Reinvention Time for Australia’s Abbott

If ever was lost not won, it was the weekend’s vote in Australia. Exhausted by the Labor Party’s feuding, the country ditched Kevin Rudd’s government and elected the Liberal-National coalition led by Tony Abbott. The new prime minister, once seen as gaffe-prone and unelectable, has said he’ll grow into the role. He’d better, or it won’t be long before Australia regrets its choice.

To call the coalition’s platform weak would be generous. Mostly, it was empty -- and its few specific ideas were notable for being bad ones.