in the context of “the Cream of the crop” or “on top” - then helpfully missing the cherry altogether.

My German is well and truly rusty, but I reckon you could simply go with…

Schadenfreude mit Kirsch(en?). Insert Uber as desired.

If you go to Germany, though, don’t worry. They speak english better than we do, though they will probably precede their response to your questions with something like “Lamentably my comprehension of English is limited”. With talk like that, Kevin Rudd would love it there. Maybe he should go there after white-anting Gillard from the back bench for the next 18 months.

Good to see, though, that the eternal optimists who support the ALP are here doing their part - trying to make it about Tony Abbott. Craig, that strategy has been working a treat the last 18 months - keep it up, you are the one presenting TA with a ‘golden opportunity.’

Tim says:

11:52am | 27/02/12

Will the media circus pay the same attention when Abbott’s job is back up for grabs? With a one vote majority over Turnbull, and climate change denial status condemned, we can only pray ‘faceless men’ don’t pass aknife to Christopher Pyne . . .

Kate says:

12:50pm | 27/02/12

I always assumed that ‘schadenfreude’ was a synonym for the perenially smug expression on Alexander Downer’s face - he always looks like he’s thinking, ‘I just farted during Question time. You all know that I farted, and you know that I know you know I farted, but none of you have the balls to call me out on it.’

Tony says:

01:06pm | 27/02/12

@Bertrand you are right but do you remember when Simon Crean WAS the ALP leader.  They got rid of him because he suggested that the ALP needed to reform, modernise and become relevant to all Australians in a modern era.  Heresy!!! Kill the Witch!  And they did, well sort of. I still don’t think they understand that the labour disputes of the 1920’s are almost 100 years ago.  The Labor party is a dying dinosaur because they will not adapt to the new century.

Erick says:

01:07pm | 27/02/12

@Dissident - I had a feeling that Google Translate might mess me up.

Oh well, “Super schadenfreude with icing” is still pretty good.

kp says:

09:48pm | 27/02/12

@J

Embarrassing, aren’t they? Imagine if they ever won an election.

Dieter Moeckel says:

01:27pm | 28/02/12

Actually Erick it means “malicious joy”
A far cry from joy at someone else’s misfortune - it encompasses malice and no matter how you look at it malice ain’t very nice.

Jeff from Meroo says:

07:55am | 27/02/12

Although I’d like to think that too, 18 months is a lifetime in politics.  There will be a honeymoon period after this regardless who wins and then we’ll be back to more of the usual.  Labor has already enjoyed a bump in the polls as a result of this mess, in 6 months time we won’t be looking back on this time, we’ll be going on about whatever the issue du jour is.  Tony must stay clean and on top of his game to win, he can’t just assume the job of PM will fall in his lap.

Andrew says:

09:34am | 27/02/12

I dont believe that Tony Abbott will be our next PM.  It will likely and should be, be somebody from the coalition.  But if Tony Abbott is still the leader of the coalition, we may find a similar result to the 2010 Federal Election.  Lets face it, the coalition should have won the 2010 election in a landslide, why didnt they?

According to the most recent Newspoll (ya, sure it is a poll of a few thousand people and it shouldnt be taken seriously blah blah), he still only has a mid 30s percent rating as the preferred PM.  To put that in perspective, two thirds of the population dont want a Tony Abbot Prime Minister of Australia.  Gillard of course has slightly worse numbers then Abbott.

Yes Labor, have totally lost their way and probably wont be able recover before the next federal election.  While Julia Gillard (and Kevin Rudd) can be considered Labors worst enemy, Tony Abbott is the equivalent to the coalition.  I cant bring myself to vote for either party, and I will never vote for the Greens.  Perhaps Bob Katter can be our next PM?

Australian politics at the moment is a joke.  On both sides.

SteveKAG says:

10:19am | 27/02/12

Well said Andrew, I must admit to be moving away from Tony Abbott as our preferred leader only because he does turn so many off.  I have heard him described as a true conservative but that is the party i belong to, a conservative party so i am not sure what is wrong with having a true conservative as our leader.

Just not sure who else could legitimately be our leader.

Inyourdreams says:

10:32am | 27/02/12

Keep hope alive
Stevie

Keith Hammersmith says:

11:17am | 27/02/12

@ Andrew,  where did you get the idea that the liberals should have won the last election in a land slide? You couldn’t be more wrong,  it is widely accepted the Tony exceeded expectations in said election.

TimB says:

12:15pm | 27/02/12

@ Keith, ‘Abbott lost the unlosable election’ has been the mantra of the Left ever since they needed an excuse to explain Gillard’s poor result in 2010.

It completely ignores the fact that every single one of them was predicting that Gillard would cream Abbott in the weeks leading up to the election.

When it comes to the Left, hindsight isn’t 20-20. It’s doped up on hallucinogenic drugs,

Andrew says:

12:39pm | 27/02/12

‘it is widely accepted the Tony exceeded expectations in said election’
This comment is pretty sad when you step back think about it.  Exceed expectations, another way of putting it, many people thought he would fail to begin with or not get anywhere near what was achieved?  Exceed expectations, so there were expectations from Coalition members and supporters that they were not going to win despite the strong polling in August and indications that they public support? 

The Newspoll Primary Vote polls leading into the 2010 federal election on 1 August had the Coalition with 44 percent to labors 37 percent.  But Tony Abbotts preferred PM rating was only around 35 percent (and his approval rating hasn’t changed all that much since), Gillard was 50 percent.  It is pretty clear to me, people wanted to vote for a Coalition government (over Labor) but didn’t want Abbott to be the PM so come election day many people didn’t vote for the Coalition. 

So hence, if the Coalition had a more capable and likeable person leading the party into the 2010 election, they would have won, perhaps not in a landslide, but they still should have won.  If Abbott is the best person the Coalition has at the moment…….

I strongly believe Tony Abbott was the main reason why the Coalition didn’t win the 2010 federal election (and August polling would indicate that).  If he is still the leader in 2013 when the next election is due to be held, we may find a similar result, irrelevant what the Labor are doing or have done. Lets face it, Labor were a dogs breakfeast leading into the election and still somehow managed a Bradbury.

papachango says:

12:44pm | 27/02/12

Agree with @Jeff from Meroo. Given how incompetent and deceitful a PM Julia Gilalrd is, her numbers should be lower than what they are now. With Rudd out of the picture, and maybe Gillard pork-barelling with proceeds from the carbon tax she lied about, it’s possibly her numbers may head north again.

in 18 months people will have forgotton this episode of how dysfunctional the ALP is.

acotrel says:

06:09am | 27/02/12

NAh…Nahh ! That can’t be right !  It’s a load of crap.  Dysfunctional. Juliar !!!  Nah Nahhh ! Lookah Moi, I cood be Prime Minister in a minud !

FAT CHANCE ! !

TimB says:

06:48am | 27/02/12

I think Acotrel has finally snapped.

Can anyone decipher his post for me?

acotrel says:

07:12am | 27/02/12

@TimB
You know very well to whom I’m referring !

TimB says:

07:46am | 27/02/12

No Acotrel, I really don’t. Here’s my best guesses:

“Nah….Nahh”- Babble.

“That can’t be right” - Sounds like an ALP supporter in denial.

“It’s a load of crap” - An ALP minister (or supporter)  referring to media speculation regarding the leadership challenge (at any time prior to a week ago).

“Dysfunctional.”- Anyone in the country with two eyes, referring to the ALP.

“Juliar”- Alan Jones.

“Nah Nahhh !”- More babble.

“Lookah Moi, I cood be Prime Minister in a minud !”- Kevin Rudd

“FAT CHANCE ! ! “- Not sure. Possibly some a feature of sort of new hybrid board game. Monopoly meets the Biggest Loser.

Anyway, put it all together, and it’s nothing more than random gibberish. Which leads me back to the conclusion that you’ve finally snapped. Your last shred of sanity has finally given way to full-blown senility.

mahhrat says:

08:03am | 27/02/12

Good poem, Rosemary.

Weary says:

11:09am | 27/02/12

Acotrel - just try to enjoy what little time your uninspired choice in leadership has left.  These times of incompetence and missed opportunity are almost over and it may be a long time before enough collective stupidity builds up on the left to see them slither back into power.

Brad Coward says:

11:36am | 27/02/12

The “ac” has finally cracked !

Give the lad a whack !

Karin says:

11:40am | 27/02/12

Don’t give up your regular job, Rosemary.

Craig2 says:

11:56am | 27/02/12

@acrotel: I think I can translate. Your starting to feel love for tony, admit it!

acotrel says:

06:41am | 27/02/12

@Gratuitous Adviser

Dumping Rudd was justified.  If I had to work under him in my current situation with no kids or mortgage, I’d punch him in the face and lose my job.  Some of us don’t have that luxury.  This is appalling, and I wonder who had the smarts to keep the camera rolling :
: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvBDlCpzP0s&feature=related

And Tony Abbott is not a ray of hope.  Working for an idiot like that wouldn’t be a joy either !

T-rev says:

08:10am | 27/02/12

@ acotrel “If I had to work under him in my current situation with no kids or mortgage, I’d punch him in the face and lose my job.”

No you wouldn’t, tough guy. All talk…

Austin 3:16 says:

09:29am | 27/02/12

@acotrel,

So you don’t have the people skills to deal with a demanding boss. Sounds more like your failing than anybody else’s.

