Abbott's move to the hardline Right.

Well, he's announced his shadow cabinet, and it makes John Howard look like a moderate.

"Mr Abbott has installed climate change sceptic Nick Minchin in the energy and resources portfolio, while fellow hardliner Eric Abetz will take on workplace relations."

(snip)

"As expected, Nationals Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce will move to the frontbench to go head-to-head with Lindsay Tanner in the finance portfolio.

Former Howard government minister Bronwyn Bishop - who was highly critical of Mr Turnbull - is returning to the frontbench as spokeswoman for seniors.

Tony Smith has been promoted to communications and Sophie Mirabella to science and innovation."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/08/2764942.htm

Nick Minchin's comments about climate change being a socialist plot to deindustrialise the word put him in the
ranks of the barking mad, and this move has to make you wonder about Tony's sanity as well.

Ruddock's back - he did so much for Australia's image in the Howard days - and good old Bronnie Bishop - she's only
got the Seniors portfolio, which is apt, but her day was over twenty years ago. And Kevin Andrews, beloved of
John Howard until he stuffed up both WorkChoices and Immigration and was "let go", is now resurrected.

There's also a spot for Cory Bernardi - a politcal hack and timeserver whose views put him in the same bracket as
Nick Minchin.

The only sane things he's done are retaining Hockey and Pyne (a sop to the moderates) and got rid of the ghastly
Helen Coonan (but now we have to look at Sophie Mirabella instead; not a pleasant sight).

Back To The Future, Tony!

How better to connect with mainstream Australia than demonstrating you refuse to offer anything new and refuse to budge an inch on your positions.

Bronwyn Bishop back in the portfolio of seniors? (or as she calls it now "The Department of Younger People") Do the liberals not realise she represents the worst stereotype of their party?

and wasn't Phillip Ruddock gonna retire at the next election? (was certain I heard that!)

I'm surprised he hasn't begged John Howard to come back into parliament to be on his front bench.

Hockey and Pyne are only on the front bench because both have ambitions. (Although Pyne needs to be careful - he only won his seat by a small margin last election) Most other of the sane types probably want nothing to do with this trainwreck!

I'm glad to see the nasty troll Sharman Stone won't be on TV anymore yapping about how the boat people are coming to blow us up!

And one final thought: putting Sophie Mirabella in charge of science and innovation is like putting a wolf in charge of not letting the sheep get eaten!

is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house!

Some of these appointments are a sick joke and downright insulting to the Australian public.

crusade against the evil Kevvy.

CRUSADER ABBOTT.

Did any else notice that he has two Bishops. The Abbott has Bishops.

Barnaby will shoot his mouth off. That should be fun to watch.

Malcolm will continue to repay all the people who white-anted him.

:popcorn::popcorn:

... Just because you've got policies? Well, I'm gonna have policies too, next year, and then y'd better watch out 'cause I'll be coming to get ya!!"

He's just asking for it.

1. Do nothing

2. Scapegoat minorities