'He's a mediocre pollie who seems to have landed in fortuitous circumstances.......

And all he had to do was keep his trap shut. '

Oh the envy Poirot. If only Ms Gillard had get her trap shut. Disposing of Rudd and probably Gillard and turning the polls from 52/48 against to 58/42 for actually makes him possible the most successful opposition leader in history.

come on Poirot and Lexi just try very very hard to give Tony a little credit. We know you despise him but the facts speak for themselves.

Individual do you understand you do more than enough keeping the Morons seen here?
Rudd if he does not stand, and he probably will not, will leave Federal Politics.
He may re-emerge in QLD state politics or just go.
Remember without his return Labor will have trouble finding a Cricket team.
It may well see, gee I hope so, Gillard go , any place will do, and her support team will struggle to remain with the dead body of the party around their necks.
Now INDY I know my comment was not nice, I know that, and, because I AM A BETTER PERSON than you I feel dirty but you are master of spite and must expect returns.

runner,

I haven't got much time for Gillard, as it happens.

Neither have I much time for middling-Tony.

(I note you haven't kicked the habit of accusing those who think differently from you of "despising"....there's probably some kind of help group to address that out there somewhere - good luck with that!)

runner,

I don't "despise" anyone.
And if their behaviour is "despicable"
then I realise that they are troubled
and should seek professionable help.

As for Mr Abbott - I have nothing against
him. I simply don't want him as PM. I
frankly am concerned about the "do whatever
it takes" mentally that Mr Abbott possesses.
He finds condemnation easier than coming up
with policies of any substance. This is not
the type of leader that I think should
detrmine the future direction of this
great country of ours and representing us on
the world stage.

Dear Bazz,

Presumably a politician cannot be elected for more than one term at a time.

An elected head of government need not be a dictator. There can be mechanisms to keep him in check. One is recall. A sufficient percentage of voters signing a petition can call for new elections. There is also impeachment which can be for reasons of malfeasance (acting badly), misfeasance (acting wrongly) and nonfeasance (not acting).

Recall involves the entire electorate. Impeachment involves the entire parliament. Right now there are no effective checks on the head of government as long as he or she retains the support of the influential parliamentarians in her or his party.

With an elected head of government attention would be focused on the candidates for that position in addition to the candidates for local representative. In the case of Rudd I don't believe he could be elected if attention was focussed on his failings.

We could learn from Norway. No political advertising is allowed. Candidates must debate with each other face to face with no moderator involved.

Hi LEXI...

I applaud you for your measured comments apropos the fitness or otherwise of Tony Abbott being a good Prime Minister. Many of those herein have variously described him as being 'slime' and other less complimentary terms, but you merely insist that your don't wish for him to be your Prime Minister ! Good on you for that.

In my recent memory, I've not known so much anger, or vitriol expressed about politicians, then in recent years. I too am as guilty as anyone for joining in this virulent and rancorous chorus of denunciation, for most of our current crop of politicians, as anyone else on this Forum. And I really don't quite know why. But it surely does worry me ?