Dear R0bert,

You wrote;

“there are a lot of things our pollies do that I can't easily imagine myself doing”

Indeed, I agree, but I think the operative words are 'can't easily'. For me this was so far beyond the pale and my imagination that it struck me with real horror. Perhaps having lost a father early might well be jaundicing my take on it but to me ugly doesn't do it justice, it was monstrous. In a way I felt the PM's speech served to take the spotlight off his remarks and if she had left the parliament floor abruptly and in real distress he would be in a lot more trouble now.

And I hear you on the rather debased way politics is being played currently by both sides, yet Abbott's taking down of Pauline Hanson and the 'died of shame' remark seems, in my eyes at least, shows a man who plays for keeps and does whatever it takes. 'If you beat me at the ballot box then watch your back because I will find another way to get you'.

It is a pity because I have a bit of time for our local Liberal candidate.

csteel and I've got no time left for my local Liberal candidate, his office repeatedly failed to get back to me last year when I really needed some help (or a least so sense that someone in government cared).

I tend to agree with you about Abbott's ruthlessness, where we appear to differ on that is the view that Gillard and co are any less brutal.

I don't know what candidates I'll have available in my electorate next round, if possible neither of the major parties will get my first preference vote unless the Libs come out with some major reforms around family law before then.

Overall through out my adult life the coalition have hurt me less with their policies and seem to have either managed the economy better (or being consistently luckier') than Labor. It may be that the Qld LNP is about to change that first point, the next six months will tell on that.

R0bert

csteel, for the record as I've already listed a few attacks on Abbott that I consider very low that I also find attacks on the PM over "Barrenness" to be dirty.

I don't know how hard that particular barb hits (if at all) but it's any ugly attack used by some of her opponents.

R0bert

Political correctness makes it interesting.

It is OK to slam Abbott for his choice to be Christian and worse apparently a Catholic, but it is not OK to refer to a woman's choice to be childless.

But then again it is fine for women to boast of their singledom (always too much information), but then there is hurt claimed if that single status is referred to by others, or in other than gushing complimentary terms.

Oscar winners could be humbled by some of the 'hurt' performances of our politicians. The Left have always had first dibbs on hurt and it is no surprise that I would award the Oscar for the best hurt performance to Penny Wong for her hurt performance in 'Meow', with Tanya Plibersek winning best supporting actress for the same. By comparison, Julia Gillard's misogynist performance was only 'so-so', a result of miss-casting for that hurt rant. Any of Penny, Tanya or Nicola could have nailed that script. Instead it was just a short fizz on social 'Me, Me, Me' sites. A flop.

Maybe there should be s Wa, Wa, Wambulance permanently stationed outside Parliament House for the dears inside. Certificates and Compo for hurts, that would go down well with our mercenary pollies as well.

onthebeach, "It is OK to slam Abbott for his choice to be Christian and worse apparently a Catholic"

Being a christian and a catholic should not be subjects of attack in themselves, relevant in some contexts but not as an across the board failing.

The PM's choices (if that's way it is) regarding children should only be an issue to voters if there is a case to indicate she is attempting to impose that choice on others. That would be a big stretch target.

All that I can see being achieved by the barren comment is possibly some hurt to the PM if it's an issue of regret but mostly alienation of a lot of people who don't like that kind of attack. Those who use the barren term might feel good about it amongst themselves but overall they are probably doing the PM more good than harm electorally.

R0bert

Usually insulting comments rebound on the originator.

Political correctness is something else though.