good on the liberals!

i can't believe i just said that, but hear me out. i'm glad that liberal party members are persisting with solid and serious debate about the carbon emissions trading scheme. i'm also glad that they're not simply falling in line behind their leader like they did with john howard. i'm sure that the two issues are related.

thirdly, it's interesting and good i think that the electronic media have leaked enough information to give insight into malcolm turnbull's manner of leadership. it will be interesting to see whether we and our political parties are looking more for leaders who can bring consensus.

that's a much longer conversation.

on the negative.... kevin andrews, joe hockey, tony abbott..... gosh the libs need to work on succession!

i voted for the libs once - it was for malcolm fraser and one the one hand i didnt know any better (died in the wool liberal parents...), but on the other hand he has proven to be a true saint.

oh, for an escape from the two-party parliamentary system....

Comments

[Ray Ellison]

Hi Craig,
I wish I could be so sure that they were actually "thinking", Whilst I feel the CT scheme presently proposed has many flaws, the opposition debate has been in my view mostly about weakening it further. I recon Malcolm's concern was that If he didn't get it passed with his ammendments there wouldn't be a second chance to get as much money for the coal and aluminium industries after copenhagen. After reading Scorcher I can't easily be convinced their view represents the will of the general populace at all.

Ray

[craigmitchell]

Ray, thanks for the comment. you misunderstand me. I was commending the fact that the liberals were having a rigorous internal debate and not just falling in behind their leader. we don't know all the details of that debate at all. i just thought that progress was being made when an opposition party doesnt immediately denounce the government, but actually is seen to wrestle with the issues. i wasnt endorsing any of their views in any way, just the value of an opposition that isnt merely the puppet of its leader, or an automatic counter to the ruling party. i'll read scorcher with interest! thanks.