Wobbles,

Yes, initially I think his decision to return was spurred by Rudd's decision in April 2010 to put the ETS on hold. Turnbull's support for the ETS had been the catalyst for his own overthrow.

Turnbull had announced his decision earlier in the same April to retire. I think he was so incensed that Rudd had jettisoned the scheme that he reassessed his decision to move on from politics...but it's obvious that he's just biding his time before mounting a challenge to Abbott.

Poirot, one hopes sooner rather than later.

Had Abbott been the least bit skilled in being in opposition, rather than just adopting his heavy pugilist stance, he could have destroyed Gillard with her Rudd distractions by now, and enhanced his own standing within the community.

Were there a better ALP leader (neither Rudd nor Gillard) Abbott's efforts to date would have been sidelined long ago.

His 'popularity' is only the result of community resentment against Gillard, not for anything he brings to the job.

Sure, old hasbeens, leftovers from the Howard era, froth at the mouth and enjoy the Abbott style but they are a minority in the community.

Thankfully.

I think that Kevin Rudd's behaviour at this point illustrates his credentials as a clever political tactician; not unlike John Howard.

However like John Howard, it's all about him, not Australia's best interests. As Howard proved when he signed the Boeing Stealth Fighter contracts against the best judgements and advice from the ADF in a motel room on tour in the US, he is grandstanding, posturing for personal recognition in the U.S. , with devastating and costly consequences for us in Howard's case.

Rudd's rhetoric today, refers too "un-australian behaviour", angling for a John Howard style sense of an Aussie fair go. Fishing for public sympathy, whilst at the same time attempting to influence U.S. official opinion (behind closed doors ?) in favour his restoration as Australian PM.

If there was such a thing as un-australian that would be it, wouldn't it ?.

Alarmingly Tony Abbott was bleating in an article in the Age today about how he would be an even more loyal brown noser to U.S. than even Rudd, proving that even he is concerned about a U.S. sanctioned return of Rudd too the top office.

Perhaps we should continue with what, (for all intensive purposes) is an independent reformist and infrastructure building, Labor Gov't.

The question is, "can the Gov't be led and re-elected to do so, by a Gillard ", with Rudd carping from the sidelines, even from the back bench. I think not.

Therefore a third candidate will be required. One that Rudd cannot line up like a fish in a barrel.

Clearly Julia Gillard could have been a great PM and I believe that with the value of hindsight will go down as a great PM, but only if Labor can survive this onslaught from Rudd and be re-elected to enact a policy platform that can only be good for Australia and bad for vested interests.

con't....

con't....

Even LNP voters would be alarmed by Julie Bishop as Foreign Minister as her recent writings and positions made on behalf of her party. (Mindless warmongering to say the least) but suddenly Rudd as Foreign Minister has lost it's gloss for me, much the same way that Kim Beasley has as Ambassador in Washington for a long time.

Above all else the last thing we need now is a John Howard Version 3 in Tony Abbott .

Does Julia deserve to survive Graham Y ?, most definitely. Whether she can or not is another question entirely.

TBC,

Yep, I think a pretty accurate gauge of Abbott's leadership qualities is the fact even in the midst of Labor consistently whacking itself on the head with a frying pan, that he and the Liberal party can only manage to stay neck and neck. They should be whooping it in under the circumstances.

To my mind, using a cricket analogy, Abbott comes across as a blocker, a night-watchman.

That could be drinks boy in fact Poirot.