Mad Mal, unleashed from leather jacket and straitjacket, still wonders why he isn’t PM

Why? Why? David Crowe, The Sydney Morning Herald, November 8:

(On ABC’s Q&A) Malcolm Turnbull challenged his Liberal enemies to reveal why they “blew up the government” in the move against him …

Why? Paul Sheehan, the Herald, November 21, 2015:

The prime minister of Australia is a snitch … he is also widely regarded as a leaker, is widely known as a browbeater, and although he is willing to goad and taunt, he has often not reacted with equanimity when the taunting is returned … If being a snitching, leaking, browbeating, goading bully is not enough, Turnbull has, from the earliest age, been a know-it-all … (When) he was (likely to be) appointed school captain, a deputation of senior boys went to the headmaster to urge … “anyone but Turnbull”. (Turnbull’s mother) described him … as a “bundle of demonic energy” and said “there were times when I wondered if I would ever survive his childhood”.

Why? Sam Clench, news.com.au August 26:

Warren Entsch effectively ended Turnbull’s political career when he added his name to the list of MPs requesting … another leadership vote. It was the last signature … needed. And underneath (he) scrawled a deliciously venomous three-word message, twisting the knife in Mr Turnbull’s back. “For Brendan Nelson.”

Peter Hartcher, the Herald, Aug­ust 29, 2009:

(Former opposition leader Brendan) Nelson said: “He’s got narcissistic personality disorder. He says the most appalling things and can’t understand why people get upset. He has no empathy … He was … demanding, emotional and narcissistic, using his wealth and charm for seduction, and always with a sinister threat just beneath the surface … At first, I didn’t think it was that bad. But it is. Most of the people who supported him … (for the leadership) voted for him to get rid of him”, assuming that he would fail as leader and be discarded … A definition of narcissistic personality disorder … reads: … “(1) Has a grandiose sense of self-importance; expects to be recognised as superior without commensurate achievements; (2) Is pre­occupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; (3) Believes that he or she is ‘special’ and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people; (4) Requires excessive admiration; (5) Has a sense of entitlement; (6) Is interpersonally exploitative; (7) Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognise or identify with the feelings and needs of others; (8) Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her; (9) Shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes.” … If (Turnbull) has provoked such anger from the mild-mannered Nelson, can he learn to modify his abrasiveness in dealing with colleagues?

The pain, the pain. Jacqueline Mal­ey, the Herald, November 8:

The leather jacket, which has become a near-legendary political objet, symbolic of the phenomenon known as Old Malcolm, was gone … (In) his first public appearance since his painful ousting … Turnbull was relaxed … the best demeanour to adopt when you subtly skewer those who betrayed you. Turnbull … (was) asked why he had been killed off as leader so suddenly. I don’t know, he (said) … He mentioned a few times the personal pain of losing the leadership … free of both the leather jacket and the prime ministerial straitjacket.

Pain, pussy-footers? Paddy Manning, The Australian, August 24:

As a young journalist … Turnbull wrote: “There’s nothing the matter with being vicious. In fact there is not nearly enough venom and malice in this pussy-footing society of ours.” … As Turnbull’s old editor Trevor Kennedy … (said): “Malcolm probably wouldn’t even be satisfied with being prime minister of Australia. He’d probably rather be prime minister of the world!”