The other thing is I voted for Rudd for PM - not employer of the year. To hear the likes Swan whinge about how tough Rudd was is just ridiculous.

I notice the competent people in government – Karr, Fergusson, Albanese etc have come out in support of Rudd. That says a lot, maybe if you don’t have a tendency to stuff things up he was alright to work for ?

nihonin says:

09:33am | 27/02/12

‘If I had to work under him in my current situation’, I didn’t know you worked while you’re collecting the pension acotrel, are you declaring all your extra income to Centrelink?  I hope so, otherwise you’re going against the Labor manifesto and keeping money for yourself, you capitalist you.

Tony says:

09:42am | 27/02/12

How can people who have openly supported either Rudd or Gillard resort to calling others ‘idiots’? After what these two have said about each other in the last week the term ‘idiot’ should be legally reserved for those who have ever voted for either of them!

How could any legally sane reasonably educated person ever have been so blind/stupid?

andrew says:

11:01am | 27/02/12

Austin 3:16 says - The other thing is I voted for Rudd for PM…..

You never have nor never will vote for a PM in Australia.  That is not the way our system works.

Andrew says:

11:48am | 27/02/12

Yeah mate Turnbull was so polpular he would have got 30% of the vote.

Austin 3:16 says:

12:28pm | 27/02/12

Hey Andrew,

Ah so I was imagining the Kevin 07 T-shirts then ?? And there seemed to be so many of them too, not to mention bumber stickers .......

Aussie says:

12:40pm | 27/02/12

@acotrel, . Mate your a big mouth that couldn’t knock the froth off a milkshake.

Anne71 says:

12:44pm | 27/02/12

@Andrew, I think we all know that we don’t vote for a Prime Minister, so please don’t be so condescending.  However, you have to admit that during an election campaign, the respective parties focus largely on their leaders (and the other party’s) and what they’re going to be like as PM.  That means that when people finally cast their vote, it’s with the leader of the party in mind, not their local member. 
In this light, then yes, it could be argued that when people voted in 2007, it was with the expectation that Rudd would be PM until the next one.  So it’s no wonder that those people were angry when Gillard pushed him out and took his job, and it’s why even now she is still disliked and mistrusted by a large portion of the electorate.

Rick of the Dustbowl says:

02:06pm | 27/02/12

@Tony They give the vote to brain dead and those in nursing homes thats where the Liberals get most of their votes

Vivian says:

06:40am | 27/02/12

True that Little Joe.

the best bit is where Mal gave Gillard 7/10 9the highest) for her PM’ship amongst a panel of his “peers”.

How unexpected that was.

Little Joe says:

08:00am | 27/02/12

Much to the displeasure of most Australians. More delays on the Thomson Affair will now follow.

Karin says:

11:38am | 27/02/12

“Much to the displeasure of most Australians. More delays on the Thomson Affair will now follow.”

Hate to disillusion you but “most Australians” woul not know who Thomson is nor would they give a flying fig what will happen to him.

marley says:

12:09pm | 27/02/12

@Karin - bet the union members whose dues paid for his extra-curricular activities know and care who he is , though.

T-rev says:

12:48pm | 27/02/12

@ Karin

True, most wouldn’t know Thomson by name, but they would know him as the MP whose in trouble for using union funds to pay for hookers…

Only a grade A moron pays for that kind of thing on credit card… cash is far less traceable.

Tom says:

08:23am | 27/02/12

It would not be easy taking the grin off your face. I think your redback is safe.

Mind you, every Australian who is not on Labor’s “mates” drip will be feeling that way.

sunny says:

07:25am | 27/02/12

No one watches Four Corners re-runs. 18 months is an eternity to get ready for the election - time enough for the media to push the Libs to another leadership battle like they just pushed Labor to one (it’s sport for them). When Malcolm Turnbull gets the leadership back, THEN I’ll be worried about Labor’s re- election chances.

Against the Man says:

08:05am | 27/02/12

sunny keep the faith.

RIP ALP…...thanks JG

TimB says:

08:38am | 27/02/12

” time enough for the media to push the Libs to another leadership battle like they just pushed Labor to one (it’s sport for them). “

A) The ALP brought this on themselves, it wasn’t the media.

B) Even if you do buy the line that the Media somehow pushed the ALP into this, the Liberals aren’t as weak-minded as the denizens of the ALP.

The media were pushing for Costello for ages. You may have notied he never challenged. By that same token Turnbull isn’t going to challenge just because a bunch of ALP supporters are desperate to stop the Abbott juggernaut.

iansand says:

08:57am | 27/02/12

It is rare to see lack of courage promoted as a virtue.

TimC says:

08:59am | 27/02/12

Poorly Informed and Stupid is No Way to Go Through Life TimB.

Loxy says:

09:02am | 27/02/12

Against the Man - would you be seriously happy to have Abbott as PM for the next 15 years??? Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand Julia but Abbott as PM horrifies me! My sincere hope is that both parties change their leaders before the next election so who to vote for becomes a much less painful decision.

AdamC says:

09:13am | 27/02/12

Loxy, what is the problem with Tony Abbott? Personally, I don’t think it is a good idea to have any individual reign as PM for 15 years, but cannot see why Abbott would be especially bad.

morrgo says:

09:19am | 27/02/12

Australia my turn out to be a winner just as long as Tony Abbott does not turn into a second Malcolm Fraser.  There is too much DLP about him for comfort.

TimB says:

09:23am | 27/02/12

@ TimC/Badger

So why do you do it then?

@ iansand- One day you’ll reach an adult reading level and be able to respond to what people say, instead of what you imagine they said.

Against the Man says:

09:41am | 27/02/12

@ Loxy

Abbott can only be PM for 15 years if he delivers and the people vote him in. Rudd less than a term, Gillard couldn’t win a majority government. Clearly the ALP haven’t got it right. When the ALP formed a coalition with the Greens we all knew it was the beginning of the end.

Borderer says:

09:44am | 27/02/12

Sunny
Do you think Labor can mend their ways? We’ve had years of failure after expensive failure, do you sincerley believe they are capable of changing direction?
Gillard’s biggest achievement was passing the carbon tax, a tax the majority deeply resent being put through and passing a high volume of legislation, a high volume of too often bad legislation. Both of which mean the majority of Australians do not want or trust them.
Rudd is a popular leader whom the party hate, Gillard is an unpopular leader whom the party like, neither has been competant for the job when they were in power.
It’s like watching two fat guys boxing, they talk it up but neither is very good, you can’t believe you actually paid to watch while these two cretins flail away at each other and you think that you could do a better job.

Craig says:

10:02am | 27/02/12

Borderer, I think they can, but it would take a very long time. Do you remember not that long ago the QLD Coalition was on the very verge of being completely annhilated? If they had continued “as they were” back then, they would have actually been made extinct. Look at them now.

When your back is to the wall, the whole thing about survival instincts comes to mind… that is unless Labor really do have a death wish.But no matter, there will always be another to take its place… yet that is another story.

TommyP says:

10:08am | 27/02/12

@Against the Man says:10:41am | 27/02/12

Abbott can only be PM for 15 years if he delivers and the people vote him in. Rudd less than a term, Gillard couldn’t win a majority government. Clearly the ALP haven’t got it right…..... “

For Abbott to not win the 2010 election, when blind Freddy could have wiped Gillard off he planet, says a lot for the incompetence of Abbott, and, the National-Liberal-Miners-Country-Media Coalition.

sunny says:

11:21am | 27/02/12

@TimB “the Abbott juggernaut”. It’s a good day for me so far - the Labor party has just voted for common sense, and you’ve come up with the funniest one-liner I’ve heard in a long time :D

Loxy says:

11:23am | 27/02/12

Adam C, I’m a bit surprised anyone would need to ask what’s wrong with Abbott, however here’s my thoughts.

From a moral and value perspective, Abbott’s backward, sexist and bigoted views are polar opposite to mine i.e. I abhor his stance on abortion, gay marriage, women’s roles etc.

I don’t see much evidence to suggest his particularly smart. He lacks control over what he says and is quite famous for his stupid and controversial quotes over the years. He lacks policy and drive and seems to be far more focused on bashing Labour than being a decent alternative.

Hi stint as the Minister for Health (under Howard) further backs my view that’s he’s not very bright. The Health system deteriorated significantly under Howard/Abbott.

I am a big believer in the separation between state and church and it’s blatantly obvious that Abbott will never be able to do that. He gets spiritual advice from Cardinal Pell for god’s sake (excuse the pun). Getting spiritual advice from yet another Catholic priest caught up in the scandals of covering up child abuse is disgusting in my books.

I could go on but in short, I view Abbott as an extremist, right-wing conservative who is doing his best to pretend his not. He doesn’t have the brains to run this country and will take us back to the dark ages.

Brad Coward says:

11:40am | 27/02/12

Normally I feel a slight tinge of grief when I attend a funeral.

Not today.

I’m glad that it’s an open casket event, too !  I get to file past and smirk at the corpse.

Borderer says:

12:15pm | 27/02/12

@Craig,
I am actually hoping for something similar to happen to Federal Labor, they need a clean out to get a fresh approach.
@Loxy
You might not necessarily agree with Abbott’s stance on some things but he actually does have morals unlike Gillard whom shifts constantly. Selling out to the Greens on the carbon tax, being evasive on gay marraige, onshore processing becoming Malaysian solution becomes the oppositions fault and the Wilkie pokie reforms betrayal are all signs of someone who doesn’t actually care about any of the issues deeply enough to take a stand or have an opinion on anything. So when you’re in trouble do you want the guy who feels morally obliged to help you no matter the what or the person who asks what’s in it for them?

