http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/15656386/swan-brands-abbott-a-thug-after-poll/


Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan has branded Tony Abbott "a thug" after a new opinion poll showed the Liberal leader's standing with voters was second-worst in the party's history.

Mr Abbott's disapproval rating hit 63 per cent in the Nielsen poll published on Monday, just nine points shy of Andrew Peacock's rating of 72 per cent recorded in October 1984.

The result has been linked to the opposition's pursuit of Prime Minister Julia Gillard over some minor legal work she did pro-bono for two Australian Workers' Union officials 20 years ago.

But the poll published by Fairfax Media also put the coalition ahead of Labor by 52-48 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, an election-winning lead.

Mr Swan was "very confident" Labor could still win the 2013 election, due by November next year.

"We've got a prime minister who is tough as teeth, a prime minister who has ideas for the future," he told reporters in Canberra.

"We've got an opposition leader who is a policy weakling and ... a thug when it comes to personal attacks."

Nielsen director John Stirton said Mr Abbott's handling of the AWU matter had not helped his position and may be part of the reason his approval had further declined.

The poll found 64 per cent of respondents did not approve of the way Mr Abbott had dealt with the issue.

Ms Gillard remained preferred prime minister, leading Mr Abbott 50-40 per cent.

But overall, the poll showed support for both the major parties was largely unaffected by the fallout over the AWU issue and the headlines surrounding former Speaker Peter Slipper.

Labor's primary vote, which has been at 34 per cent for the past three months, was at 35 per cent while the coalition's fell two points to 43 per cent and the Greens fell two points to 10 per cent.

Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham said Labor would throw "all the lies" it could at Mr Abbott in a bid to win the next election.

He noted the coalition had enjoyed a clear lead in 119 of the 124 opinion polls since the 2010 election.

"I'd much rather be in our position than in the government's position," Senator Birmingham said.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the polls showed the AWU affair had left the opposition looking foolish.

"Mr Abbott and his deputy Julie Bishop made a number of defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations and they look like fools," he told reporters in Sydney.

"It's not the sort of politics Australian people want to see."

Mr Combet said he believed there was still time for the government to reverse the poll figures and seize victory at next year's election.

"We're bringing the budget back to surplus, there are good economic conditions here and we're also making major reforms," he said.

It's interesting to note
[list bull-redarrow]

Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott

Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack

Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack

Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it?


Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months

No, there's a lot of mud, coming from both Liberal & Labor AND FRANKLY IT'S SICKENING our way of life & it's got to STOP!!!

It's only smear if it came from LIBs

No but they are the champions at it.

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 10:52am:

It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months

So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man.

That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear.

I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.  ;D

dna, what about the "woman hater" smear from the handbag hit squad?
Doesn't that rate a mention?

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 10:52am:

It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months

Facts are, elections are held approximately every 3 years, and not when some moron from the right dares the PM to hold an election ...

and no one cares what the polls have been saying for the past 18months ... come next election they won't mean anything.

matty wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 1:22pm:

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 10:52am: It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear. I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.  ;D

That big oaf Dreyfus

Haven't you just played the man not the ball yourself?   Own Goal?

matty wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 1:22pm:

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 10:52am: It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear. I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.

So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man.

Can't get less honest than that one!

The Liberals were playing Rudd with ute gate.

They played slipper

They played Thomson

They played Gillard.

The lieberals have only not played the man when they had the opportunity to play the woman instead.

hadrian_now wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 1:25pm:

dna, what about the "woman hater" smear from the handbag hit squad? Doesn't that rate a mention?

Yes a small mention.

After giving it out for years he deserved some of his own back - who could have known that he would run home crying. Just like a bully he does not cop his own treatment back very well does he.

perceptions_now wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 11:18am:

No, there's a lot of mud, coming from both Liberal & Labor AND FRANKLY IT'S SICKENING our way of life & it's got to STOP!!!

CRAP you love every minute of it... isnt it better than talking about

OUR DEBT BIGGEST IN HISTORY..

BOAT PEOPLE SWAN CLAIMED WE WOULD GET 450 A MONTH AND LOOK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING..IN THREE MONTHS 6000


CAN THEY COUNT DOWN AT TREASURY?????


I dont think so..



SO LETS TALK SLEAZE... ITS A LOT EASIER.

Dnarever wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 1:19pm:

It's only smear if it came from LIBs No but they are the champions at it.

