csteele do you really believe there would be more than a few hundred people would listen to a Gillard speech? Even more, do you think anyone other than committed lefties could stand to listen to her.

She has improved my reaction time dramatically. I can get the remote, & turn her off so quickly, the moment that voice is heard, I rarely have to bear the sight of her.

I really doubt even many of the faithful can stand the sight or sound of her, & I find it is women who dislike her the most. I wonder what that says.

This is something I noticed just before the Queensland election. Quite a few ladies I had previously thought mild mannered, expressed very strong dislike, & even hate for Bleigh. Most of the blokes thought she was just an incompetent twit, with no strong feeling beyond that. Not so many of the ladies.

I think you will be unpleasantly surprised at the size of the bricks many ladies will be hurling at a certain bottle red head, come election time.

That's where you're wrong, Hasbeen.

I think we can agree that you would refer to me as a leftie - that is, someone with a respect for the ethics of a robust social democracy.

I've had a bit a hiatus from politics in the main since the last election, and I can honestly say I've avoided long political speeches on telly and particularly avoided those by the Prime Minister, who I've heard speak only here and there.

I took the opportunity of clicking csteele's youtube link this morning, and had a rattling good time watching her carpet Mr Abbott. I think csteele is on the money that her "well-controlled" speech was the result of much pent-up emotion, but mainly a volley served against hypocrisy. It seems that the hapless Mr Abbott pushed one button too many and she let him have it. I'm not particularly enamoured of her politics, however, I can glean a superior parliamentary performer when I see one. Some pollies have it to a high degree and some don't. Some are perfectly well suited to politics, but not well suited to leadership. Tony Abbott seems to have attained his relatively high-office by default - he doesn't possess the lightning wit and smarts required, simple as that.

Btw, my eleven year-old noticed Gillard as he wandered past the computer this morning. He pulled up a chair of his own volition and watched it with me. It seems there was something electric about her performance.

(I got an extra kick myself watching Julie Bishop feign outrage and indignation. I reckon she should go for a part in the next series of Downton Abbey)

runner is far from alone, while his crime may be worse, hiding behind a form of Christianity that was never told by its God.
Throwing words like slut at , who do you think the gent was targeting?
I despise Gillard, not because she is a woman, not because any evidence has ever been put she is getting more sex than her share.
I note Tony Abbott a man therefore able, thought he, a near Catholic monk had a son out of wedlock.
Back to our sorry poster runner, he shows us even we, can let a personal view turn to bigotry.
So much has been said about Gillard, BECAUSE SHE IS A WOMAN.
Her conduct in both speech and actions have been great.
In time she will gain credit for removing Abbott, his recent actions are as low as runners bigotry hiding behind religion.
And in time this country,s male dominated unhappy form in talking about all women and Gillard will change.

What annoys me to tears is all of them in Canberra now trying to score points using sexism as the spring board. Wish they'd just grow up.

well you get my drift.
DiamondPete,
I think you don't have a drift to offer apart from drifting with the flow of two wrongs make a right towards the waterfall of moral collapse.
Yes the 50's as was any other period were not all that great for woman but that has changed & has now gone off the rails again the other way. Remember two wrongs don't make a right.

Poirot>> Tony Abbott seems to have attained his relatively high-office by default - he doesn't possess the lightning wit and smarts required, simple as that.<<

P, perhaps we need a plodder in power, one who can implement policy without CONTINUOUS failure on application. The "lightning quick smarts" you qualify as some sort of positive attribute obviously does not transfer to policy competency.

I was going to list Labors failed policies, but it would take too long. So I will list their only triumph as the snow falls along the Great Dividing Range this 12th day of October…..

Carbon tax….because of global warming. Yes they have achieved the taking of our wealth for no valid reason and shipped it overseas. The rate of Carbon tax is what they deem, or what the Europeans deem, or perhaps what the Martians deem…,who knows?

I will tell you who does not know….the rabble of imbeciles and liars that rule the decaying carcass of a once affluent Australian domestic economy.