Loxy says:

12:32pm | 27/02/12

Borderer, although I support the carbon tax, I agree that Julia has not demonstrated that she has any morals. However, I can’t see how Abbott having backward, sexist and religious morals makes him the better option. And you’re kidding yourself if you think Abbott’s some nice guy who does things for the greater good – he’s as hungry for power as Julia is and just as focused on himself.

The Liberals hanging onto Abbott, knowing full well how unpopular he is with the public, is just as blatantly stupid as Labour handing onto Julia.

Bring back Turnbull and the Liberals will have my vote in a heartbeat.

Borderer says:

12:48pm | 27/02/12

Loxy,
Abbott having morals is very handy, particularly since they are Christian morals, no matter how backward you may think they are, they give you a place to start and a reasonably predictable outcome. You can then approach the issue from a favourable position and push the argument in certain directions. Having no morals is terrible as you are never certain where you stand and if you’ll be sacrificed for political gain at any moment, see Wilkie.

Adam says:

01:05pm | 27/02/12

Loxy,

What an idiotic comment. The fact that Abbott’s views are the opposite of yours will come as a great relief to anyone with a modicum of intelligence.

“I don’t see much evidence to suggest his particularly smart”, you say. I think that’s all the evidence we need to conclude that you are not particularly smart yourself. The word is “he’s”, use it next time.

You think he lacks drive, are you serious? And if he is focused on bashing Labour, what a surprise, he’s (not his) the leader of the opposition and Labor are a great big incompetent target.

Actually he was a very good Minister for Health and the health system improved under his stewardship, much as I think he will do a very good job as PM.

In fact I can’t wait to see it just to watch you left wing fools crying yourself to sleep.

Loxy says:

01:18pm | 27/02/12

Borderer, Abbott is only Christian when it suits him. His stance on boat people is far from Christian, his market policies that benefit the rich is also far from Christian. The way he happily shoved Turnbull out of the way for his own political gain – once again non-Christian.

I’m sorry, but warped and inconsistent morals do not make Abbott a better option than Julia.

Loxy says:

01:43pm | 27/02/12

Adam, nice to see (insert sarcasm) you’re capable of having a healthy debate without resorting to insults and being nasty. I think you will find, if you read the comments on this site, that my views on Abbott are actually quite common – the polls further support this.

If disagreeing with you makes me an idiot then I’m more than happy for you to think that.

As for Health improving under Abbott, thanks for the laugh.

I’d happily vote Liberal if they brought back Turnbull – is that left-wing enough for you?

AdamC says:

02:27pm | 27/02/12

Loxy, you are criticising a Labor caricature of Abbott, not the man himself. And that old healthcare canard is baseless.

It sounds like you are big on received wisdom of the conventional variety.

Loxy says:

02:46pm | 27/02/12

AdamC, your arrogance is breathtaking. First you claim I’m an idiot simply because I disagree with you. Now apparently you know what I’m thinking and where it comes from. If you don’t mind I think I’ll stop wasting any further time conversing with an arrogant know-it-all like you!

Borderer says:

02:53pm | 27/02/12

Loxy,
I suspect you have a naive view of assylum seekers.
I despise the fact that they take the places of people in genuine peril as they claim refugee status by fleeing from safety in Indonesia and then try and blackmail us in to giving them assylum through self harm. Merely go to a refugee camp in Africa, avoid the bullets, thirst, hunger, disease, poverty and sexual violence and tell them that their salvation has been taken by some middle class person who can afford to pay people smugglers to enter Australia. That is a crime few acknowledge as they only tend to look at the person professing to be a refugee yet is well fed, in comparably good health and most importantly is under no immediate threat of violence.

AdamC says:

02:56pm | 27/02/12

Loxy, settle down, please. I didn’t accuse you of being an idiot, I just pointed out that your criticisms of Abbott are invalid as they are based on misleading characterisations of the man put about by the ALP smear machine.

But, let’s drop the pretence. You aren’t really interested in being convinced of anything, are you?

Loxy says:

03:38pm | 27/02/12

Borderer, actually you might be surprised to know that I agree with you re: boat people and strongly resent the Labour’s current approach and the money we waste on this each year. All I was pointing out with Abbott is that generally the Christian view is more left when it comes to Assylum Seekers i.e. all about compassion, charity, helping out etc – which is clearly not Abbott’s approach suggesting he does pick and choose his Christian values.

AdamC, pot calling the kettle black isn’t it to dismiss everything I’ve got to say, including suggesting I’m stupid enough to fall for the ALP’s characterisations of Abbott, and then suggest I’m the one not interested in being convinced???

However, if your really suggesting that Abbott is not conservative, will not allow his religion to influence him, is not grossly right-wing and has solid policies to govern this country then by all means convince me.

frankr says:

06:03pm | 27/02/12

can someone please explain how, when you have a 15 seat majority in the parliament, the next election becomes unloseable for the opposition??

Little Joe says:

08:05am | 27/02/12

I concur!!!

An abhorent mess to be cleaned up!!!

National Debt was supposed to be $90B by the end of this Financial Year as predicted by the Labor Budget that they took to the election in 2010 ..... it is now expected to be $135B. LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES!!!

And still no story about this in the media!!

TimB says:

09:29am | 27/02/12

@ Little Joe, black holes are apparently only a big deal if:

A) They belong to the Coalition
B) They’re imaginary.

Real black holes as constantly delivered by Labor must be swept under the rug.

jasperjen says:

07:35am | 27/02/12

Now that is an interesting concept, will the estimated 30 or so Rudd supporters who vote against her this morning suddenly rediscover that confidence over lunch if the opposition were to move a no confidence motion

Borderer says:

09:48am | 27/02/12

Such an occurance would make me very happy.

RyaN says:

09:52am | 27/02/12

@jasperjen: It depends on what the ramifications are for them if they sided with Rudd. Fact is that it looks as if Gillard is going to keep her job however the no confidence vote will be telling.

Bern says:

09:40am | 27/02/12

“a government whose only focus will be on re-election”, isn’t that what were seeing now from this Labour government.
And I’m sure that when the money from this over priced carbon tax starts rolling in just before the next election well see pork barrelling far in excess of the pork barrelling Howard did.

RyaN says:

09:54am | 27/02/12

@Road Dogg: Zero debt, a strong economy and not having to endure the most despicable “leaders” sounds great to me.
I know the best financial advice ever given to me was “when Labor is in power all your Super and investments in gold or cash”
I did that the last time Labor came to power as did so many others, I know that once they are gone I for one would have the confidence to reinvest in Australia and its future.

Tony says:

10:04am | 27/02/12

Many very sensible Australians did well out of the Howard years Road Dog., this one included. Keep the use of ‘we’ to occasions when those you are including actually concur!

Howard wasn’t perfect, no government is because we all have different viewpoints. But to suggest that anything Howard did was worse than what we have seen over the last few years is just blatant distortion. Labor Ministers have lined up in recent days to confirm this fact with their ‘revelations’ of dysfunctional chaos and personal hatred.

Road Dogg says:

10:16am | 27/02/12

@RyaN – I know you have a loose grip on reality but even you can’t deny that Abbott promising to roll back the carbon tax, increase services, provide tax cuts and produce a surplus simply does not add up.

BTW. Our economy is strong and the child misrepresentation of the size and importance of our debt by demagogues sets a political discourse that leads Joe Public to assume that we should never go into debt ever. Painting the picture as either black or white in this way to win votes in the short term will eventually come back to bite us all in the arse. Not that partisan loons care.

@Bern - I’m not defending Labor, I want a return to the common sense in the political discourse. Abbott has not at any stage set out a positive vision for this country.  He offers us all of the worst aspects of the Howard years.

BTW. Abbott has the same carbon quotas and an economically inferior plan to implement them.

I say drop the unpopular Gillard and Abbott and let the people have what they actually want Rudd V Turnbull. In which case I’ll be voting for a Turnbull lead government.

Road Dogg says:

10:29am | 27/02/12

@Tony

“Many very sensible Australians did well out of the Howard years Road Dog., this one included. Keep the use of ‘we’ to occasions when those you are including actually concur!”

I stated my opinion, not everyone’s opinion, there is a difference. I too did well out of middle class welfare. That doesn’t make it right or necessary. “We” all lose if we go back to the Howard years of inaction, pork barrels and empty rhetoric - regardless of where we are now. “We” all deserve a better way forward.

I want a decent person to head up a sensible economically conservative government working for the benefit of all Australian’s. Not more of Abbott’s divisive nastiness and inaction working soley towards the next election. Bring back Turnbull and give the people Rudd V Turnbull.

“Howard wasn’t perfect, no government is because we all have different viewpoints. But to suggest that anything Howard did was worse than what we have seen over the last few years is just blatant distortion. “

To imply that this government has been a disaster is equally a distortion. Take out Labor’s ridiculous infighting and Rudd’s enormous ego which started all of this then the ever unpopular Abbott have been history long ago.

RyaN says:

12:59pm | 27/02/12

@Road Dogg: “even you can’t deny that Abbott promising to roll back the carbon tax, increase services, provide tax cuts and produce a surplus simply does not add up. “
Well Road Dogg, the Labor government could and did roll back Workchoices, the Liberal government can and will roll back the carbon tax.

