Karnal wrote on Jul 13
th, 2013 at 11:01pm:
Let’s look at Craig Thomson, shall we? This instance was ruled on by the parliamentary Speaker, so we know it’s legit. It’s there in the Hansard.
Craig Thomson stood down from the Labor Party in disgrace and became an independant (like Mr Slipper). Mr Abbott made it clear that he would not be accepting Craig Thomson’s vote in his usual opposition of the government’s bills. Mr Abbott was unequivocal. Craig Thomson was not welcome in the Libs! Opposing the government was Mr Abbott’s job alone.
So the Labor Party had a little joke. They had a word in Craig Thomson’s ear and asked him to vote against something irrelevant - some motion or other. Whatever it was, no one remembers.
So the votes were counted, and there were the Libs, one by one, all opposing as usual. They finally got to Craig Thomson. He held the moment, looked at his feet, cleared his throat, and finally came out with his vote - nay!
The Libs all looked at each other.. Nay? But that was their job - they’d voted nay. That meant...
Yes, that meant they’d be voting with the disgraced Craig Thomson, a man who Mr Abbott said would poison the parliament with his vote. If they stayed and voted with this man, all hell would break loose. Realizing the seriousness of the problem, Mr Abbott looked up at his chief whip, Chris Pyne, and they both made a break for the doors of the parliament.
Chris Pyne, a somewhat slippery, but powdery, character, made it through the doors just in time. Seeing Mr Abbott on the run, however, the speaker ordered the doors to be closed. Mr Abbott made it to the doors just as they closed in his face. Mr Abbott was locked in.
Mr Abbott wasn’t happy. He wanted his opposition to the government to be pure - it didn’t really matter what he was opposing, but he wanted his opposition on his terms, and he wanted it to be seen that way.
But the Speaker ruled: an MP gives his vote to the Speaker, not a political party. In his years spent opposing things in parliament, Mr Abbott had forgotten the whole point of it all: MPs vote on policies in the interest of the citizens they represent, not solely along tribal party lines for tactical political reasons, not with or against a government so as to support or oppose it.
This incident, backed by the argument of the Speaker, offers us great insight into Mr Abbott’s character as Dr No. It shows the party political nature of Mr Abbott, a man for whom politics is a team sport bound by rules, tactics, point-scoring, and yes, physical agility.
Thus, I rebut lie 3 (again). Mr Abbott was caught red-handed playing Dr No, and your alleged Rudd lie is proven false.
I never expected you to be a dope.
Lie 3 is about talking Australia down.
Rudd's context is the economy.
Remember this debate is about the economy debt and deficit. Rudd's words not mine.
Now you have mentioned boat, slipper and now thomson... none of which have anything to do with
LIE 3... do wake up to yourself.