Turnbull puts the heat on Abbott

Vanguard May 2012 p. 4
Bill F.

Malcolm Turnbull has been hoisting up a few flags recently, just to remind his parliamentary mates that he can generate wider appeal (and more votes) than the more openly reactionary Tony Abbott.

Looking at the real possibility of a Coalition win at the next Federal election, there is some fear in those circles that Abbott could well snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

While the Gillard government is on the nose, Abbott’s head-kicking style and negativity are also wearing thin.

Turnbull senses this and is putting forward a different position to the Abbott line, one that seems more reasonable and intelligent.

His interview in The Monthly magazine is a sign that sections of the ruling class feel smarter tactics are required to maintain the illusion of democracy, and for imperialism to continue its divide and rule over the Australian people.

For example, unlike Abbott, Turnbull accepts the overwhelming evidence of climate warming. Not only this, he rejects the notion of falling into line with US climate policy. “... the Americans are in a period of dysfunctionality on this … the Chinese are very alert to it and are introducing an emissions trading scheme. It’s a trial and it’s got a very small price, but the Chinese do take it seriously... I think we are more likely to see leadership out of China than America.”

In fact, Turnbull broke from the accepted Coalition line on Iraq. “The argument for saying it was a mistake and misconceived is a very powerful one … There are plenty of people on both sides of politics in the US who take that view.”

Leaving both Abbott and Gillard stuck in the quagmire, Turnbull has also broken ranks on Afghanistan, saying there was little hope of “what many in the West think of as victory”.

On these issues Turnbull appears to be more in touch with the attitudes of the Australian people than most of the Labor and Coalition parliamentary crew. However, it is really just a case of another ego-driven politician giving the ruling class another option.