I seem to remember Abbott was quite prepared to do some sleazy deals to win power too, including a Carbon Tax. I reckon all the backroom discussions and deals should be done in the open and on record so the public can see what is going on.

Dear Runner,

<<it amazes me how people keep saying that Abbott did not win the election but Rudd/Gillard lost it. Usually it it those who insisted Turnbull would replace Abbott and then through sour grapes could not graciously concede defeat who sprout this line.>>

I feel that I need to respond as one of those who in the recent elections gave their preference to Abbott in order to kick Labor out.

I am not in love with Turnbull or any other politician. ALL parties and all politicians have bad policies, so I had to choose the party with the least worse policies, which wasn't easy. When it came to choose between Labor and Liberals (somewhere towards the bigger numbers on the ballot papers), my clear priority this time was to stop the NBN.

Though I was part of the transition that brought Abbott to power, I never approved of many of Abbott's major policies, such as "stop the boats"; paid maternal leave; removal of the mining tax; his "direct-action" on the so-called "climate-change"; and his failure to bring back Workchoices.

Are opinion polls relevant at this stage in the election cycle? Anyone surveyed now knows that the election is more than two years away and it doesn't matter who they nominate as preferred Prime Minister. Is there a 'neither of them' option for preferred Prime Minister? That would be the first choice for many disenchanted voters.

Just don't vote for either of the two major parties or the Greens. They are all owned by the banking military industrial complex.

Nothing will change. We will just go into deeper debt because our private banking system creates our growth + inflation as debt. If we have any growth under this system,debt exceeds growth unless we sell off massive quantities of resources for a song.

While your poll indicates Abbott losing popularity I think it is way too early for anyone to forecast his demise. I do agree people are watching and I think Abbott has the goods to reinforce their support.

I think once people realise Abbott and Morrison have stopped the boats despite the hinderance of the Indo's and the ABC interference his popularity will rise.

On this issue Shorten merely bleats ever changing negativity. eg 'Abbott lied about turning back the boats.' 'Abbott is secretive about Asylum seekers.'

I think once again when people realise Abbott and Hockey took an adult and sensible view about Holden his popularity will rise.

On this issue again Shorten merely bleats ever changing negativity. eg 'Ford and Holden leaving was all Abbott's fault.' 'Uncompetitive industry should be supported by Abbott.'

I think once again when people realise Abbott and Bishop dealt with the labor mess in Indonesia in a mature and controlled manner his popularity will rise.

On this issue again Shorten merely claimed it was all Abbott's fault.

I think once again when people realise Abbott and Bishop have absolutely dominated the Indo's and returned the relationship to some sort of normality his popularity will rise.

Shorten cannot even acknowledge the Indo's, like the ABC, have gone all quiet.

The biggest single indication that Abbott has turned the tables on these issues is that the ABC no longer harps on about them. And Shorten has started his silly one termer attack.

Over the longer term people will realise Abbott has the policies and team to deal with the labor messes and in time will get rid of the carbon and mining taxes and fix the labor economic mess.

Shortens performance has not received anywhere near the scrutiny of Abbott both as Leader of Opposition or PM.

It will become patently obvious Shorten is inadequate, has no team, no policies and continually flip flops on populist stances and shows very little forethought or political nous.

And of course sometime prior to the next election Shorten will have to deal with the political machinations of a politician who destroyed two labour PM's, one twice.

Long-term Abbott holds all the aces, from union corruption up to Labor's overpromising and economic mismanagement. He will play them all. One-termer, no let's wait and see how many terms he wants to win. And let's see how the Labor Party continues to shred itself.