'bordering on demented': malcolm turnbull

If the Libs have any sense they will re-install Turnbull.
What problem do the Libs have with Turnbull ?
He is successful and popular

_____________________
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says News Corp commentator Andrew Bolt's leadership speculation "borders on the demented" and is ''quite unhinged".

In his column on Monday, Mr Bolt accused Mr Turnbull of aiding the Coalition's enemies by dining with millionaire politician Clive Palmer in Canberra last week and by launching a Parliamentary Friends of the ABC group.

Mr Turnbull's dinner with Mr Palmer sparked fears among some in the Coalition that he was attempting to destabilise Mr Abbott's leadership, according to reports.

"It borders on the demented to string together a dinner with Clive Palmer and my attending, as the Communications Minister, the launch by a cross-party group of friends of the ABC and say that that amounts to some kind of threat or challenge to the Prime Minister," Mr Turnbull told reporters on Monday.

"It is quite unhinged. Now, Mr Bolt is fond of attacking what he regards as the government's enemies in the media, principal amongst whom of course he numbers the ABC. I don't think you would see anything as crazy as that on the ABC.

"I just have to say to Mr Bolt, he proclaims loudly that he is a friend of the government. Well with friends like Bolt, we don't need any enemies."

On Monday, Mr Bolt told Fairfax Media: ''It's a great shame and quite telling that Malcolm Turnbull attacks someone he calls the government's media friend with far more vitriol than I can recall him ever attacking one of the government's media enemies.

''This fits a pattern. No doubt he [Turnbull] will expand on this in his next Q&A appearance with Tony Jones.''

Mr Abbott told The Bolt Report on Sunday there was no threat to his leadership.

"I think it's perfectly reasonable for senior members of the Coalition to talk with independent and minor party senators because ... we have a budget to get through the Parliament," he said.

Mr Abbott added that there was ''nothing wrong'' with Mr Palmer having a relationship with the Communications Minister and others.

Commenting on Mr Turnbull's speech to the Parliamentary Friends of the ABC group, Mr Bolt wrote in News Corp Australia newspapers on Monday: "This is Turnbull, on the far left of the Liberal Party, charming a constituency that hates Abbott and which would back Turnbull to replace him — even if it still wouldn't vote Liberal.

"If only Turnbull had spent half this charm fighting for Abbott's budget. Instead, some of Abbott's troops complain he's almost gone missing in action."

Mr Bolt is personally close to Mr Abbott, who famously urged him to continue as a commentator after Mr Bolt was found guilty of breaching Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bordering-on-demented-malcolm-turnbull-lashes-out-at-andrew-bolt-over-leadership-speculation-20140602-39dg9.html#ixzz33RXWCxLm