Abbott's real estate offers Promised Land glimpses
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday December 3, 2009
Tony Abbott may not be as happy with your depiction of him on the front page as a cursory glance might lead one to suppose. True, as we read in Exodus, Moses leads God's people through the parted waters of the Red Sea, freeing them from slavery in Egypt. But what follows?The people, querulous and stiff-necked in God's eyes, are condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, and only two of their number, Joshua and Caleb, are allowed to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Moses himself dies in the land of Moab, able to gaze on the land of milk and honey, but destined never to reach it.Philip Gissing BundeenaWhy does Tony Abbott have such a thick file of gaffes, apologies and memorable statements for the media and the Labor Party to recycle? It's because of the most appealing thing about him.Unlike many of the political class he seems to have not only strong convictions, but a willingness to argue for them clearly and straightforwardly, even when it is unpopular to do so. He makes mistakes, drops swear-words in the heat of the moment, and is forced to admit he has changed his mind.I don't always agree with Abbott, but in contrast with the robotic, spin-doctoring technocrat who currently leads the nation, he shows all the signs of being a real flesh-and-blood human being.Tony Payne RandwickI don't think a true Christian could have spoken of the late Bernie Banton as Tony Abbott did during the last election campaign.I do not criticise him for his stance on abortion, euthanasia and divorce. I agree to disagree. I do criticise him for his opportunism over climate change. But his Banton comment shows us the true measure of the man. It was unforgivable in the eyes of his God and the rest of us.Mary Kirkwood NorthbridgeForget your past, Tony? Not likely. A chameleon doesn't change its spots.John Foulcher Curtin (ACT)Interesting to hear Tony Abbott quote the former ALP senator Pat Kennelly, who said that victory by one vote is a landslide. I'm not sure which ballot Kennelly was referring to, but he and his comrades won a narrow vote at the 1955 ALP federal conference. This resulted in the Groupers walking out and the formation of the Democratic Labor Party. The ALP split ensured a further 17 years of Opposition for the party. Good luck on the beginning of your journey, Tony.Mark Mitchell Runcorn (Qld)One little vote - that's all it took to get Stalin back into the Labor Party.Tom Osborn UltimoSo Tony Abbott is not in the pocket of Nick Minchin, but in the pocket of Alan Jones. God help us.Allan Walker Grays PointI never thought I would write in defence of a Liberal Party leader, but Miranda Devine's claim that Malcolm Turnbull has an "obsession with money" has forced my hand ("ETS may be for Rudd what Work Choices was for Howard", December 2).I would have thought a highly-skilled and successful journalist, lawyer, entrepreneur and banker who was obsessed with money would not, at the peak of his earning capacity, choose a parliamentary career as themost effective means of feeding that obsession.That Turnbull chose this path demonstrates just the opposite, that he is a man of principle who felt this was a way for him to use his talents to enrich the lives of other Australians - at considerable monetary cost to himself.Colin Kennedy West PymbleI am surprised no commentator has called Joe Hockey's promise to allow a free vote on the emissions trading scheme the timely dive that it clearly was. I bet Tony Abbott, as a boxer, recognised it, and will keep his guard warily elevated.John Lewis Port MacquarieJoe Hockey's ego must be crushed, but at least he will be able to spend more time with his family.Carolyn Wills CremorneNick Minchin proudly boasts, "I have given my working life for this party". Perhaps if he had given a little of his working life to the people he represents, it would have been a far better result.Paul Lourie MurwillumbahPeter Costello wasted no time in lambasting Malcolm Turnbull's leadership performance, but ignored his own role in the Liberal debacle ("Malcolm the belittler: a ruthless climber cut down to size", December 2). After the 2007 defeat, Costello was the deputy party leader with excellent experience, credentials and supposed leadership ambitions, but he refused to take command or even serve on the front bench. For the next two years he spent his time playing silly, self-indulgent "will he or won't he" games, undermining Brendan Nelson and Turnbull.Before criticising others to settle old scores, Costello should accept that by failing to accept his duties and responsibilities, he has been a major contributor to the dire Liberal situation.Peter RutherfordBarwon Heads (Vic)As a Labor voter, the schadenfreude derived from watching the born-to-rule pomposity being knocked out of the Liberals has been delicious. Even so, one player in this debacle has conducted himself in a highly praiseworthy way: Ian Macfarlane. He has emerged as loyal, dignified, a dependable negotiator, focused on the big picture and, above all, honest. It has been refreshing to watch him operate.Terry Byrnes AshfieldBob Harris (Letters, December 1) calls the member who voted informal "pathetic and gutless". But really: faced with a choice between Turnbull and Abbott, what answer could there be but "No"?Brett Elliott Boondall
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald