I see political leadership as a trek through dense bush over mountains, across rivers.

There are many pitfalls, false paths and "wild tribes" in the way.

When trekking through the bush be prepared to lead a group through an adventure to safety. Come prepared with maps and equipment for all eventualities. Some may go astray but with sensible leadership they will prevail in the end.

So too with political leadership when there is no positive direction and many are lost. We know how much it costs for search and rescue.

Moses took 40 years to lead his people we don't have that long.

So who are our best leaders, why don't they lead?

Have you seen the film, "Being There" with Peter Sellers? A satire on the influence of a simple-minded gardener on the leaders of the day?

How do I see our political leaders?
Brown - would invite his team to stand knee-deep in the stream and
admire the breeze and the trees.

Abbott - would climb up trees, run up mountains, swim up rivers and
end up where he started with his team waiting for him to lead.

Gillard - would gather her group, set out on a very long trek, occasionally use a compass to get back on trek and sooner or later reach some destination.

How do you see our leaders?

An interesting thread, and if we are going to be honest complex.
I see them both as the wrong leaders.
No surprise,most people do.
But the blame may lay at the feet of our Medea.
I have lived in such days before, 1972 till 1975.
In truth Labor then and now took it for granted voters knew about the good as well as the bad.
They do not, voters are not going to forgive Gillard, she may or may not have lied, she however did not tell us what drove her.
Abbott? true a question ,won leadership as a climate change Deny, backed by the most under informed power brokers in his party.
Hockey Turnbull, a few could do the job so much better.
I true, think Medea self interest, assisted by Labors instant Coffee policy development, are hiding enough about our Tony to remove him over night.
First party to unload its head jumps ten points!
True, weird strange but true.
As my honest opinions will see me buried here is the rest
Ten years from now this government , and me, will be proud of
Getting climate change tax in place [it still will be]
Saying sorry.
NBN Education including but not only infrastructure
Biggest pension rises in our history, reforms [both party's] to unemployment payments ending work choices,
And the stopping, walking on glass, boats by success of Malaya's plan.
Should be noted shadow Minister, not our one real fella , is on record he is, wanting to do this deal with IRAN!
And he and Abbott fear this policy BECAUSE IT WILL WORK and be seen as a brilliant idea.
TWO unloved leaders both party's frozen by fear great for the country? not!

Belly I can't agree with you more.

From what I heard recently the Liberal party cut-backs on government spending may increase unemployment from 5% to ten%. That looks like a
winning call.

If I were a pollie I would pollie in the morning I would pollie in the evening I would pollie all through the night and get nothing done.
But if I had a hammer I would build a solid house.

Empty words have no meaning. We need a solid foundation, a positive direction by all concerned.

There was an old film in the 1950s "The Hill" with Sean Connery. Soldiers were being punished to build a hill of dirt while others were being punished to remove it from the other side. Is that the future of our political system?

The only leader that stood up for the people was labor Jack Lang during the Great Depression.Labor today have sold us out.They will cease to exist as a party if they continue in this vein.

Yes saw the movie Aqueous.
A hard days night ahead for us all.
Labor while excelling in p%^ssing off its own voters ,has done much.
And will do more.
I am angry, forever and ever, at power brokers,even ones I admire, continuing to think they know better.
EGO is a filthy word,along with Solidarity, a term for tell lies,it hamstrings my party.
We can/will get both mining and carbon tax up, fix boat people, [understanding it is what most want] and get a new or even recycled leader.
But EGO, intent to say no she must not go it bruises my EGO delays us Julia is not Satan,she however can not fully come back from here .
She will after further falls get some back on Tiny Tony,but as much possible by him falling as her tactics.
Sad for this country.

"First party to unload its head jumps ten points!"

Apart from the polling making that pretty much a non-option for the Lib's at the moment it's always a difficult call for the opposition when the government has the option of calling an early election. If they got the momentum to dump Abbott, the chances of Julia having a change of heart about the need to go to the poll's over the carbon tax would increase dramatically.

The business of the PM setting the date for elections is a scam. We should have fixed terms with a safety mechanism based on broad cross party agreement that an early poll is waranted.

R0bert