“political discourse that leads Joe Public to assume that we should never go into debt ever”
Tell that to the Greeks, apparently they have bite marks all over their asses due directly to socialist debt, it seems that Australians are smart enough to learn from other peoples mistakes.

As for the size of the debt, answer these questions then:
What is the largest debt Australia has ever shouldered?
What is the current debt?
What was the debt when this current government took over?

Road Dogg says:

01:29pm | 27/02/12

@RyaN -

“Well Road Dogg, the Labor government could and did roll back Workchoices, the Liberal government can and will roll back the carbon tax.”

Obviously you fail at basic comprehension and lack an understanding of even simple economics because this is neither what I said nor the point.

I’m not going to bother with someone from whom even the simplest of arguments are a challenge.

RyaN says:

02:08pm | 27/02/12

@Road Dogg: “Obviously you fail at basic comprehension and lack an understanding of even simple economics because this is neither what I said nor the point.”
Yes I have seen the same argument used before, I think it was in the school yard once when I was 12.

You see where you came unstuck in your whole understanding part was that you predicated your argument on an assumption that the Liberals will spend spend spend our tax money on absolutely nothing, padding the wallets of their unions mates and building company cousins

The only reason we require a carbon tax right now is because Labor is addicted to spending, basic economics 101 for you right there.
Furthermore, this is a straight forward demonstration that the carbon tax has absolutely NOTHING to do with the environment and EVERYTHING to do with taxing air. We have been conned haven’t we!

Road Dogg says:

04:14pm | 27/02/12

“Yes I have seen the same argument used before, I think it was in the school yard once when I was 12.”

Considering the barely rational and irrelevant tangents you wonder off on I don’t think you should be talking about school yard level of debate. There are pre-schoolers who could shoot you down.

” You see where you came unstuck in your whole understanding part was that you predicated your argument on an assumption that the Liberals will spend spend spend our tax money on absolutely nothing…”

Abbott has promised to:

Roll back the carbon tax
Increase services
Increase tax cuts
Produce a surplus

These are all on the record and are all a matter of fact.

Abbott can’t explain how he can make this magic pudding work and your weak justifications don’t help either.

“The only reason we require a carbon tax right now is because Labor is addicted to spending, basic economics 101 for you right there. “

Abbott has exactly the same carbon targets and an economically inferior model for delivering them.

Your deluded rants wont change the facts.

RyaN says:

09:47am | 28/02/12

@Road Dogg: “There are pre-schoolers who could shoot you down.” probably and yet you still have not managed to address the major issue and the reason why Tony Abbott can roll back the carbon tax and deliver a surplus, LABOR SPENDING!

“Abbott has promised to:

Roll back the carbon tax
Increase services
Increase tax cuts
Produce a surplus

These are all on the record and are all a matter of fact.”

If this is true then this is fantastic news to us all, for us who know it is easily achievable just by not spending like you have a union credit card in a brothel, also for you Labor members who can hold him to account on those points. Its a win, win situation.

“Abbott has exactly the same carbon targets” really? Well the government might have presently agreed to those targets based on pseudo science and no evidence, that doesn’t mean that the next government will still agree to this joke called the Kyoto agreement that most nations with half a brain have already pulled out of.

“Your deluded rants wont change the facts. ” absolutely, I am all about facts and prefer them over lies like “there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead” any day.

Bruce says:

08:12am | 27/02/12

BT: No matter what Rudd said about not challenging a second time is crap. He might not nominate himself, but the ALP will come running to him in about 6 months time begging him to take on the leadership so they might have a small chance of being competitive at the next election. Krudd knows this !

HappyG says:

09:22am | 27/02/12

This might be a good thing. At least Marie Bashir doesn’t have a vested interest in keeping the status quo and may be impartial if a no confidence motion gets up.

TimB says:

09:55am | 27/02/12

Is this really true? Serious question.

I didn’t realise that the GG could delegate to one of the state governors. Something about that seems off to me.

But pretending that it is for the moment, Marie Bashir was ready to toss the shambolic NSW ALP government out the second she was legally able to do so. Happy G is right, she’d show no favouritism here.

Your name:Baz says:

09:20pm | 27/02/12

Dunno. I don’t remember a lot of reform except for the GST. The Hawke/Keating dollar floats probably helped a lot more. I guess the Coalition’s relaxed immigration policy helped by increasing housing demand…

GB says:

08:53am | 27/02/12

“Mad Monk”.

Hilarious. Did you think that one up all by yourself Rick?

Kika says:

11:52am | 27/02/12

Ha, yeah. Mad Monk. Couldn’t even cut it out as a monk because to be a monk you need to believe in something other than yourself.

GB says:

12:45pm | 27/02/12

Zing. Good one Kika.

Keep ‘em coming.

What’s next? Let me guess, a knee slapper that has something to do with Budgie Smugglers?

Kika says:

01:56pm | 27/02/12

GB - Don’t have to say anything about budgie smuggling. Tony says more for them than my words could ever express.

Rick of the Dustbowl says:

02:01pm | 27/02/12

No I can’t take credit for the mad monk but how about the crazy catho!

Babs of Sydney says:

09:38am | 27/02/12

The Springstein family don’t aim very high do they.  Tony Abbott has been very effective in opposition and I look forward to him being a worthy Prime Minister.  Please let us end this farce of a Labor government.

Spartacus says:

10:18am | 27/02/12

since when is borderline insanity, religous zealotry, plan consisting of—well nothing really other than stop the boats!    ————————-constitute “qualified”

Shane From Melbourne says:

10:24am | 27/02/12

Tony Abbott and qualified is an oxymoron…...

Tom says:

11:38am | 27/02/12

Oooh look, inbred Labor sniggerers are sniggering. Abbott is 10 times better qualified than your lot of no-hopers.

Drafnel says:

11:40am | 27/02/12

@Spartacus, you should try looking at Abbot and the policies of his party, rather than just reading ALP-rag opinion pieces which are nothing more than oberblown, brainless satires of what someone vaguely resembling Abbot, and a party loosely based on the Libs, might be like.

Kika says:

02:09pm | 27/02/12

Don’t forget the homophobiia too Spartacus! Can’t forget the fact he feels threatened by 5% of the population.

Tom says:

03:22pm | 27/02/12

Kika, don’t forget that Abbott might eat our babies. Ohmygaawd, you is all makin’ me ssoooo scared, you guys. bbwwaahahah.

GB says:

10:39am | 27/02/12

@ Bluebell. Not a single word of truth in anything you wrote there. As for the “reforms” you mention, substitute the word “tax” and I wholeheartedly agree as every single one of them involves me digging further into my pocket to subsidise others, including plenty who are more than happy to suck off the public teat; i.e. Labor’s traditional voter base. So you’ll forgive me if I don’t dance a jig.

Tigger says:

10:44am | 27/02/12

Umm, yes Labor has stuffed the country up - quite royally too. Those “reforms” are either waste, incompetence, or will disadvantage the economy and the population. The sooner Labor goes the better.

Audrey says:

10:53am | 27/02/12

Bluebell I can only agree with your passionate words about us living in a democracy and having the ability to go back and choose when the time comes.  I also agree with your comment about the pension rises and believe that they were long overdue (and probably still not enough) BUT - and here’s the kicker - Abbot and Turnbull were in Opposition and change of leadership with Opposition governments is just standard behaviour whether they are Labor, Liberal or some other flavour, you expect it of Opposition parties as they posture for the best place heading into any election. You DON’T expect it from a sitting Government - twice.  I am quite glad Ms Gillard stayed over that pompous, egotistical little blow bag that we had previously.  This stunt was all about him and his over blown ego not the country and the voters.  It has caused considerable damage to a party trying to get on with the business of running government.  I cannot just sit quietly though after reading that you feel they have brought in decent reforms…. what of the batts disaster and those poor young kids that lost their lives through Ministers not properly reading the risk management briefings they were provided….. and the school disasters with all the money gone to ill managed projects and tradesman (another failed program)..... and the NBN - so much money on a program that hasn’t been showing any real reform, is introducing functionality that already exists and that will take so long that by the time rollout is complete there will be other far more financially viable options…..how can we forget the farcical grocery watch and fuel watch websites that lasted 5 minutes….. $2BN on a skills shortage program that failed to address the real needs, the Malaysia swap deal and the latest kicker… $700 for a set top box.  I can’t say that I am over the moon to see my hard earned, tax paying dollars get tipped down the drain on ill-conceived and ill-managed programs.  Thankfully they do appear to have pulled their head in on some of these now although I would like to see some more well though and WELL COSTED proposals as we head toward the next election.

Bob says:

11:05am | 27/02/12

One PM in 12 years.
vs two PMs in three.

And one leader of the opposition has seen two PM’s. When he’s PM he’ll probably see another leader of the Opposition that’s neither Rudd ‘nor Gillard.

And Gillard is a slave to the Greens. Every time she touts the Carbon tax as her great achievement I both laugh and cringe. Laugh because “There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead” and cringe because we’ve got that sort of person in charge. She’s a habitual liar (by politician standards)

>>We all can make our choice again for Government in 1 1/2 yrs time.  <<

And the party that thinks that the result of taking the people’s opinions into account would be to have Kylie Minogue in charge of Australia (Yes, this was actually said by several people) will be in opposition for a long time….

