Didn’t Italy used to do this all the time, before Berlusconi?
Really, it’s a feature of the system, not a bug. Make some popcorn, or beetroot sandwiches, whatever you eat over there, and enjoy the show.
I can’t say I have much sympathy for swinging voters who vote on this basis. We’d be better off without them. If the current leadership changes get it through their skulls that they are in substantial part voting for a party - with deep and consistent policy biases - and not for the charisma of the latest leader, that would be great. I’m not holding out much hope though.
Also, it’s doubtful that many swinging voters voted for Abbott based on personality. The polling before the last election showed consistently that the Liberals were doing OK, but in spite of rather than because of Abbott himself. Abbott’s personal approval rating was consistently in the toilet.
My only disappointment with Abbott being deposed is that I didn’t get to see the bastard cry.
The man is a pugilistica-dementia suffering, god bothering oaf. He has a simean gait. He eats raw onions. He knights princes. He struts around in speedos, firefighting uniforms and personalised Border Farce leather jackets. He collects his parliamentary travel allowance while doing charity cycle rides. He’s a bully and a coward, who no doubt dreams of Putin kissing him forcably on the mouth.
I’m ecstatic that he’s gone. I love the poetic justice of how it happened. Abbott personified the peurile, snout-filled trough of the parliamentary system, was a Rupert Murdoch suckhole, and a dangerously ignorant social and environmental liability.
I have issues with Turnbull, I have issues with the policies; but he’s a self-made, educated, articulate and presentable man. And when you have no idea where the fuck you’re own country’s going and are onto your fifth prime minister in 8 years, you at least need someone to whom most people are prepared to listen.
Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t make me want to throw up, and that’s a good start.
BTW, good list Count Blucher and that ain’t the half of it…
Funny. I used to laugh at lists like that for you Merkins.
Turnbull and I probably wouldn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things but bear in mind he lost the leadership of the opposition last time because he wouldn’t back down on his support of the carbon trading scheme. There’s not many politicians who will lose their position rather than give up on something they think is good long term policy.
That…is awesome. I stand (well, sit) in appreciation.
I keep imagining Margy wailing, “But I just picked the curtains, TONY! THE CURTAINS!!” and them both falling to the floor blubbering and praying.
He should’ve just let me see him cry.
I could only find Some of them, sorry.
No, I should really just be sorry that you’ve had to live under him up until last week.
Australia: Truly the most patient & tolerant people on Ogs Green Earth.
In 'Merica, we start kickstarter campaigns to “support” idiots who refuse to marry people, in accordance to the tennets of the job which they refuse to do, but are MORE than happy to cash paychecks from.
In reality, I’d love to see a Kickstarter campaign to either grant you a nice celebration keg party… or to tie 50-lb test fishing line at regular intervals 4 feet up between trees on roads Abbott rides his motorcycles on.
Granted, if all of Sydney could kick him square in the balls once each instead (penalty kick style, until you actually DID make him cry), it would also be a worthy substitute. 
I always kind of suspected that Australia elected Abbott mostly to help us feel better about electing Bush…
I watched the New South Wales Parliament in performance at question time from the pubic gallery yesterday. Of course, the performers there all know both Abbott and Turnbull, because they are both Sydneysiders. My impression is that the Liberal State Government generally likes the change, because they’ll find Turnbull easier to deal with at Commonwealth-State meetings, On the other hand, the Labor opposition is not so happy, because it will be harder to win the next federal election.
A very, very old joke:
Two Italian MPs are sitting on the back benches, very bored, as a parliamentary debate drones on around them. One says, “I think I’ll take a little nap.”
The other nods. “Of course, Giorgio.”
Awhile later, Giorgio wakes up, looks at the clock and is surprised to see that nearly an hour has passed. The debate is still droning on. He stretches and yawns. “Did I miss anything?” he asks his seatmate.
“Not much,” the other man says. “But you were Prime Minister twice.”
I like to think that too, Miller but you should never feel better about that.
Abbott’s party was elected through a series of unfortunate events - people voting. I don’t know any of them, but apparently they were there.
Well you will always have the swing voters I guess, and I imagine they collectively have the controlling vote more often than not. I take the points that all who have quoted me have put forward. I guess I am just very unimpressed that we don’t seem to be able to form a truly stable government
…aaaand it gets better…he resigned by fax.
His courier pigeons must’ve been busy expediating CVs to the UK.
To the Queen, I mean. On account of the favour he did for Phil.
He leaves big shoes to fill. Or maybe it just smells that way. 
Count Blucher you’ve just made me realise what the corridors of parliament smell like. Tears and shit. And $6 crispy skinned duck.
True to form, Abbott is a coward in hiding - and it does make me wonder what two Bishops involved in bringing down an Abbott does to a seminary man.
I tells ya, this Abbott saga has it all - I just want David Attenborough narrating the wild animal documentary in my head where a silver fox kills a chimpanzee. The chimpanzee’s pretty docile though. Aggressive, but docile. And the fox doesn’t have to try very hard.
Well that’s just not going to work at all when your military has to go up against kangaroos with AA tech.
I’m pretty sure he’s talking about the TPP. In America, at least, it will be made public before it is officially voted on, but it’s nearly impossible for it not to pass–because there is only a simple up and down vote, and much of it will probably be very good things. And renegotiation is unlikely.
It’s actually the reason I went from liking Obama to thinking the Republicans are right for calling him “King Obama.” Too bad they’re the ones going along with him, while the Democrats are trying to kill it.