Tony Abbott: Ironman or running joke?
|
Opposition leader Tony Abbott kept himself racing through the headlines all weekend, as the media breathlessly tracked his progress as a pink-lycra-clad competitor in the grueling Ironman Australia Triathlon.
A blatant stunt? Perhaps. But did the nation and the pundits buy into it? In Saturday’s Australian, Paul Kelly worried whether too much time in the budgie smugglers and not enough time in a suit could damage his credibility as a potential PM… or was it all part of a grander PR plan?
But the paper’s op-ed that day argued he could wear both costumes without conflict, and today, Caroline Overington paints a fairly gushing image of Abbott’s superhuman efforts. In the Sydney Morning Herald, Damain Murphy declares the stunt a “win” for Abbott, but Phillip Coorey is also asking whether hours spent outside the office on physical pursuits is the best counterpoint to cultivate against Kevin Rudd’s image as a workaholic. Tony Wright took a similar line in Saturday’s The Age, saying the “authenticity” of Abbott’s sporting endeavors would play well with voters, but he needed to tone it down. In Sunday’s Daily Telegraph, Malcolm Farr suggested the pink lycra might help him earn the “pink vote”, Simon Kearney labeled him an “elite athlete”, while Sue Dunlevy claimed his “Mad Monk” moniker had been replaced with “Ironman Abbott”. In today’s Courier Mail, Dennis Atkins applauds Abbott’s efforts, and criticises the government for criticising them. Today’s Herald Sun is probably cheering the loudest, with an editorial declaring Abbott as a role model, and that exercise helps politicians “generate ideas and sharpen wits”. So how did it work for you? Has Abbott’s marathon effort earned him some new respect, or will the image of sweaty pink lycra clinging to his 52-year-old buttocks haunt you forever? |
|
|
|
Historically Hung Over: The Crikey Guide To The 2010 Federal Election
69 Comments
A joke? Get real! The ironman event is no joke. I was at the event and Abbott was cheered on by thousands of people everywhere where he was. Your description of him and what he wears is pathetic. 1500 participants wore the same attire. time to grow up.
They’re all the same Surfer - Posers.
YOU CANNOT CALL ANY ONE AN IRON MAN
UNLESS THEY WIN
Actually, as much as Crkey would love to insult Abbott for wearing pink, they should pull their heads in. That pink was because he was also raising money for the Jane McGrath foundation. A cheap shot, even by Crikey standards. But then, Crikey stopped being a neutral forum for political discussion a long time ago, so these cheap shots are now expected.
I agree that the move to push Abbott’s sporting prowess is probably a tactic to counter the staid image of the Ruddbot. It might be an effective strategy; it gives Abbott a hook to get the voters in, a point of difference.
It’s a bloody hard event, he must be fit as a trout.
But, this links to an ongoing gripe of mine. The Abroll and this whole fascination with a man in speedos. It’s embarrassing that people keep talking about it. Who really cares if Abbott was wearing speedos while swimming. If anything he deserves some credit for being involved in a voluntary organisation. But the hang up on ‘his appearance’ misses the ball entirely. He’s a politician, focus on his policies!
Callum, you’ve shot yourself in the foot there mate. At no point does crikey give an opinion on his attire. Merely reports that he was wearing pink. The rest is your projection.
Now to all the right wingers
So running swimming etc getting exahausted makes you be able to think through policy
On the run.mmmmm now that is exactly how abbott treats the country
He will be tired for days etc/
IF THE PRIME MINISTER WENT AWOL
the country would be in uproar.
And did he get leave with out pay.
one of his lot said he looked like a gutted rabbit.
He wore pink to raise money for charity you idiots.
I think the saddest part is that the Aussie population is so focused on this ability to run swim or cycle, they aren’t looking at his politics or his policies - or lack thereof.
And I’m guilty too as I post here.
He wore pink to raise money for charity, he also did it to win votes. Clearly Abbott has more understanding of the gay community than he lets on - but then again he is a cyclist and he does have a penchant for lycra, so it should have been obvious.
Whats your point ABARKER regards the gay community? Am I missing something? Attempting an Ironman event is certainly a very strange and difficult way to win votes. It takes more than 3 months to prepare for the Ironman event.
The gay community’s emblem is the Rainbow coloured flag if thats what your getting at, not pink?
