If Liberal campaign strategists aren’t worried about the amount of friendly-fire being aimed at Tony Abbott lately, they should be.
During the last fortnight, Abbott’s parental leave scheme brain-fart has drawn flak from Peter Costello, business groups, Our Lady Shanahan of the Stay-At-Home-Mums, Catholic and Anglican charities; and members of his own back-bench went into a mighty sulk when he sprang it on them. Last week Andrew Bolt gave Tony a slap on the wrist for his commentary that he (Abbott) felt “a bit threatened” around homosexuals. Then this weekend it’s been Noel Pearson taking exception to Abbott’s taking exception to Welcome to Country and acknowledgement of traditional owner ceremonies.
So in a period when most of the mainstream news outlets have been prepared to soft-pedal on Abbott and indulge many of his antics and much of his tomfoolery, the biggest hits are being delivered by his own ideological fellow-travelers. That’s gotta hurt.
These problems aren’t evident in the party room, yet. Coalition politicians have generally shown some discipline, stayed (mostly) on message and managed to keep mum about any misgivings they may have. But outside the party room, Abbott is blotting his copybook with many of the people he will most rely upon for third-party endorsement of his policies. It’s necessary, but not sufficient, to have discipline in the party room during an election year. If Abbott can’t find anyone outside the party room to give him a push, there will be a major credibility deficit when trying to promote his policies later in the year.
I think that what has been missing recently, since before Xmas actually, is Barnaby Joyce.
If Abbott or the Liberals think they can get through this year and the election keeping their finance spokesman completely under wraps, they’re kidding themselves.
I can’t see any positives about Joyce for the Opposition; when he speaks his mind he damages his own side and makes the Government look better, if the Opposition is completely without a finance spokesman they will have trouble developing any kind of credibility as an alternative government.
Friendly fire it might be, Merc, but they’ll all fall back into line when the election comes round. Well, Tip mightn’t. But the rest oif them will be bowing so low at Abbott’s feet people like me will want to puke. Unless there are things going on in the PLL we don’t quite know about, yet. Kevin Andrews, anyone?
The media let the Mad Abbott get away with blue murder. If they were doing their job he’d be a deflated hasbeen by now.
Watching Insiders of late supports the view that so many commenters are hell bent on getting Abbott up and punishing Rudd. What did he do to upset journos so much that they would do all they can to support a neo conservative all the way to the Lodge???? Is Rudd really that bad? I can’t see it despite all the mess ups, he still makes more sense to me than ever having the mad monk at the wheel not to mention the half wits that stand beside him.
Bert,
It has ever been thus with the media and Labor Governments. This current excess of spleen against the ALP is nothing new.
Add Chris Berg in The Age today to the list:
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/follow-the-leader-20100320-qn84.html
Bert @ 4,
Abbott is hardly a neo-conservative. More like paleo-conservative, really.
That’s a goodun @ 6. Thanks.
No worries!