In the Liberal Party everything old is new again

It's official. The Liberal Party is jaw droppingly stupid.
Not only has it installed Tony Abbott as its latest leader, he's missed the chance of presenting his shadow ministry as generational change rather than as a return of Howard Government dinosaurs and a reward to his backers in the leadership stoush.
The Opposition is now fronted by politicians who on their former watch allowed the elderly to be neglected and abused, all but dismantled human rights in Australia, institutionalised the 'let's rip off our workers' mentality, dragged the nation into two wars to please George Bush, subverted parliamentary process, turned xenophobia into high art, endorsed racism in welfare delivery, decided that religion rather than science is the better tool for policy decisions and now want another chance to reprise the lot.
To make matters worse Abbott obviously thinks that being The Opposition is nothing but a game.
Some sort of mano a mano contest offering a return to government as first prize and with no consequences for the nation.
Party leadership being no more than a long running series of debating tricks and an orgy of one liners.
At this rate it's not Kevin Rudd or the Labor Party Abbott will give "the fright of its life" - its the Australian electorate which will be quaking in its boots.
I never even remotely thought I would ever feel sorry for Joe Hockey and Julie Bishop but I do - they're going to wish they'd never been elected in the first place by the time Abbott is through making a buffoon of the party.