Tony has a lot of reinventing make-over work to do before addressing policy. He cannot escape like Howard did by simply delivering "headland" speeches and remaining a small target as there's too much time to kill before Sept 14.

He has to demonstrate he is not a "liar", a "bully", a "misogynist" etc. etc. by about mini-budget time when the media turns to policy analysis. That's going to be fun to watch as currently, googling "Abbott" with any of the words above, as just as three examples, can provides days of enjoyable articles and videos. I like this one that deals with the mantra of the great carbon tax "lie". Tony is not totally without scruples and would stop at selling his ar$e to gain power, but not his grandmother http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K2fRMy5rxuM

Incidentally, I thought his make-up was at least as good as Julia's at the National Press Club. He must have taken tips from Warnie to achieve the Ken-doll glow, or perhaps he'd just had his prostate checked by a physician with a small digit (some use two, to get a second opinion).

How can you lefties have the hide to talk about an Abbott make over.

The fool red head has put on a pair of horn rimed spectacles, trying to pretend she is some sort of intellectual.

It really is funny that all she has done is to manage to look like some one's girl Friday. Still who knows, with a bit more effort she just might manage to look like an executive assistant.

Nah, she'd never get her bum small enough for that.

Turnbull is the most palatable Liberal for the Left because he appears to them to be a moderate. His support of the Carbon Tax would probably cause him to lose most Liberal Party supporters and lose the election.

The problem is that Turnbull, like Rudd is not a Party man. He is interested in his own destiny which he believes is to be the leader of the country. He is intelligent and argues a point convincingly but has poor judgement and although not a complete narcissist like Rudd, is more engaged in personal rather than political ideals.

I believe the announcement is a master stroke. It changes the political dynamics!
It makes people start to look at Mr Abbott as the alternative PM, rather than the official opposition Leader, and as Hasbeen observed, this bloke simply doesn't measure up, and should be relegated to the packing shed?
I mean even with a script, he ums and ahs his way through a political speech?
Moreover, once the may budget is released, Mr Abbott will come under increasing pressure, to release his costed policies, not the magic pudding promises he has produced thus far.
And that could prove problematic, along with the mantra, who do you trust!
The bloke/party who told us the Sunday roast would cost a $100.00, that Whyalla would be wiped off the map, that the coal industry would be destroyed; and that all of the power increases prior to the application of the carbon tax, were in fact the result of the carbon tax, rather than state politicians; and or, multinationals seeking to blame shift, gold plate or price gouge!?
I agree with other posters, who see Malcolm Turnbull as a more credible political leader!
And should the liberals want to not just win by a slim if manageable margin, [one hit wonder,] perhaps dependant on one or two independents, in order to govern; but rather, cement their position for several further elections?
Then someone who can, perhaps the Gazelle?
Will force a spill and the subsequent election of Malcolm, while there is yet still time.
Malcolm as a already known former and much more credible/acceptable leader/statesman, could conceivably turn a narrow win, into a veritable rout, or a train wreck election for Labour.
If everyone is as sick of politics and the joke some of the most high profile players have made of it; and or parliamentary traditions, they could do worse than emulate my example; and, put the current incumbent last of the ballot paper. Arguably, the only way to tell all politicians, a pox on both your houses!
Rhrosty.

Rhrosty, much better to loose than be led by a peanut like Turnbull. Personally I think making him leader of the Libs would be the only chance Labor has of winning. The Labor lot want him, but would not vote for him, & the Libs can't stand him, & would not vote for him. The Katter party would actually get people in parliament.

What is it with lefties, that they can't see through a pretender? Turnbull as PM would make me almost as ashamed as I am with the red head.

He would be every bit as bad as Gillard, in that he would never have the best interests of genuine Ozzies at heart.

Hasbeen you have a terrible bias against women, wether it be red or purple. Katter is your man, Abbott is no-ones man. Turnbull is your only hope for the libs, and get rid of that dinosaur front bench. It's disgusting. Mal Brough is a Howard misfit, and should never have been chosen. But that is Abbott, he thinks he is Howard. The golden years, lets go back to prehistoric days. The only thing wrong with that is he is not Howard. To think like that, he doesn't have an identity, and nothing original.