Run, Abbott, run! Tony sacrifices dignity in House of Reps escape attempt
Run, Abbott, run.
The spectacle of the leader of the opposition and alternative prime minister attempting to flee the House of Representatives chamber this morning, even to the extent of hammering on the doors to be let out, adds a particularly undignified note to the farce which the Craig Thomson affair has become. Only, in this case it is one that is entirely of Abbott’s making.
The opposition has been unable to get its story straight on this idea of a “tainted vote” — it was happy to accept the vote of Senator Mary Jo Fisher, who unlike Thomson was actually charged with an offence and found guilty of it last year. Fisher also continued to sit in the Liberal Party room. Joe Hockey at his recent budget reply speech (remember the budget?) didn’t rule out accepting the vote of Thomson. Now the opposition leadership team is bolting for the exits and pounding on doors.
Abbott decried Thomson walking across the aisle as a government stunt, despite Thomson voting against a motion to silence Joe Hockey. Instead, it is the opposition itself that has consistently relied on stunts in relation to Thomson: George Brandis (oops, almost forgot the “SC”), self-appointed Rortfinder-General of the parliament, dispatching letters offering his jurisprudential expertise to police on what they should be doing; Abbott theatrically declaring sympathy for Thomson and imploring him to leave politics for his own sake; Eric “Godwin Grech” Abetz yesterday declaring another “smoking gun” in Estimates that proved anything but.
There are great benefits for the opposition in driving Thomson from politics of course, and in creating a constant atmosphere of mayhem. But too often it appears to have let any sense of good judgment and an understanding that in politics what goes around comes around be overridden by Abbott’s conviction that just a little more chaos, just one more aggressive stunt will get him into the Lodge — not in 2013, but now.
In doing so he has not merely raised further questions about his own judgment but littered parliament with political precedents for future oppositions to use against him should he become prime minister. And now he has readily sacrified his own dignity in that cause as well.
The government, the labour movement and most of all Thomson himself have all been badly damaged by this affair. But Abbott has done himself and his party no favours either.
Cooler heads should have prevailed among the opposition. But Abbott, it is clearer than ever, is no cool head.
Is “buffoon” a verb yet?
What I simply fail to understand is that there are many out there who regard Howard, Abbott and their mates to be consummate l iars as well as w ar cr iminals.
How anyone in their right mind would even consider giving these guys another chance is beyond me.
Could it be that political amnesia is either that wide spread or should some people be regarded as plain “b onkers”? I wonder.
It’s not just Abbott’s stunts that have shown that he will do anything to be PM, his ridiculous incohesive and detrimental economic “policy” (if that’s what you can call it) shows just how far he will go.
The fact that despite the economy growing at trend levels and unemployment, inflation and the RBA cash rate being at historic lows confidence levels remain low and the vast majority of liberal voteers believe the economy is in poor shape demonstrate that Abbott is happy to adopt a scorched earth policy.
If Abbott becomes PM he will either have to completely redo his economic policy or drive the country into recession.
Note spelling mistakes are deliberate to avoid moderation. I am learning.
Got anything to do with this Bernard?
http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/politics/thomson-6-the-falling-few-and-the-fall-guy/
mmmmmmmmmmmmm, I wonder?
Gocomsys - I am surprised you got deliberate and spelling through as usuall y anything with a l i or l y is blocked.
JIMMY-
I don’t even know what Tony Abbott & The Coalition’s policies are except some vague indications. Maybe one-repealing that Carbon Price. And Joe “age of entitlement over’ Hockey who wishes us to become like Asian families ie: at least 3 generations in one home which may mean ditching positive gearing but kill housing trade (and does it mean we no longer need to give foreign aid to them-perhaps they will aid us?)
What worries me is why is the Coalition appears demented in it’s quest to bring down the Government which means they could take power without presenting policies to the electorate. That should frighten anyone in a job (not me though-now pensionable aged and to be courted by all parties).
There is just over 12months to go to an election. We it will go quickly. Is Tony Abbott so frightened that the polls may begin to move as all hell fails to break loose in that time?
And yes-the image of Tony fleeing for the door is bizarre.
Note: spelling and grammar mistake NOT deliberate due to mild dyslexia.
Congratulations to Tony for dragging Parliament and Australian democracy to a degrading new low. And he’s like Usain Bolt setting a new world best - every time he does it, he’s only breaking his own record.
How can anyone even consider voting for this man?
tony abbott and crissy pyne should resign their positions.
Both are willfully NOT representing their electorates and both are in contempt of both Australian law and political reality as it is not in their power to either deny the presumption of innocence or to deny the people of Dobel representation.