Denny says:

11:34am | 27/02/12

Tony Abbott disagreed with the POLICY direction that Turnbull was taking. He fronted him in the party room and won the ballot. hardly stabbing someone in the back. Th fools from labor dont understand that Abbott acted on Policy. Gillard, Rudd and Labor have acted on personality and who they think can win an election. If this farce was about policy direction then we could have more respect for labor bt it isnt and we dont.

I hate pies says:

10:37am | 27/02/12

Why’s that JM? Because you don’t agree with their policies? Do you realise that not everyone holds the same point of view as you?
Also, they are only the LNP in Queensland; if you don’t even no the name of the party, there’s a fair chance you’re not up on their policies either.
The blind backing of your “team” is what’s killing good governance in Australia. These politicians get free kick after free kick and a built-in following because of the sheep-like habits of Australians,

Rick of the Dustbowl says:

03:30pm | 27/02/12

@ I hate pies… I’m pretty sure they’re the LNP all over the land otherwise as the Liberal party or the National party as single enterties, they would langish in the political void and be of no real consiquence and just a reminder that if the crazy catho does get to be PM we’ll have side show Barnaby as second in command…...god help us!

Coop says:

11:36am | 27/02/12

Riiiiiiight!
A thorough and impartial analysis there Tommy and backed up with solid discussion and evidence of stuff that hasnt happened. Impressive mate.
Maintain the rage there Tom. If you shout loud enough it must be true.

mike says:

10:37am | 27/02/12

:the only one of the above i would consider voting for would be penny wong she is far from perfect but she seems to actually care about australia, the rest are just self serving morons who have screwed up everything they have touched,imagine your boss sent you off to buy for example a 50 dollar digital box top set and you came back proudly after spending nearly 700 dollars on one thinking you done well,what would happen would you expect your career to advance?idiot liebor party

jg says:

10:25am | 27/02/12

The ALP has just about consigned itself to the dustbin of history.

Amazing, they get handed the keys to the city and they trash it.

Shameful.

Suck it up fanboy, Abbot will romp it in over these numpties.

RyaN says:

03:05pm | 27/02/12

@Ned: Are you sitting nearby? I hope he eat all his greens.

tezza says:

11:44am | 27/02/12

Hey Al. Julia doesn’t rock Julia lies…........

andrew says:

10:54am | 27/02/12

Why do they exist? 

you asked the question.  do they really exist, or is it just a catch phrase used by the media, Opposition and other people (like K. Rudd) to make a point about secret deals?

Andrew says:

10:57am | 27/02/12

Satisfaction with Mr Abbott’s performance as Opposition Leader also fell - from 36 per cent to 31 per cent, while dissatisfaction rose five points from 52 per cent to 57 per cent.

I wouldnt say 31 percent is a majority of Australians.

Sure Gillards numbers arent any better.

bobagorof says:

11:57am | 27/02/12

34% hardly sounds like a majority

Kika says:

03:24pm | 27/02/12

What’s wrong with being childless?

RyaN says:

01:40pm | 27/02/12

@Michael Ryan: and a rusted on Labor voter like you wouldn’t vote for Turnbull either, you must think that people were born yesterday.

I must say, its quite a good outcome today don’t you think?

Denny says:

12:13pm | 27/02/12

You mean that Labor policy is so BAD. If Gillard was performing and they had good sound policy then today would not have happened. I only hope that labor continue with this delusion that all they need is clear air to sell their policy.

Against the Man says:

10:39am | 27/02/12

TChong could be his deputy

RyaN says:

01:44pm | 27/02/12

Ah the campaign of propaganda has started hey Spartacus, throw as much mud as possible and hope that some of it sticks. I guess you have to go into damage control now considering what complete and utter useless drop-kicks this Labor government has shown themselves to be.

Its quite unacceptable that this level of incompetence is even tolerated.

Fiddler says:

10:51am | 27/02/12

“purge the 29 splitters, and their faction(s)”

That is the problem is that the labor party is full of self interested factions that play all these games and putting their factions ahead of the country. It’s like a bunch of private school girls who’s parents (us) are paying an inordinate amount to go to school and they spend all their time playing little bitches instead of learning.

mike says:

10:40am | 27/02/12

and how much longer can the labour party actually fail at economic management,the fools spend 100 million a day more than they earn,a house wife seems to have better management ability than the 2 liars gillard and swan

Batiatus says:

11:35am | 27/02/12

yes mike,
Best performing economy in the world.
way to shoot yourself in the foot.

The Right to Choice says:

11:48am | 27/02/12

@ Mike boy that is a big call… the governemnt earns about roughly $350 billion a year and now you reckon they are spending that plus $100 million per day. Boy you must be an economic genius… please point to another credible economist willing to support this view.

Brian says:

01:16pm | 27/02/12

You’re half right, The Right to Choice. They’re actually only spending that much plus $55million a day, based on the most recent deficit. $100million a day would only be a 36.5billion deficit…

Zoran says:

11:53am | 27/02/12

Kevin Rudd is not the one who got us through recession, it was Mr. Costello and John Howard billion’s dollars surplus they left to Mr. Rudd, which he spent so quickly. Were are all those billions gone since Liberals lost the election.

Sizzle Chest says:

12:04pm | 27/02/12

Yes but your hearts on your sleeve and your brain’s in your arse. Turnbull’s had his shot and blew it. Time to move on…..

Q.Pham says:

12:09pm | 27/02/12

Mrs. Springstein ??? C’mon mate, you’ve got ’ man who can’t get a woman” written all over you.
Or were you referring to your mum ? (who you no doubt still live with)

Batiatus says:

11:04am | 27/02/12

Don’t forget the last part.
The Noalition needs to not trust treasury figures and make up their own. And then the need to get dodgy brothers accountancy to verify they actually used numbers on their costings instead of strange symbols and other hieroglyphics. Then get Abbott to mumble it over to Hockey who handballs it to Robb to bumble through the details.

Borderer says:

12:36pm | 27/02/12

Sparticus,
NOalition, must follow ALP protocol, attack, attack, attack….

You do know that an opposition is supposed to oppose and that a government is supposed to govern? Here’s a hint, it’s in the name.
I know that doing their job of holding the government to account must be very confusing for you but try to soldier on, not everyone is a union yes man or toady. Give them an election date and they will shower you with policy, till then, try and do you job right for a change.
Batiatus,
This is the same treasury that only the other week said that only 27,000 people will switch back to the public system with the changes to the private health subsidy… BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Liv says:

10:56am | 27/02/12

They may have support of their party, but the “party” don’t elect the government, the Australian people do. And I for one don’t want a Gillard-led government. The ALP won the battle, but lost the war today.

Geoff says:

11:11am | 27/02/12

Pretty sure id the Libs held a spill today Abbott would win by more than 1 vote.  Abbott wasn’t even in the running till the last minute last time anyway.  Try comparing apples with apples for a change instead of making excuses for your party’s lack of popularity with the wider Australian populace.

Karen from Qld says:

11:16am | 27/02/12

@Liv The ALP didn’t even win the battle cause Kevin is still there lurking.

The Right to Choice says:

11:34am | 27/02/12

It maybe a little too simple for you to understand and this work and how it works in any political party in Australia. It is not the voter who elects the party leader but its party members. Wow! how about that eh’ who would have known. Of course this isn’t how Liv sees it in regards to the Liberal party perhaps she can tell us how they do it there. If you the voter wants to have a choice in the leader of your favorite party either join the party or move to the party leaders electorate and vote against them.

marley says:

03:17pm | 27/02/12

@The Right to Choice - actually, you’re wrong.  Neither the ALP nor the Lib Party members have a say in the party leadership.  Only the caucus has a say.  Maybe it’s time that changed.

The Right to Choice says:

11:51am | 27/02/12

Wow! a Labor version oF ATM…. it’s good to have choice

Lucy Lawless YumYum says:

12:39pm | 27/02/12

Spot on right to choice
This village now officially has two village idiots, one on the right and one on the left.

marley says:

01:59pm | 27/02/12

@Spartacus/Razor:  you’re repeating yourself.  Well, no, actually, you’re repeating your unattributed quote from Thomas Jefferson, made under your other alias a few days ago.  Still haven’t learned about quotation marks, I see.

denny says:

11:53am | 27/02/12

Tell us when you were awarded the Rhodes scholarship? Never? Really. perhaps you can tell me Gillard won the samw award. Bob Hawke won one but he is in a different league to the current mob of spiteful no-hopers in labor.
Perhaps Gillard could get her staff to try and create another race riot. She might get away with blaming Abbott, or maybe she could blame Rudd. That seems to be the labor way.
hate, spite and nastiness dominate the labor party. The attacks on each other and especially Rudd have been way over the top and it really shows these people up for who they really are.
Oh well, Gillard will be back out there today lying about the minig tax, the health insurance rebate, the race riot, the craig thompson affair, the carbon tax. One wonders who she will screw over next - probably private schools. Gillard will forever be listed as one of, if not the worst PM ever, so you should be proud sparacus.

Against the Man says:

12:00pm | 27/02/12

Gillard’s government has lost their way and it seems she doesn’t care about the ALP or Australia. Abbott is going to wipe the floor with her, it is going to be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

WebbyMoto says:

12:46pm | 27/02/12

I guess you’re pretty lucky brains aren’t everything, judging by your abhorrent, vindictive and yet thoroughly pointless posts here, you’ve hardly been well provided with. I’m unsure why you’d feel the need to constantly post to simply slander off Tony Abbott, but it’s pretty juvenile.

