Dear Ammonite,

I fully agree. I wouldn't want the PM's job.
She'd need nerves of steel to put up with the dirty
tactics being thrown at her. However, I think
Morganzola is right - many friends that I've spoken
to are totally against Mr Abbott and Co for the way in which
they're behaving. I'm sure that come the next election
people will give serious thought as to who they want to represent
them in Parliament. Nobody wants an illogical, abusive, person who
uses street-brawling techniques - simply to become PM. It's time
the Liberal Party took another look at who's representing them.
And weigh up the odds to see if it's worth it.

Political insults

http://www.crikey.com.au/2007/07/11/great-australian-political-insults-a-crikey-list/

Some thoughts on political insults at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7864333/In-praise-of-political-insults-and-memorable-rudeness.html

There are more around but of the Australian lists I could find most seemed to have the same content as the Crikey list.

R0bert

Ammonite:"I don't recall Prime Ministers being heckled so viciously to their face as is happening to Julia Gillard "

You obviously have a very faulty memory or your experience is limited. Both Howard and Fraser were subjected to vicious and violent protest and called much worse than "Juliar". During the gun buyback debate Howard was even given a bullet-proof vest to wear.They didn't seem to find it necessary to cry about it or look for sympathy.

She took the job on and she did it in the nastiest possible way. No sympathy from me.

My favourite, reputedly by Jeff Kennett in reference to Peter Costello

"all the qualities of a dog except loyalty".

Heckling Howard and others. Some of the search results returned were to pages which had been removed.

http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com/2007/10/howard-heckled-again.html

http://australianpolitics.com/news/2000/00-05-27c.shtml

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/infamous-hecklesand-some-ruffled-responses-1815365.html?action=Gallery

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/10/1047144903564.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UVjgAgksC8&feature=related

I can recall talk of former PM Gough Whitlam having egg's thrown at him at one point.

I came across references to Menzies being heckled.

Heckling politicians is not a new thing nor confined to one side of politics.

R0bert

Lexi,
Yes It must have been all together too much for him after he took those classes pre election to present himself in a better light to the public. Advisers back then told him to tone it down. He did a good job of it you must addmitt.
Just imagine going through all of that effort only to lose at the tail end. I guess it would be enough to blow anybodies fuse.
All that effort for nothing- I assume the trainers and advisers got the boot but he could really do with them back again i feel.( Poor Tony)

What I have never seen before is a member of public so close to our PM with a fist right in her face. That was poorly done by her security. She could have punched kicked or even stabbed her and thats not on