Turnbull is too intelligent a man to be entrapped within the lunacy his Party enmeshes him in, which he is obliged, nonetheless, to adopt. He is, like Obama, a negotiator. He is too intelligent a man to be enmeshed in the miseries and fallacies of some of his co-conspirators: Brough, and Roy and Pyne, the blackmailers; and Jamie Briggs, the office harasser; Brandis, the flamboyant protector of Man Monis; the terrorist; Dutton and Morrison, the kidnappers. His intelligence works against him. Policy by policy, he sees more and more of his declarations contradicting his beliefs. Why vote for him and not Shorten. There seems less and less reason, issue by issue, for doing this.

This is a battle not yet over. If it were fought issue by issue, Shorten would win. If it is fought by personality, Turnbull (thus far) wins. If Turnbull gets to the ballot box in February, he wins. If after May, it will be reasonably decided.

And we will see what we shall see.

read more: https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/turnbulls-dilemma,8593

Meanwhile:

Federal Coalition MPs say the New South Wales branch of the Liberal Party is defying the Prime Minister by continuing to plot against sitting members.

• Federal Coalition MPs say NSW counterparts defying PM
• Moderates in NSW planning to unseat serving Coalition MPs
• MPs warn factional warring could destabilise party

Moderates in NSW are planning to unseat several serving Coalition politicians in preselection battles, prompting some MPs to claim that the state branch of the party is defying Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and risking destabilisation.

Hughes MP Craig Kelly, one of the sitting members being targeted, said he would stand again.

Mr Kelly told the ABC that he had turned his marginal Western Sydney electorate into a solid Liberal seat and intended to expand his margin in 2016.

"I took this seat — when I first ran it was a half per cent margin, one of the most marginal seats in the country," he said.

"Over two elections, I've taken that out to an 11 per cent margin and I'm looking forward to pushing out that margin out even further at this coming election."

Read more:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-20/nsw-liberals-defying-turnbull-dest...

Please note the specially Gus designed chopper broach on Bronwyn lapel...

The contest underway for one of the Liberal Party's most glittering prizes – the safe seat of Mackellar held by former speaker Bronwyn Bishop – has been described as appalling and wrong by a high profile Liberal member.

• Bronwyn Bishop and Jason Falinski fighting for Mackellar preselection
• 7.30 investigation reveals widespread dismay at the process
• Liberal member David Flint says "Menzies would be horrified" by lack of democracy
• Entrepreneur Dick Smith also among critics

Just 96 people will get a say on who the Liberals will select for the seat, and only two of the six nominees are in with a chance: Mrs Bishop and Liberal staffer Jason Falinski, who is backed by the dominant state faction.

An investigation by 7.30 has unearthed widespread dismay at the process in New South Wales that has seen at least one well credentialed candidate withdraw from the race.

Among the critics is Professor David Flint, a member of the Rose Bay Liberal Branch in Malcolm Turnbull's electorate of Wentworth as well as a monarchist and legal academic.

"Menzies would be horrified if he knew that potential members of Parliament were not being chosen on merit, but were being chosen because of their allegiance to a factional powerbroker," he told 7.30.

"That is appalling and it should not continue."

read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-08/mackellar-preselection-fight-undemocratic-says-david-flint/7229456

Former speaker Bronwyn Bishop has lost a preselection ballot in her Sydney seat of Mackellar.

Former Liberal staffer Jason Falinski defeated Ms Bishop 51 to 39 in a meeting lasting five-and-a-half hours on Saturday evening.

The result will still need to be formally endorsed by the Liberal Party executive.

Ms Bishop, who has held the seat on Sydney's northern beaches for 22 years, told reporters as she left the meeting that: "It's been an honour to serve the people of Mackellar".

Before Saturday's ballot some party elders publicly criticised Ms Bishop's decision to recontest the seat, arguing it was time for the 73-year-old to retire and allow new blood into the ranks.

Moderate state government staffer Mr Falinski and hard-right candidate Walter Villatora were widely seen as the biggest threats to Ms Bishop.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-16/bronwyn-bishop-loses-preselection-fight-in-seat-of-mackellar/7332274

See image at top...