Pollies all talk, no traction

THEY can talk the talk, but will their parties walk the walk?

Several Coalition politicians with strong rural brands are masters at attracting headlines - but the talk is often not backed up by policy, a leading political branding expert says.

The Weekly Times has compared the quotes of prominent Coalition politicians with the policies held by their parties.

Nationals senate leader Barnaby Joyce has said he'd be "doing more than locking the gate" on a mining company that wants to explore his land - but Nationals policy does not give farmers the right to stop mining companies entering their farms.

Liberal leader Tony Abbott at one point said farmers should "have a right to say no" to coal-seam gas mining on their land, while maverick Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has described the coal seam gas industry as a "cowboy" set up.

Liberal policy does not mention coal-seam gas.

Mr Abbott and senators Joyce and Heffernan have talked tough on foreign farm buys, but no policy has been released. It is expected soon.

Mr Abbott and deputy Julie Bishop have spoken of problems with managed investment schemes, but Liberal policy is to continue them.

Australian National University political branding specialist Andrew Hughes said the politicians in question were running several brands in the electoral marketplace, many of which didn't match up with the policies punters were actually voting for.

Mr Hughes said the strategy was to "appeal to different parts of the market" with differing personal brands.

"That way you can protect the major brand (of the party) from any fallout in key markets, for example western Sydney or Melbourne, so voters there don't perceive (the entire party) as nutty or extremist," Mr Hughes said.

"These guys appeal to that really ultra-right segment to protect that vote leaking across to (Bob) Katter (and his Australia Party)."

The strategy relied on the public perception rather than the policy reality, he said.

However, Mr Hughes said the strategy was not limited to the Coalition - Labor aimed to attract the gay vote through the views of Senator Penny Wong yet had not enabled gay marriage, he said.


http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/05/23/485561_politics-news.html


By lying day in day out, is Abbott on a Highway to Hell?


In Abbott's Soul's Best Interest, Should He Quit Politics and find a Career where he will not lie day in, day out?

You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot.

phony Tony IS the highway to hell for OZ.

I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though.

Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions.

Verge wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 12:30pm:

You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot.

Now how about, for once, keeping on topic.

Abbott lying for political power. Day in, day out.

What sort of message does this send to Christians.

john_g wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 12:46pm:

I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions.

Yea, I agree. Hockey reminds me of Beasley, a nice bloke but not PM material.

john_g wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 12:46pm:

I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions.

Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position?

By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull.

____ wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:04pm:

Verge wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:30pm: You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot. Now how about, for once, keeping on topic. Abbott lying for political power. Day in, day out. What sort of message does this send to Christians.

I would have thought that Abbott perfectly reflects the attitude of the Christian church over the last thousand + years but its a shame he doesnt reflect the attitude of the person the church claims to follow.

____ wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:06pm:

john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull.

Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat.
I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard.

Here we go again. It's now probably finally sinking in to the lefties that Mr Abbott is going to be our next PM, and for years to come.

skippy. wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:09pm:

____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard.

The problem is that Tony has no policies so all we know is he was a lying Minister that cut funding to public hospitals and the training of health care professionals when he was in govt. So we do know that according to Costello he is an idiot when it comes to economics and he likes to lie, abuse and manipulate when in power.

skippy. wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:09pm:

____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard.

Labor facing battle to save the furniture


Behind the horror scenes, the ALP must now switch to election survival mode.

WHILE the government has squirmed and stressed all week under the horror of the Thomson affair, behind the scenes some Labor figures are mulling how it can "save the furniture" at the election.

And the furniture now at risk is not just all those House of Representatives seats, but the present control of the Senate by Labor and the Greens. It is becoming increasingly possible that Tony Abbott could end up with a Senate where the balance of power rests with crossbenchers who lean to the right.

Leaving aside the many ALP MPs set to lose their seats in a huge defeat, the size of the loss can have big implications for those who would have senior jobs in an ALP opposition: the likes of Bill Shorten, Jason Clare, Greg Combet, Chris Bowen, Mark Dreyfus, Mark Butler, Tanya Plibersek and Richard Marles. A result like Queensland could see such talent grow old(ish) in opposition.

Despite Kevin Rudd's February trouncing, which suggested (including to this writer) that he was finished, he is again being talked about. Labor figures say they can't go to an election with about a 30per cent primary vote (a Galaxy poll has federal ALP at 23per cent in Queensland) and the dominant view is that if a change is made, Rudd is the only sensible option.

As Labor MPs start to contemplate whether they can stomach a change, and if so how to execute it, they might ponder the following scenario. (This is not a prediction - just an idea that could have some merit for a desperate party.)

Assume Labor could find a way through the problems of switching leader and installed Rudd by  late this year. His intention before the February leadership vote was, if he won, to try to last  the full term. But given the current political scene, to say nothing of problems he would face within Labor, the best and perhaps  only possible course could be for him to go to the polls quickly.

Arguing the need for certainty, he could make a virtue of denouncing the Thomson affair, ditching the crossbenchers and distancing Labor from the Greens. He could also seek a mandate for modifying the carbon price, which key Labor people believe is one of the most important factors killing the government.


more here

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/labor-facing-battle-to-save-the-furniture-20120524-1z7ta.html

____ wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:04pm:

Verge wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:30pm: You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot. Now how about, for once, keeping on topic. Abbott lying for political power. Day in, day out. What sort of message does this send to Christians.

