Tony Abbott for PM

Calliope said:

It it hard to account for why Turnbull would be more popular than Abbott among coalition voters

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Well, perhaps it goes to the electorate wanting someone who appears to have the demeanour of a prime minister? I discount Mr Turnbull on two bases: 1. that his political philosophy seems very close to that of Labor, even more genuinely so when it comes to the dreaded climate change stuff; 2. he had his chance and proved politically inept.
He is absolutely not a team player, but perhaps that's not important to the electorate?

But he is good looking, has an attractive speaking voice, and is articulate.
No nasty insinuations about him being a bully boy in his youth.

Knobby22 said:

Latest poll shows Turnball is the preferred opposition leader (63 per cent to Abbott's 30 per cent).

Even worse for Abbott, among Coalition voters he is losing also (53 per cent to 45 per cent). Can he hold on?

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sails said:

If Abbott can't hold on, I would hope they choose a leader who will not be pro carbon tax and who would be a better team player than Turnbull.

Julie Biship was articulate when answering questions of Grattan on Meet the Press over Grattan's recent relentless attacks on Abbott when he was a teenager. There is certainly more talent and politically experienced talent other than Turnbull IF a replacement is needed.

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Considering Tony Abbott has remained leader despite his personal unpopularity, imo it's only going to take a couple more falls in the potential vote for the Libs to have to seriously think about a replacement.

The electorate is not stupid. Mr Abbott has never been liked. If Labor more or less neutralise those policies which brought success to Mr Abbott's leadership, i.e. the carbon tax primarily, "stop the boats" etc., some of those original Labor voters who turned away because of the tax etc might be coming back.

The floor price has been dropped on the carbon tax. Other changes indicate the government does not have its heart in the whole climate change thing. They are finally showing some spine with The Greens.
Where they are likely to fall over badly is by failing to implement the full recommendations of the panel on the asylum seekers question. So far they are looking soft hearted and weak.

All along the government has said Mr Abbott's scare campaign about the carbon tax will be shown to be false.
People seem to be now coming to this conclusion as no noticeable increase in prices, other than a fairly small one in electricity, has occurred. If prices overall rise, no one will be able to attribute any part of this necessarily to the carbon tax as manufacturers will not be so labelling their products. So it might all turn out to be much ado about nothing in the collective mind of the consumers and as a result Mr Abbott will seem to indeed have been raising unnecessary fears. Let's see in another year whether Whyalla is any closer to being 'wiped off the map'.
Mr Abbott may now be finding himself a victim of his own overblown rhetoric.

Sails, are you suggesting Julie Bishop would make a Liberal party leader? Who else?

Julie Bishop is currently deputy - why wouldn't her hat go into the ring IF there was a spill? Perhaps there are faction issues of which I am oblivious.

sails said:

Julie Bishop is currently deputy - why wouldn't her hat go into the ring IF there was a spill? Perhaps there are faction issues of which I am oblivious.

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No idea, sails. I was asking for your personal opinion about who could be an alternative leader since you believe there's no shortage of talent in the ranks.

sails said:

Don't forget this government has the ABC and Fairfax to promote them and to throw dirt and doubt on the coalition.

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And the Coalition has News Ltd and talkback radio. Media bias is as old as media.

In Sydney, the most widely read paper is the Telegraph and the most listened to radio program is Alan Jones. Hard to make the argument that the Libs aren't getting a fair go.

McLovin said:

And the Coalition has News Ltd and talkback radio. Media bias is as old as media.

In Sydney, the most widely read paper is the Telegraph and the most listened to radio program is Alan Jones. Hard to make the argument that the Libs aren't getting a fair go.

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Agree. Mr Abbott was actually offered some pretty sensible advice from Michelle Grattan on RN's "Breakfast" this morning. She suggested his minders were keeping him on too tight a rein (for fear of him making more mistakes), thus not allowing his real personality to come through. She might be right. He always seems to be holding himself back from any sort of natural conversation. It's frustrating to listen to.

The Prime Minister's fortunes started to turn after she had that press conference where she answered all questions about the S. & G. stuff until they ran out. She came across as taking the initiative rather than being defensive.
Tony Abbott has done the opposite in the recent silly carry-on about his student days.

McLovin said:

And the Coalition has News Ltd and talkback radio. Media bias is as old as media.

In Sydney, the most widely read paper is the Telegraph and the most listened to radio program is Alan Jones. Hard to make the argument that the Libs aren't getting a fair go.

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That's a fair comment, and the same applies in Melbourne where the Herald Sun is more widely read than The Age although we don't have a right wing radio station. I do object however to ABC radio and TV supporting Labor because the ABC, being governement funded, is duty bound to be non biased as per their charter however they are not.