Surfer - calm down before you sprain a wrist.
Clearly you are missing something Surfer, so I’ll spell it out. It takes a certain type to want to dress up in skintight clothing and run around with a bunch of other guys dressed the same.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
But the main point is that this is taking up valuable airtime, when we should be looking at the Lib’s policies, or lack thereof, rather than how totally awesome Tony is. So he can run and ride a bike. Well done. What I am more interested in is how will he run the country?
I’ve just been through one botch job of an election (I’m in SA) and I do not want to see another one happen on a Federal election. Get away from the cameras Tony, it only serves to feed your masturbatory self delusion. Get on with developing policy.
And ferchrissake, put some clothes on.
Ironman Australia is one of many events held around the world on the international Ironman circuit. Most have fields of around 1500 people from all walks of life, from elite professionals who finish in around 8 hrs, to those who need the full 17hrs to complete the events. Professional athletes may spend up to 40hrs per week training for these events. Tony Abbott, I believe, spent around 10 hrs per week, and completed the race in just under 14hrs. Why is it such a big deal for a bloke who enjoys keeping fit to go out and enjoy a great physical and mental challenge with 1500 other like-minded people? Do all of the people who bag Abbott for training for 10hrs per week really believe that this will have a negative impact on his ability to do his job? Would it be better if he let his 52-year-old, pink-lycra-clad buttocks swell to the size of a small country?
Can’t stand the man myself (he’s all mouth and trousers), but finishing that event at his age is remarkable. It’s a huge, collossal effort. But looking at our leaders, policy workaholic versus sportaholic. I know who gets my vote.
Abbott doing lots of training to be superfit makes him look good in speedos but it doesn’t improve the country. In fact wearing speedos is generally detrimental to just about anything, so he’s got some real problems.
Historically when an election is called and the campaign begins is when an Opposition begins to release it’s policies not before. Labor have done this in the past.
So, half of you mookas feel that a policitican shouldn’t try to stay in good shape, shouldn’t waste time at the gym and needs to spend 24 hours a day on the job??? What do you do to stay fit? Bend the elbow and shake the wrist?!?! Wake up! His mental capacity can only improve from exercising regularly and the performance of the pollies would definitely improve from any form of physical or mental activity. I think a lot of you are emasculated gay-bashers and wouldn’t wear pink even if your life depended on it. Wankas!
The hatred (albeit slighty masked here) that non-cyclists have for cyclists never ceases to amaze and horrify me. The ‘gay’ twist by Abarker is frankly mystifying but par for the course when people slag of anyone on a bike.
The charity was the McGrath foundation, started by the notoriously gay Glenn and Jane McGrath. They use pink to highlight the way breast cancer affects women. So gay.
Cyclists will of course recognise pink as the colour worn by the race leader in the Giro D’Italia. the poofs who compete in the Giro ride 3500 kms in three weeks.
All funny enough, until you realise that anti-cyclist hatred fuels road rage that kills, injures and terrifies people every year, that sneeringly linking ‘pink’ and ‘gay’ is nasty homophobic crap and that political debate should be about more than this fluff.
“so he’s got some real problems.” I noticed at the Press club lunch he was using his fork as a spoon, which worries me, if he is seen at a State dinner on the world stage, he appears to be rough around the edges.
It’s irrelevant. Good on him for doing it, but it’s got nothing to do with his fitness (pun intentional) or not for office. I think an Opposition leader who gets more press for running a race and losing a debate than for any policy substance is in more trouble than is worth being in.
Whats with all the negativity, we should all to a bit more exercise to loose the image of a fat Australia. Tonys performance and achievements are what a lot of Australians aspire to and qualities admired in leadership.
Ok. After three months of constant media coverage we now know Abbott is fit. Enough is enough, he can put his pants back on, get back to work and if he wants to run and swim and bike every day he can do it away from the cameras. I’d like him to actually do what we pay him to do - come up with some new policies, hold the government to account and lead a real opposition with a point, not just a bunch of back-stabbing whingers. I’m sick to death of ‘look at me, aren’t I fit’ media stunts.
