"Voters punish those who tell the whole truth".

Taking the above at face value, Bill Shorten is safe in his position, as he would not be punished by voters.

So all Bill has to do is continue to pretend that nothing untoward was going on under Labor.

Graham never would have written such a mitigating article if the shoe was on the other foot. I seem to recall his bile towards the carbon pricing and Julia Gillard, no mitigation for her. Never "let's put aside whether a lie was told, whether political necessity should trump a promise, and think of our country" back then. No.

What we have here is a politician blown to smithereens by his own "honesty" bomb and furtive plotting against Labor's electorate.

That has become the main story, for now, but without the mainstream media working hand in glove with Labor, the whole thing will be history in a year. Grass-roots rage will be mollified by Rupert's glowing coverage of every inhalation and exhalation of this cowboy outfit, and every possible distraction.

Small, large, and little white tonys will be oft repeated and by next election, we'll be lying in the bed made for us with no recollection of ever being so utterly screwed.

Abbott is a pragmatic power lustful person just like Gillard and Rudd. Abbott used our dissatisfaction with the CO2 tax to gain power of the Coalition. He is really ambivalent to this tax.

I think Abbott will water down his austerity a bit and the electorate will be thankful for small mercies.

Use Clive Palmer as a wedge to drive the electorate away from the major parties until we find a party that is not corporate controlled.

...I have an idea that may support the theory of rebellion proposed here. As the 60’s was a “coming-out” for the drug culture; the drug of peace was Marijuana at that time: why not stick to the theme and use our current drug of rage as a weapon, “Crack” cocaine.

...What exquisite uncontrolled violence could be directed towards Canberra by a swathe of withdrawing drug addicts. It’s an unused weapon of mass destruction, never before used for political purposes.

...I “bags” the credit for the idea!

Graham,

It's not just the old notion of the lying pollie.

It's that the electorate was deceived wholesale.

That the govt has seen fit to explode their election foundation so early in the term in one fell swoop only adds to the fury of those who fell for it.

Mr Abbott, the day before the election, assured Australians there would be not cuts to health and education, no changes to pensions, no cuts to the ABC and SBS...etc.

The post-election govt agenda bares almost no resemblance to their stance in the run up.

They duped the electorate "wholesale".

Deception "on this scale" by a newly elected govt is unprecedented.

And they are now lying about their lies.

ELECTION NOW!
mikk,
that just riecks of a massive overdose of ignorance. Say something more productive please.