With all the turmoil in the Labor Party rooms right now, with all the back-stabbing and betrayals and regicide, you’d think that this would give the Liberal Party a great opportunity at winning over those voters who, under the Rudd Government, grew tired of the blandness, spin and lies.The Liberals have a chance to show that they truly are an alternative Government with an alternative leadership, with REAL alternative policies.
Unfortunately for all Australians though, that alternative is not what people are looking for. The amount of people who I have spoken to who have, for the first time that I can remember, spoken openly about their political views and said: “I’d vote for the Liberal Party, but I don’t want to vote for Tony Abbott”.
People have as much loathing for Tony Abbott. Similar to what they did for John Howard when he was Prime Minister. And that is saying something. Firstly, it is usually an Australian consensus that you dislike the PM. Its just something you do. But for people to hate an opposition leader as much as they do, that really says something. Secondly, Abbott’s policies are just recycled Howard Government policies. Taken out of the dump-master, brushed-up and re-polished under an “Alternative Government” banner. People disliked Howard’s policies at the end and they are going to hate Abbott’s too.
The truth is, is the electorate has already made up its mind about Abbott. The electorate doesn’t need to test him as PM, as they needed to with Rudd, to know what he is about. They know. They remember him as Minister during the Howard Government. They remember the re-used policies and political rhetoric. Abbott has not changed since his time serving in the Howard Government. The past two-and-a-half years in opposition have not opened his eyes to change. To suspending his religious beliefs from his political ideas.
For these reasons, people will not vote for Abbott. For these reasons, people will not vote for a Federal Liberal Government. For these reasons, Labor has a better chance of winning the next election than they should.
I am not saying to vote to Labor and Julia Gillard. I think she will disappoint just as much as Rudd did for people. What I am saying is don’t vote for a Liberal Party with Tony Abbott as leader. You will just be voting in a Howard Government with a healthier leader.
At the next Federal Election do two things. Firstly, Vote. Secondly, don’t vote for a Abbott (Howard-esque) Government in the House of Reps.
