Libs contemplate defeat

    by: Christian Kerr
    From: The Australian
    July 22, 2013


ANGER towards Tony Abbott's senior staff and closest colleagues is mounting in Liberal ranks as rattled MPs concede the risk of an election loss.      :)

The complaints come as senior figures Malcolm Turnbull and Joe Hockey contradicted each other on asylum-seeker policy yesterday, confusing the Coalition's campaign pitch.

The opposition holds three seats in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia by margins of less than 1 per cent.      :)

It has a further nine seats in Kevin Rudd's home state of Queensland with margins of under 5 per cent. While they still believe they will win the election, worried Liberals complain that the Opposition Leader has been slow to react to developments such as last week's Fringe Benefits Tax changes.

They say chief of staff Peta Credlin is denying them access to Mr Abbott.

And they have told The Australian Mr Abbott's closest parliamentary colleagues are turning a deaf ear to their concerns.      :)


The anger has not yet turned to leadership speculation.

But there are warnings of recriminations even if Mr Abbott delivers victory.

The disaffected Liberals say resentments could make it hard for him to govern and maintain party discipline with what they now fear will only be a slim majority compared to the possible control of both houses that polls were indicating just a few weeks ago.

They believe Mr Abbott has been consistently out-campaigned by the Prime Minister since parliament rose three weeks ago, with one calling the Opposition Leader "wooden".      :)

Other sources dismissed the claims as "campaign nerves".

But Mr Hockey appeared to acknowledge the opposition's difficulties, complaining that Coalition policy announcements had been drowned out by Mr Rudd's "celebrity".

He told the Ten Network's Bolt Report the Coalition had big plans for Australia.      :P

"Our pitch is far broader than the abolition of the carbon tax and stopping the boats," he said. "It is also about the economy, as a starting point.

"We've been making announcements every day for our plans for Australia's future, but they've been drowned out by the celebrity Kevin Rudd."

Mr Hockey insisted "sooner or later people will see through Kevin Kardashian and focus on what a prime minister and a government really should do".

Mr Hockey also dismissed Mr Rudd's new policy on asylum-seekers.

"He's never going to stop them, and if he does, it'll be temporary," he said.

But Mr Turnbull, the party's communications spokesman and former leader, told SBS that Mr Rudd's Papua New Guinea Solution would be "very likely" to stop the boats, if managed well.

At a press conference in Melbourne, Mr Abbott denounced the asylum-seeker plan as "essentially misleading".

"This is not a solution to our problem," he said. "This is not a policy to stop the boats. This is simply a pre-election fix.

"This is simply something that is held together with Blu-Tack and sticky tape to last until the election."

Fun times in the libs

Wooden Mr Pinocchio Abbott is well known for grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory and the rest of the party can't complain now.

The beds made ...

He's finished.


http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/07/08/1226675/924638-95cc91b0-e75d-11e2-b459-490c5143e0a3.jpg


Good riddance.

Abbott's best path would be to take on the leader with the greatest skill of debating in a debate.

Christine Milne.

Turnbull was on TV last night in an in depth interview.

I wonder if he was preparing the ground for a challenge?  ;)

I would feel for Abbott if he wasn't such an aggressive, macho competitor who plays politics like a team sport.

Abbott's entire strategy is to nitpick and oppose Labor's policies. He has nothing of his own to offer. Has he come up with anything new since the 2010 campaign? Anything at all?

Abbott's weaknesses are magnified under Rudd. Abbott has become the new Gillard. He is, from here on in, a dead man walking.

I feel bad for every leader who gets knocked off his perch, and I'll probably feel for Abbott when his time comes.

But the move to Turnbull is now inevitable - most likely after the election. Turnbull's not even running with the negative Liberal line anymore. He's publicly laughing at Abbott's policies.

Also, Turnbull is doing what Abbott's not - long interviews. Last night he did a talk show on SBS - a good half hour in the chair. A couple of weeks ago he did two Q&As. If the Libs hate the luvvy media so much, why's Turnbull jumping at the chance to do these spots?

And when he does, the so-called left-wing audience give him nothing but praise.

Australia will now get the leaders it deserves - first Rudd, and next election, Turnbull.

That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now.

Quote:

That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now.

The Libbos kept Howard there even though the polls were against him.

They will keep Tony too - while the ship sinks they will all go down with him.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2013 at 10:53am:

Quote: That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now. The Libbos kept Howard there even though the polls were against him. They will keep Tony too - while the ship sinks they will all go down with him.

I agree. But if he loses this election, the job's Turnbull's.

Karnal wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2013 at 11:03am:

Bobby. wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 10:53am: Quote: That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now. The Libbos kept Howard there even though the polls were against him. They will keep Tony too - while the ship sinks they will all go down with him. I agree. But if he loses this election, the job's Turnbull's.

Turnbull could also resign too - when the Libbos lose.
I don't think his heart is in it.

If Rudd wins it's only because he moved to the right. If Rudd p*sses off the Greens completely, and f*cks off all far-Leftists from the Labor ranks and supporters, then they can win. The populace don't care at all for all the trendy causes of inner-city cafe-latte types. Moving to the centre-right will assure a win.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2013 at 11:15am:

Karnal wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 11:03am: Bobby. wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 10:53am: Quote: That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now. The Libbos kept Howard there even though the polls were against him. They will keep Tony too - while the ship sinks they will all go down with him. I agree. But if he loses this election, the job's Turnbull's. Turnbull could also resign too - when the Libbos lose. I don't think his heart is in it.

Turnbull is a proud man. I wouldn't discount him waiting three years.

MOTR wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2013 at 11:30am:

Bobby. wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 11:15am: Karnal wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 11:03am: Bobby. wrote on Jul 22nd, 2013 at 10:53am: Quote: That's if the Libs don't put Abbott out of his misery now. The Libbos kept Howard there even though the polls were against him. They will keep Tony too - while the ship sinks they will all go down with him. I agree. But if he loses this election, the job's Turnbull's. Turnbull could also resign too - when the Libbos lose. I don't think his heart is in it. Turnbull is a proud man. I wouldn't discount him waiting three years.

Turnbull could just retire & live on a nice island like Tahiti
in luxury for the rest of his life.