Dear Hasbeen,

From your description of what we require, the only
candidate for the job of PM would appear to be -
Malcolm Turnbull. How do you feel about him. Or
shouldn't I ask? You surely can't be suggesting
Abbott. You're far too intelligent for that. If
not Turnbull, then who else (apart from Abbott)?

Lexi you write

'And lets not forget he only won
the leadership over Malcolm Turnbull by just one vote.
Further "proof" is unnecessary.'

and lets also note that the Liberal party was in an unwinnable position when Turnbull was leader. Since Abbott took over the party is now almost in an unlosable position. Although Abbott's is abhorent to you, his policies are certainly being backed by the public while Turnbull's were not.

I don't think Abbotts policies are supported Hasbeen, it's not clear what they actually are, except for the rescinding of everything that isn't nailed down .

The opinion polls are anti Gillard whom finds herself in a difficult position leading a consensus Govt with Independents and Greens. Abbott wouldn't have a hope in hell of doing the same Hasbeen, making the decision of the Independents to choose Gillard, vindicated with bills actually passing through both houses. Govt governing.

Never before has a more Bjelke Petersen like figure in Tony Abbott ran for PM, (other than Joh himself). The similarities and parallels between the two are worrying.

It took 23 yrs to rid Qld of Joh, after electoral gerrymandering, the bribing of journalists, dirt units, endemic police and institutional corruption and abuse of power etc. What would someone like Abbott do with Federal powers ?, having so much belief in himself

Joh believed he was on a mission from God , he used to respond to advisors, economists, environmentalists, unfriendly journalists and voters with "don't you worry about that, you let me worry about that, then he would do what he was going too do anyway, without scrutiny. Once in Gov't you never knew what he was up too.

This is the Abbott Govt that I perceive lurking in the shadows, elected on a wave of media misinformation, supplied and supported by vested interests. These same interests will be all lined up after the election for their slice of the pie, of the jewel in the crown of resources rich nations, Australia. And Abbott will have the taxpayer subsidising their operations and their profits. Suddenly he'll rediscover the value of individual contracts in the workplace and bring on Workchoices 2 (the heavy version) and decide finally the the concept of man made climate change "is" crap. Drown a few refugee boat people to stop the boats and improve our international standing on human rights matters(sic) . All in its first year of an absolute majority, leaving the other 3yrs of a 4 yr term devoted to entrenching themselves, just like Joh.

Make no mistake, Rudd is better than Gillard, as much as Turnbull is better than Abbot;
That's really all I can say; they're all terrible, but they're not incompetent as the current two leaders.

Dear runner,

You can't be serious. What "policies" of Mr Abbott's
are you referring to. The man is all spin and rhetoric.

It took 23 yrs to rid Qld of Joh,
thinker 2,
and look where it got us ? what did we get in return ? Goss ? He single-handedly ran a great state into a corner just like Whitlam did with the country. There is a glimmer of hope now though that sense is coming back into Qld politics, it looks as though Anna Bligh will hand over to Andrew Frazer like Beatty handed us on a platter to Bligh now that she is in the bail-out stage. Campbell Newman is a reasonable alternative to Bligh as indeed anyone would be at this stage. She is now on an insane vote buying Govt spending spree which can send us back to the dark ages of Goss.