Tony Abbott - Leader of the Opposition!

[Gozu]

"Let's put Tony Abbott's achievements into perspective":

"A number of journalists and commentators have been hinting for a while now that the Rudd Government may only last one term and you can see why.

Once you look past the government's consistent and overwhelming lead in the opinion polls, the Coalition's ongoing leadership problems (now completely resolved with Tony Abbott firmly in charge after his one-vote defeat of Malcolm Turnbull), the fact that the Australian economy alone in the world has survived the global financial crisis more or less unharmed, and the historical fact that Australians almost never vote out first-term governments, it is pretty obvious that people are nonetheless ready for a change."

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2883140.htm

[Gozu]

"Here come the towelheads":

Tony Abbott’s election campaign finally got into its stride yesterday with his “real action” ads that aired last night.

It had become clear that Tony Abbott’s focus on lower population growth was too subtle for the Liberals’ target audience. All the talk about “sustainability” and infrastructure and Scott Morrison jabbering on about skilled migration wasn’t cutting through with the voters the Liberals wanted. The core message of keeping undesirables out wasn’t getting across.

The graphic says “Stop Illegals Now” but we know, partly because of Cory, but mostly because four of the five countries listed are Islamic, that it actually means “Stop Towelheads Now”.

That’s not really the point, though; this is all about accessing the same voters who responded so well to John Howard’s immortal words “we will determine who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.” Except, understanding that required a working knowledge of the English language. The Abbott-Loughnane ad has simplified and refined the narrative still further.

The Islamic invasion has commenced.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/10/her ... is-stride/

[Gozu]

"Abbott's mix of the savvy and inexplicable":

Given how thin Tony Abbott’s Budget Reply was last night, it’s only fitting that he should end up in the firing line of what wasn’t there, rather than what was. His disastrous interview this morning with Neil Mitchell — when Abbott stuffs up, he really stuffs up — came a cropper on Phil Coorey’s scoop that Abbott had been rolled by shadow cabinet over his plan to throw more money at one of his favourite interest groups, stay-at-home mothers.

First, Abbott still has a problem with being perceived as an economic lightweight. The sheer lack of content of the speech meant it was a huge missed opportunity to go some of the way to addressing voter concerns that, as Peter Costello said, Tony Abbott finds economics boring. That will continue to be problem for Abbott regardless of what the government does, because his shadow Treasurer is a bloke who has done a fair bit to justify the government’s nickname “Sloppy Joe”. Unfortunately, Abbott has left Hockey to do the donkey work of announcing savings cuts next week.

Fourthly, Abbott declared he would be bringing back elements of WorkChoices. Quite why he did this is a complete mystery — certainly to Labor figures, who were astonished and delighted that he chose to do so without any apparent need. The Liberals keep insisting they have learnt their lessons from 2007. Abbott’s insistence that voters in effect got it wrong and the Liberals want to try again suggests they haven’t come close to understanding what happened back then.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/14/abb ... xplicable/

[Leaping Lindner]

''But nevertheless it was the least bad way of proceeding at the time''

It seems Tony Abbott is now channelling George Bush.

[Gozu]

"Tony Abbott's struggle with the truth":

The best spin I’ve seen about Tony Abbott’s disastrous 7.30 Report interview is the fact he’s willing to admit he lies reflects a commendable honesty, much better than most politicians who lie without ever acknowledging it. Abbott has boldly broken down the fourth wall of politics, turning to the audience and pointed out that he’s just working to a script, not actually saying what he means.

In short, Abbott is authentic and honest because he admits you can’t believe him. Nice.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/18/ton ... the-truth/

[gossipgirl]

One good thing about Tony Abbott is that he is very entertaining ... he puts the fun back into politics. Perhaps he is just a bit too honest not a good trait for a politician

Just need Costello back and would be a great comedy duo

[Media Park]

S**t happens!

Tony Abbott... Honest about lying!!!

Love it, and he's got my vote.

[redden whites]

Gee all quiet on the politics board.Nothing must be going on

[Media Park]

Gee all quiet on the politics board.Nothing must be going on

a good polly is a quiet one!

[Gozu]

"GetUp should've shelled out for Rudd, not Abbott":

GetUp has garnered oodles of headlines this morning by buying their way in on a surfing lesson with Tony Abbott.

As no doubt you’ve all read (which is what makes the activist group so very clever), Abbott will be spending quality time out the back with Afghan refugee Riz Wakil — who placed the winning bid for Abbott in the Canberra Press Gallery’s Mid-Winter Ball charity auction. Wakil intends to tell Tony about his time in Curtin detention centre [insert lots of coverage on the refugee issue here]. Campaigning job done.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/06/17/cri ... ot-abbott/

I hope Abbott now doesn't try and chicken out of it.

[Q.]

"GetUp should've shelled out for Rudd, not Abbott":

GetUp has garnered oodles of headlines this morning by buying their way in on a surfing lesson with Tony Abbott.

As no doubt you’ve all read (which is what makes the activist group so very clever), Abbott will be spending quality time out the back with Afghan refugee Riz Wakil — who placed the winning bid for Abbott in the Canberra Press Gallery’s Mid-Winter Ball charity auction. Wakil intends to tell Tony about his time in Curtin detention centre [insert lots of coverage on the refugee issue here]. Campaigning job done.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/06/17/cri ... ot-abbott/

I hope Abbott now doesn't try and chicken out of it.

Brilliant