Kerry O’Brien — brutal but benevolent leader of 7:30 Report Land — asked the opposition leader last night whether there are “two Tony Abbotts”.
“Well, again, I think that most of us know when we’re talking to people or when we’re listening to people, I think we know when we can put absolute weight on what’s being said and when it’s just the give and take of standard conversation.”
Huh?
This in a calamitous interview where “phoney Tony” (as Labor quickly trotted out) explained the difference between his scripted remarks — “to be taken absolutely as gospel truth” — and his off-the-cuff riffing, where he may, in fact, tell a few fibs.
There aren’t two Tonys, of course. As Bernard Keane writes today, there has only ever been one: gaffe-prone, ideologically driven, heart-on-the-sleeve Tony. The Tony we’ve grown to know and, just a little bit, love. The Tony who — and let’s be honest here, maaate — should never have been Liberal leader. A politician just a little too transparent for his own good.
Which is almost endearing as an opposition leader — and real trouble as a prime minister.
The question in the title can comprehensively be answered: no.
NO , NEVER.
The big worry is that Tony appears to lie when under pressure, which as Bernard says is harmless enough as an opposition leader, but a fatal flaw in a Prime Minister. Of course I reckon Tony is as big a worry when he tells the truth also. Either way he is unfit to be P.M.
I take offense at the proposition that we might have grown to love him. Sorry, not in your wildest dreams.
For a religious man, he has no grace.
Does he wear his heart on his sleeve? — I don’t think so — it’s an aggressive need to have others succumb to his beliefs.
He has, I feel, like Minchin and co, an underlyine evangelical desire to impose his moral values upon others.
The fact that he lies along with it — makes it all the more problematic. Many despots from the past claimed to have God on their side.
To then accept that it is okay to lie in certain circumstances must be a source of profound internal conflict for someone who has such deep religious values. If there is no such conflict — then either his values are suspect or his commitment to them.
Either way — he is not the man I would have representing or guiding our country.
Yes, but surely for our entertainment we could have Tony just stay in the limelight a bit longer. I never thought he would have something of value but have changed my mind.
He certainly brightens up the day when he is being interviewed.
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