LETS BE HONEST HERE DNA THE LABS HAVE GOT A LOT MORe

[size=24][/I.C.A.C. NSW.Inc.size].


AND FED LABOR CANNOT WAIT TO RUSH THEM INTO FED PARLIAMENT...

when they are spit out in NSW.

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 10:52am:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/15656386/swan-brands-abbott-a-thug-after-poll/ Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan has branded Tony Abbott "a thug" after a new opinion poll showed the Liberal leader's standing with voters was second-worst in the party's history. Mr Abbott's disapproval rating hit 63 per cent in the Nielsen poll published on Monday, just nine points shy of Andrew Peacock's rating of 72 per cent recorded in October 1984. The result has been linked to the opposition's pursuit of Prime Minister Julia Gillard over some minor legal work she did pro-bono for two Australian Workers' Union officials 20 years ago. But the poll published by Fairfax Media also put the coalition ahead of Labor by 52-48 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, an election-winning lead. Mr Swan was "very confident" Labor could still win the 2013 election, due by November next year. "We've got a prime minister who is tough as teeth, a prime minister who has ideas for the future," he told reporters in Canberra. "We've got an opposition leader who is a policy weakling and ... a thug when it comes to personal attacks." Nielsen director John Stirton said Mr Abbott's handling of the AWU matter had not helped his position and may be part of the reason his approval had further declined. The poll found 64 per cent of respondents did not approve of the way Mr Abbott had dealt with the issue. Ms Gillard remained preferred prime minister, leading Mr Abbott 50-40 per cent. But overall, the poll showed support for both the major parties was largely unaffected by the fallout over the AWU issue and the headlines surrounding former Speaker Peter Slipper. Labor's primary vote, which has been at 34 per cent for the past three months, was at 35 per cent while the coalition's fell two points to 43 per cent and the Greens fell two points to 10 per cent. Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham said Labor would throw "all the lies" it could at Mr Abbott in a bid to win the next election. He noted the coalition had enjoyed a clear lead in 119 of the 124 opinion polls since the 2010 election. "I'd much rather be in our position than in the government's position," Senator Birmingham said. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the polls showed the AWU affair had left the opposition looking foolish. "Mr Abbott and his deputy Julie Bishop made a number of defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations and they look like fools," he told reporters in Sydney. "It's not the sort of politics Australian people want to see." Mr Combet said he believed there was still time for the government to reverse the poll figures and seize victory at next year's election. "We're bringing the budget back to surplus, there are good economic conditions here and we're also making major reforms," he said.

EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts.

skippy. wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 5:12pm:

EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts.

Rudd had better numbers than Gillard - you do the sums plankton

cods wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 4:42pm:

Dnarever wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 1:19pm: It's only smear if it came from LIBs No but they are the champions at it. LETS BE HONEST HERE DNA THE LABS HAVE GOT A LOT MORe

Yes but most of it is untrue and it is all they have, nothing else. No real policy no honesty or integrity no ability just a big pile of stinking mud that they mostly manufactured themselves.

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 5:53pm:

skippy. wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:12pm: EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts. Rudd had better numbers than Gillard - you do the sums plankton

Just as sawing your own leg off with a rusty bread knife is more popular than Phony Tony  ;D

adelcrow wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 6:03pm:

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:53pm: skippy. wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:12pm: EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts. Rudd had better numbers than Gillard - you do the sums plankton Just as sawing your own leg off with a rusty bread knife is more popular than Phony Tony  ;D

Gillard used a bread knife and Carr will use the same one on her

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 6:17pm:

adelcrow wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 6:03pm: Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:53pm: skippy. wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:12pm: EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts. Rudd had better numbers than Gillard - you do the sums plankton Just as sawing your own leg off with a rusty bread knife is more popular than Phony Tony  ;D Gillard used a bread knife and Carr will use the same one on her

The example of Gillard and Rudd will in no way affect what will happen to Abbott .... try as you might, the two are totally unrelated.

Maqqa wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 5:53pm:

skippy. wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 5:12pm: EVERY opposition leader with BETTER numbers than phony tony has been dumped, you do the sums numnuts. Rudd had better numbers than Gillard - you do the sums plankton

You can still smear it, with the best of them, Maqqa!

Making an insult or defending oneself is not "smear". Smear is what abbott does wholeheartedly putting everything he has into campaigns and slogans in the media.

