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Quarterly Essay 47 Political Animal: The Making Of Tony Abbott (2012)

by David Marr(Favorite Author)
3.95 of 5 Votes: 2
ISBN
1921870729 (ISBN13: 9781921870729)
languge
English
publisher
Quarterly Essay
series
Quarterly Essay
review 1: Excellant essay by David Marr. He does not seek to torpedo Abbott. This is no way a polemic. It is a measured and reasoned piece of journalism on a divisive political figure who has spent half his life baiting any progressive forces particularly woman and gay rights activists.Abbott takes his Catholicism seriously and Marr takes him at his word. Marr makes the links between the university politics of the noisy far right Catholic NCC and Abbott's politics. The quixotic defending of unpopular conservative positions has meant that Abbott has received tremendous support from older reactionary men a la Alan Jones. He has had mentors looking out for him all his life. He has been the favoured son of the right all his life.
review 2: Another brilliant political biograp
... morehy by David Marr. Like his infamous piece on Kevin Rudd, he is able to remind the reader of what we knew but had forgotten while exposing new truths along the way. His discussion of Values Abbott and Political Abbott should worry the Coalition because Marr has pin pointed the very fears that keep voters from giving Abbott the popularity to ensure victory at the next election. Moreover, he exposes the contradiction at the heart of Abbott: a conviction politician willing to betray his own values just to attain power. Criticisms by Liberals that this is a hate piece have some merit, especially the constant refrain of Abbott being anti-gay but that is an axe Marr has been grinding for some time so it is no surprise, but ultimately Marr gives credit where credit is due. Hopefully this has the same prophetic power of is last Quarterly Essay. less
Reviews (see all)
Jill
My first Quarterly Essay. Surprisingly engaging. An excellent and provocative essay by David Marr.
juluva
My opinion of Rhodes Scholars is greatly diminished after reading Marr's essay.
manjari
Very, very, very interesting. Values. Politics. Power. Hmm...
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