http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/opposition-leader-tony-abbott-gets-a-touch-of-former-premier-kevin-rudd/story-e6freuy9-1226648668356

IS this really what I want from an Abbott government? The same as Labor, only better?
The excitement among conservatives at the now near-certain defeat of the Gillard Government in September is cooling.

It is being replaced with the realisation that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is not promising big changes, social or economic.

He is instead doing a Kevin Rudd. Rudd campaigned successfully in 2007 as Liberal-lite - someone like John Howard, but fresher.

Likewise, for all his rhetoric, Abbott is campaigning as Labor-lite - without the stuff-ups.

Like Labor, Abbott promises no big changes to industrial relations policies, even though employers are screaming for them.

Like Labor, Abbott claims he believes in "the science" of global warming, even though the world hasn't warmed for at least 15 years.

Like Labor, Abbott backs the referendum proposal to recognise local government, although it will give Canberra more control over every town hall.

Like Labor, Abbott supports a referendum to recognise Aborigines in the Constitution, backing a race-based law that will merely divide us into tribes.

Like Labor, Abbott promises a big new tax - a rise in the Medicare levy.

Like Labor, Abbott will waste billions of dollars to cut our emissions without cutting the temperature. He'll just waste a few billion less.

Like Labor, Abbott will scrap the baby bonus, but will channel more money to a parental leave scheme. Weren't the Liberals opposed to such discrimination against stay-at-home mothers?

Like Labor, Abbott refuses to even consider privatising the ABC, despite the ABC killing Fairfax newspapers, particularly by giving away free the online services its competitors must sell to survive.

Doesn't he see the ABC is morphing into a modern Pravda - a state-backed media behemoth so far to the Left that 40 per cent of its journalists vote Green, says a University of the Sunshine Coast survey?

Labor's attacks on Abbott disguise this same-same.

Take its latest meme, that Abbott plans to "cut to the bone" government spending.

Not true, sadly. Last week, Abbott in his Budget reply speech promised a net saving of just $1 billion a year, when government outlays next financial year will soar to $391 billion and we face a deficit of $18 billion.

"Cut to the bone"? That's barely a scratch.

Labor's stunning incompetence has blurred what was once a key difference - the carbon tax.

Labor admits the carbon price, now $23 a tonne, will fall to $12.10 when carbon trading starts in 2015, thanks to a collapse in Europe's support for warming policies that hurt industry.

In fact, the price will almost certainly be less. So what's the big difference between a carbon price under Labor of, say, $5 a tonne, and Abbott's plan to scrap the whole sorry thing?

Likewise, how profound a difference will scrapping the mining tax make, now it's revealed as a bit of a dud?

As for the education "reforms" now promised by Labor, remove the redirected funding and they amount to just $200 million a year over the next four years. Big deal.

Exactly where are any big differences?

Bolt is an idiot.

So a vote for Lib is a vote for Lab ... same old same old.

Doctor Jolly wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:32am:

Bolt is an idiot.

Oh fully agree - but to some of the tards on here he is the beez neez.    I was surprised at this article though - I doubt if LibHQ will be sending him the usual weekly check for these comments

Winning is everything. You do what it takes to win.
What you do after you've won is all up for grabs.

Why do you read Andrew Bolt?

Swagman wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:40am:

Why do you read Andrew Bolt?

He has his finger on the pulse of conservatism in Australia ... alongside Alan Jones.

Seems all is not well and that could be why the conservative vote is splintering.

Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision.

longweekend58 wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:58am:

Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision.

Also he can use the excuse he needs to clean up the ALP mess first before setting an agenda.

I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history.

longweekend58 wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:58am:

Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision.

Actually, from what Bolt is saying it looks like Abbott is agreeing with most of Labor's procedures and process.    The areas of cutbucks will only save a pittance.

If that's what we have to look at - and Bolt's opinion is correct, why change government?

RightSadFred wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 12:02pm:

longweekend58 wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:58am: Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision. Also he can use the excuse he needs to clean up the ALP mess first before setting an agenda. I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history.

I would hardly call bolt an ALP rusted on.  He is one of the most anti Labor commenters there is!  That is why this particular piece surprised me

RightSadFred wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 12:02pm:

I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history.

Correct, Fred!

But!

Abbott is still a worry.

For those who can't be bothered to read Lisa's Cut-n-Paste of what Bolt said in his article ... here's the audio version.

Just sit back with your Chardonnays, Bloody Mary's, and Red Bulls and listen to how it is that an Abbott government will be Labor-Right instead of the current Labor-Left.

He's no more a 'conservative' than was Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser or the politically duplicitous Malcolm Turnbull who would snatch up the Labour leadership in an instant if it was offered to him before the election.

Bolt worked out that with Abbott he may win but the problem is that he will win nothing.

longweekend58 wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:58am:

Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision.

