Alan Moran in Catallaxy Files today: "Tony Abbott has again proven himself a superb leader when not actually in government".

Tony Abbott looked like the saviour of Australia. He would have won the last election. He was of a new generation,essential after John Howard; he was energetic, in touch with real people, had a life outside politics as a CFC volunteer, and he wasn't; too proud to look ridiculous in budgie smugglers. He was a stand out conservative in a sea of immature wets. He was just what Australia needed. But he blew it. He was too trusting; too loyal to people totally undeserving of loyalty; he tried to be friends with his enemies but, most of all, he chickened out on his commitment to get rid of Section 18c. He cannot be excused; he cannot blame his executioners (no matter how rotten and loathsome they were and still are); he is the one who blew it. He is the one who robbed us of our chance to get out of the mess we are in.

Will we ever get out of the mess(I ask you). Will we ever get our own Trump. Will we, as a people, ever get the chance and courage to to 'put it up 'em' (the elites) as did the Brits with Brexit? I say that it is very unlikely. There is something wrong with us Australians. We seem to take perverse pleasure in tolerating people who despise us and use us. We celebrate a thrashing we got from the Turks. We admire a bog-Irish criminal and cop-killer, Ned Kelly. We seem determined to throw away our culture.

Is there any hope? Can you cheer me up?

//Tony Abbott looked like the saviour of Australia... in touch with real people//

The Prince-Knighting Onion Eater of Warringah? He's about as in touch with reality and the people that inhabit it as a cut snake.

Well, thanks for childishly churlish input, Toni Travis. Thankfully, there aren't too many total wastes of space like you around.

t dud.tbn, you have to wonder how much of what Tony screwed up was the doing of Peta Credlin as she was his chief advisor and by all accounts ruled her ship with an iron fist. Perhaos she would make a good PM as she has more balls than the current dud.

The whole thing is what goes up, must come down and the general populus simply won't give back what is no longer affordable. No one appears to want to share the required pain.

The other problem is that too many people have a say in what happens, regardless of whether or not they actually contribute to the dollars that form our much underfunded budget. Can't see anything changing in this area either, so yes, we are doomed, have been for several years now it's just that too many prefer to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the warnings.

If i recall it's October 6 that Holden shuts and that will most likely see a domino effect with many more businesses suffering from the fallout as it could be huge.

As we speak i am cashing out of some investemnts to take away any negatively geared loans as i fear the future will be grim, esspecially if this dud remains our leader.

Jobs and Growth...?

From:http://brendanoconnor.com.au/News/Latest-News/Post/13846/COMPARE-THE-PAIR-UNEMPLOYMENT-HIGHER-UNDER-LIBERALS-THAN-LABOR

"The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released today show that 60,000 full time jobs have been lost in the last 6 months on Malcolm Turnbull’s watch. Under the Turnbull Liberal Government, there has been no improvement in the unemployment rate which remains at 5.7 per cent, with no increase in the number of full time jobs created last month.

Although Malcolm Turnbull has continued Tony Abbott’s trademark three word slogans with his meaningless repetition of “jobs and growth”, 726,400 Australians remain unemployed, with 40,000 more Australians lining the unemployment queue since the Abbott-Turnbull Government was elected. Of particular concern is the number of underemployed people, which has climbed to the highest number ever in this country. There are one million and sixty seven thousand of our fellow Australians who want more work but cannot get it."

Not one amongst the current crop of ALP/LNP/Greens has an IQ higer than a potted palm tree and as for loyalties (if you want one) - look no further than Malcolm in the middle of the Muck Heap who would jump ship from Republican to Liberal to Green Tomato Party if it was in his business interests.

Bill 'Short Circuit' has to be the greatest dud in Labor Party history with about as much charisma as last years Christmas present wrappers and policies to match. DiNatale doing deals with Libs who are doing deals with Adani to build coal ports...oh the humanity ! There goes the Left handed Hump Backed Harp seals habitats !

Still, the ongoing Chopper rides and Condominiums saga will maintain the astute electorate's deeper catatonic state, along with the MSM's daily dose of bread, circuses, football matches and the hollow promises from all corners of the political spectrum.

With just under 3 months to go, the WA state election is promising to be as lacklustre, predictable and painful as the last Federal election. No visionaries save perhaps Brendon Grylls whose tax on mining giants would actually actually do something for a change.

Tony who ?

Dear ttbn,

I don't have much to cheer you up.

To me Mr Abbott seemed unable to either unite or
inspire. He doubled down on division and fear.
Mr Turnbull has not offered us very much at all.
I, like so many others had such high hopes for
him. As for Mr Shorten? Nothing to be said there.

Scott Morrison looks like a good candidate for the
PM's job in the years ahead, but who knows?
Julie Bishop?

We'll have to wait and see what 2017 has in store
for us.