Comments on: Brendan the bold. Brendan the risky

By: The Fly on the Wall

The Fly on the Wall — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

No sooner do I post my missive than I read that Malcolm has won the leadership by 4 votes. What the hell does a fly know anyway? We have tiny little brains and eat poo.

By: Claret

Claret — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Turnbull will never be PM - he can’t get rid of the arrogant, out-of-touch, merchant banker image (because it’s true?). The Libs will shift the deckchairs as Labor did after Keating until they get someone who is a relative cleanskin like Rudd to challenge for the election after next at the earliest. It takes years for them to get over the fact that they are no longer in power and act accordingly - note Abbott. Also anyone left over from the Howard years is in trouble because Rudd can just ask why they didn’t do anything when they were in power as he did devastatingly to Nelson yesterday re his ridiculous ‘jam sandwich’ performance about the age pension increase. It’s going to be hard for Turnbull to relate to pensioners about eating jam sandwiches - let them eat cake!!

By: The Fly on the Wall

The Fly on the Wall — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I think Brendan Nelson might just win the Liberal party room vote and, shock horror and hold the presses, might actually take the Liberals to the next election.
The ardour for Malcolm has cooled somewhat since he came within 2 votes of the leadership and Brendan has impressed colleagues with his tenacity and ability to wrong-foot Labor with his sheer bastardry (eg, blasting Labor on pensions when he sat around Cabinet for 11 years and never once raised it as a concern).
The vote between Brendan and Malcolm therefore is more fluid than the commentariat might expect.
Liberals will also be looking to the WA result (not to mention Hayden to Hawke in 1983) which demonstrates a late switch to a white knight can be a recipe for success; in short, expect Brendan to be given at least another six months to a year to take the fight to Rudd and, if he hasn’t made headway by then, the Liberals will make the change to Malcolm or someone more palatable to the party room (and my money remains on Joe Hockey) knowing full well it gives the new leader an invaluable media honeymoon and the national spotlight in the run-up to the 2010 poll.

By: mike smith

mike smith — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Four votes. I wouldn’t be too happy with that as Malcolm. However, who else is going to challenge? Not Brendan. I’d say he’s had a gutful of liberal party politics. Resign, and put the pressure on Malcolm!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Goodbye inanimate carbon rod.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Louie….youse a smart fly

By: steve martin

steve martin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

It may not succeed, but it stands in stark contrast to the weaknes of Peter Costello on the same subjest.

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Not Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but Dr. Nelson and No-More-Mr. Nice Guy?