Tony Abbott - Leader of the Opposition!

[Gingernuts]

I thought Gozu would be all over this one like a fat kid on a cupcake:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/all-kids-must-read-the-bible-federal-opposition-leader-tony-abbott-says/story-e6frf7l6-1225811885777












..... and no Gozu, I'm not making light of the obesity epidemic, nor the unfortunate plight of the humble cupcake.

[wycbloods]

So we all should read the bible and he wants to go back to employees negotiating to keep penalty rates for weekends.

Has he forgotten the 2007 election and workchoices already?

[Psyber]

I thought Gozu would be all over this one like a fat kid on a cupcake:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/all-kids-must-read-the-bible-federal-opposition-leader-tony-abbott-says/story-e6frf7l6-1225811885777

..... and no Gozu, I'm not making light of the obesity epidemic, nor the unfortunate plight of the humble cupcake.

Oh Shit..
I have Tony's electorate email address and have had exchanges with him in the past, usually in positive terms..
I just sent this one:

"BIBLE classes should be compulsory so children have a fundamental understanding of Christianity on leaving school, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nation ... 5811885777

Tony,
If you said that I think the Liberal Party will be in deep trouble next election...
It troubles me deeply as a party member.

I was happy to see the ETS rejected because although I am a sceptic about the alleged anthropomorphic causation of global warming, I believe we should be acting now to reduce pollution not just tax it. I would like to see money going into developing Thorium fusion and hydrogen fuel technology.

[Gozu]

I thought Gozu would be all over this one like a fat kid on a cupcake:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/all-kids-must-read-the-bible-federal-opposition-leader-tony-abbott-says/story-e6frf7l6-1225811885777

..... and no Gozu, I'm not making light of the obesity epidemic, nor the unfortunate plight of the humble cupcake.

Yes very good. I didn't bother with it (other than commenting once on Adelaide Now's version of it yesterday) because really what's the point? These lunatics aren't going to get voted in & they know that. This is all about trying to win back the Christian vote (see the Government's internet censorship filter of ALL pornography not rated R). It's irrelevant no sane person thinks they're a genuine chance of winning next year's election so this garbage has no chance of becoming a possibility (unless of course the government were to match it, which could very well be a part of the Liberal Party's plan).

[fish]

Almost fell off my chair just now when I saw that Centrebet have just re-opened their market for Coalition Leader at the next Federal Election:

ABBOTT, Tony 1.14
HOCKEY, Joe 4.95
ANY OTHER CANDIDATE 7.50

The fact that the market has been re-opened suggests to me that there may be some sharpening of knives in preparation for yet another leadership spill before the next election.

By the way the odds for the winner of the next election are:

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY 1.19
COALITION 4.40

This is pretty well the same as it was just after Tony Abbott won the leadership.

[redandblack]

I'd say the opposite, fish.

At those odds, they've decided there won't be another spill before the election.

[Jimmy_041]

R&B

I have been to a few functions in the past month and am surprised at the general positive note about Tony Abbott had taking over.

Admittedly one was a private school function and another a middle aged male lunch last week, but I was surprised with some of the comments from people that I would have thought to be small l liberals.

It seems they are looking for someone to take it up to the Labor Government

[fish]

I'd say the opposite, fish.

At those odds, they've decided there won't be another spill before the election.

Agreed the odds are definitely in Abbotts favour but why would Centrebet re-open their market and expose themselves to bets on him at $1.14 if he was a sure winner? Better to leave the market closed and take no risk IMHO.

[fish]

R&B

I have been to a few functions in the past month and am surprised at the general positive note about Tony Abbott had taking over.

Admittedly one was a private school function and another a middle aged male lunch last week, but I was surprised with some of the comments from people that I would have thought to be small l liberals.

It seems they are looking for someone to take it up to the Labor Government

J_0 maybe you should consider selling part of that mountain of gold you've been amassing and put a lazy $1m on Tony. He doesn't have to win the election he just has to be the Coalition leader at the next election. If you win my commission is a very reasonable 10%

[fish]

As expected Tony Abbott has markedly improved the Coalitions fortunes, with the latest Centrebet odds for the election winner being:

AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY $1.26 out from $1.19 in December
COALITION $3.65 in from $4.40 in December

Coalition are still a long shot but clawing back some ground...

[shoe boy]

So Tony shows his true red neck colours!!!!! And his ministers stand side to side with one of the most ignorant leaders this country has seen.

[Gozu]

"Paul Keating ridicules 'nutter' Tony Abbott":

"He turned up in the last couple of years when I was prime minister. I used to regard him as a sort of resident nutter on their side.”

