http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/republicans-media-relations-are-a-cautionary-tale-for-liberals-20121003-26zkg.html
I am not sure if the link has been posted before.
It is telling, wide ranging and a reminder of the wider impacts of such things.
I note polls are still very heavily against Jones.
And too, that seemingly some forget the welded on supporters are never, the ones having the final say.
Those who are undecided are watching us all

SM,

"An ABC journalist called Howard an unflushable turd,...with no response from Labor."
In this case I fail to see the connection between the journo, the turd and the Labor Party. however in the Gillard case it took place at a Liberal Party sanctioned function and they must take responsibility for what Jones said.
I have no respect for Jones what so ever, I do have some respect for Howard but as a poly he is fair game for people like your journo (I don't think what he said about Howard demonstrates any degree of professionalism on his part, but that's another story).

Paul,

It having been established that AJ who made the comment is not a liberal party member, or that the young liberals society is not affiliated with the liberal party, there is no more there for Abbott to apologise for than in the case of the journo I cited.

As for Howard being fair game, then by your own logic, the left is being far too precious over a throw away line by a shock jock.

Sorry Paul, you can't have it both ways.

SM

Politically it was a 'good' comment for The Bimbo, for me The Mad Monk is off the hook and Jones can fry.
Come on mate, you and I both know for a politician a bit of pious indignation is nearly as good as offering a tax cut at election time.
I personally was mortified and not to mention completely discombobulated (don't get to use that word to often) by the Jones comment.

Just a quick thought about Jones losing sponsors. As Arjay mentioned, Jones hooks into the duopoly that is Wesfarmers and Woolies on a regular basis.

It is not indignation motivating the big two’s decision to pull advertising….it is revenge. Further, Dilmah were lap dogging to Woolies and Coles, and who knows the motivation that drove Mercedes, Honda, Volvo, ING and Freedom furniture, but I would guess it is the positive aspect of moral kudos, they jumped on the band wagon.

I could surmise what motivated Yenda and Lionel Lee was probably moral indignation, but the rest were for reasons other than indignation…..they will be back, their marketing departments will demand it. Jones still wins his time slot, survey in, survey out.

To someone who is not in NSW, Jones comes across as nothing more than a blowhard in a sleazy pub, balancing unsteadily on a bar-stool, nursing a half-warm beer for hours, the sort that you try to avoid eye contact with: a flushable turd.