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Tony Abbott has shown himself to be a low-rent clone of Mark Latham, says senior correspondent Barry Everingham.
MARGIE Abbott’s public endorsement of Tony and his attitude to women was misplaced. Of course, as his long time and obviously loving wife, she thought she was doing the right thing ― and if she wasn’t such a strong and honourable woman, it might have worked.
However, all that happened is that it underscored what a weak and ineffectual leader Abbott really is and his disgusting performance in the National Parliament yesterday only confirmed what many people already think ― that he is a low rent clone of Mark Latham. Of course, at least Latham punched other blokes ― not the wall on either side of a woman’s head.
Julia Gillard took over where Margie Abbott left off, and she had every right to be furious by Abbott’s not too subtle use of the phrase Alan Jones has made unspeakable by decent men ― “died of shame”. Talk back radio today in Melbourne contained seething references to Abbott and the way he holds Jones in thrall. And Ms Gillard yesterday said it all, when she launched her attack on Tony Abbott. Meanwhile, his body language while she held forth was telling; a sneering half smile, accompanied by a shake of the head, indicating: “say what you like, bitch ― makes no difference to me”.
Abbott is drop kick. He’s not fit to lead an Opposition, even one which includes such shocking people like Sophie Mirabella, Christopher Pyne, Cory Bernardi and Eric Abetz, to name but a few. Tony Jones was amiss on Monday night’s Q&A by not hauling Pyne into line as he continually spoke over Kate Ellis, as did the egregious right wing ratbag Piers Akerman. Speaking of ratbags, Ms Mirabella will be on Q & A on Monday, which is surprising after her heartless last appearance ― when the young panelist from GetUp, Simon Sheikh, collapsed and she distanced herself from being of any assistance. He should count himself lucky she didn’t give him the kiss of life.
Speaking of Mirabella, what in the name of God is happening over the Colin Howard million dollar court case, in which she is playing a leading role?
Back to Slipper and the Liberals.
He was endorsed on nine separate occasions to contest his seat of Fisher for them and now, because of some sleazy and really dreadful allegations surrounding the former Speaker and a staffer, he is cast adrift by his former political mates.
The mock outrage being played by the Opposition at the moment is just that; after all, Abbott told the Independents he’d consider selling his arse to get their votes to put him in The Lodge.
Abbott should take a Bex, have a good lie down and fade into the background. He should allow his Party to reinstate Malcolm Turnbull, whose dignity and decency might restore his once great Party to relevance.
In closing, let me illustrate how mock outrage was dealt with in the days of Bob Menzies.
Ian Fitchett
The late and great Fairfax political writer, Ian Fitchett – a man of Menzian proportions and a forerunner of Laurie Oakes – managed to get hold of one of the Menzies Budget papers and Fairfax published them on the morning before the Budget was delivered.
Fitchett took up his spot in the place where he habitually held court, beside the glass cabinet containing a copy of the Constitution in King’s Hall of the old Parliament House ― presumably laying in wait for the outraged Prime Minister to appear.
He didn’t wait too long before Menzies faced him.
“I’m going to make you eat crow Fitchett,” he bellowed at the bemused scribe, who as quick as a whip replied:
“I don’t mind eating your crow, Prime Minister, so long as its garnished by the sauce of your own embarrassment!”
One could say they did things differently in those days.
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Sophie Mirabella – Tony Abbott’s Bitch?
As long as single mothers don’t get a word in I guess the week’s gone well and with everyone fighting misogyny so hard for them.
agree with the article, but…
yeah jim, only the greens are standing against what i think may be labors usual stuff up after a win. not sure what labor is thinking… if they’re short of cash, means test the baby bonus or scale right back subsidies to polluting industry including the billions they give car manufacturing. seems arbitrary to say once a kid hits 8 they need less.
Kate Ellis remained dignified while the odious Pyne continually butted in and Tony Jones really should be replaced as he is becoming opinionated and loses control, all the time while trying to appear he isn’t.
what I want to know is why on earth does the ABC have a dolt like Ackerman on, and I don’t mind but totally disagree with his politics but he has adequate outlets elsEwhere plus he bumbled and fumbled every answer and wasted valuable time whilst every audience member made far more sense. He may be able to write his right wing Coalition rubbih in a newspaper but articulate it, he appeared to have the beginnings of dementia.
where are the other representatives of the media : like the Socialist Weekly or crikey or IA , the SMH, Age and so on. Why the hell do News Ltd hacks keep being given an outlet when they already own most of the media. Where is the balance?