Here’s a thought for you, previously you accused Abbott of knowing nothing of commerce, he’s without political economy and is lacking civil government, whatever that means. Now, why is Gillard, or Rudd for that matter, any better in these areas? Has Gillard got a degree in Economics?  No, she does not. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. What about Kevin Rudd? Well, he graduated with honours in the Arts, with a Major in Chinese Language.

As an aside, I might note that Tony Abbott, like Gillard, has a Bachelor of Laws. He also has another Bachelors degree, in Economics, strangely enough.

But why does this matter? Because if I put to you Spartacus, that the current Labor government, either under Rudd or Gillard, was economically inept, than you would argue with me. That’s fine, you’re entitled to opinion. You would argue, I would imagine, and rightly, that it’s the party that guides the nation rather than just the leader. It’s the party, with it’s collection of members, and their experiences, expertise and the like that enable it to function as a unit.

At which point I would ask you: what makes the Opposition any different?

Tony Abbott, and for that matter, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, are not the only members of their parties. Yes, they are the leaders, but the party is made up of a group. They may publicly define their parties in the eyes of voters, but their beliefs do not run true for all members. Do you think Julia Gillard feels any differently on gay marriage than Abbott? No, she does not. But the party as a whole does. The Coalition is the same.

Put simply, a party is a whole of its parts.

Your stupid, imbecilic, flat out wrong and misguided attacks on Abbott add nothing to the debate. I’ve never posted on The Punch before, but your posts infuriated me so much, I simply had to reply.

Spartacus says:

01:14pm | 27/02/12

Webby hope you didnt spend too long on that rant because your entire argument is flawed. The major facts you appear to have forgotten (or most likely deliberately) OUR AAA FOR THE FIRST TIME!
The envy of the world the way we rode out the GFC!——good one Swanny!
Our debt is equivalent to having a credit card debt of $6000 if you earned $100k a year .—-thank you Rudd/Swan/Jules
Low inflation and interest rates, record employment.
So please check your facts and do your homework or contunue as you are———outing yourself as a complete moron

WebbyMoto says:

01:54pm | 27/02/12

Not too long at all, thank you for asking.

My argument may be flawed, I don’t profess to being an expert on Economics or Politics. But I’ll try and cover my perspective for you. First of all, riding out the GFC. How did we manage this? Well, firstly, we had money in the bank, so to speak. If you go a year without work, but start that year with a million dollars, you’re not going to struggle to eat, are you? Nope, you can live like a king for that year and worry about earning that million back next year when you get another job. Add to this, if during that year you were jobless, you had some top notch soil in the backyard that you could sell off to your neighbours. They’d come in, dig it up, and pay you a handsome reward for the privilege. Once again, you aren’t going to struggle to pay the mortgage, right? The fact is that we had a very solid economy going into the GFC, and I’ll stress right now that I’m not saying it was all Howard and Costellos work, the building of our Economic strength took longer than 12 years. But we were very well placed, with little exposure to sub-prime real estate and the like which triggered the collapse.

We were very fortunate. How much can the then Rudd Government take credit for in surviving that? Who really knows. But the fact is, if Howard had left a gaping deficit and a mountain of debt when he left office in 2007, our response to the GFC would have been nowhere near as robust. I see taking credit for avoiding the GFC akin to taking credit for an immaculate classic car - which you bought last week.

The AAA Credit rating and the equivalent debt thing is interesting too. In 2007, I might add, we had no debt. That’s equal to having $0 owing on your credit card when you earn, well, anything really. All the AAA rating means is that we’re a good place to lend money too, because we pay it back, we’re a sound risk. How much that has to do with government policy and how much that has to do with demand for our resources and the prediction that that demand isn’t going anywhere for quite a while is another argument entirely.

Low inflation is good, of course having a low interest rate doesn’t hurt that cause. And as we’ve heard constantly, the Government does not dictate policy to the RBA. Another thing that helps keep inflation low? An unpredictable world economy that has people counting their cents and dollars very closely. Oh, and another one that helps, more taxes. It might also be a useful exercise to take consumer confidence into account when defining the economy too.

I do plenty of research, our political environment in Australia interests me greatly - but like I said, I don’t profess to being an expert. I might also say that my initial post was more angled at your completely unfathomable personal attacks on Tony Abbott, which to be honest, disgusted me. The sort of bile and rubbish spewing from your mouth in your previous posts was disgusting, and I was more than happy to call you out on it. I would say, by the way, that I would think the same if I saw the same kind of rubbish written by Gillard.

In the end, I’ll claim success, because I got you talking about something meaningful rather than taking cheap shots at Tony Abbott, using the kind of talk that would make any politician blush - which in todays day and age, is saying something.

Spartacus says:

01:55pm | 27/02/12

Isn’t it always the way? You come out for a quiet chat and some git like Denny builds a comedy club round you. Shut up!

marley says:

05:51pm | 27/02/12

@spartacus - you come out for a quiet conversation, and some git uses a 20-year old line that he read on a T-shirt somewhere.  Sheer genius.  Not.

Denny says:

12:22pm | 27/02/12

Are you a ALP staffer getting paid to spill this vile hateful spite? It would be typical of labor to have one of their taxpayer funded staff waste time like this. Every comment you have made is full of hate but not one word on policy or the real issue.

Its the way labor play politics. Forget the truth but use nasty personal attacks. As Margaret Thatcher said when I get a particularly personal attack it makes me happy because I know that they have nothing to say on policy.

Spartacus - you have nothing. Except your hate and spite. Now get back to work and stop wasting our money.

Borderer says:

12:57pm | 27/02/12

Spartacus = ALP troll
He has numerous posts down the list all attacking Tony Abbott, best part is he’s not bright enough to change the name so as to give the impression that different people are all making similar remarks or that people are agreeing with him.
What a tool, but so very typical of the well meaning nitwit that seems to be attached to the ALP at the moment.

Spartacus says:

01:05pm | 27/02/12

Denny Denny thats a laugh you saying i have nothing to offer when you support Dr No the Leader of the Noalition.
the party with no polices, no plan , no vision, no idea and no hope!
As for work—————i am retired and well off so i can sit here and taught fools like you.

marley says:

01:20pm | 27/02/12

@Spartacus - or is it Razor - you’ve taken a bit of a beating my lad, and Rudd is down for the count. 

But I see you’re still ripping off other peoples’ words without accreditation.  First Jefferson on Napoleon, now the Anabaptists on Cromwell. You may not be capable of original thought, but you do seem to regard Abbott as a formidable adversary.  Says a lot, really.

RyaN says:

01:57pm | 27/02/12

@Spartacus: Well aside from you almost totally discrediting yourself with what can only be described as spam and potentially libellous vilification I will finish off your complete lack of credibility.

“when you support Dr No the Leader of the Noalition.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/tony-abbott-knows-he-is-landing-the-blows/story-e6frezz0-1226236795196

I particularly like this quote that makes you look like an imbecile:
“So far in this parliament, the Abbott-led opposition has only voted against 13 per cent of the government’s legislative proposals. “Dr No” has actually been “Dr Yes” 87 per cent of the time”

Then again, facts aren’t really something that would bother an ALP propaganda agent like you right?

Spartacus says:

01:59pm | 27/02/12

Isn’t it always the way? You come out for a quiet chat and some git like Marley builds a comedy club round you. Shut up!

Gladiator says:

10:38am | 28/02/12

i have no idea how you managed to get that one past the moderator.
Calling Abbott, “that reamer of Alan jones ason rectum ” is pretty much beyond the pale for me but it would seem you are a typical ALP Progressive stooge, and the gutter knows no bounds for your type apparently.  Been getting lessons from Albanese have you?
Why don’t you go and read Abbott’s book “Battlelines”...  maybe the wisdom of a Rhodes scholar and caring Australian will see you agreeing with some of his ideas…  then you can go away and quietly neck yourself.

Loxy says:

11:27am | 27/02/12

Totally agree Kylie!

Kika says:

11:49am | 27/02/12

I agree Kylie. I’d vote for Malcolm or Joe anyday over phony Tony. Lib lovers fail to recognise that he polarises the women vote and if they want a concrete campaign they should be dumping Tony too.

Q.Pham says:

03:39pm | 27/02/12

Well, dumb chicks do prefer millionaires .....

jg says:

11:31am | 27/02/12

Hahahaha, who cares what the Libs do, they’re not the ones tearing themselves apart and heading for electoral oblivion!

jh says:

11:38am | 27/02/12

A cockroach needs to be able to turn quickly when the boot comes down.

Indifferent says:

02:35pm | 27/02/12

The Libs should have won the last one by a wide margin.

Labor just handed a very big free kick to TA. One of a very large number of free kicks.

If TA fails to win the upcoming one, he doesn’t deserve to be in parliament.

We shall see.

Laughable.... says:

03:37pm | 27/02/12

ALP = Australian Labor Party
LNP = Liberal National Party

Your comment is null and void, you don’t even know the abbreviations!

Kika says:

03:33pm | 27/02/12

Absolutely agree with you.

marley says:

12:04pm | 27/02/12

@kika - two things.  It doesn ‘t matter whether women like or dislike Tony, because, except in his own electorate, they’re not going to be voting for or against him.  What’s going to matter is the quality of the local candidates, and unless the ALP sorts out its organisational problems and its tendency to impose candidates from on high, there could be problems there.

