I'm afraid, I really don't get it. For a country like Australia...

I'm afraid, I really don't get it.

For a country like Australia who gets pushed and shoved so easily by any wave of emotion or economy that sweeps the planet why we do not have a couple of very simple rules in place - and, they would be that -

politicians do NOT comment on foreign policy or foreign issues

politicians do NOT comment on foreign leaders or potential leaders


'general' foreign policy might be able to be expressed pre elections - but, that's it


time after time I see political leaders of both main parties putting their big bloody foot in their mouth at huge risk and NO GAIN to the nation

I clearly remember Abbott, I clearly remember Shorten, I remember Keating - many of them have done it -

there's just no need, no gain and no point beyond perhaps making a few brownies with their dumbest of support base - which wouldn't leave them anyway

we need to learn that in public ----------- you shut your gob


the worst thing you can do is to publicly put an Asian nation or leader in the spotlight and with the possibility of losing face ------- ditto with some leader like Trump ------ who would remember public opposition or personal slight

you just have to make all your moves in private


Federal or state politics is one place - twitter and HC are another place

it's fine for Oz people to let their pollies know they are upset with someone - it's not ok for pollies to sprout the same publicly

just 'we don't comment on foreign issues' to any headline seeking bonehead reporters


you 'might' still get resistance, you 'might's still get aggressive reactions - but, the chances are far lower than if you are out there in public shouting from the rooftops

it's just idiocy