Tony Abbott’s political style

March 31, 2010 in Rants & Raves, Thoughts
Tags: asylum seekers, boxing, climate change, commentary, environment, federal government, Federal Opposition, immigration, Joh Howard, Kevin Rudd, Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition, Liberal Party, Liberals, personal opinion, politics, refugees, The Mad Monk, Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott is often said to play his politics like he does his boxing. He is hard-headed and aggressive. And it would be fair to say that he is certainly a disciple of John Howard – the image of Star Wars’ Emperor (John Howard) and Darth Vader (Tony Abbott) comes to mind – pushing conservative right-wing politics. There is an uneasy disjointedness about Abbott’s approach and no-one can disagree that he is an aggressive politician and motivated by winning. But there are other traits to Tony “The Mad Monk” Abbott that betrays his former life in the boxing ring and the hours of training down at the gym.

Let me explain what I mean as best as I can.

Right now in a boxing sense, Abbott is jabbing at the head and at the body. Jabs to the head include things like refugees, which the Liberals’ xenophobia agenda is seemingly taking a hold in “Howard’s” aspirational areas again; and the economy. Although on this front they have no strength in this area if recent polls are to be believed. The jabs to the body would definitely have to be Abbott’s effort to woe the “female vote” by jumping on board for an “improved” paid parental leave scheme; or woe the “green vote” with his half-baked and ill-conceived climate change policy.

He is even trying to counter some return jabs as he attempts to dance about the issues. Lacking any real substance he is “hitting and running” trying to generate as much positive free media as possible without being pinned down on the details. He would have learned this after holding his ill-fated climate change policy announcement. There were 3 speakers, Abbott; Hunt and Truss, and too many holes in the details with trouble starting in the first minute of Q&A time.

In all of this the government has taken some of those jabs; ducking instead of weaving. The insulation “scandal” hit hard but hasn’t been a too heavy a toll on the overall campaign. Even though the health care debate was rather contrived, in my humble opinion, it reaffirmed that the Labor Party is considered the stronger party (2-PP) when it comes to delivering health care. And then there’s been the free kicks from the likes of Tuckey and Barnaby hurting Abbott rather than re-enforcing him. Abbott also had to fend off counter jabs over his policy to return to WorkChoices; even though it was to the hooting of approval from his Liberal ring-side posse.

As with any boxer, after jabbing away with some lefts and a couple of rights; and dancing about the canvass, he’ll be looking to land a couple of bigger blows. From Abbott’s perspective he needs to land at least one good blow that disorients the government from their message long enough to use a few more jabs to swing momentum his way. At best Abbott is looking to land a well-timed knock out blow; although unlikely, with the polls suggesting a continued 2-PP support for the Labor Party.

However, the question is whether the Labor Party is ready. Abbott won’t keep throwing jabs for ever.