Julia said:

No idea, sails. I was asking for your personal opinion about who could be an alternative leader since you believe there's no shortage of talent in the ranks.

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Where did I say that? I only think there are others who are better team players and anti carbon tax than Turnbull. I don't believe I have EVER said there is no shortage of talent...

Miss Hale said:

That's a fair comment, and the same applies in Melbourne where the Herald Sun is more widely read than The Age although we don't have a right wing radio station. I do object however to ABC radio and TV supporting Labor because the ABC, being governement funded, is duty bound to be non biased as per their charter however they are not.

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You could not get more right wing than 3AW and even ABC radio is more to the right

Interesting interview with head of the Sydney Institute and author of Media Watch Dog, Gerard Henderson on the punch allegations of a 19 year old and media bias.

explod said:

You could not get more right wing than 3AW and even ABC radio is more to the right

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Everybody is to the right of a Greenie.

I see Abbotts approval has nose dived to 36 percent ...... Maybe time to dump him ? Hes a bit to much like that numnut running Queensland at the moment ....

Don't worry,

beee happy.

http://essentialvision.com.au/category/essentialreport

Calliope said:

Everybody is to the right of a Greenie.

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Well observed, but look out behind you as increasing poverty is making the Indians restless and Sir Royal abbot and jewls Babe would not have a clue.

sails said:

Where did I say that? I only think there are others who are better team players and anti carbon tax than Turnbull. I don't believe I have EVER said there is no shortage of talent...

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You allude to this in your post below:

sails said:

If Abbott can't hold on, I would hope they choose a leader who will not be pro carbon tax and who would be a better team player than Turnbull.

Julie Biship was articulate when answering questions of Grattan on Meet the Press over Grattan's recent relentless attacks on Abbott when he was a teenager. There is certainly more talent and politically experienced talent other than Turnbull IF a replacement is needed.

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I was simply asking you whom you thought comprised that "more talent and politically experienced talent other than Turnbull" as above.
If my paraphrasing into "no shortage of talent" offends you, then I most humbly apologise, but would still be interested to know whom you suggest could replace Mr Abbott.

explod said:

Well observed, but look out behind you as increasing poverty is making the Indians restless and Sir Royal abbot and jewls Babe would not have a clue.

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Whaaaa.....?

So by implication you believe the watermelons will reduce poverty?

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Talk about glass jaws....Abbott's over the top behaviour over the years sits perfectly with the claims of his Uni days and given the guilty behaviour since dodging the press (because he cannot handle pressure interviews) its all a pretty much given.

Cannot see what all the fuss is we all know he is a loser elected by one vote and installed by the Liberal right after playing Hokey and Turnbull off against each other.

He can take full credit for raising the Coalition stocks and sinking Rudd, then losing an election that was his for the taking (remember Labors infighting) and messing up negotiations with conservative independents.

How do you mess up negotiating with independents, because they simply didn't trust him nor will Australia.

We will see just how good he is as the pressure mounts.

I am no Gillard fan but have admired how she has absorbed pressure way beyond Abbott's capabilities and still fronted the media.

explod said:

You could not get more right wing than 3AW and even ABC radio is more to the right

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Have you listened to 3AW lately? It doesn't seem particularly right wing to me, every time I tune in it seems to be a gardening show. The ABC more to the right - more to the right of what?

sails said:

Julie Bishop is currently deputy - why wouldn't her hat go into the ring IF there was a spill? Perhaps there are faction issues of which I am oblivious.

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Bishop can only ever be Deputy as I suspect lack of factional support. She is pretty much assured deputy (Liberal Party) due to the funds she brings to the table arla Gina and co.

Julia said:

You allude to this in your post below:

I was simply asking you whom you thought comprised that "more talent and politically experienced talent other than Turnbull" as above.
If my paraphrasing into "no shortage of talent" offends you, then I most humbly apologise, but would still be interested to know whom you suggest could replace Mr Abbott.

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Sails, apologies: I didn't need to be facetious amongst my response.
Genuinely would like to know who you think would be a better leader than Mr Abbott. Joe Hockey? He is at least more fluent and relaxed when being questioned.

IFocus said:

How do you mess up negotiating with independents, because they simply didn't trust him nor will Australia.

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The independents to which you refer would nave never formed government with the Coalition.

For starters, a carbon tax was high on their list of demands.

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Tony Abbott will lead the Coalition to office at the next election. There is no alternative. Joe hockey does not stand for anything (remember his position on Kevin Rudd's ETS when Malcolm Tirnbull was dumped as Liberal leader). As for Malcolm himself, he would be lamb to the slaughter to Julia Jillard and Labor. That's why the left favour him for opposition leader.

How much the Coalition wins by will be determined to some extent by how well they articulate their case for government. It will want to be an improvement on what we have seen to date.