Thread by @GarthGodsman

In the PM’s office, you’re either “compliant or an enemy’’ theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ne… #auspol

'Another minister says: “The underlying flaw is he (Turnbull) just doesn’t have political judgment.”' And there you have Turnbull's real problem distilled. It isn't Abbott. It's him. #auspol

Here's the kicker, though: "Some of [Turnbull's] behaviour is described as “Ruddesque”." #auspol

"As the Prime Minister typed away on his computer, quoting various parts of the Constitution, he assured Joyce it would be OK and the High Court would find in his favour. *Lucy Turnbull was finishing Turnbull’s sentences for him...*" #auspol

Not to say Abbott hasn't been a destabilising force, but the government's malaise goes way beyond him. “What is our message? I couldn’t even tell you." #auspol

“You have a discussion with any long-term Coalition staffer and we don’t know what we’re fighting for.” theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ne… #auspol

"Cormann and Dutton also advised Turnbull against antagonising Joyce in the press conference where [the bonk ban] was announced..." So what did Turnbull go ahead and do? Poured the petrol on the fire, anyway. #auspol

"Cray is known in Canberra as the Prime Minister’s de facto chief of staff — a kind of “new Peta Credlin”." #auspol

"The expression used around Turnbull is that he gets “played on the politics” at every turn." theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ne… This should surprise no one. He was this hapless as opposition leader. #auspol

"Malcolm’s office is very Sydney eastern suburbs ... so of course they hear different things from what we’re concerned about — which is energy prices and immigration." #auspol

"The biggest mistake he could make now — which Abbott made — would be for his office to become paranoid." #auspol

“The office is supposed to resemble Howard’s office but in fact it resembles Rudd’s.

“They have got small-L liberals running around.” The Liberal Party wets need to be listened to, but never in charge. #auspol

"At least when Abbott was PM we had an (idea) of what we stand for. Malcolm derides these three-word slogans, but they work." theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ne… #auspol

One of Turnbull's chief problems, (like Abbott?), is that when he gets good advice, he doesn't take it. #auspol

"The true killer for the PM was a period of three months — between February and April 2016 — when he faffed around with what he was going to do on tax reform." #auspol

"The opportunity to reform was lost; it was gone. But the indecisiveness was there. There for all to see." #auspol

"In this time, the primary vote of the Coalition in the Newspoll went from 46 per cent to 41 per cent. It has never really recovered." #auspol

Turnbull "had a plan to become PM but no plan to govern.” theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ne… #auspol

'“His fundamental problem is political management. Basically a lot of Malcolm’s policies ... are sound,” one senior Liberal says.' If that problem could be turned around ... #auspol

'But then comes the mismanagement with Turnbull’s ally, Education Minister Simon Birm­ingham, accusing the Catholics of being bought by Labor for a “few pieces of silver”.' Again, the problem with the wets. #auspol

"Failure to stick to a theme and create a narrative has been the ­political failure of the government under the Turnbull leadership." Complaints about Abbott's sniping, though correct, are essentially excuses for this. #auspol

It's a bit maddening. Turnbull is clearly an intelligent man, with an ability to get across complex detail and have this 'in his head.' But lacks political smarts, won't listen to people who do and, like Rudd, seems to have the attention span of a magpie. #auspol

"The trouble is when all the detail is in your head, it can become harder to deliver a clear message." #auspol

"Bill Shorten is not trusted or liked by the public but still Labor leads, every time.

"The voters have switched off." #auspol