SOB

Dnarever wrote on Dec 17^th, 2012 at 2:55pm:

matty wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 1:22pm: Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 10:52am: It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear. I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.  So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. Can't get less honest than that one! The Liberals were playing Rudd with ute gate. They played slipper They played Thomson They played Gillard. The lieberals have only not played the man when they had the opportunity to play the woman instead.

WTF?

sexy_beast wrote on Dec 18^th, 2012 at 9:45am:

Dnarever wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:55pm: matty wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 1:22pm: Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 10:52am: It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear. I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.  So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. Can't get less honest than that one! The Liberals were playing Rudd with ute gate. They played slipper - so it's Abbott's fault that Slipper did all those things? They played Thomson - so it's Abbott's fault that between 2002-2007 Thomo went to brothels and used union money? They played Gillard - so it's Abbott's fault that Gillard did all those things back in 1992 with the slush fund? The lieberals have only not played the man when they had the opportunity to play the woman instead. WTF?

Maqqa wrote on Dec 18^th, 2012 at 9:55am:

sexy_beast wrote on Dec 18th, 2012 at 9:45am: Dnarever wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 2:55pm: matty wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 1:22pm: Maqqa wrote on Dec 17th, 2012 at 10:52am: It's interesting to note [list bull-redarrow] Labor says they don't pay attention to polls but will happily comment on it if they can find a negative angle on Abbott Swan says Abbott is a thug when it comes to personal attacks - yet the comment itself is a personal attack Combat calls Abbott and Bishop fools - another personal attack Combat is also telling us who Australians don't want to see this sort of politics - so why is Labor initiating it? Facts are - Gillard will lose an election if she dared to call one at any time in the last 18 months So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. That big oaf Dreyfus (you know the one who compared Abbott to a Nazi criminal) repeated the line again this morning that Abbott HATES women. Disgusting and vile attacks, showing that Labor has nothing but sleaze and smear. I hope that the 55-45 essential poll brings them some comfort.  So true Maqqa. We conservatives play the ball, we'll leave it to the lefties to play the man. Can't get less honest than that one! The Liberals were playing Rudd with ute gate. They played slipper - so it's Abbott's fault that Slipper did all those things? They played Thomson - so it's Abbott's fault that between 2002-2007 Thomo went to brothels and used union money? They played Gillard - so it's Abbott's fault that Gillard did all those things back in 1992 with the slush fund? The lieberals have only not played the man when they had the opportunity to play the woman instead. WTF?

Quote:

They played slipper - so it's Abbott's fault that Slipper did all those things?

Don't we have a court ruling saying that Slipper was more of less set up - the case was about political gain and not sexual harrasment. Are you saying that it was Slippesr fault that the Liberals set him up?


Quote:

[b]They played Thomson - so it's Abbott's fault that between 2002-2007 Thomo went to brothels and used union money?

Did he? He was obviously found guilty in the Abbnott / madia kangaroo court. Maybe he is guilty who knows.


Quote:

They played Gillard - so it's Abbott's fault that Gillard did all those things back in 1992 with the slush fund?

Done all what things? Nothing according to Bishop??

The only thing Brandis has come up with looks like Abbott is guilty of himself with his slush fund but we shouldn't talk about that should we.

Dnarever wrote on Dec 18^th, 2012 at 10:23am:

Quote: They played slipper - so it's Abbott's fault that Slipper did all those things? Don't we have a court ruling saying that Slipper was more of less set up - the case was about political gain and not sexual harrasment. Are you saying that it was Slippesr fault that the Liberals set him up? We have a court ruling that says they don't want to examine the evidence because they believe the path to prosecution was politically motivated [quote][b]They played Thomson - so it's Abbott's fault that between 2002-2007 Thomo went to brothels and used union money?

Did he? He was obviously found guilty in the Abbnott / madia kangaroo court. Maybe he is guilty who knows.
lets ignore the FWA 1200 pages report


Quote:

They played Gillard - so it's Abbott's fault that Gillard did all those things back in 1992 with the slush fund?

Done all what things? Nothing according to Bishop??

The only thing Brandis has come up with looks like Abbott is guilty of himself with his slush fund but we shouldn't talk about that should we.
Abbott gave full disclosure. Gillard and her former boyfriend is still suppressing info.


[/quote]