What Does Mr Abbott Stand For? If you really want to know just give Archy Pell a buzz, after all, an Archbishop outranks a monk, even a mad one.
Tony just announced a new policy to boost the fishing industry. No more eating meat on Fridays. Sorry about that Butch.

Houellie,

Rudd said he didn't wish to stand by and see Abbott win by "default'

Frankly, that's is what seemed to be happening.

Whatever machinations were happening between Gillard, her government, and the electorate, it was allowing the Opposition to merely coast.

It would have been pretty dumb to continue with that.

If Howard hadn't been so lauded toward the end of his tenure, the Liberal Party would have done the same. Instead they just went down with the ship. We all knew that was going to happen, and it did.

At least now we have a bit more of a contest.

I don't see how you miss the irony of all you labor-ites asking what Tony stands for, when all that Rudd stands for is that he doesn't like what Tony stands for.

What do you stand for?

:-)

BTW: I have never voted for the Coalition. And I'm not about to start now.

Would you vote for this man...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmpswEJ-sg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51dJ4_rZKmE

Would you vote for this man....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGj8min8iwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYxap_vxK7E

I'm sure Mr. Abbott would stand for old ladies on public transport... but that's not important right now.

I've decided to only consider voting for a political candidate who or party that, during the time SM says "gave Aus the 3 biggest deficits in history", did not vote for or support any increase in politicial pay and allowances or benefits.

Houellie,

Why don't you start a thread titled "What Does Mr Rudd Stand For?"

I've experienced Mr Rudd as Prime Minister.

I haven't experienced Mr Abbott as Prime Minister.

Need I say, that I find Mr Abbott a useful, but mediocre pollie, who seems to have advanced to the top job in the Opposition and managed it successfully from the Opposition's point of view.

That's my opinion.

If this fellow is in line for the highest office in the country, I'd like to know what it is that I'm missing...surely he must have more substance than is presently on display.

(And yes I'm somewhat partisan, but not completely. As I mentioned to onthebeach earlier, I have voted Liberal in the last two state elections, because of a fantastic local member and a relatively stable and sensible state government)

Dear SM,

A Morgan poll shows a big bounce for Kevin Rudd,
and puts Labor almost even with the Coalition.
And Kevin Rudd is far more popular with the
Australian voters than Mr Abbott. Suddenly
Mr Abbott faces an opponent far more popular than
himself and the Opposition leader's supposedly
assured run to election victory has now been
radically challenged.

Mr Abbott will now have to do more than just keep
breathing to become the next Prime Minister.
It won't be enough to want to have the job presented on
a plate. As I stated earlier the electorate will want
detailed policies so that it can properly assess who
deserves to govern.

In a recent poll 59 per cent of voters have now stated
that Labor can win the next election.

And I suspect this stems from Kevin Rudd portraying
himself as the face of reassurance and Abbott as risk.
Rudd is turning Abbott's fear campaign against Abbott.
And Kevin Rudd certainly has the people's attention.

Dear Hasbeen,

As I stated on this discussion - throwing out a government
is not the same as electing an opposition. The electorate,
like nature, abhors a vacuum. Without detailed policies it
cannot properly assess who deserves to govern. And Mr
Abbott has to do more than just keep breathing to become
the next PM.

Australians need to know precisely why they
should vote for Mr Abbott and the Coalition. This requires
work, not glad-handing, nor empty rhetoric. Again, as I've
stated in the past - clearly there has been huge advantages
while in opposition in offering a small target to Labor,
but to carry that strategy any further now is to treat
voters with contempt.

And, Kevin Rudd will continue in portraying himself as the
face of reassurance and Abbott as risk. It's up to Mr Abbott
and the Coalition to now try to correct that image.
Otherwise Mr Rudd just may succeed in turning the fear
campaign against Mr Abbott and his team. Mr Rudd does have
the people's attention.