Mega Thread All things Tony Abbott

[Gough]

Like clockwork, we get a discourse on the importance of big government surveillance, with Tones name-dropping Martin Place and Charlie Hebdo in the space of 30 seconds.

The PM's dick would move if something like that happened now.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I'll support whoever sends Pyne to the back bench where we can watch him cry.

If only. Unfortunately he's a safe bet for any leader with questionable party room support. There's a reason they call him the poodle. He's happy to yap away with the party line, do anything the leader asks and not stir up any leadership issues. Of course as soon as the numbers swing he'll be in behind the new leader giving them his unconditional support.

In the days of factions, undermining of leaders and political uncertainty having somebody so shamelessly promoting the party line is an asset to the leader. So as good as it would be to see him on the back bench he'll find a way to stay in a cushy ministry by sucking up to the new PM as much as is necessary.

 

[swingdog]

Credlins previous job was Turnbull's CoS

Was that when he was Opposition Leader? I'm beginning to see a pattern here.

 

[clogged]

Credlins previous job was Turnbull's CoS

Well she can't be that powerful if she let Malcolm run along with Utegate and Tony come up with knights and dames.

 

[Maggie5]

Credlins previous job was Turnbull's CoS

Mmm, Labor plant?

 

[geelong_boy]

Totally different positions to be in. It is easy for Obama to get in when most his voters are dependent on welfare - and Obama is the king of welfare.
Abbott is the total opposite, he tells the nation to buckle up, the age of entitlement is over. On that alone his days were numbered.

How is Obama the king of welfare?

 

[QuietB]

They weren't held accountable in opposition. They said anything and the talking heads earnestly nodded their heads and agreed that Labor was the worst government ever, that Julia Gillard killed kittens and climate change would cease to happen on their watch. Reaping what they've sowed.

Could you make a logical argument that the Gillard government was worse than the current Abbott government? I don't think you can. The current Abbott government has to be the single worst government Australia has ever had.

 

[Belnakor]

Abbott is the total opposite, he tells the nation to buckle up, the age of entitlement is over. On that alone his days were numbered.

Abbott hasn't done much of the telling really, he has left that to Hockey.

 

[Mofra]

Could you make a logical argument that the Gillard government was worse than the current Abbott government? I don't think you can. The current Abbott government has to be the single worst government Australia has ever had.

By all accounts the McMahon government was simply terrible - but Abbott looks likely to be booted in shorter time than Billy, even if he lasts until the next budget

 

[QuietB]

Totally different positions to be in. It is easy for Obama to get in when most his voters are dependent on welfare - and Obama is the king of welfare.
Abbott is the total opposite, he tells the nation to buckle up, the age of entitlement is over. On that alone his days were numbered.

Except the age of entitlement was not over at all. Abbott sought to target programs that only further disadvantaged the already disadvantaged. He did not touch middle class welfare. That was never going to fly. Abbott simply has the worst judgement and the biggest disconnect from reality compared to any politician I can remember. Hockey is not far behind.

 

[Ratts of Tobruk]

The straw that broke the camels back.

This is a furphy. The Queensland election shifted the numbers. Politicians care above all else about keeping their jobs.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Andrew Elder - so many nails hit on the head:http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/im-prime-minister-get-me-out-of-here.html

 

[Ratts of Tobruk]

If you people haven't worked it out by now, PR loves to de-rail threads. It's the modus operandi of his alias.

Fill space, confuse, draw responses, etc.

 

[Jascave]

Interesting to read in the Age today that the PM's Office (read Peta Credlin) wants to have a show of hands instead of a secret ballot (which is normal in leadership ballots) next Tuesday/Wednesday so they could identify which MPs-especially the newer MPs-are against (or plotting to topple) the PM. If that is the case, would Abbott wreck revenge on those who dared to question his authority?

 

[QuietB]

Andrew Elder - so many nails hit on the head:http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/im-prime-minister-get-me-out-of-here.html

This was good as well

http://thehoopla.com.au/malcolm-turnbulls-waiting-game/

 

[clogged]

Interesting to read in the Age today that the PM's Office (read Peta Credlin) wants to have a show of hands instead of a secret ballot (which is normal in leadership ballots) next Tuesday/Wednesday so they could identify which MPs-especially the newer MPs-are against (or plotting to topple) the PM. If that is the case, would Abbott wreck revenge on those who dared to question his authority?

Never thought I'd see the Liberal party adopting the tactics of militant unions to silence dissent.

 

[Chameleon75]

By all accounts the McMahon government was simply terrible - but Abbott looks likely to be booted in shorter time than Billy, even if he lasts until the next budget

Did mcmahon manage to pass a budget?

 

[Chameleon75]

But they should be part of economic policy because the only way we are going to break out of our exposure to commodity prices is to actually build shit and add value to things - more educated populace required - less lawyers and more scientists and engineers

457 visas are cheaper for business

 

[Mofra]

Did mcmahon manage to pass a budget?

Not sure - but Abbott hasn't passed his yet. Could have two unpassed budgets nailed to his political coffin in a couple of months' time, quite an achievement

 

[Maggie5]

I am included to think that there will not be a challenge soon, I think that next week will be all about: we have listened to you, co-payment gone, Higher Ed severely watered down and it will be all about security.

 

[Jascave]

I am included to think that there will not be a challenge soon, I think that next week will be all about: we have listened to you, co-payment gone, Higher Ed severely watered down and it will be all about security.

Don't know about that. We will know a lot more this weekend. There may be more Liberals MPs-including a couple of ministers from the outer cabinet-who could speak out against Tony Abbott and force Abbott to hold a vote to (hopefully) kill off the issue once and for all. But if Abbott continues to get bad news (ie poor opinion polls, the performance of the economy heading into the Budget, more gaffes etc), then next month could see an Abbott v Turnbull contest.

 

[Papa G]

I could live with Turnbull PM, Bishop Deputy and whoever is the smartest person in the Liberal Party Treasurer.

 

[mellowyellow]

I am included to think that there will not be a challenge soon, I think that next week will be all about: we have listened to you, co-payment gone, Higher Ed severely watered down and it will be all about security.

It still seems as though he wants to get an abridged vs of this plan passed judging by his comments earlier today.

What a lightweight

 

[Mofra]

I'll just leave this here shall I?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefa...at-are-now-hypocritical-and-hilari#.njMQPVx8y

 

[Gough]

Saw that, brilliant. Shorten, if nothing else, seems to learnt from the government's behaviour in opposition. A more muted, less celebratory reaction to the government's problems has been refreshing, although he doesn't have a rapacious media barren gleefully reporting every real and imaginary (AWU anyone?) woe to back him up though.