It appears as if again these fleas have been outwitted by ‘the worst government eva.
ROTFLMAO
“And now he has readily sacrified his own dignity in that cause as well.”
The underlying premise of this statement is Abbott still had an ounce of “dignity” left to sacrifice!
I basically go along with Marilyn . I find it beyong comprehension that Abetz is allowed within proximity of a senate inquiry much less be on one after the Greche collusion . He was either grossly incompetent or a fellow conspirator in the email sham and to them do a hammy pretence of asking probing questions but actually reading from a script was an insult to the Australian public . Lawler despite his active intervention regarding the HSU and his relationship with Jackson is not under investigation because he said he didn,t do anything wrong . Abetz didn,t face charges because he said he didn,t know anything about a false email . Double standards ? You bet .
Nothing they will not say. Nothing they will not do. Heaven help us when these fools have their hands on the tiller.
2 minutes to question time!
If only Abbott had on pulled a hamstring in his sprint to the door, then we could of seen him crawl to the door, an image that would of been befitting.
Brandis should be in front of the Senate Privileges Committee for that stunt with advising police on their duties! But, oh fabjulous irony, he is of course serving on that very committee.
And incidentally, he may have garnered that SC from his Queensland buddies (6 years after being elected to the Senate, how does that work?) but his speciality was commercial law so he is not expert at any of the things he puffs himself up on in front of the cameras. The media needs to take a much more robust examination of Brandis. Oops, I relapsed into idiocy, sorry Marilyn.
Brandis?
“SC”? I get the “Serial” bit - what’s the “C” stand for? “Nothing” - like him and his leader?
And “Rortfinder” - isn’t that “rodent-finder”?
And Abbott on someone else’s “stunts” - if anyone’s stunted ……?
Run, Abbott, run.
The spectacle of the leader of the opposition and alternative prime minister attempting to flee the House of Representatives chamber this morning, even to the extent of hammering on the doors to be let out, adds a particularly undignified note to the farce which the Craig Thomson affair has become.
I can’t wait to see the Labour advert for the next election featuring that undignified display, and this being the hero of the teaparty light who are at pains to stress is a “Rhodes Scholar”…give us a break!
Given how often Brandis is wrong on matters of the law who would hire him if he wasn’t in parliament?
Tony looks rather subdued and Ms J. is giving him a good whacking with her first answer.
Pyne is not fit for anything, after his collusion with James Ashby to set up Slipper he should have been banished to the back bench and the sight of Abbott running like a nitwit is truly pathetic.
“Playing with smoking guns” :- the “Curry or Maul” up here is quoting Abetz today - without question of his record (and by Steve Lewis). No mention of Carruthers retort - to his framing of events.
Next he’ll be on 7:30 - or else Peter Reith - holding forth on “acceptable standards of parliamentary behaviour”?
For all his substance - in what he actually stands for - politics is just a big laugh, seeing what he can get away with - and who he can “knock out” in the process - if his opposition is anything to go by, his government would be one of thought bubbles - “Bubbles” Abbott come on down!
Abbott hammering the chamber doors to be let out mirrors the fantasy vision of him hammering upon The Lodge’s gates to be let in. Not yet, pal, there’s plenty time for you to self-nobble yet.
Like MJPC @ 2.06pm, I relish the ALP election ads showing TA exercising his parliamentary manners by doing a runner. Rhodes scholar? Rogues scholar is more apt.
I suspect Abbott will be trying to flee from any association he may have with Kathy Jackson or her partner following revelations in the Independent Australia today.
So now, all the govt has to do to get a measure through is to persuade Craig Thomson to vote against it?
Thompson is having the laugh on phoney Tony and whineing Pyne LOL
Yes, next time let them both get out and then shut the doors.
What a dismal crowd of neer-do-wells form the Liberal Party. Bereft of any ideas themselves, their only course is to fall on any forms of progress by the government like rodents denied food fall on cheese.
Did they put the walking out part on Channel two? I thought Tony Abbott lacked the conviction of his own lies today. Now I understand why.
run rabbit run.
Isn’t there a speed limit on the floor?
There is only one reason for the public opinion as to their well being, it is 75% of the print media ‘limited news’ & that’s owned by the mad monks mate & a member of the lieberal party too if my memory serves correct.
I’m sorry to you all for Abetz he is a state of constant embarrassment down here in Tassie hopefully not for to much longer.
I cant wait till Slipper comes back into the chamber. how long will the mincing poodle last then.