Abbott was so full of himself last night. Yes he deserves praise for competing an iron man, but that was no reason for this up-himself comment ‘If an election was held in Port Macquarie tomorrow I’d win’. Sorry Tony, no, you wouldn’t. We have out own iron man pollie here - Rob Oakshoot. Rob did this event 5 years ago in just over 12 hours. Then he entered federal politics and said he had too much work to do to enter again. He says it’s hard enough balancing work and family without the added distraction of training. Rob’s only a back bencher. Abbott might like to listen to what he has to say.
Abbott said last night he has to be back at work today -‘I have an important speech to write on Monday which I have to deliver on Tuesday’. Yeah, sure. He’ll be asleep today, his speech writers will take care of the work. His delivery tomorrow probably won’t be all that good. It takes weeks for the top competitors to recover from an iron man. A beginner like Abbott will take months to get over it.
I’m not really a fan of Abbott’s politics, but one can admire his commitment to fitness. There is nothing wrong with this - it’s not as if he trained to WIN the Ironman, rather he just wanted to participate. And is it fair to criticise Abbott for doing this, while Kevin Rudd and Joe Hockey went off on the Kokoda Track a few years ago? Perhaps Tony could become the Liberals’ personal trainer…starting with Joe Hockey.
Diana - Robb Oakshot would say that to the media, he doesn’t like Abbott. He also doubted Abbott could finish the race. But also had a bob each way on that. Abbott was preparing for this event well before he was Opposition leader and I’m sure it will be his last.
@Diana - “I’m sick to death of ‘look at me, aren’t I fit’ media stunts”.
I’m sick to death of these people full stop, not just Abbott. The continual preening, posing and endless games of ‘one upmanship’ from these marathon/fitness types serves only to expose and re-expose their underlying insecurities.
Yes, you can ride a bike. Yes you can run. Good for you. Perhaps you should focus a bit more on the rest of your lives, personal relationships, career and money issues, as much as you do on your lats, and you’d be a better person overall.
I’ve never met a demographic that was so self-proctologising.
dlew919 - Exactly - anything to distract from the substance of what he’ll actually do as Prime Minister
Abarker are you going to put this much passion and energy into denouncing the continual preening, posing and endless games of ‘one upmanship’ from football types? far more airtime and money get spent on this than on 1500 people whose major competitor is their own last best time. Why do you get so bent out of shape by cyclists? (oh and fags)
As many point out, it is admirable that he has trained for and completed this event, but a private obsession, surely. It is by now inconceivable that he might have entered this event this incognito. The argument would run that he couldn’t have raise as much for charity as a private citizen, but certainly that this makes for another week of inconsequential gibber with T. Abbot as its subject, rather than his lack of policies.
Can anyone inspired by his efforts to pull on the running shoes yell out?
@ SBH - the feeling is mutual for Football types. I won’t go into the effort and passion just read what I wrote above and change the words where necessary.
It’s not cyclists either that are the problem, it’s the posers. If you wanna ride a bike I have no problem with it.
I do have a problem with the those who make it their reason for being, and aren’t shy about letteing everyone know how fast they are, how much their latest set of pedals cost, how aerodynamic their new water bottle is though ie — — -> Abbott.
We’re happy for you but we’d really like to talk about something else now, not your frame, or your weights programme or your latest time or how your heart monitor can print graphs wirelessly.
And by the way I am fit and I am not overweight, I don’t have a compulsion to tell the world about my routine though.
geez, is people talking to each other about their shared hobby such a problem for you? You sound like one of those people who complain endlessly about what’s on telly but can’t find the ‘off’ button.
Not wanting to talk to them is one thing attacking them (especially by using ‘gay’ as an insult) is something else.
@SBH - try sitting at my desk in my workplace. I’m not only surrounded by these idiots, but they walk around from other areas to have a daily verbal wank with each other.
Not only that but they parade through each morning dressed in their futuristic outfits as though everyone’s been waiting for their arrival.
I am looking to leave though so the attitude may change once I’m no longer bombarded by it. Until then, that’s my point of view. It’s bad enough I get it every day at work, I don’t need to see the man vying for the top job telling me how awesome he is on the evening news as well.
if Abbott wants a photo op, he completes a gruelling fourteen hour endurance race.
if Rudd wants a photo op, he just puts on a hard hat and visits some school or hospital that he is getting others to build.
how lazy is that? He just keeps making work for other people.
