Didn't bother reading it, after all it was more ABC, [Labor media arm] rubbish.

Dear Poirot,

That's the problem with climate change politics in 2011.
In large part because of politicians like Abbott the issue
has become so thoroughly politicised that many conservative
voters don't believe Australia's top scientists. They really
do see a sincere attempt by the government to embark on a
moderate reduction in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions as
a kind of conspiracy to withdraw liberties and increase
taxation. In short, they are irrationally angry. And one
of the key stokers of the conservative rage has been the utter
political expediency of conservative politicians like the
leader of the Opposition and his cheerleaders in the media.

Driven by ruthless ambition, Abbott in recent times has
entertained few qualms in his pursuit of the government, to
the degree where he's been willing to say and do anything
using every weapon available in his drive for the top job.

Much like the US Republicans (as Reagan said - "facts are
silly things"), the Liberal Party in Australia has recently
seemed surprisingly content with advancing positions that
clash with the legacy of the party's more noble traditions
of reason and prudence in a libertarian assault on the
foundations of government itself. It's hard to believe
Robert Menzies, with his firm belief in the value of
conserving and preserving social institutions and the common
wealth of the nation would support any of the current Liberal
rhetoric.

It's interesting that you should disdain to read such an article (although not surprising), Hasbeen. It is cleverly written, entertaining and amusing....something one rarely reads from the right of politics.

Reminds me of the time Fox News decided to include a new comedy segment in response to Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, both of whom manage to strip the American political scene bare with every episode. The Fox News comedy hour lasted about that long. It wasn't insightful (or funny) The term "lead balloon" comes to mind ....that's right-wing commentary for you.

To me, this isn't about Tony Abbott, particularly.

It is about our political system in general, where politicians - unlike the general public - are allowed to promise anything they like, without any concerns about being held to account.

Unless and until we adopt a process whereby politicians' campaigns to become elected are recorded, and held to be firm commitments, we will be unable to prevent this stupidity from eating into every corner of the fabric of our lives.

The logic is simple. We, the taxpayers, pay well over the odds to keep our politicians in a welter of pay, perks and lifetime luxury. The very least they owe us in return is to meet the commitments they make. And since we even pay those in opposition, the least we are owed in return is that they do not to lie to us.

This should be a public scandal at least as big as Murdoch. Instead, we simply shrug our shoulders, and dutifully line up every few years to reinstall one or the other of the scoundrels for another trip on the gravy train.

A pox on all their houses.

Annabel Crabb>> In fairness, no-one can claim that Mr Abbott didn't warn voters not to believe anything he said unless he put it in writing.<<

Bad luck for the electorate that Gillard did not include a caveat such as that before her rhetorical utterances, Abbott said there is wiggle room if not in hard copy, Gillard said "there will be no Carbon tax under a government I lead", an emphatic statement with no caveat. One ststement is an honest portrail of eventualities, the other an out and out lie, given that Gillard knew the Greens would have to be a part of her government.

If I were a greyhound trainer I would have to say that in this case the dog is smarter than the bitch, but the bitch did not count on the Tasweigan brindle bitch in waiting setting the agenda. I would have to say another error in judgment and a lack of foresight from these post grad mongrels (if I were to keep the Greyhound analogy up).

It seems that there are some startling revelations here:

• Politicians use propaganda
• Politicians, especially in opposition, use rhetoric
• Opposition leaders use spin campaigns to discredit government policy
• Opposition leaders oppose
• Politicians change their minds
• Politicians only tell the part of the story that supports their position
• Elements of the media report what politicians are saying but filter the reports by adding their own value judgements
• Elements of the media report what politicians are saying without adding their own value judgements

Wow. I’m glad I know this now – I’ll be a bit more careful about what I believe in the media from now on.

For those who can remember more than three years ago, you will recall that Rudd & Gillard were behaving in similar fashion to Abbott when they filled those roles.

On a more serious note, I think the last post from Lexi has some interesting perspectives. Liberal supporters should be happy enough with the performance of Abbott as an opposition leader at this time but there will have to be a fundamental shift from blind rhetoric to proposals of solid positive policy about a year from now if there is any chance for the Liberals and Abbott transforming into a decent government. Hopefully these policies contain the substance of what the Liberal party does (or should) stand for and are not simply a vehicle for election so that Abbott can repeat the egocentric mistakes of Rudd with us all paying the price.