MAKING predictions is always tricky but sometimes stars and planets align and a passing comet produces a trail of debris that marks its departure from the heavens.
For Tony Abbott, the parliamentary stars, public condemnation and falling polls - along with a galaxy of media - will see him passing across the political sky as a flash of light, before burning out.
I predict that come the end of the week, the man often called Mr Rabbit will no longer be prime minister of Australia. He has, in an astonishing short space of time, gone from hero to zero. He was elected in a moment of madness by Australian voters, many of whom now regret their decision.
There were clues: The vilification of Julia Gillard for daring to be a woman; blaming all the nation's woes on the previous government; using taxpayer's money for flights to a friend's wedding and sporting events. The warnings were all there in neon-coloured Lycra as he posed with his racing bike.
After the election, promises were broken, a botched budget hit the poorest, combined with a reluctance to tackle the tax dodges of the super wealthy or take on the powerful mining industry. Then there was the scholarship granted to his daughter by a mate. Abbott could well afford to support his daughter's tertiary education but felt there was nothing wrong with using his position to accrue such advantage.
This was the point where it became clear that Tony Abbott was suffering from a bad attack of hubris - the product of "excessive pride or self-confidence". The Oxford dictionary adds that in Greek tragedy, hubris is pride towards or defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis.
That nemesis has come in many forms. Video of him winking knowingly while a woman attempts to make serious comment and talk of lifters and leaners when it was clear that the heavy lifting was expected to come from those who could least afford it. The chest-beating challenge to Putin was simply posturing nonsense.
As the ratings went down, Abbott geared up the rhetoric. Asylum seekers posed a threat - detention outside of Australia in poor countries was the answer. The level of fear generated was not sufficient to lift him in the polls so another enemy was required.
Terrorism was the enemy and Muslims the problem but he was a leader who was not afraid. The Sydney siege provided the perfect stage to strut and drive up the fear - though it did not involve a terrorist group. The damage to social cohesion was immaterial - Tony Abbott was busy showing Australia how tough he was.
He followed that up by boldly declaring that Muslim leaders were not doing enough to combat radicalism, successfully alienating the very people the government needs to work with to enhance inclusion. A knighthood for the Duke of Edinburgh was the crowning by a court jester.
A week ago he faced rebellion from many within his caucus who felt he had lost the plot and the mandate to lead as prime minister. He has proved them right by attempting to bully the head of the Australian Human Rights Commission out of her job because she delivered a damaging report on the government policy of holding the children of asylum seekers in detention centres.
He could have accepted the welfare of vulnerable children as paramount - but, no, political posturing and hanging on to power are clearly more important to him.
He has been called many things, including an idiot, but it is hubris that will see him out of office by the end of the week. Australia will breathe a sigh of relief and John Key will deny he has been taking notes.
¦Terry Sarten is a writer, musician and social worker - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz
