THE game has just changed for Bill Shorten. The Opposition Leader must now show what he really stands for. 
 
Until now, Shorten has played a simple spoiler’s game and it’s worked. Check the polls: Labor has been ahead for months.

But there’s now two big problems: the election isn’t for another two years, and what’s worked so far won’t work so well any more.

Shorten’s spoiler’s game has been to say no.

For almost a year, he joined with the Greens and then Clive Palmer’s senators to stop the Abbott Government from getting its pet schemes through the Senate.

In fact, Shorten has been so manic about saying no, to make the Government seem dysfunctional, that Labor has blocked even what it once promised to pass, including $5 billion of its own spending cuts and the “termination” of the carbon tax.

Shorten’s problem is that what he’s opposed to has often been what he should have supported, like Budget cuts to rescue the finances Labor destroyed. Or like ending the carbon tax that’s killing jobs. Or like scrapping the mining tax that somehow managed to scare off investors without raising money.

And now the trap is sprung.

Shorten’s strategy could have kept working if Palmer had been the wrecker his big mouth suggested and stuck with Labor and the Greens in blocking Abbott.

Instead, Palmer eventually approved Abbott’s financial advice reforms after saying he wouldn’t. He agreed last week to scrap the schoolkids bonus after saying he wouldn’t. He’s now let through $10 billion in savings and helped to scrap the mining tax and carbon tax.

That’s dumped Shorten in a hole. He fought to keep those taxes, and fought those spending cuts, too.

What now? Does he promise to bring them all back? How, when the money’s just not there? In fact, he’ll be desperate to persuade voters he won’t actually bring back the hated carbon tax.

So the “no” game is no longer enough. Sure, there are still things Shorten should oppose, like Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme.

But Abbott has now demonstrated he can cut deals with Palmer to get things through this Senate, which leaves Labor looking not just impotent but bogged in fights of the past.

The pressure is now on. We’ve heard plenty about what Labor opposes. Now we need to hear what it proposes.

So what has Shorten got?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/the-game-is-over-for-bill-shorten/story-fnj45fva-1227050605017

So what has Shorten got? Nothing. Zip. Nada.

Poll added.

he could always do what Abbott did and say he'll do one thing and then do the opposite once he wins office

:D :D :D :D

only an idiot like Bolt would declare the game over for Shorten  ;D ;D ;D

Abbott has shown us the perfect small target strategy to win government.

3 word slogans, focus on a dog whistle policy, scare the average voter and when you reach government not keep any promises.

The only time I agreed with Bolt was in Howard's last term when he became disillusioned with the government and started telling the truth for once.

Right now he's on par with Alan Jones and Akerman. All bluster and negative hype about the opposition to distract from the dislike most people have for Abbott.

When Abbott pushes the people and the economy too far into hopelessness, Bolt might start showing some honesty again.

Smell the fear from the Coalition lackeys.

from the original posting


Quote:

............He fought to keep those taxes, and fought those spending cuts, too.......

yep, thats the alp all over.
More taxes, more spending .................

Andrew Bolt ROTFLMAO  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

-19 approval for Tony.  Has he EVER been in the positive???? ;D

I didn't think he'd even got started..... still waiting for something of value to come out of Parliament overall....

Damn - I offer enough ideas and none of these twerps take them up..... too many years ahead of my time....

Newspoll shows 56% dissatisfaction with Abbott. Critical figure here—only 11% are uncommitted, nothing there for monkey to look to for improvement.

A harsh and unfair Budget, a job destroying, recession bringing Budget deserves to be opposed. Most of us here will be hurt by this Budget and stuff like killing the NBN just because it was a Labor project is beneath contempt. The NBN would have underpinned our future prosperity, now we have nothing if iron ore and coal prices keep dropping.

Yes, Labor opposed a small amount of its own savings because the shambles were not going to use the savings on useful projects.

Re Shorten, he has done the right thing, given the electorate a break from monkey’s vociferous bullshit. Now is the time he needs to change to shaowing conviction, anger, even passion about a fair go for all Australians.

I cannot see the Libs winning in 2016 in the absence of a major war and the West has lost its appetite for that.

Congrats on a REAL poll, Armpit!

Sprintcyclist wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 10:51am:

from the original posting Quote: ............He fought to keep those taxes, and fought those spending cuts, too....... yep, thats the alp all over. More taxes, more spending .................

Shorty's clearly learned NOTHING from the worst defeat the ALP has ever experienced. One of the main reasons for that defeat WAS the carbon tax and in declaring his intention to see it resurrected, he has effectively ensured Labor will remain in Opposition for at least the next election and possibly the one after. By voting against budget measures that Labor originally intended to introduce, Shorty has shown he is not interested in what's best for the nation, only what's best for him. That line of thinking is going to see him lose - not just the election but also his leadership, which may be under threat well before the next election. The election is still two years away and with the Coalition slowly clawing back ground on the ALP, once this budget is done and out of the way, things will only get worse for Shorty. Shorty's ALP has been a policy-free zone since the election, riding on mistakes made by the Coalition. That ride is at an end and he's now going to have to do some actual work and provide a credible alternative because at the moment, he's just an empty shirt.

Shorten HAS declared he would bring in an ETS and the Labor vote went UP in the latest Newspoll!

Try thinking for a change, Armpit!

Gillard’s Carbon Price lost its sting once it came into effect 1/7/12. Carbon pricing is not a vote winner for the LNP!

Now the shambles is divided on keeping the RET. Nothing there to point to am LNP election win in 2016! If monkey rescinds the RET (a Howard initiative BTW) he will piss off a LOT of people! If he keeps it Labor can ask “then why rescind the Carbon Price?”

Sooner the shambles goes the better for the country!

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 11:18am:

Shorten HAS declared he would bring in an ETS and the Labor vote went UP in the latest Newspoll! Try thinking for a change, Armpit! Gillard’s Carbon Price lost its sting once it came into effect 1/7/12. Carbon pricing is not a vote winner for the LNP! Now the shambles is divided on keeping the RET. Nothing there to point to am LNP election win in 2016! If monkey rescinds the RET (a Howard initiative BTW) he will piss off a LOT of people! If he keeps it Labor can ask “then why rescind the Carbon Price?” Sooner the shambles goes the better for the country!

Wrong - both he and Milne have stated publicly they want to bring back the carbon tax. Only Rudd, after realising his situation was hopeless - touted an ETS in the dying stages of the ALP government a year ago.

Think he meant an ETS, no way would we go back to fixed price emissions ETS, been there done that. But that announcement has seen Labor support improve not decline.

Andrew Bolt    ;D


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cGLc3wOrB0

-19 % approval for Tony

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 11:18am:

Try thinking for a change, Armpit!

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs36/f/2008/243/d/b/Flying_Pig_by_goosezilla.jpg

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 11:12am:

Shorty's clearly learned NOTHING from the worst defeat the ALP has ever experienced.

Wrong. The ALP won 55 seats in 2013, or about 37% of the seats in the Parliament. The ALP won 33% of the seats in 1966 and only 28% of the seats in 1975.


Quote:

One of the main reasons for that defeat WAS the carbon tax

Wrong again. The main reason for the election defeat was Labor infighting. If carbon pricing was the dominant issue, Labor would not have been ahead in every major opinion poll in the last nine months.


Quote:

and in declaring his intention to see it resurrected, he has effectively ensured Labor will remain in Opposition for at least the next election and possibly the one after.

