I’ve been trying to avoid commenting on the state leadership debate, but I can’t hold it in much longer.  As some one who is proud of what the party they support stands for it is nothing short of shaming to see elected representatives make such a spectacle and such a mockery of the institution which they purport to belong to.  The thing is I know who I support and who I don’t and I still can’t in good conscience take anyone’s side.  To put words in the mouths of Liberal critics, if the Liberals in office can not get together and choose who will best represent them in parliament and to the public, how on earth are they going to make decisions about running the state?  Instead of focusing on the business of ripping the state Labor party to shreds, which should actually be a very easy task given how flawed they are, they are ripping one another and their own reputations apart.  For the first time I feel sorry for the Nationals who have to sit and watch this behaviour from a group of people that they need to keep on side if they are to one day return to power.

Both of the men who have put their hands up for leadership are actually wonderful local members and have generally done well for themselves.  However the strongest criticism of the incumbent leader, which is that he does not present well to the public, is rapidly becoming the strongest criticism of every one involved.  Time and time again I am bewildered at the fact that what was such an impressive party on a federal scale (obviously prior to the latest, very disappointing, election) was so unruly and amateur on a state level.  It breaks my heart, as I know all of the people in that party room individually are capable of doing a much better job than the collective state Labor members.

Also it’s at a point where it’s not the fault of any one person refusing to step down, but the fault of all for allowing this to go on for so long in such a public manner.  It is such very bad form.  For the sake of winning office this needed to be resolved much more rapidly.

What concerns me even more is when I read an article from the Courier-Mail about Eric Idle offering to lead the party, and that calling the whole situation pythonesque was an insult to the very successful series, I started to nod.  It reminded me of a friends comment about the British Conservative party after watching Love Actually saying that having Hugh Grant run is probably what it would take for them to get back in because of all of their problems.  Obviously minus the dirty talking the portrait of Margaret Thatcher.  

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22868287-3102,00.html

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