Second, where are you going to emigrate to that doesn’t have a conservative government?  Maybe the US, but other than that, your options aren’t that good.

Rosemary says:

12:23pm | 27/02/12

I’m a woman, you don’t speak for me.

Abbott may have his faults, however his actions speak louder than words. Tell me just who in Labor can match his volunteering efforts, not only for the Lifesavers, but also for the Volunteer Firies, and his volunteer work in remote Aboriginal settlements.

I’m not a member of the Liberal party, in fact I don’t belong to any political party. However my vote will go to a party whose leader who actively helps Australia, and not just ‘says’ he does.

Labor has always been about helping themselves, it is all about self, the selfish party. Abbott devotes his life to helping others. HUGE difference and speaks volumes about his character.

p.s. Emigrate away, you won’t be missed. Nth Korea might welcome you.

Denny says:

12:27pm | 27/02/12

Dont wait sweetheart, just do it now. we have enough hate without you adding fuel to the fire. Go on, just bugger off now and stop polluting this blog.

km says:

12:36pm | 27/02/12

Shame you can’t see through the PR Rosemary.

subotic says:

01:31pm | 27/02/12

If Tony Abbott becomes PM I’ll BBQ a dog in the backyard and finally get myself into gear about eating local canine…

Kika says:

01:42pm | 27/02/12

Rosemary… North Korea? Please.

@Marley - it does. People don’t vote for their electorate. Most people take the easy option and just vote for the leader.  Conservatism also has nothing to do with why I dislike Tony Abbott. I have my UK visa up and running and I actually really like David Cameron and Boris Johnson.  I would even vote for Joe Hockey or Malcom Turnbull if they were running.

@Rosemary - it’s true. All polling on Tony shows that female voters are very iffy and unsure about Tony Abbott.

@Denny - it’s called a democracy. I am allowed to blog here just as you are. Just because others don’t agree with your politicial bias doesn’t mean they are wrong or not welcome here. I just happen to detest Tony Abbott (as you would detest Julia Gillard) and would be appalled if we voted him him. The problem is there is no competition at the moment because Labor is all over the place.

skinny1 says:

02:12pm | 27/02/12

KiKa ... I am female and very fascinated about this so called ‘woman hate’ attitude people have taken against Tony Abbott!!!  I mean Tony Abbott has a wife and 3 daughters and the papers have never said he abuses them!  ..What I do notice though is that Labor love nothing but evil rumours and from the state of their party walking round with knives.

Kika says:

02:18pm | 27/02/12

@Subotic - Ok. hand me a baby and I’ll cook one up while you’re at it.

marley says:

03:02pm | 27/02/12

@kika - umm, no, people vote for the candidates in their electorate, numbered from first to last.  It’s only voting for the Senate where you get to vote “above” or “below” the line.

Kika says:

03:46pm | 27/02/12

Oh come on Marley - you know better than that. Regardless of who is in their electorate most people vote for the leader. You are assuming most of us are informed voters and understand the electoral process. Sadly we have compulsory voting here, so elections are popularity contests rather than a proper debate about national policy. 

@Skinny1 - No, it’s true. Even his own daughter calls her father a ‘churchie werido’ and he has come out and has said some pretty ridiculous things about women in the past.

1) Tony Abbott as the minister for health not trust women to make choices about their lives and bodies, he didn’t trust doctors and he didn’t trust the Therapeutic Goods Administration
2) Reckons if we all stop ironing clothes and outsourcing it we will send the country broke
3) Reckons virginity is a gift (he’s popped a few cherries along the way. He would know)
4) Said of late James Hardie Asbestos victim Bernie ““I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn’t mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things.”
5) Says this about the death penalty
“I’d always been against the death penalty but that contemplating the enormity of certain sort of crimes I sometimes thought that some crimes were so hideous that if the punishment were to fit maybe we were left with no alternative but the death penalty.”

- So he thinks that in some circumstances it is ok to kill an adult human being, yet not an embryo

6) Says this in regards to women’s rights to say when it’s ok to have s-x ” I think there does need to be give and take on both sides, and this idea that sex is kind of a woman’s right to absolutely withhold, just as the idea that sex is a man’s right to demand I think they are both they both need to be moderated, so to speak”

What the???`

jaki says:

03:54pm | 27/02/12

@Kika
Speak for yourself, moron ! None of the females I know hate Abbott, but I know a few who dislike Gillard.
Go ahead, burn the flag , who gives a flying f*ck ? When we see some ugly femmo in the street burning our flag, foaming at the mouth and screaming about Abbott, we can say “Ah, that must be Kika ! She’s just as ugly as we suspected !”
Go on,emigrate- one less screaming moron in Australia can only be a good thing. I’ll see if I can get Abbott to send you a postcard. Bye !!!

boganbridle says:

04:39pm | 27/02/12

@jaki
noice

Brian.j. says:

02:47pm | 27/02/12

With Tony Abbott i mean MP…soz peoples. : / ..and a name change too. there’s another Brian.. so I’ts Brian.j.  now  

subotic says:

01:10pm | 27/02/12

Your brother, Bruce, rocks…

Spartacus says:

12:57pm | 27/02/12

•  Isn’t it always the way? You come out for a quiet chat and some git like Andrew builds a comedy club round you. Shut up!

Kika says:

02:10pm | 27/02/12

No doors at the airport! Don’t worry. Just security.  Don’t worry, I won’t miss you either. I’m going to a country with a brain.

marley says:

02:24pm | 27/02/12

@spartacus - oh god.  Now you’re using lines from comedians that are so old they’re being told not to use them any more.

Bob says:

01:40pm | 27/02/12

Daniel: This isn’t democracy, it’s an oligarchy. The leaders of which think that the result of a democratic vote of party leaders would be to install Kylie Minogue as PM. (http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/minister-drops-kylie-bomb-on-rudd-20120226-1tw24.html) or Gillard’s likening the people having a say (or having their opinions count)in who our next prime minister will be to “Celebrity big brother” (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/13008211/poll-puts-rudd-in-front-as-gillard-hits-out-at-celebrity-politics/)————The Labor party has lost the right to talk about democracy after those comments. There’s no respect for it whatsoever. However they choose to decide who their party leader is, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN DEMOCRACY WILL EVER SAY!!!! It is an absolute INSULT for a democratic country to be run by people who believe these things.

Daniel says:

11:30am | 29/02/12

Well Bob we all have our opinions. I think you are wrong and the fact is you would never vote for a Labour party to begging with, therefore it becomes obsolete what you are saying as it is very clear from the beginning that you use your comment simply to add a bit of controversy.

The fact of the matter is that in our current political system we do not vote directly to elect a PM. Parties have leaders who become appointed in the post in the first instance, however there is nothing that would prevent changes in leadership constitutionally (and morally if I may add). Essentially we vote for political parties, not for a Prime Minister. Unfortunately we still hold traits from dark ages and our head of state is officially the queen from another country.

When we become a republic, and it is only a matter of time, then we will choose our president at elections it which case the president could only be challenged through elections.

All that you need to find is Layman’s’ guide to political studies for Year 11 & 12.

Kind regards

Daniel

Bob says:

09:02am | 01/03/12

Daniel: For someone who has a Gillardian amount of condescension and inability to respond to any of the actual content of what you are responding to, you do have a strange lack of comprehension of the types of political systems. Look up Oligarchy, then explain how it’s incorrect. I at least know the difference between democracy and oligarchy. Say that we don’t elect our party leaders all you like, but in a case like this, don’t call Labor’s method for election democratic (Unless you mean the Chinese version of democracy, from your words compared with the situation, that is what you mean) as it isn’t.

It’s also amusing you refused to even acknowledge what your own party’s leadership thought of the idea of democracy. Their own words. Provided with full context.

You see, unlike you, I know what I’m talking about and I’m capable of actually supporting my claims. You have hot air and misdirection. I can see why you support Gillard.

But this is probably why you’re in that bottom 26% who stubbornly and consistently refused to acknowledge that Labor has failed and lied at every opportunity. (Remember how their primary vote went to 26%? Remember her both saying she wouldn’t introduce a carbon tax and expressing her pride at introducing a carbon tax?) Remember the person who insisted that Rudd led a good government until it lost its way and then was suddenly never a good government? I do.

And the best part is, I don’t even need to say “I told you so” to those friends of mine whoo supported Labor in the 2007 election. All that I have said about their uselessness has come to pass. Whatever anyone has ever said about Howard, you’ve never heard him consistently called incompetent, ‘nor have you ever called his government dysfunctional.

Daniel says:

02:08pm | 01/03/12

If you knew anything about oligarchy you could argue that our whole political system is oligarchy or not, debate for philosophers. You could never isolate Labour party in that context. It does not satisfy two fundamental requirements, people voting at elections to begin with and then Labour caucus voting to elect their leader.

Daniel

Bob says:

09:10pm | 01/03/12

>>If you knew anything about oligarchy you could argue that our whole political system is oligarchy or not, debate for philosophers.<<

Yes and no. At election times, when the various packages are presented to us for rejection or acceptance, that’s democracy. Changing the leaders and being OPENLY dismissive of the public’s opinion as the opinions of retards (Kylie Minogue? It’s actually rare that I can find a politician’s comments insulting - The last time it was managed was Conroy accusing people who were against censorship of supporting child pornography) is oligarchy. I wouldn’t have really had a problem with how they chose their leader if it wasn’t for that expression of contempt.

