nef and skippy - off topic comments.

feel free to start a JWH thread if you wish

.........Senior Liberals continued to refuse to engage in a slanging match with Mr Turnbull, who took aim at Mr Abbott's "bullshit" climate change policy in a caustic blog yesterday.

Mr Abbott said political infighting damaged oppositions and he was determined not to argue with anyone in the party.

"We're all human ... and when we've had a terrible disappointment as, obviously, Malcolm has had over the last few weeks, we do tend to get a bit hot under the collar," he said.

"I know I do it when I've had a rebuff.

"The important thing is to understand where people are coming from, respect their strength and, I guess, forgive them those moments when they aren't their best selves.".

IT was a chance for Tony Abbott to put to rest the perception, in the words of his host, that "you don't like women".
But the Christmas lunch in Brisbane of the Women's Network Australia became so much more for Mr Abbott and 80 corporate cougars, who ganged up on him over his penchant for Speedos, laughed at his spruiking of their wares and then joined hands as newfound disciples of self-helper Amanda Gore, author of The Gospel of Joy.

It wasn't an orchestrated picture opportunity; Mr Abbott had planned for a catch-up lunch with former MP and recently exhumed candidate Teresa Gambaro, who was already booked to attend the event in a room overlooking Allan Border Oval.

And like the great Australian cricket captain, Mr Abbott played defensively when needed -- promising to supply a picture for the group's website, but only in "my boardies" -- and moving on to the front foot about his problematic image among women.

Asked how he could be perceived in such a way when he lived with four women, Mr Abbott hit a proverbial six over the crowd of businesswomen.

"Well, I know who the boss is and it's not me," he said, to cheers.

He then paid tribute to his supportive and independent wife and three daughters, before tackling the question of his alleged problem with women.

"I think it is (a myth)," he said. "But in the end, I suppose, in politics you just got, to some extent, just roll with the punches.

"Sometimes they are low blows, sometimes, they are not and you try and be yourself and you hope people will give you a fair go."

It should have been a segue to Ms Gore -- who near-eulogises on how to deal with competitors in the workplace -- but first, Mr Abbott was called to compere the product promotions of several WNA members.

Ms Gore talked of surrounding yourself with the right people and being a leader who is a "spirit igniter, and not a spirit foofer" of colleagues.