‘SB’ will claim he had to get to the toilet with her current methodology & impeccable logic.
P.S.
Has the real Bernard Keane stepped up ? Good piece, one might even call it balanced.
And the Speaker was heard singing:
“Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right,
Here I am stuck in the middle with you.”
Does anyone remember B.A. Santamaria and the Democratic Labour Party an arm of the Roman Catholic Church i the ‘50 and ‘60’s. Tony Abbott is their child. Read the history. Rhonaj
Rhona J - who can forget them, given we are still surrounded by Santa’s Little Helpers? Abbott, Sheridan and Gerard Henderson to begin with.
I wish I had seen Abetz’s face yesterday when the lady from Fairwork Australia answered his question about why the investigator hadn’t appeared before the Estimates Committee - “No one asked him to appear”.
What a goose.
Oh to be on the floor of the house next to the exits and to be able to accidentally trip up Christopher Pyne, whilst singing … run Rabbott run, run…
B.A. Santamaria
AAAArrrgggghhh there is a memory I would have preferred not remembering, I hope the nightmares don’t start again. Close of telly address.
The only benefit of democracy is that when the oppressed and intimidated 49% become the majority 51%, they too can tyrranise and intimidate with the goal of generally making the lives of the former 51% (now 49%) miserable in every way.
Looking forward to it. But if we had a Republic rather than this crap, everyone’s rights would be protected by a Constituition. Hang on a minute! That isn’t working in the US any more is it?
Oh well; looks like dictatorship is just around the corner!
Oh poor Khtagh, left alone with the television on a Sunday morning, while parents slept in, were we? ‘Point of View’, strategically positioned, right after ‘Mass for You At Home’?
The homely homily.
We had an elected dictatorship under the rodent remember & we got “Nochoices” I mean “workchoices”
Yes Holden Back & every night too, close of transmission rant..
Even Ben Fordham on 2GB is having a go at Tony “let me out! “Abbott. Perhaps the tide is turning,
Where is Suzanne Blake when we need her?. She seems assured Abbott will be gone by election time.
Whilst one cannot condone the whole saga one has to take the ‘game’ as it comes and get a bit of perspective. Wrecking ball Abbott is clearly doing what he does best,bring the parliament into disrepute and blacken the already tarnished reputation of politicians as a group.
The business owned Liberal Party may fool some of the people all of the time but the malicious and unsubstantiated attacks currently under way in the parliament will in time be seen for what they are. Let us all hope that Australian voters are not so stupid that they believe the crap which has been trotted out by the Liberal Party.
I still await an eye witness of any substance to front the cameras and tell the tale. Quite apart from the prostitutes themselves there would have been a paper trail in these businesses and there would also have been ‘please explains’ from the Union office staff in regard to some of the extraordinary items on Thomson’s credit card. SO WHERE ARE ALL OF THESE FOLK TO BE FOUND?
We all live in hope and until then the game is nothing more than immoral conduct from a political party which was thrown out of office because it tryied to turn the already poor in this nation into serfs and beggars (Work Choices).
@ Khtagh, I was always in bed by then, sleeping the sleep of the just. Did you at least get to watch World of Sport?
Grand dad was a sports nut, yes
Michael , S.B putting on her purple eye-liner on and is meeting a client at the RSL . She /He will be back in a couple of hours . She has a lie quota to meet . In qt today , does Tony’s Bald patch look bigger ? Who was the dead person that Pyne was dragging through the mud in qt , that upset the speaker of the House. How low can they go ?
There is a song called ‘run, ra bbott run’, Tony acted it out in high farce today. Should Tony be medically assessed in respect to this type of action. I think he is losing it. What say you Suzanne Blake?
One thing is for sure after today’s running tantrum in parliament.
You wouldn’t want to be a pregnant woman in his way on a sinking boat, women & children first be Fu__cked I’m outa here…….shove.
splash.
@SHEPHERDMARILYN
“Like last year Jackson awarded herself $630,000 over and above her $270,000 wages”.
That is a pretty big claim to make Marilyn. It is far more that even Craig Thomson is alleged to have taken. Do you have any evidence to back up your claim?
Mal,
It’s all here: http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/politics/thomson-6-the-falling-few-and-the-fall-guy
It’s the political story of the year and deserves a Walkley, only now seeping out into (some of) the MSM. Seems K Jackson is not what she seems and that Abbott appointee Michael Lawler, Vice President of Fair Work Australia, has his fingerprints all over this fiasco. Thompson’s use of the phrase ‘set up’ is not looking as incredible as it first seemed.
Enjoy!