To change this climate, Labor needs a bold new leader: it's Turnbull

[Matilda]

If Turnbull were to jump ship, many problems would simultaneously be solved. First and foremost, the prime ministership would be back within his grasp (which is, after all, his sole ambition). Deliciously, it would also put him in a position to savagely attack Tony Abbott, an opportunity for which he is clearly salivating. And above all, it would allow Turnbull some sleep at night over the one issue that genuinely seems to trouble his conscience.

And for Labor? The opportunity to retake the moral high ground on climate change, rejig its emissions scheme, shrug the Green monkey off its back, consolidate the independents (Rob Oakeshott was gushing over Turnbull's speech), give Kevin Rudd the finger, and put Gillard back where she is best suited (running school staffrooms and kindergartens).

Oh, and it would also give them a pretty good crack at winning the next election.

Sounds like a sound business decision to me.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/to-change-this-climate-labor-needs-a-bold-new-leader-its-turnbull-20110726-1hyhe.html


I've always thought Turnbull was in the wrong party (according to Bob Ellis, it was Lucy who pushed him into the Liberal Party). He's the only person I can think of who could summon the numbers to beat Tony Abbott in an election, but he's not going to get the nod from the Libs in their current mood.

He'd cop some flack for being a turncoat, but the thought of Abbott in charge of this country's future doesn't bear thinking about.

Discuss.

[canetoad]

1. Turnbull joining labor

Occurred to me a few weeks ago.

He's a career pollie. He's got nothing to lose. I'd go as far as predicting that Turnbull will lead Labor if not into next election, the one after.

[Matilda]

2. If Abbott wins next time, Malcolm faces a long wait to become leader.

But even if he joined Labor now, they couldn't make him leader immediately - there'd be some furious wannabees in the Caucus. Wouldn't it put the cat among the pigeons!

The Libs should think though - I believe if it had been Turnbull against Gillard, the Coalition would have won with a clear majority. Only with Rudd would there have been any real opposition for him.

Politics is a very strange business at times.

[canetoad]

3. Saw a crow with a beak of straw today

The maned wood ducks are starting to sit in trees and chatter. Spring is coming.

Politicians continue to inflate their own importance and tell lies in their banal attempt to be 'powerful'.

Life goes on.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I don't mind Turnbull at all and have always thought he was in the wrong party...

What have Labor got? Gillard or Rudd, both of who I think will lead the ALP to oblivion...

[Matilda]

5. It's really desperation time.

I think Gillard is a good debater in parliament, but she's a very poor communicator otherwise. Can't engage with people on the street and can't deliver a speech without sounding like a robot. Communication isn't everything, but it's very important.

Rudd is a good communicator, and people like him and are willing to trust him, but you can't run a whole country like an inner-city office, micro-managing every issue, and I don't believe Rudd could possibly change, whatever he says. He belongs in Foreign Affairs; it's his natural home.

But there isn't anybody else at the moment - there are some good ministers, like Combet, Emerson, Smith, and Roxon, but they don't have the stature necessary for the top job. And Shorten would love to think he has, but he hasn't; he's too obviously an opportunist, and will say and do whatever it takes to push himself forward.

Labor needs a Paul Keating right now - whatever his faults, he could have kicked Abbott from here to Christmas without losing breath. But there's no Paul Keating in the current parliament, and that's a shame for the party and the country.

[Name removed]

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[gemini_liberal]

7. Exactly what the ALP needs: a leader who's even further to the right

Who comes from the business end of town and is an authoritarian, policy-wise, when it comes to leadership - for a party that is run by a caucus, who actually dumped a PM for that reason.

Seriously, just because you are the best choice in a party of worst choices, doesn't mean you are the best choice overall.

Not to mention he'd absolutely die in the polls and probably wouldn't retain his seat. (He might if he were an indie but not ALP)

[Matilda]

8. I don't see Malcolm Turnbull that way.

He certainly comes from the business/banking part of town, and he's not without arrogance, but I've always seen him as being more at home with Labor than the Libs.

And, to his credit, he really believes we have to deal with climate change - Julia Gillard had to be dragged to action by the Greens. It was she who pressured Rudd to drop his ETS scheme, and that was the beginning of the end for Labor. It's been downhill ever since.