Jen Dalitz
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Little Wins

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Dog Farm Stays


Would you like to see Tony Abbott as PM? Why do majority of women polled say "no thanks"?

Thursday, February 02, 2012

I don't usually write about politics... but I'm fascinated by the NewsPoll opinion results that confirm women are still not warming to Tony Abbott.  More than that, their satisfaction with him as opposition leader is in decline, and 42% of women prefer the idea of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister rather than Mr Rabbit (as the PM refers to him)....

Now I know that in Australia we don't directly elect a PM... But what is it about Tony Abbott?  His views on abortion?  His stay at home wife?  His faith? Or, as has been suggested at The Hoopla, do we just have a bit of a crush on Malcolm?

Do you have a view?  Or am I just opening up a whole Pandora's Box that's better well left alone? 

best not say commented on 02-Feb-2012 07:43 PM
We don't trust Abbott because he is an attack dog who only criticises (barks) but doesn't come up with any worthwhile solutions (just barks more). We have come across one too many men like that and we are looking for someone with a bit more substance,
and more intelligent, considered and enlightened argument - even if we don't agree with it! That might explain why women prefer MT and get grossly tired of Mr Abbott's false "I'm just a normal Aussie bloke" whiny cheap personal attacks. There's nothing remotely
clever about that!
me too commented on 02-Feb-2012 10:07 PM
I tend to agree with Best Not Say... what is with the negativity? Is that just the job of opposition? I just don't remember Rudd, Crean, Beasley et al in Labor camp being such 'no men' when in opposition...
Em commented on 04-Feb-2012 04:21 PM
It's funny isn't it ... all the conversations I have about politics at the moment centre around the 'Why dont we form the 'I've lost faith in labour but could never vote for Tony Abbott' party. I'd join for sure.
Me neither commented on 07-Feb-2012 07:17 PM
Tony Abbott is a Rhodes Scholar. This is not only serious intellect but outstanding sports ability. His wife is not a "stay at home wife". She runs a local pre-school and by all accounts is a strong and independent minded woman. In any case, this comment
is a nasty put-down to women who choose, or who have the luxury of being able, to stay at home to raise their children. I wish. He has 3 strong, intelligent and independent daughters. Role models for young women everywhere. Why do people create a fantasy,
and then criticise him for their own fantasies? He has strong morals which are sorely lacking in our public life. At least you know where he stands. He's not in government, he's in opposition; it's not his job to guide the government. There's more media attention
on the opposition than on the government - the ABC particularly is obsesses with Tony Abbott. I'd love to hear from a psychologist about this.
TheSheEO commented on 07-Feb-2012 10:02 PM
Interesting posts here... Perhaps you're right @MeNeither - a psychologist may be able to shed some light. I will put the word out and see what I can come up with... Jen
Kasey commented on 08-Feb-2012 11:36 AM
I dont believe he's highly moral at all. By all accounts hes a womaniser. Hes extremely good at suppressing information he doesn't want the public to see. His underhanded comments about women, the disabled and anyone not seen as 'productive' to his cause
should alert you to the real views he possesses. I dont bother listening to his scripted crap. You know hes a great actor. The candid stuff says a lot about what he's really about. I'm a strong believer in separating religion and state, he however is not.
We are too multi cultural to ever have a leader who cant separate these aspects and those who suffer at the hands of the church will suffer at the hands of the government if thats the case... Yes, the government has made mistakes but better the devil you know...
Me neither commented on 08-Feb-2012 03:45 PM
This is crazy. The church and state were separated in this country over 100 years ago in the Australian constitution and he can't change the constitution. In the state of NSW, as far back as the 1820s, the decision was made that there would be no established
church, which is still the case. Last night the media made a great fuss about Kevin Rudd being in church for the commencement of the parliamentary year. Does that bother Kasey? If Abbott is a womaniser, which I doubt, then that puts him in the grand tradition
of former Labor party prime ministers, eg, Bob Hawke. Keating might have been if his preferences didn't lie elsewhere. At least we know Gough Whitlam didn't womanise but there again he was in love with himself. It's a pity that children aren't taught in school
about our system of government, and the 1000 years of bloody wars that brought it about, and how free we are compared to the rest of the world. It's a pity, also, that more people don't step back to more objectively consider issues related to the government.
Seems like celebrity worship is alive and growing; the ability to analyse policy, justice and our comparative national advantages is shrinking. All those migrants are coming for a reason and it's not because we are oppressed.
Sue commented on 09-Feb-2012 10:15 PM
Well done ‘Me neither’ it would be wonderful if some proper analysis was made rather than Kasey’s spreading a rumour which is just plain dangerous and in many ways dishonest. (When does he get the time and energy anyway?) If this was published in a newspaper
rather than the website then you could be sued for defamation. These underhand comments such as those women’s magazines rallying against Abbott in speedos (the uniform of lifesavers which he is) yet Ian Thorpe can pose in speedos and that’s OK. Likewise Hugh
Jackman photographed bare chested. Abbott is a member of the local bushfire brigade, another worthy community voluntary organization as are lifesavers. I assume his cycling is used not only for exercise but also to clear his head as well as such events as
the ‘Pollie Pedal’, a funding and awareness raising event for various causes (started in 1998 by Tony Abbott.) In Australia we are supposed to have religious freedom/tolerance but it seems as long as it’s not Christian and definitely not Catholic, it is acceptable.
It would be informative if some of the comments came after more thoughtful research such as how Margaret Thatcher was hounded even before she was PM by the Unions and Labour Party in the UK in 1971 when she faced cries of "Ditch the Bitch" and "Margaret Thatcher
– Milk Snatcher"’ and the availability still of a 1983 Labour 'Ditch the Witch' Campaign poster see: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1983-labour-ditch-witch-campaign-168631560
TheSheEO commented on 10-Feb-2012 11:06 AM
OK I'm just getting concerned with some of the comments being posted here... don't want to get hit with a defamation suit!! So Kasey I'm going to edit a couple of sentences out of your post. We get the gist of what you're saying, please don't add it back!
Cheers, Jen :-)
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