Hasbeen,

When does the media comment on what Abbott is wearing. Gillard was specifically reported as wearing a "salmon coloured top" when inspecting the Queensland flood damage, as if that was somehow important.

It was OK for Howard to have his eyebrows trimmed and teeth capped but it's different for Gillard.

Tony can pose for the cameras in his oddly immaculate unused fire-fighting gear but that's OK too, just as Turnbull can be remembered for the elegant leather jacket he wore on Q & A.

Joe Hockey's makeover due to gastric band surgery seems to be off limits.

I suppose some people vote on the basis of style and others on substance but most vote out of self-interest.

My belief is that the long election campaign is in order to allow Gillard to keep trying on versions of the 'new Julia' in the hope that she can come up with one that people actually like. And I wish her luck with that, because she'll need it.

I think people are too quick to hate the person but accept the party. People hate Tony Abbott, yet he has been a very effective opposition leader. People ridicule the idea of him reinventing himself, but if he was prime minister I would expect someone to be different than when they were opposition. In the Australian political game it seems to be about who is in power and how many of their ideologically themed laws they can pass or oppose rather than all of parliament trying to help Australia. In terms of the game, Abbott as opposition leader for the past four years has been a masterstroke, keeping the pressure on government to justify everything to the point it self implodes. Howard was around for 11 years partly because the opposition could not lay a glove on them. Now is the time for Abbott to put on his prime minister hat, play the game and if his past efforts show anything,he will be a damn good prime minister, but he won't try to be successful as pm by remaning in opposition mode.

Wobbles: "When does the media comment on what Abbott is wearing".

Have you forgotten the "budgie smugglers" ?

Abbott has been a volunteer fire fighter and surf life saver for nearly 20 years, and has worked in other volunteer organisations. What has Juliar done? Nothing that I have heard of. All Juliar can do is appear for photo ops at the floods and fires. God forbid she should actually get her hands dirty.

I admire Turnbull as he is smart and business savy. However, his leadership of the coalition was far from stellar. He is very popular amongst labor voters, but not nearly as popular amongst the liberals as it was Abbott who reduced Labor to 72 seats at the last election.

Abbott’s power is awesome. Just the mention of his name is enough to throw the opposition into a frenzy of terror and doom.

He is endorsed and supported by his own side of politics who also revel in the abject terror he strikes into the Gillard camp. The more the government tries to destroy him the stronger they make him, how stupid is that?

Gillard meanwhile has a quick trip to the optician and makes a complete “spectacle” of herself as the new, new, really new Julia.