Don't let cods see that, she'll start posting
"No carbon tax under a government I lead"
Under all your posts.
Funny how lying and betraying your values is now acceptable, yet for 2.5 years we've been subjected to moral piety

lisa.greek wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 12:08pm:

RightSadFred wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 12:02pm: longweekend58 wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:58am: Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision. Also he can use the excuse he needs to clean up the ALP mess first before setting an agenda. I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history. I would hardly call bolt an ALP rusted on.  He is one of the most anti Labor commenters there is!  That is why this particular piece surprised me

then maybe he is not so much anti-labor as he is anti-incompetence. ever think of that?

longweekend58 wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 1:03pm:

lisa.greek wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 12:08pm: RightSadFred wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 12:02pm: longweekend58 wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:58am: Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision. Also he can use the excuse he needs to clean up the ALP mess first before setting an agenda. I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history. I would hardly call bolt an ALP rusted on.  He is one of the most anti Labor commenters there is!  That is why this particular piece surprised me then maybe he is not so much anti-labor as he is anti-incompetence. ever think of that?

Sure - but in his article he seems to be inferring that an Abbott government would simply follow the process' and policies of an outgoing Labor Government.  He also suggests that the planned savings under a Liberal Government would be minimal.

So if the outgoing incompetant Labor party policy is mirrored by an incoming Liberal Government - then by all means they must be incompetent as well - if Bolt's article is accurate

Doctor Jolly wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 11:32am:

Bolt is an idiot.

You'd be a good judge.  ;D

Bolt can be irritating on his Sunday morning show, but at least he is presenting an opposing view to the usual leftwing sycophantic bullshit we get from the mainstream media.

And to my surprise, each week he brings on former and current Leftwing heavy-weight politicians to argue the toss on the various issues.

lisa.greek wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 1:15pm:

longweekend58 wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 1:03pm: lisa.greek wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 12:08pm: RightSadFred wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 12:02pm: longweekend58 wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:58am: Abbott is taking the smart path to the lodge. his is promising nothing that will be controversial. ONce he is there he knows he has at last 6 years to implement his real vision. Also he can use the excuse he needs to clean up the ALP mess first before setting an agenda. I find it amusing  all these ALP rusted on's giving political advice when the very party the are rusted onto is the most politically  inept government in history. I would hardly call bolt an ALP rusted on.  He is one of the most anti Labor commenters there is!  That is why this particular piece surprised me then maybe he is not so much anti-labor as he is anti-incompetence. ever think of that? Sure - but in his article he seems to be inferring that an Abbott government would simply follow the process' and policies of an outgoing Labor Government.  He also suggests that the planned savings under a Liberal Government would be minimal. So if the outgoing incompetant Labor party policy is mirrored by an incoming Liberal Government - then by all means they must be incompetent as well - if Bolt's article is accurate

and in the subtitle he also opined that Abbott would be as much labor-lite as Rudd was Liberal-lite as he first claimed to be.

Innocent bystander wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 2:11pm:

Doctor Jolly wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:32am: Bolt is an idiot. You'd be a good judge.  ;D

and You'd be a good judge of that too. 

WHAT THE>.. lefties reading Bolt... ok looks like he took a dig at Abbott makes him suddenly b elievable and worth a look... ;D ;D ;D ;D

Dnarever wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 5:19pm:

Innocent bystander wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 2:11pm: Doctor Jolly wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 11:32am: Bolt is an idiot. You'd be a good judge.  ;D and You'd be a good judge of that too.

looks like dna has been taken over by sob... it feels so good to give it back... :o.

and you too. :P..oooooooooooo...

Why shouldn't Abbott ME2

It worked for Rudd and many people support Rudd

So anyone who supported Labor in 2007 should not be having a go at Abbott for doing the same thing

Makka wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 7:38pm:

Why shouldn't Abbott ME2 It worked for Rudd and many people support Rudd So anyone who supported Labor in 2007 should not be having a go at Abbott for doing the same thing

Meh - it's just good shoving it up the tards noses when they continually had a go at rudd for "me2ing".     Looks like your own tin god is guilty of the same tactic.  Who would have thunk?   ;D ;D

cods wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 5:34pm:

WHAT THE>.. lefties reading Bolt... ok looks like he took a dig at Abbott makes him suddenly b elievable and worth a look... ;D ;D ;D ;D

Why not?  Your mob constantly quote him, and smith and pickering.   All believable as well!  ;D ;D ;D.  Oh and jones, hadley, 2gb, yadda, yadda, yadda....

Makka wrote on May 23^rd, 2013 at 7:38pm:

Why shouldn't Abbott ME2 It worked for Rudd and many people support Rudd So anyone who supported Labor in 2007 should not be having a go at Abbott for doing the same thing

Why shouldn't Abbott ME2

Maybe because he has spent 4 years telling us all that Labor are incompetent and are going in the wrong direction?

lisa.greek wrote on May 24^th, 2013 at 7:24am:

cods wrote on May 23rd, 2013 at 5:34pm: WHAT THE>.. lefties reading Bolt... ok looks like he took a dig at Abbott makes him suddenly b elievable and worth a look... Why not?  Your mob constantly quote him, and smith and pickering.   All believable as well!  .  Oh and jones, hadley, 2gb, yadda, yadda, yadda....

Lucky for the Libs that Bolt has no credibility.

Imagine if his opinion was worth something.

You would think that by now he would understand that virtually 100% of Lieberal governments are do nothing types.