A new Essential Report has found the public have a favourable view of the Rudd government’s economic management, and they’re dismissing every single economic angle the Opposition has been raising as an attack for the past six months.
Liberal Party 
The CPRS: what the Liberals want
So Malcolm Turnbull has convinced the Coalition to push amendments on the Government’s CPRS. But what is it that the Liberals want?
The Coalition ride the conveyor belt to electoral slaughter
The idea of the Coalition losing 20 seats next year has now become part of the political furniture, says Bernard Keane. And unfortunately for them, next year is, historically, their best chance at getting back in power for some time.
graph pr0n The grey vote
The ‘Depression Era’ vote is the most electorally significant demographic for the Coalition, says Possum Comitatus. Without it, Howard would have lost in 1998, lost in 2001 and it would have been line ball in 2004. But when they die off, where will the votes come from?
Poll: Libs up, but Turnbull gets a thumbs down
The latest Essential Report has the Liberal Party up two points with a two-party of 58-42, but an overwhelming majority think Turnbull hasn’t got the temperament or judgment to be a party leader.
Gerard Henderson backs Turnbull
Well, someone had to: Gerard Henderson supports Malcolm Turnbull as leader of the Liberal Party, claiming the media is making too big a deal of the whole leadership debate in the first place.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Stimulus and employment
Crikey readers weigh in on the economic stimulus package and jobs as an economic indicator. Plus, Bernard Keane’s alleged jealousy of Joe Hockey.
Hartcher: Malcolm Turnbull: dead man walking
The good ship Liberal Party is sinking with a corpse at its helm, says Peter Hartcher. Joe Hockey isn’t a particularly promising alternative, but he’s better than the political walking dead.
Looking back, this will not be the Liberals’ finest hour
A future historian will look back at the gung-ho neoliberal era of circa 1975-2006 and wonder about its wild excesses and its selective blindness; the present day Liberal Party will no doubt be part of that curious museum exhibit, writes Norman Abjorensen.
Kohler: Turnbull’s four steps to annihilation
Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘Four Point Plan To Pay Off Labor’s Debt’ was a tired, dismal effort that will sink without trace, because there’s hardly anything in it, and no-one cares anyway because they’re focused on whether he’ll survive to the weekend.
Sing the Coalition theme song: “Ring the final bell, Hel…”
In light of Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal leadership mess, North Coast Voices have created a political ditty titled 22 Ways To Leave Your Leader. All together now “Lose another preselection seat, Pete…”
Kerr: Writing Turnbull’s obituary
Margaret Thatche’s official biographer once described Malcolm Turnbull as “brilliant”. And he is, says Christian Kerr, but that doesn’t mean he’s cut out for politics.
Libs face an election massacre
The embattled Liberal Party’s own polling has predicted the party would face an absolute slaughtering if an election was called soon — and both Hockey and Turnbull would lose their seats.
Hockey would be a disaster as Opposition Leader
Joe Hockey is a lightweight at best, and his performance in the media yesterday proved it.
Opposition leadership: what the polls say
With the current Coalition leadership shenanigans dominating the media space today, Possum Comitatus takes a look at the recent history of Liberal Party leadership polling.
Turnbull’s debt plan: less Hockey
Amidst leadership turmoil this morning, Malcolm Turnbull committed to reducing Commonwealth expenditure to 25% of GDP — direct repudiating Joe Hockey’s earlier commitment of a 24% slash, made barely a month ago, reports Bernard Keane.
Uhlmann: ‘Back me or sack me’ backfires
Malcolm Turnbull’s attempt to call his rogue backbenchers’ bluff over climate change policy — “back me or sack me” — may have blown up in his face, as many are all too keen to take the latter option, says Chris Uhlmann.
van Onselen: Peter Costello’s parting gift
Peter Costello’s exit and the subsequent by-election that will be forced in his seat of Higgins is a gift to all Liberals — even Malcolm Turnbull, says Peter van Onselen.
Hartcher: The Libs’ problem isn’t Mal or Peter: it’s Kevin
The Liberal Party is stuck in a cycle of despair, says Peter Hartcher: even if they do find someone else willing to accept the poisoned leadership chalice, they still can’t compete against an immensely popular government and its even more popular leader.
Rundle: Coalition comes crashing down
Peter Costello’s departure has guaranteed the Liberal Party won’t be competitive in a Federal election until at least 2016 says Guy Rundle. And you can kiss the Coalition goodbye.
Turnbull has a Costello of a day
Peter Costello has (finally) announced his retirement from Parliament, reports Bernard Keane, piling even more pressure on embattled Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull.
A Liberal party divided… as ever
The Liberal Party’s internal attacks on leader Malcolm Turnbull makes a mockery of the Party’s mantra that it is a “broad church”, says Greg Barns. It is not. It is one in which if Liberals get too big for their boots, they are struck down.
Bartlett: Libs’ low hopes tangled in Dutton
One of Malcolm Turnbull’s golden hopes for the Liberal party, Peter Dutton, has failed to win preselection for McPherson. Turnbull is testing his authority with his demands on QLD pollies, says Andrew Bartlett.
Coorey: Turnbull can’t shift the dead weight of Iron Bar
Malcolm Turnbull is correct that his party needs to do something on climate change, says Phillip Coorey, but the “do-nothing” climate skeptics are stuck firmly to the bottom of his shoe.
