It's Abbot! - and Turnbull won't resign

Tony Abbott: not pulling punches this time:

The Federal Coalition's newest leader has never been one to shy away from a position.

During an early career writing editorials for the Australian newspaper and the Bulletin magazine, the Rhodes scholar honed the art of crafting an opinion and fighting a case for it.

As a student at Oxford University in England, Tony Abbott was known for his exploits in the boxing ring, where he learnt to roll with the punches and wait to deliver the knockout blow.

Against that background it is hardly surprising the member for Warringah emerged from a week of Liberal party-room carnage this morning as the leader of a fractious Opposition.

First he stood by and watched his leader Malcolm Turnbull accede to Labor's desire to pass an emissions trading scheme (ETS). He moved to stand as an alternative leader before stepping back to pledge support for a Joe Hockey leadership push.

He then saw Mr Hockey effectively hand the Rudd Government its ETS by promising a conscience vote on the issue.

That was one hit to the political body too many for the man known in some quarters as the 'Mad Monk,' who yesterday went on the offensive and declared he would run for the leadership regardless of who else was standing up.

This withdrawal of support for Mr Hockey reflected the overwhelming position of the Liberal party's right wing, who are staunchly committed to opposing the ETS in its current form.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/01/2758261.htm

Hockey was disappointing, but it was hardly a surprise. If he had to run around asking everyone he knew - even
putting the question out on Twitter - whether he should run, then he shouldn't even have been thinking about it.

The question now is whether Rudd will go for a double dissolution on the ETS. I'm ambivalent about that, because
the truth is, the legislation is bad; the Coalition is just opposing it for the wrong reasons. Rudd can't take
anything to Copenhagen now, so he should wait and see what happens there. There's a move for a bigger cut in
emissions; whether it will get up is anyone's guess.

And maybe you're right, this affords an opportunity.

I have to say that I'm quite pleased (and amused) with some of the comments on the Sydney Morning Herald site. Not only are we reminded that:

And with this, the Liberal Party loses not only all of its moderate supporters, but a good portion of all its women supporters, I'll bet. We still remember you from your days as Health Minister, Mr Abbott.

But there's some classic doggerel as well:

the bull is over
the hockey's out
the abbott with the ears
and the ugly snout
is swinging like a monkey
and sliding like a snake
now the show's on the road
to keep us all awake

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Such a contrast with the simple minded drivel that's so often found on American newspaper sites.

Check 'em out.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/shock-result-as-abbott-wins-liberal-leadership-by-one-vote--ets-dead-20091201-k1uz.html?comments=110#comments

Labor would be fools if they think they can pass it, dust off their hands and think their work is all done. At the risk of being an optimist, I believe better laws and decisions will be made.

Also, take into account the efforts of state governments too. They will be important for Australia's efforts.

I don't think the ETS will hurt Labor electorally (except maybe give the Greens a few more votes) as people would rather see something flawed like the ETS, than no action peppered with denial.

At the risk of underestimating him, I will just say that it's looking to be a good year next year if he can't even hold a press conference without looking like a fool!

I am actually happy he is leader now rather than, say, in 8 years when he may actually be a threat to the government. Let him lead the Liberal party to the election, get thrashed and then crawl back into his hole.

As for Malcolm Turnbull, what I liked was that he was adamant that he was going to the back and would accept no front bench position, but wasn't sure if he was going to retire next election. He was visibly irate and disgusted by what happened today. (His token grace in defeat was merely congratulating Abbott and wishing well - no endorsement of him being the next PM.)

As for Hockey. It was good for him. He didn't really want to run and he certainly didn't want to sell out his beliefs to be elevated either. Kudos to him. It would've destroyed his career if he was elected. Few years time he will be ideal to lead that party...

Howard's happy, because Tony is made in his image, but their way of thinking was rejected in 2007, and will be
rejected again next year.

I liked Gillard's comment to him in Parliament: "I hope you'll be leader of the Opposition for a long, long, long,
long time".

But Malcolm really lost it all by himself; he is arrogant and dictatorial, but without the political capital to back
up his words. It's just a shame he lost on an issue when he was in the right for once.