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/politic ... 5841256973

[Jimmy_041]

Paul Keating - my favourite historian

Paul Keating ridicules 'nutter' Tony Abbott

PAUL Keating today dismissed Tony Abbott as an "intellectual nobody" who he had regarded as the Coalition's "resident nutter".

Arguing that the Rudd government deserved to be re-elected for avoiding a recession, the former prime minister savaged the Opposition's economic credentials, saying “you wouldn't trust this mob with a jam jar full of five cent bits”.

Actually they managed the economy so well, that Rudd was cashed up finance his anti-GFC tactics. Better than you ever did PK

Mr Keating described Mr Abbott as having no policy ambition and argued he had failed to present a thought-out conservative position for the Coalition.

The one-term Prime Minister with no agenda at all

“A conservative party can have a thought-out position,” he told ABC radio.

“(Malcolm) Turnbull had an articulated intelligent moderate thought-out conservative position. The fact is that Abbott does not have this.”

Mr Keating's assessment of the Opposition leader comes within days of John Howard accusing Kevin Rudd of having done little since becoming prime minister.

While Mr Howard said the economic stimulus was too big, Mr Keating said the Rudd government “did a miraculous job in saving the Australian economy from the deepest recession that has come along since the depression”.

“The Rudd government should be re-elected on that basis alone,” he said.

“If Tony Abbott ends up the prime minister of Australia you've gotta say `God help us. God help us'.

“Truly an intellectual nobody. And no policy ambition. You know, I mean, is that all there is?

Keating thinks he owns the intelligent side of conversation whereas his thought and comments are all based on an unstable memory of his own actions/importance in this world

"He turned up in the last couple of years when I was prime minister. I used to regard him as a sort of resident nutter on their side.”

Mr Keating's comments this morning came as he argued that the super guarantee charge should be lifted from nine per cent to at least 12 per cent, and said he knew Wayne Swan and Chris Bowen were interested in it.

“It's their job I think to convince the Prime Minister that there's a good economic case and all good economic reasons for taking the nine per cent to 12,” he said.

However, he criticised the Rudd government for reducing concessions that encouraged people to put money towards their super.

He said the decision to limit concessional contributions to $25,000 for those younger than 50 was a “dreadful decision”.

“They should reverse it, quickly. You know, shocking decision in my opinion. Short-sighted. Bad,” he said.

Always the sign of an intellectual - the "you know" in the middle of a sentence

Coupled with the increase in the aged pension, Mr Keating argued the Rudd government was sending the wrong message.

“So if you're a punter out there you say look, the government's given me the message. Don't bother saving any more. We'll just rely on the pension.”

Because thats what everyone thought when you were in charge. Tax it on the way in, tax it whilst it was in there, and tax it on the way out. You were the only winner

Get back in your hole lizard and your book - History acording to ME

[redandblack]

Good article except for the irrelevant red bits.

Tell us what you really think, Paul

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Being an expert idiot himself, Keating is well qualified to discuss the topic...

No one wants to hear from ex Prime Ministers/politicians, be they Liberal or Labor...

[dedja]

No one wants to hear from ex Prime Ministers/politicians, be they Liberal or Labor...

Generally I'd agree with that but although I despised Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister I have respected a lot of his social justice comments since he left office.

[mick]

No one wants to hear from ex Prime Ministers/politicians, be they Liberal or Labor...

Generally I'd agree with that but although I despised Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister I have respected a lot of his social justice comments since he left office.

Agree poor old Malcolm has been drinking too much Latte.

[BenchedEagle]

No one wants to hear from ex Prime Ministers/politicians, be they Liberal or Labor...

Generally I'd agree with that but although I despised Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister I have respected a lot of his social justice comments since he left office.

Agree poor old Malcolm has been drinking too much Latte.

I grew up in a household that despised that man. But since seeing him at Press club recently. I cant help but like and respect him!! Whats happening to me??????

[Psyber]

No one wants to hear from ex Prime Ministers/politicians, be they Liberal or Labor...

Generally I'd agree with that but although I despised Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister I have respected a lot of his social justice comments since he left office.

Agree poor old Malcolm has been drinking too much Latte.

I grew up in a household that despised that man. But since seeing him at Press club recently. I cant help but like and respect him!! Whats happening to me??????

You are clearly over coming your background and maturing into a rounded and balanced person!
[As I did - my father was a staunch Labor man who chatted me as a child about "class treachery" any time I said anything positive about the other side.]

[shoe boy]

Mr RED NECK Tony, now he is backflipping but man get over this iron man shit!! He now compares himself to Iron woman Thatcher and the best of all the man of steel Bush!!!!

Now my confidence is back in the Australian public with this bloke slipping in opinion polls.