Wishful thinking. Labor has been ahead in every major opinion poll for the past nine months. You would be quite foolish to place the Coalition's record of mendacity lower in the minds of voters than one single ALP policy. When the next election comes, the Coalition would struggle to win another term, given the huge pile of broken promises.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 11:12am:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 10:51am: from the original posting Quote: ............He fought to keep those taxes, and fought those spending cuts, too....... yep, thats the alp all over. More taxes, more spending ................. Shorty's clearly learned NOTHING from the worst defeat the ALP has ever experienced. One of the main reasons for that defeat WAS the carbon tax and in declaring his intention to see it resurrected, he has effectively ensured Labor will remain in Opposition for at least the next election and possibly the one after. By voting against budget measures that Labor originally intended to introduce, Shorty has shown he is not interested in what's best for the nation, only what's best for him. That line of thinking is going to see him lose - not just the election but also his leadership, which may be under threat well before the next election. The election is still two years away and with the Coalition slowly clawing back ground on the ALP, once this budget is done and out of the way, things will only get worse for Shorty. Shorty's ALP has been a policy-free zone since the election, riding on mistakes made by the Coalition. That ride is at an end and he's now going to have to do some actual work and provide a credible alternative because at the moment, he's just an empty shirt.

Quote:

............. the carbon tax and in declaring his intention to see it resurrected.......

I heard that. So would have business leaders, shorten has almost guaranteed big businesses will avoid australia.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 11:12am:

... the worst defeat the ALP has ever experienced. One of the main reasons for that defeat WAS the carbon tax ...

Absolute nonsense.

Sprinty wished:


Quote:

shorten has almost guaranteed big businesses will avoid australia.

Missing a couple of capital letters there, Sprint!

Most countries have or are moving to pricing carbon, China and India among them, so I think your conclusion is wrong.

Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!!

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 12:48pm:

Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!!

If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election ....

If Abbott tried to announce RET would go he would be replaced this month. -19% PMs do not have the political capital and authority to make big policy announcements before Cabinet has decided. I reckon he might be gone as early as this year, last sitting week is my prediction.

Hokey won’t have a chance, Turnbull may or WA cleanskin Porter—he has been there 1 year and is supposed to be a boy wonder. I really can’t think of anyone else.

John Smith wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 12:49pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election ....

Don't say such a thing!

The thought of the poodle as PM makes the woman-basher look almost good.  Almost.

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:05pm:

John Smith wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:49pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election .... Don't say such a thing! The thought of the poodle as PM makes the woman-basher look almost good.  Almost.

;D ;D ;D

it'll all depend on how desperate the libs get ... mind you, if Ashby comes good and produces evidence, Pyne might not be there for long ...


I know, wishful thinking

John Smith wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 12:49pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election ....

theyll need Tony to step down, claiming "family reasons"

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:09pm:

John Smith wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:49pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election .... theyll need Tony to step down, claiming "family reasons"

if Tony doesn't play along they'll hand ICAC some evidnece of Abbotts involvement with Slipper or some other scandal and force him out that way

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:03pm:

If Abbott tried to announce RET would go he would be replaced this month. -19% PMs do not have the political capital and authority to make big policy announcements before Cabinet has decided. I reckon he might be gone as early as this year, last sitting week is my prediction. Hokey won’t have a chance, Turnbull may or WA cleanskin Porter—he has been there 1 year and is supposed to be a boy wonder. I really can’t think of anyone else.

The problem for them has always been that he has never enjoyed personal political support. So when they did their whole budget full of lies their party support plummeted even more, and any political capital they ever had as a group evaporated immediately.  The only way to regain it is to change leader.

John Smith wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:11pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 1:09pm: John Smith wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:49pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election .... theyll need Tony to step down, claiming "family reasons" if Tony doesn't play along they'll hand ICAC some evidnece of Abbotts involvement with Slipper or some other scandal and force him out that way

Hmmm yes that's true - we already know he has a predisposition to rorting the public purse.

John Smith wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 12:49pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election ....

I don't think they will. More likely, they will lash Abbott to the bowsprit and let him lead the Coalition ship to its doom.