It also most definitely wasn’t democracy. Even the post-Stalin Soviet Union had that level of “democracy” The only people who would say it was democracy is the Chinese government who appear to be attempting to redefine the word.

It’s not a debate for philosophers, it’s a debate for people who actually think certain words mean certain things and dislike it when people try to change the meaning of words for political ends.

>>You could never isolate Labour party in that context. It does not satisfy two fundamental requirements, people voting at elections to begin with and then Labour caucus voting to elect their leader.<<

Voting at elections is only meaningful if an attempt to deliver what was voted for is made. I can accept that changes need to be made if new realities become apparent, but I’m against major changes to explicit promises being made for no reason other than keeping one group of people in power.

On a related thing, Kevin ‘07 was the people voting for Rudd. It was an election clearly targeted at getting Rudd in as PM.

Now I personally believe that Rudd was a cowardly, incompetent waste of space (Gillard is lying and incompetent). However, he was the people’s preference. And now we have had explicit comments from Labor leadership openly mocking the opinions of the Australian people. This contempt of our opinions is simply unacceptable in a democracy.

If a party doesn’t even try to be bound by what they ask us to vote for, then what’s the point of election campaigns in the first place? The carbon tax being the most obvious example. She explicitly said there wouldn’t be one. Now there is. Now she’s trying to claim it as a triumph instead of a massive failure.

Daniel says:

02:28pm | 06/03/12

Well this is what happens when you are commenting about Labour simply based on not liking it.  Your argument how Kevin Rudd was people’s choice and Gillard was not is simply contradictory to the fact that Labour won again with Gillard in 2010.

At the 2007 federal elections ALP with Kevin won 52.70% of the popular vote versus Coalition 47.30% on a two party preferred basis.

At the 2010 federal elections ALP with Gillard won 50.12% of the popular vote versus Coalition 49.88% on a two party preferred basis.

That really wasn’t a huge swing against ALP wasn’t it? You also need to take into account that ALP formed post elections coalition with independents which meant that they could not govern on their own, hence changes in policies concept that is still too difficult to comprehend by many.

Bob says:

01:02am | 28/02/12

You have a strange definition of six points.

As of last month it was 15 points. With the Liberals getting 45% of the primary vote. 2PP is only relevant if there are only two parties. Obviously you’ve got preference flows, but if Gillard does another deal with the Greens, she’s far dumber than I thought possible.

Spartacus says:

12:59pm | 27/02/12

Very funny i like that joke.

RyaN says:

02:51pm | 27/02/12

@Spartacus: How about because she pays more tax?
Now can you explain why the woman earning say $100 000 per annum should pay nearly three times more tax than that woman who is earning $60 000?

kIKA says:

02:12pm | 27/02/12

Even he acknowledges it.

“I am fully aware that I am not as intelligent as I could be”

marley says:

02:18pm | 27/02/12

Ah, a new alias - Spartacus/Razor/Frederick.  Still don’t know how to use quotation marks, though.  Or do you think anyone believes those are your own words?  Except perhaps for the last nasty little bit. That rings true.

marley says:

01:50pm | 27/02/12

Aren’t you the guy who said two days ago that no one would be stupid enough to back Gillard over Rudd?  I think your political insights are worth about as much as Rob Oakeshott’s are.

Kika says:

02:21pm | 27/02/12

@Marley - 2 different stories here. You are talking about Rudd vs Gillard where here Spartacus is talking Labor v Liberal. If you can’t see the difference than perhaps your insights are equally worthless.

marley says:

02:55pm | 27/02/12

@Kika -  my comment was about his political astuteness, or lack thereof, not about the specific political situation to which he was applying his powerful mind.  He predicted that no one in the ALP would be stupid enough to vote for Gillard.  He was completely wrong about that.  Now he’s predicting that Australians aren’t stupid enough to vote for Abbott.  What makes you think he’s any more likely to be right on the one prediction than the other?

Steve says:

03:36pm | 27/02/12

Totally disagree.

We constantly state that we dont want our polies focussing on the polls. We want them to make the best decicions for the nation (een un popular ones).

Gillard has now beaten Rudd twice and Abbott once. She’s tough, strong and smart.

I think this will be the beginning of her re-surgance.

Kika says:

02:15pm | 27/02/12

Yep. I’m with you Spartacus. He annoys the sht out of me. Every time he opens his mouth unscripted he’s embarassing and sounds like a downright moron.  Rhodes Scholar my B-UTT!

marley says:

02:15pm | 27/02/12

@Spartacus/Razor/Odwar - “Abbott is a useless pathetic windbag who is full of pis s and wind.”

You’ve really got to get some new material.  That’s the third time you’ve used that line, complete with typo, in the last two weeks.

Kika says:

02:31pm | 27/02/12

Sorry, Marley… he omitted rampant sexist homophobe in the first line.

RyaN says:

02:13pm | 27/02/12

I love ALP tears, you and Spartacus truly look desperate, it makes me happy with a warm glow all over.

Kika says:

02:35pm | 27/02/12

RyaN - if you actually paid attention to my posts I actually have said that if Joe Hockey or Malcolm Turnbull were leading the LNP they would have my vote.

If Tony is up for the next election, I’ll have to do a donkey vote.

RyaN says:

03:03pm | 27/02/12

@Kika: “Malcolm Turnbull were leading the LNP they would have my vote.” Yes I have heard the same from a lot of rusted on Labor supporters without one shred of logic to back up the statement other than they are just that, rusted on Labor supporters.

Kika says:

03:20pm | 27/02/12

How would you know? Moron. Rusted on. Since when?

RyaN says:

04:04pm | 27/02/12

@RyaN: It is what it is Kika, no need to get nasty about it.

Spartacus says:

02:18pm | 27/02/12

•isn’t it always the way? You come out for a quiet chat and some git like Professor Skinny builds a comedy club round you. Shut up muppett!

Spartacus says:

02:32pm | 27/02/12

yep tick there are some real LNP nuffs nuffs on here.
a case of too many freaks, not enough circuses.
Still they had there one day in the sun!.
Bottom line is the LNP have no policies, no plan, no vision , no idea and no hope AND THEY KNOW IT!

RyaN says:

02:55pm | 27/02/12

Well anything is better than a leader we cannot trust further than we can throw, a communist who has no respect for the people, Australia, its businesses or anyone else for that matter.
Fact is, we can’t do any worse than the worst government and the worst leader in the history of Australia.
It will take a long time to clean up this mess after the Labor party, not to mention pay off their MASSIVE amounts of debt, AGAIN!

Ian Honey says:

04:36pm | 27/02/12

What bugs me is you lot credit your lot from saving us from the GFC. It was Peter Costello’s conservative and deep thinking that left our nation with plenty of money in the “tin”. I remember the economic stuff ups of the Whitlam Govt. Kemlahmi!!! The high interest rates when Keating was treasurer and PM.(22%). The stuff ups by Jolly and Cain. The collapse of the State Bank of Victoria when it had to be taken over by the Commonwealth Bank.(NSCA fiasco). The Bank of South Australia. Tri Continental. The fuel surcharge on Vic. fuel when Jolly put his foot in it when the Pyramid Building Society was insolvent. etc etc. etc.Oh! and don’t forget the rorts on the schools renewable program. The supervision, or rather lack of it when handing out the dough for insulation whilst burning the “midnight oil”!!!

Ian Honey says:

04:37pm | 27/02/12

What bugs me is you lot credit your lot from saving us from the GFC. It was Peter Costello’s conservative and deep thinking that left our nation with plenty of money in the “tin”. I remember the economic stuff ups of the Whitlam Govt. Kemlahmi!!! The high interest rates when Keating was treasurer and PM.(22%). The stuff ups by Jolly and Cain. The collapse of the State Bank of Victoria when it had to be taken over by the Commonwealth Bank.(NSCA fiasco). The Bank of South Australia. Tri Continental. The fuel surcharge on Vic. fuel when Jolly put his foot in it when the Pyramid Building Society was insolvent. etc etc. etc.Oh! and don’t forget the rorts on the schools renewable program. The supervision, or rather lack of it when handing out the dough for insulation whilst burning the “midnight oil”!!!

Rick of the Dustbowl says:

03:44pm | 27/02/12

Of corse the crazy catho wanted a man to win…....he just doesn’t know what to do with a woman. All that time spent in the priory getting punched around the ring (and I don’t mean boxing), the poor bloke just does not understand the female being,  who does. But then a guy with glasses…......there’s someone he can really get stuck into.

Your name:Brian.j. says:

04:52pm | 27/02/12

Are you serious..ABBOTT as PM is what your trying to say ...lmfao get your head read buddy and pull the wool from above your eyes.That old broken record full of negativity every time he opens it’s lying mouth.Like a whining old bar fly.Put the fool out in the paddock of embarrassment and put a cow bell around it’s neck

Sizzle Chest says:

04:20pm | 27/02/12

Wow. You’ really are a very sad individual.

WebbyMoto says:

07:24am | 28/02/12

You really have issues, Spartacus. I hope the Labor party is paying you well because it’s difficult to imagine that someone would trade away good sense and dignity for free. Let me finish with this:

“isn’t it always the way? You come out for a quiet chat and some git like Spartacus builds a comedy club round you. Shut up muppett!”

Except there was no comedy, just a sad individual sitting in the corner making the equivalent of “Yo mama so fat…” jokes while the ones with an IQ above single digits spoke about subjects with actual gravitas.