It’s the great irony of our times: Tony Abbott, derided as being an unpopular opposition leader, is in fact the most successful political leader our nation has had in recent years. Or to put it another way: having conned his way into office in 2007 by convincing voters that he was a trendier, touchy-feely version of John Howard, Kevin Rudd is now trying to trick his way back into office by pretending he is tougher than his conservative nemesis.