ABARKER - I think you should have a look on your shoulder, I think you have a chip there………….
After hourly live crosses on ABC Radio all day yesterday, they are still cheering on their boy this morning…
“Grit, stamina sustained ‘Ironman’ Abbott”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/29/2858416.htm
“Abbott ‘still high’ after ironman exertions”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/29/2858728.htm?section=justin
If there was a chip on my shoulder I probably would have eaten it. Providing it was BBQ flavour. I never understood why they called it BBQ flavour chips, when they don’t actually taste like a BBQ, and there are often huge disparities between different brands as well. My favourite BBQ chips are Samboy though, they are the best.
I don’t much care for Salt and Vinegar but I will eat them if there’s nothing else and I’m hungry enough. Only a few, because the flavour gets a bit strong after too many.
not being a sporting person, I assumed yesterday that Abbott was intending a fourteen hour ironing marathon, which I imagined was some stunt to make him popular with the housewives.
Rupert Murdoch’s puppet is a jock, or likes running around in a pair of them.
Why should he have to put aside the time to think about what is best for the country when there are right wing think tanks which will do his thinking for him and News Ltd is there to sell the message?
No wonder he can compete in ironman competitions when everything is being done for him. All he has to do is take instruction well, head kick the other side and he can’t put a foot wrong due to the News Ltd unpaid advertising campaign making a superhero out of him.
I guess Abbott has to do something with his spare time.
Oh and he’s covered what will happen if Rupert manages to get him elected by running with the line the government is incompetent. So you can’t blame him.
We are following the US model of politics. I predict it wont be long before Fox News kicks off in Australia as it’s turning out profitable for News Ltd to give people something to hate, even if it is each other.
Tony ‘I’d love to have a beer with him’ Abbott. If it didn’t really work out all that well for the US, why would it be any different in Australia?
References to Mr Abbott’s sporting activities and attire generally weaken arguments about his politics - regardless of whether you’re pro or anti-Abbott. Leave it out, I reckon.
Crikey calls it a ‘stunt’. Well, I’ve never known anyone to be quite so cunning as to agree in January 2009 to a gruelling event and train their arse off somehow knowing they’d be replacing Turnbull (who replaced Nelson) as opposition leader by just 1 vote, and go on to claw back poll points leading up to an election.
It’s obviously part of his master plan and an incredible ‘stunt’.
Wow, what next from this super-man?
The left sure have an imagination calling this a ‘stunt’.
Tony’s love of fitness and the outdoors above most else should be seen in the context of his new role as Opposition Leader. If Kevin Rudd had arrived in the Capital as a serial pub drinker, movie-goer licking choc-tops or rose gardener morning, noon and night he’d have been deposed by now. Of course there’s something unbalanced about Tony Abbott prioritising sport over his high-powered, highly-paid day job. Last week he left a national health debate and headed for the surf at Port Macquarie, appeared on Manly Corse for the Triathlon promotion at which he competed this weekend. We do need to ask how much time is devoted to his role in public service and how much to his hobbies. More importantly which is the hobby?
Swan, Rudd and Gillard viewed the iron man feat with much skepticism,
Interestingly enough was watching Nicola Roxens take on the whole story, when she appeared on insiders.
Now Nicola is quite a large lass..butshe could not criticise Abbott because as health minister Abbott lead by example. Australia has a health epidemic called obesity and it is quite possible that our current health minister is apart of it.
So she wacked him for not spending enough time at his job..but could not wack him for using his fitness as a politcal stunt..because she can’t replicate that stunt…
I would love to see Roxen swim, bike and run…actually…no i would not.
What next for St Anthony Abbott? He’s in hairshirt country. Mortifying the flesh. Medieval discipline. Temptation denied by exhaustion. It’s never enough, Tony. You’ll end up crossing the desert on your knees, accompanied by chanting Filipino flagellators. Give up now. While you were courting cardiac arrest, I was eating Belgian chocolate and watching Kiwis discover new ways to lose a test match.
Dog-whistle says “Tony really is a mad monk”.
Why is it even news, that is the question. Who the hell cares beyond a bunch of who?
The Iron Monk
Will not be sunk
By jealous wimps
And laughing chimps.
