Say-nothing Bill Shorten doesn’t have the guts

[nero_bolt]

Say-nothing Bill Shorten doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Putin

CALL him Bill Shhh-orten. The Labor leader yesterday revealed his unusual method for dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the flight MH17 atrocity, which killed 38 Australians.

Mr Shorten’s gambit?

Absolute silence.

Asked at a Melbourne press conference what he would say to Mr Putin if he encountered the Russian leader at this weekend’s G20 summit in Brisbane, Mr Shorten replied: “Nothing.”

According to Mr Shorten, there is little point speaking to the Russian President.

Putin has massive popular support in his own country. He, I don’t think, frankly, cares about what Australia thinks,” Mr Shorten said.

A reporter then asked: “Just to clarify, you wouldn’t seek to talk to Mr Putin?”

“Not in the first instance,” Mr Shorten answered.

The Opposition Leader has previously supported the government’s strong stand over the MH17 disaster, even to the point of suggesting Mr Putin be banned from the G20 meeting.

“The seeking of justice, as the Prime Minister has indicated, cannot be shirked. So let me be very clear, I have the gravest reservations about welcoming to Australia anyone in the future who’s engaged in this act of terror,’’ Mr Shorten told parliament in August.

Mr Shorten’s vow of silence follows a meeting ­between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Mr Putin during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation leaders’ summit in Beijing, where Mr Abbott told the Russian President that “MH17 was ­destroyed by a missile from a launcher that had come out of Russia, was fired from ­inside eastern Ukraine and then returned to Russia”.

According to a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister, Mr Abbott told Mr Putin Russia should follow the example set when the US paid compensation after it accidentally shot down an Iranian civilian aircraft in 1988.

“The Prime Minister observed that when the United States had inadvertently shot down a civilian aircraft it had duly apologised and made appropriate restitution,” Mr Abbott’s spokeswoman said.

“He commended the precedent to President Putin.”

In Canberra a Russian ­official rejected any allegation of responsibility for the MH17 crash: “If the Prime Minister has any clear evidence he should bring it to the table. We haven’t seen it.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/saynothing-bill-shorten-doesnt-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-t...

[boris1gary]

if only the abbott could keep his mouth shut instead of continually embarrassing the nation.

[alexander*beetle]

Why on earth should he say anything. He has already stated that even if he had the chance to speak with Putin he wouldn't go ahead now because Abbott has stained the whole conversation. At least Shorten has the intelligence to know when to speak and when not to. 

And even the article proposing to knock Shorten stated:

According to a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister, Mr Abbott told Mr Putin Russia should follow the example set when the USpaid compensation after it accidentally shot down an Iranian civilian aircraft in 1988.

“The Prime Minister observed that when the United States had inadvertently shot down a civilian aircraft it had duly apologised and made appropriate restitution,” Mr Abbott’s spokeswoman said.

“He commended the precedent to President Putin.”

In Canberra a Russian ­official rejected any allegation of responsibility for the MH17 crash: “If the Prime Minister has any clear evidence he should bring it to the table. We haven’t seen it.”

Exactly, there is currently no valid evidence that anyone knows except those involved. And there is extreme doubt that Tony Abbott, Australia's prime minister, knew exactly what happened and who was responsible within hours of it happening. How come no other world leader knows, but tony does. Seriously, isn't it clear how dangerous this man is. He also claimed he had found the other plane while the search was still going on. 

The man is an unmitaged fool, dangerously ignorant and incapable of any form of rational communication. Even the other pollies are embarrassed by him now. aka Malcolm Fraser, John Howard. 

Poor old tony claims to be the expert on everything. When in reality he knows SFA. 

[icyfroth]

Nobody's holding Mr Shorten to account for anything.

The point is, people like to have a strong leader, not someone that shows no backbone on important issues.

We all know the "shirtfronting" comment by Mr Abbott was a bit of  thuggish bluster, but it was Aussies wanted to hear from their leader at the time. A show of strength.

Mr Shorten could have gone one  better and said "I'd shirtfont him AND buttonhole him". Which would have been a bit stronger than "nothing". I mean, heck he's only the opposition leader, he can pretty much say what he like without censure.

Makes him look like a shrinking violet to be voting in as the next PM , don't you think?

[debra9275]

no I don't think it was neccessary for him to support or echo abbotts thuggish comment

[gleee58]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Nobody's holding Mr Shorten to account for anything.

The point is, people like to have a strong leader, not someone that shows no backbone on important issues.

We all know the "shirtfronting" comment by Mr Abbott was a bit of  thuggish bluster, but it was Aussies wanted to hear from their leader at the time. A show of strength.

Mr Shorten could have gone one  better and said "I'd shirtfont him AND buttonhole him". Which would have been a bit stronger than "nothing". I mean, heck he's only the opposition leader, he can pretty much say what he like without censure.

Makes him look like a shrinking violet to be voting in as the next PM , don't you think?

---

Yes, they are. If the daily Terrorgraph are not trying to hold shorten to account for something why are they constantly attacking him for his perceived short comings?   It is not his job to say anything to Putin about anything and no, he's not my favourite choice to lead the opposition but that's not really my business to decide for them.  In some ways I do hope they change leader before the next election but anything would be better than this mob of loony psychopaths.

Abbott little shirt front threat was not something that made him look like a strong leader at all, more like a school boy thug.

It's not something all Aussies wanted to hear from their leader at the time.  Most probably want a leader who can string a sentence together without it being fed through and ear piece by his puppet master.

[azureline**]

---

@icyfroth wrote:

Nobody's holding Mr Shorten to account for anything.

The point is, people like to have a strong leader, not someone that shows no backbone on important issues.

We all know the "shirtfronting" comment by Mr Abbott was a bit of  thuggish bluster, but it was Aussies wanted to hear from their leader at the time. A show of strength.

Mr Shorten could have gone one  better and said "I'd shirtfont him AND buttonhole him". Which would have been a bit stronger than "nothing". I mean, heck he's only the opposition leader, he can pretty much say what he like without censure.

Makes him look like a shrinking violet to be voting in as the next PM , don't you think?

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He isn't the PM and has no place in saying anything to Putin?

There has already been enough trouble surrounding Mr Abbott and Mr Putin.

[kilroy_is_here]

I agree he isn't pm and shouldn't say anything including speaking on global warming internationally

[debra9275]

ah well, that shows he has some backbone then as it's a policy/belief he's always held & it's in tune with the rest of the world

 As far as making comments about another world leader, he is not in a position to do that

[gleee58]

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@kilroy_is_here wrote:
I agree he isn't pm and shouldn't say anything including speaking on global warming internationally

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Why, he is free to express his views on anything he chooses.  He has every right to speak out about climate change, or Putin , or health and education, as he sees fit.

[kilroy_is_here]

You can't have it both ways, he is either able to speak out as opposition leader or he's not , if is then he has a moral obligation to confront Putin on the issue of downing the jumbo .

But then this isn't about any of that shorten and the labor party are so **bleep** scared of being seen to agree with tony Abbott ,as they continually try and paint him as incompetent , but if they agree with him on anything then they will undermine that stance or make them selfs look incompetent . But the labor supporters on here are in the same boat their only respons has been to attack tony Abbott thus leaving them selfs no other option but to keep doing so ,