Gee Poirot, where on earth would I be if I didn't have you to tell me what I actually think about this subject?
I don't believe I have commented very often on the Coalition policies as such, especially as this thread seems to be a discussion of Turnbull versus Shorten, isn't that correct?

So, I will say again that I prefer Turnbull's style of leadership, public speaking, sense of humour, and general manner rather than Shorten's..... style.
No doubt you won't like that comment, but it is my opinion.

Hi Suse and Poirot,

I would say Turnbull's political thinking ls closer to that of Shorten's than it is to Abbotts. On a personal level Turnbull and Abbott don't like each other, they are not even on speaking terms. But party policy is not ones personal political thinking, even for the Prime Minister, he is caught between a rock and a hard place on that score. At the moment Turnbull is a captive of the right faction of the party, they still have the numbers. What would give Turnbull the authority he wants, would be a resounding electoral win in his own right, it would serve to silence the critics within.
Abbott still has the support of a solid hard core dissident right faction of the party who are working to control events, whereby Abbott is in a position to make a comeback, despite the fact 75% of voters want him to get the hell out of the place. Kevin Andrews, a leading Turnbull hater himself, and Abbott supporter, fired off a salvo yesterday with "I to could be Prime Minister" which was nothing more than a public message to Turnbull that they are still on his case. Turnbull did himself no favors with his tax announcements, scored an own goal with that one. When a politician talks tax, he has to treat it like the plague, tell everyone he is going to control it, but not spread it to you. In an election year tax should only be spoken of in the vaguest of terms, peppered with a few feel good statements, like "On my reelection I will will be tackling the issue of taxation with vigor! Whilst at the same time coming down hard on those that would avoid their tax obligations to the good folk of Australia, you my beloved electorate etc etc."

Poirot,

Independent modelling! what BS. This is exactly the back of the ciggy box calculations by one person that got Krudd and Juliar in so much trouble. One prof at a uni did a calculation on limited set of variables.

The more reliable modelling is the professional economy wide modelling done on similar policies for the real estate industry that showed that Labor's policies would be a complete disaster.

Labor also did bugger all modelling for its 40% emission reduction by 2030. What a joke.

Suse,

You are right - that is the title of the thread. And you've been saying all along that you prefer Turnbull to Shorten.

I should have realised that from your viewpoint it was merely a discussion confined to the superficial impressions of the two leaders and left it at that.

My problem is that I tend to connect the individual to their present role. And then I tend to analyse their performance in relation to that role...that's where I'm obviously going wrong!

Considering their roles are integral to the outcomes of people, their lives and opportunities - that makes it even worse.

Here's what you posted earlier:

"Personally, I think Turnbull and Co. might just make it over the line. Shorten just doesn't have the personality to inspire a majority of voters, despite what policies labor comes up with. I don't believe it is always about policies at all."

It's often enough initially to get by on a bit of charm and some soothing rhetoric.....but ultimately, it's always about policies.

Paul,

Yes, I agree that Turnbull doesn't command enough power to stamp his authority.

Yabby, on another thread, pointed out in relation to Mal's thought bubbles - that he thinks more like an entrepreneur than a bureaucrat. I would agree with that - except an entrepreneur would first make sure his bright idea was a goer before sprinkling it all about the place willy nilly. An entrepreneur who kept advertising his failed thought bubbles wouldn't be an entrepreneur for very long.

"Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has ceded the Coalition's lead in an opinion poll for the first time since the leadership coup, when he said Tony Abbott's poor performance in the same survey justified the change.

Newspoll, published by News Corp late on Monday night, had the Labor party leading the Coalition 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis. Mr Turnbull's personal ratings were down four points, while Labor leader Bill Shorten's by improved six points, which is outside the margin of error."

"Queensland backbench MP Ewen Jones told Fairfax Media he believed the budget would answer a lot of questions about the government's direction and said he did not believe claims Mr Shorten was "unelectable."

"For me, in a marginal seat, I have never agreed to the idea that Bill Shorten could not be elected," he said.

"Things will always tighten up in an election year.

"We got elected in 2013 to fix the budget. That requires leadership and uncomfortable discussions.

"I back Malcolm here. If we stand for something, keep pointing out the issues, the problems, the obstacles but continue to push forward our ideas on the transitioning economy we will win the election."

Mr Jones said the Coalition had taken a predictable hit by highlighting state government spending.

One government MP who did not want to be named told Fairfax Media the ratings showed Mr Turnbull needed to abandon his dithering and "start doing something".

"The government needs a narrative badly," the MP confided.

"The only narrative going is that the PM is a charmer. That's not enough to convince the public to re-elect the government," the MP said."

etc....

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-and-the-coalition-lose-lead-to-labor-newspoll-20160404-gnycmg.html