As a rusted on Labor voter and former fairly fit cyclist now unfit couch potato, I think Crikey has got this one wrong. Being fit definitely helps your mental capacity. It also gives you time to think, which as Paul Keating remarked is a vital thing for being a leader. Bash Abbott for his policy decisions and public comments, but you’re wrong to bash him for his involvement in this event or his fundraising for the McGrath Foundation.
But John, the Adventures of Ironyman might prove more popular. Episode # 237 ‘The Triumph of Authentic Style over Substance’ is particularly alluring.
I am IronMan,
Has he lost his mind,
Can he see or is he blind,
Can he walk at all,
Or if he moves will he fall
Considering what a bunch of fat slobs Australians are turning into i think he is setting a good example. Obesity is a big problem, why are we knocking a poly who is actually fit?
Has anyone ever noticed that Mcdonalds ad campaign “Im Loving it” is an anagram of Ailing Vomit? Get off the happy snacks people and run with Tony!
It can now be revealed. Tony “Ironman” Abbott is not John Howard’s ideologcal love child with Bronwyn Bishop. He may share his taste in unfortuante sporting outfits, but the real father is Wilson “Ironbar” Tuckey. The same brain, the same strategic planning, the same compassion, the same witty jokes, even the same heavy metal.
But Tony Abbott IS Iron Man http://pollyrofl.com/peanut-cup/tony-abbott-is-iron-man/
I’m sure people love Tony Abbott the celebrity, but I’m also positive they won’t vote for him as Tony Abbott, the alternative Prime Minister.
PM (or Leader of the Oppostion, for that matter) is a serious mega full-time job. It is not a fun side-line while you keep yourself super-fit courtesy of the Australian taxpayer.
What is this fetish of displaying physical activity? John Howard used to go “power walking” to for the public to “look at me: look at me” just as Tony Abbott is doing now. John Howard and Tony Abbott could have used the gym at Parliament House (provided by the taxpayers at considerable expense) when in Canberra and had a walking machine on the back verandah just and Tony Abbott could have an exercise bike and any other gear he wanted to keep himself fit but both of them are hungry for an audience to watch them - and hopefully admire them. As for Kevin Rudd, I understand that he used to play tennis which does require a level of fitness but I don’t know that he has the time now, I sincerely hope that when he does have time away from affairs of state that he keeps in touch with his family and doesn’t just turn up at home to have his washing done.
has nobody quoted Forrest Gump yet?
‘that boy sure is a running fool’
Ironman or Peter Pan?
This is no running joke. Politically I prefer the other mob, but if you are out there on your bike every day, as many of us are, continuously menaced by red necks in four wheel drives, that’s no joke. And that is Tony’s constituency! Surely his example might make them think twice before next time they try to run you off the road. I could be Tony! This is game changing for us.
Newspoll has spoken.
I vote for running joke.
Joe Hockey for Ironman in 2011! C’mon Joe, start with the lunges…just be careful not lean to the right too much when lunging.
anyone that can do this, let alone at 52 years of age, deserves to be acknowledged.
I hate Rudd but I might even chuck some respect his way (but I know he has a bad pump).
Abbott is up there with Keating- ” The pasty Beaurocrat” - too funny!
There once was an Ironman Triathlon
in which nobody noticed the nobody who won.
Instead, everybody looked at a somebody and,
even though that somebody
talked about every other Ironman body,
nobody noticed anybody but the somebody.
And then everybody starting talking
about the somebody so much so that till this day
nobody knows anything about anybody else who
once was in the Ironman Triathlon.
BillyBlogs, you were saying about Abbott clawing back poll points??????
I’m stuffed if I can understand all the pious ‘good on him’ junk coming from the commenteriat. If Tony Abbott did all of his cycling, swimming, whatever-in spite of hating it; this would make him heroic. But he does it for glory, personal glory.
Spare me the equally pious “And he gives it all to charity” Does anyone have the wit to ask themselves: ‘What if he didn’t do it for charity?’ Which one amongst you would be silent if he was doing for himself? Gotcha!
Make your life more easy get the credit loans and all you want.
Which hero would you follow?
a) intellectual ironman
b) pink jargonmaster
my newest pedals wiegh 186 grams
Does Abbott spend any time with his wife?
geez gillby, which politician does. Although Alan Stockdale spent plenty of time with Peter Collins’ wife