Can you read the body language in this photo?

Warrigal

Warrigal

SF VIP
Location
Sydney, Australia
Possibly this should be in the politics forum but since only the Aussies are likely to be familiar with this man, I'll place it here.

Please do not refer to American politics in your answers.

What do you think this man is thinking about as he enters the room?

Tont Abbott question time.jpg
 

He looks very angry, concerned and I'd say someone let him down big time by not doing their job properly.
 

You are both absolutely correct.

He is a former Prime Minister of Australia. This happens when a PM is getting disastrous poll results and the party is worried enough to elect a new leader. Usually, but not always, the deposed leader resigns and leaves the parliament.

Not so this one. He has hung on, promising not to destabilise but he has been flexing his muscles lately and appears to be getting ready for another leadership challenge. You are both right - he is very angry and it shows.

This photo was taken today when a vote was taken to hold a plebiscite to determine whether or not the marriage laws should be changed to allow same sex marriage. The man in the photo promised the electorate that a plebiscite would be held and thereafter parliament would have a conscience vote but the members would not be bound by the result of the popular plebiscite result. Most people see this as a delaying tactic because the former PM is opposed to SSM.

Today the parliament voted against holding a plebiscite and Plan B is to hold a national postal vote which will not be compulsory and will be non binding on the politicians. It will be very expensive too but the current PM will not allow a parliamentary vote without honouring the promise to let the people have a say. He is in fact in favour of changing the law to allow SSM but has to tread a fine line to avoid upsetting his rival and his supporters within the party.

Things are very tense in Canberra ATM.

Here is a recent photo of the two men together. I think the body language is spectacular.

abbott turnbull caption.JPG
 
I was going to write that he looks like he is leaving and saying, "That's it. I'm taking my ball and going home."
 
Warrigal said:
Possibly this should be in the politics forum but since only the Aussies are likely to be familiar with this man, I'll place it here.

Please do not refer to American politics in your answers.

What do you think this man is thinking about as he enters the room?

View attachment 40456
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He appears to be walking aggressively. His jaw is set. He is looking in the direction of his opposition and he is carrying the evidence. He is probably going to order an ice cream cone.
 
Shalimar said:
I wasn't asked for my professional opinion. I merely observed his body "tells"
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I just figured that as a psycho therapissed you'd have more insight into it than the average schmuck. If so, would you mind sharing it? Pretty please with sugar on top?
 
Trade said:
I just figured that as a psycho therapissed you'd have more insight into it than the average schmuck. If so, would you mind sharing it? Pretty please with sugar on top?
Click to expand...

This is merely conjecture, as I have never met the man. His stiff, aggressive posture, coupled with "the showdown glare," and protruding bottom lip telegraph a person both combative and insecure. I would expect such an individual to likely be

arrogant, vituperative, largely indifferent to the opinions of those he considers inferior, which would encompass almost everyone. I would not be surprised if he exhibits hyper

masculine traits, or uses his size to intimidate and bully others. I doubt he would consider women to be his equals. I suspect he holds a grudge and may retaliate against those he feels wronged him. I would not be surprised if he carries a great deal of

barely repressed rage which he may release through contact sports. Power and the ensuing limelight could be highly addictive to such an individual, it would be almost impossible for such a person to voluntarily walk away. In reply to Warri's question, I think he is a temper looking for a tantrum.
 
Shalimar said:
This is merely conjecture, as I have never met the man. His stiff, aggressive posture, coupled with "the showdown glare," and protruding bottom lip telegraph a person both combative and insecure. I would expect such an individual to likely be

arrogant, vituperative, largely indifferent to the opinions of those he considers inferior, which would encompass almost everyone. I would not be surprised if he exhibits hyper

masculine traits, or uses his size to intimidate and bully others. I doubt he would consider women to be his equals. I suspect he holds a grudge and may retaliate against those he feels wronged him. I would not be surprised if he carries a great deal of

barely repressed rage which he may release through contact sports. Power and the ensuing limelight could be highly addictive to such an individual, it would be almost impossible for such a person to voluntarily walk away. In reply to Warri's question, I think he is a temper looking for a tantrum.
Click to expand...

Oh come on now. The picture captured him in a quiet moment.

:cool:
 
Shalimar said:
This is merely conjecture, as I have never met the man. His stiff, aggressive posture, coupled with "the showdown glare," and protruding bottom lip telegraph a person both combative and insecure. I would expect such an individual to likely be

arrogant, vituperative, largely indifferent to the opinions of those he considers inferior, which would encompass almost everyone. I would not be surprised if he exhibits hyper

masculine traits, or uses his size to intimidate and bully others. I doubt he would consider women to be his equals. I suspect he holds a grudge and may retaliate against those he feels wronged him. I would not be surprised if he carries a great deal of

barely repressed rage which he may release through contact sports. Power and the ensuing limelight could be highly addictive to such an individual, it would be almost impossible for such a person to voluntarily walk away. In reply to Warri's question, I think he is a temper looking for a tantrum.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I knew you could do it!:cool:

I'll bet you have everybody here figured out too!
 
Actually, Shali has him down to a T. He is aggressive and combative with hyper masculine traits although he can be charming too. However, going back to his university days he once punched the wall on either side of the head of the woman who beat him to the chairmanship of the student representative council. He planned to enter the priesthood but left the seminary because he could not live the celibate lifestyle. His sports as a student were boxing and rugby. He is the only son in the family and his mother believed that one day he would be either the Pope or the Prime Minister.

One of his sisters is also in politics. She serves on the council of the City of Sydney. She is a lesbian and is currently campaigning for the marriage laws to be changed to allow legal marriage for same sex couples. He is implacably opposed.

We are expecting a challenge for the leadership of the party to happen, probably before the next election in 2018. He is not interested in being the Leader of the Opposition so he will probably make his move while the government is in power.

This is history repeating itself. We have seen exactly the same thing beginning in 2007 when Kevin Rudd led the Labor Party to victory but in just over two years his approval rating plummeted. He was replaced by his Deputy, Julia Gillard who squeaked home at the next election but had to contend with minority government. Kevin Rudd did not leave the parliament and was given the Foreign Affairs portfolio. He then white-anted his leader until she sacked him and then he continued to undermine her until thing were so unstable that she called a leadership spill and lost. She did leave the parliament and did not recontest her seat and Kevin Rudd lost the next election and Tony Abbott, the angry man in the photo, became Prime Minister as his mother predicted. In those days he smiled a lot more.

 
Lest this thread veer into the political sphere too much, how about these two photos of Queen Elizabeth, taken on the same day (?)



Would you like to read her thoughts?
 
While we are on the subject of body language, how about this one?

Christopher Pyne QT.jpg

He is a senior member of the government (majority party) and this was taken during Question Time when back benchers ask questions of the ministers. This man is the Minister for Defence Industry.

I have no idea what he is thinking and I have never seen this expression on his face before.
Please help me out.
 
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