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:12pm:

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 1:03pm: If Abbott tried to announce RET would go he would be replaced this month. -19% PMs do not have the political capital and authority to make big policy announcements before Cabinet has decided. I reckon he might be gone as early as this year, last sitting week is my prediction. Hokey won’t have a chance, Turnbull may or WA cleanskin Porter—he has been there 1 year and is supposed to be a boy wonder. I really can’t think of anyone else. The problem for them has always been that he has never enjoyed personal political support. So when they did their whole budget full of lies their party support plummeted even more, and any political capital they ever had as a group evaporated immediately.  The only way to regain it is to change leader.

They need to change their policies too, more so as there is no one with charisma or intelligence anywhere in their front and back benches. That will make the change of Leader look like childs play. ::)

Tony Abbott has one big problem he will never be able to overcome.....No one will ever believe anything he says again after breaking so many promises in his first budget.....Anything Abbott says before the next election will be viewed with scepticism and mistrust.....Abbott lied his way into office and anything he says now will not be believed.....After making truth and trust a platform for his last election campaign Abbott has shown he just cannot be trusted ever again.....Abbott has sewn the seeds of his own defeat!!!

:) :) :)

Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
Sallust (86 BC - 34 BC), The War with Catiline

Unusual - waiting till 11 am to reproduce Bolts article, sleep in or something ?

Quote:

In fact, Shorten has been so manic about saying no, to make the Government seem dysfunctional

Tnoy Abbnott:

Abbott was still saying no right up to the day the election was called and it seemed to work for him ?

greggerypeccary wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 1:05pm:

John Smith wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:49pm: sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 12:48pm: Armpit, -19%!!!!!!!!!! Do you think he'll survive? -19%!!! If the numbers don't improve dramatically, Hockey or Turnbull, I wouldn't even put it past Pyne with his ego, will take a shot at the top job about a year out from the election .... Don't say such a thing! The thought of the poodle as PM makes the woman-basher look almost good.  Almost.

Imagine Pyne in speedos? :-? Apologies if you're eating.

philperth2010 wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 8:04pm:

Tony Abbott has one big problem he will never be able to overcome.....No one will ever believe anything he says again after breaking so many promises in his first budget.....Anything Abbott says before the next election will be viewed with scepticism and mistrust.....Abbott lied his way into office and anything he says now will not be believed.....After making truth and trust a platform for his last election campaign Abbott has shown he just cannot be trusted ever again.....Abbott has sewn the seeds of his own defeat!!! :) :) :) Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue. Sallust (86 BC - 34 BC), The War with Catiline

Everyone with half a brain cell knows he will try and pull the old work failure that had Howard lose his vey own seat, Tony is doomed come next election. Howard pulled it off with charisma and steely faced bs, Abbott is as transparent as glad wrap, dumb as ds clueless failure.

St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9^th, 2014 at 2:08pm:

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 1:12pm: St George of the Garden wrote on Sep 9th, 2014 at 1:03pm: If Abbott tried to announce RET would go he would be replaced this month. -19% PMs do not have the political capital and authority to make big policy announcements before Cabinet has decided. I reckon he might be gone as early as this year, last sitting week is my prediction. Hokey won’t have a chance, Turnbull may or WA cleanskin Porter—he has been there 1 year and is supposed to be a boy wonder. I really can’t think of anyone else. The problem for them has always been that he has never enjoyed personal political support. So when they did their whole budget full of lies their party support plummeted even more, and any political capital they ever had as a group evaporated immediately.  The only way to regain it is to change leader. They need to change their policies too, more so as there is no one with charisma or intelligence anywhere in their front and back benches. That will make the change of Leader look like childs play. ::)

What about Morrison? He's been highly successful in his portfolio, as has Bishop as Foreign Minister.

While Abbott keeps rolling out the lies anyone will be able to give him a flogging at the next election.
After the superannuation debacle Clive will lose his seat while Bob Day and most of the PUP Senators will only last one Senate term.
This swing to a lying deceptive far right regime will be an apparition and it will be many decades before we see the likes of it again.