So specious reasoning such as Farmboy's scores 53 'thumbs up'? We're an objective, thinking lot on HotCopper, aren't we!
Farmboy: '...because his [Abbott's] views have no effect on us, he is free to change his mind as often as he likes. What is important is what he says he will do as Prime Minister, not what he might have side [sic] two months ago as opposition leader.'
It seems many HotCopperites are so myopic in their views that they will applaud even the most illogical reasoning. If you can't assess candidates on their track record and public statements, what CAN you assess them on?
Is anyone seriously suggesting that the well-publicized views of a would-be Prime Minister should not be held up to public scrutiny because he's not in the job yet? That's equivalent to stumping up serious money for a lame donkey in the hope that it will run like a thoroughbred when it's entered in the Melbourne Cup!
Abbott is an idealogue - an old-fashioned, anti-abortion conservative. As such he will attempt to impose a regressive and deeply conservative agenda that profoundly affects our lives - particularly those of women. Beware.
I see him as an unwelcome step along the American path where the religious Right exerts a disproportionate sway on political life and therefore he is to be resisted. I concede that both are highly intelligent candidates but I personally prefer Julia Gillard partly because atheists do not tend to evangelize.
It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks of the campaign play out, but I really hope the Australian public shows more independence of thought than is sometimes exhibited on this forum