You mean like this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCwoj35d3M

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:47pm:

____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:04pm: Verge wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:30pm: You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot. Now how about, for once, keeping on topic. Abbott lying for political power. Day in, day out. What sort of message does this send to Christians. You mean like this??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCwoj35d3M

Do you want the one where Abbott supports a carbon tax?  ;D

adelcrow wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:48pm:

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:47pm: ____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:04pm: Verge wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:30pm: You got a man crush on Abbott going on mate, you seem to talk an awful lot about a man who isnt in power and doesnt have any since you call him a lame duck alot. Now how about, for once, keeping on topic. Abbott lying for political power. Day in, day out. What sort of message does this send to Christians. You mean like this??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCwoj35d3M Do you want the one where Abbott supports a carbon tax?  ;D

You mean the one where he says that in a choice of the lesser of two evils (i.e. carbon tax or ets) he would say a carbon tax was the better choice? Man, you fools just can't bring yourselves to watch that video in its entirety.

Yep...the one where he says the best and most efficient way to deal with carbon pollution is a simple carbon tax.

skippy. wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:06pm:

john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Yea, I agree. Hockey reminds me of Beasley, a nice bloke but not PM material.

That sums it up exactly, although Kim would have been about 1000 times better than Gillard.

____ wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:06pm:

john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull.

As skippy points out, are they really? We've been hearing that for about a year, and nothing's happened.

skippy. wrote on May 25^th, 2012 at 1:09pm:

____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard.

I am in absolute agreement with you about Turnbull, skip, but don't see how ANYONE could be worse than Gillard.

john_g wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 1:40am:

skippy. wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:09pm: ____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard. I am in absolute agreement with you about Turnbull, skip, but don't see how ANYONE could be worse than Gillard.

I am still to have it explained rationally what exactly Gillard has done wrong except have appalling dress sense and abismal media skills. It would seem we are all desperate to have the mad monk lead us into the shadow of the valley of death because he is a media bitch. All the major labor disasters we thanks to Rudd and have taken Gillard time to clean up and the whole argument over the ETS is crap and all the loops know it they just can not get off the band wagon. Thompson and Slipper are a result of the hung Parliament and just as much an Abbott creation as Gillard's.

nairbe wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 7:30am:

john_g wrote on May 26th, 2012 at 1:40am: skippy. wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:09pm: ____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard. I am in absolute agreement with you about Turnbull, skip, but don't see how ANYONE could be worse than Gillard. I am still to have it explained rationally what exactly Gillard has done wrong except have appalling dress sense and abismal media skills. It would seem we are all desperate to have the mad monk lead us into the shadow of the valley of death because he is a media bitch. All the major labor disasters we thanks to Rudd and have taken Gillard time to clean up and the whole argument over the ETS is crap and all the loops know it they just can not get off the band wagon. Thompson and Slipper are a result of the hung Parliament and just as much an Abbott creation as Gillard's.

You need help, serious help.

angeleyes wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 7:43am:

nairbe wrote on May 26th, 2012 at 7:30am: john_g wrote on May 26th, 2012 at 1:40am: skippy. wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:09pm: ____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard. I am in absolute agreement with you about Turnbull, skip, but don't see how ANYONE could be worse than Gillard. I am still to have it explained rationally what exactly Gillard has done wrong except have appalling dress sense and abismal media skills. It would seem we are all desperate to have the mad monk lead us into the shadow of the valley of death because he is a media bitch. All the major labor disasters we thanks to Rudd and have taken Gillard time to clean up and the whole argument over the ETS is crap and all the loops know it they just can not get off the band wagon. Thompson and Slipper are a result of the hung Parliament and just as much an Abbott creation as Gillard's. You need help, serious help.

So do you.  Nairbe was asking for a question to be answered, not for personal advice.

angeleyes wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 7:43am:

nairbe wrote on May 26th, 2012 at 7:30am: john_g wrote on May 26th, 2012 at 1:40am: skippy. wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:09pm: ____ wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 1:06pm: john_g wrote on May 25th, 2012 at 12:46pm: I really can't grasp why the Liberals won't put in probably the only highly intelligent, articulate and statesman in the entire Parliament - Malcolm Turnbull. He oozes class and intelligence. Will someone "please explain"? Abbott is a good attack dog, but he's not Prime Minister material. Of course, I will take him any day over Gillard, though. Contrary to what I used to think, Hockey is not Prime Minister material, either. He's too much of a ditherer and doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Labor is looking like replacing Gillard with Rudd and reducing the carbon price. Would that change your position? By shifting support from Abbott, Libs would be more inclined to promote Turnbull. Are they really? they've been talking about that for months, I think Rudd missed the boat. I'd like Turnbull to replace phony Tony though. I disagree with john, phony Tony would be MUCH worse than Gillard. I am in absolute agreement with you about Turnbull, skip, but don't see how ANYONE could be worse than Gillard. I am still to have it explained rationally what exactly Gillard has done wrong except have appalling dress sense and abismal media skills. It would seem we are all desperate to have the mad monk lead us into the shadow of the valley of death because he is a media bitch. All the major labor disasters we thanks to Rudd and have taken Gillard time to clean up and the whole argument over the ETS is crap and all the loops know it they just can not get off the band wagon. Thompson and Slipper are a result of the hung Parliament and just as much an Abbott creation as Gillard's. You need help, serious help.

Whereas you just need flushing.

nairbe wrote on May 26^th, 2012 at 7:30am:

I am still to have it explained rationally what exactly Gillard has done wrong except have appalling dress sense and abismal media skills. It would seem we are all desperate to have the mad monk lead us into the shadow of the valley of death because he is a media bitch. All the major labor disasters we thanks to Rudd and have taken Gillard time to clean up and the whole argument over the ETS is crap and all the loops know it they just can not get off the band wagon. Thompson and Slipper are a result of the hung Parliament and just as much an Abbott creation as Gillard's.

The righties see her as standing in the way of the righty retards right to rule. They need no other excuse.