Here Here PatOShea
Yes and Kate Ellis voted to torture single parents and refugee women and kids on the same day.
” Mock Outrage” indeed. What a pack of hypocrites is the Liberal Party led by Abbott. I’d make 2 points:
1. As a former Rugby player Tony Abbott no doubt would have participated in many a rowdy post match dressing room celebration. And he no doubt would have sung along to many a Rugby song describing female genitalia in very colourful terms, even outdoing Peter Slippers efforts. Such “classics” as ‘The Ring-a-dang-do’
‘ The Wild West Show’ and ‘The Good Ship Venus’ spring to mind. Remember them ,Tony and Joe? And did you walk out in disgust or give your teammates a good talking to about using disgusting terms about women?
Yet here they are carrying on in high dudgeon about Slippers use of similar terms. Bloody hypocrites!
2. And it’s just as hypocritical as when the Hooray Henrys and the little Lord Haw Haws of the junior Liberal Party put their morality on display when they cheered and laughed along with Jones a couple of weeks ago and fawned over his after dinner rant as if he had just delivered a second Sermon on the Mount. Twerps and sycophants the lot of them. And not one outraged or offended enough to speak out against it until it came to light days later.
Ah the Daily Bellylaugh and the UN Australian. Little wonder channel 10 is on it’s knees when it hosts the Bolt Report. Abbott hasn’t got the intestinal fortitude to front Q&A or despite repeated requests Lateline or 7.30. Says a lot about his character non?
Barry,
Agree with everything you said apart from the bit about Turnbull. Whilst not as bad as Abbott he is another Lord Haw Haw (see running bare above). The man is just the biggest liar along with Pyne, Abetz, Brandis, Mirabella et al.
Yesterday’s effort in parliament by Abbott was woeful. he asked a question of the PM about an $800 increase in an Electricity Bill and then said it was the fault of the Carbon price. Albp asked him to table the document which he did.
The bill stated that 9.13% of the Bill was related to the Carbon price.
The use of such deception by any adult and in the Parliament of Australia is breathtaking. As a product of Sydney University Young Liberals, he hasn’t moved on from such basic and juvenile tactics in debating.
I am only disappointed that Anthony Albanese didn’t put up a motion to censure Abbott for misleading the Parliament.
Its about time he was slapped down once and for all. but if enough people wake up to him and his ILK then the election should be enough.
Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, denigration of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women.
Mock outrage is the cornerstone of LNP policy isn’t it? Outrage over everything from refugees (“We’ll decide who comes to this country, and the manner in which they come!”) to gay marriage (“There are even some creepy people out there… [who] say it is OK to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals.”) to the carbon pricing (“The sky will fall in! Bedlam!”). Only fitting that they would pick up on the misogyny and sexism so prevalent in the “ol’ boys’ club” of parliament.
And precisely my thoughts on Monday’s Q&A episode – disgraceful conduct on the part of the male panelists, and Tony Jones for not pulling them up on it.
But didn’t Mr. Abbott look like he was enjoying that embarrassment-drizzled crow!?! “Please sir…may I have some more.”
Dear BARRY EVERINGHAM, welcoming you back in print, Dear Cobber.
Our readers may be unaware that Baz has been quite ill for some time and now that he is back on deck, I can hear the knees of certain pollies, already knocking.
Onya Baz!!!
But the whole thing is not about sex, it is about a labor government.
Before any of you go too much further down this embarrassing whinge about so-called sexism you need to re read the behaviour Whitlam was subjected to by Snedden and Fraser simply for beating the tories
Dear Barry Everingham
Welcome back to Independent Australia.
Hope that you are fully recovered from your recent illness.
I admit that I have missed your contributions.
I shall look forward to reading you in future.
I nominate Mike Carlton to replace Tony Jones as moderator Q&A – He is probably a little to the RIGHT but I can live with that????