Opposing on empty
Monday, 15 March 2010 Tactics 4 comments
If Howard couldn’t sustain a distinctive agenda in the run up to the 2007 election, why should Abbott after 2010?
The slow toppling destruction of Turnbull – an apology
Thursday, 6 August 2009 Political figures 9 comments
Costello said on Monday night that Turnbull has had a far easier ride than Nelson, but this blog is now not so sure. There seems no other way to explain the Liberals’ extraordinary behaviour over the last few days.
St Godwin v The Political Class
Tuesday, 4 August 2009 State of the parties 11 comments
That such an incident, so trivial in nature, should turn out be so potentially damaging to two senior political figures and was actually damaging to another, should have been proof of the anti-political climate our politicians are operating in. Now, with what is becoming almost the canonisation of the said public servant, we have more.
Avoiding the Katrina effect
Monday, 16 February 2009 Tactics 9 comments
The government passed up what could have been a major political opportunity last week.
Hardball – an update
Friday, 13 February 2009 Tactics Comments Off on Hardball – an update
Xenophon’s rejection of the stimulus has given the government at least another day to turn the Liberal’s internal manoeuvre into a public one.
For the first time since 1990, when Labor’s reform program ran its course, the coalition has now lost its precious lead in economic management.
Unity can be death too
Friday, 12 December 2008 State of the parties Comments Off on Unity can be death too
You would think the Liberals in opposition would be in their element now. The economy is turning down and Labor’s plan is to spend its way out of it.
An irrelevant and useful distraction – an update
Monday, 8 December 2008 State of the parties Comments Off on An irrelevant and useful distraction – an update
What is striking in the press coverage is how it has shifted focus onto what the Nationals did and away from the real challenge to Turnbull’s authority, what the Liberal front bench did.
The Day The Right Died
Monday, 27 October 2008 Key posts, State of the parties Comments Off on The Day The Right Died
The public stoning of Dr Henry in Wednesday’s Senate hearing and George Brandis’s bizarre behaviour on Lateline on Friday shows that the coalition had more in mind than political point-scoring last week.
A witch-hunt to hide behind
Thursday, 23 October 2008 Tactics Comments Off on A witch-hunt to hide behind
The Australian may be making the right point that somewhere along the line, the RBA Governor probably did state the obvious, i.e. that banking guarantees distort the financial markets. But Turnbull’s disastrous appearance on The 7.30 Report last night is a reminder that politically it’s a stupid point to pursue.