Australia will be the laughing stock of the world, 'what? they threw their Prime Minister out just because he knighted Prince Philip?'
I think the 'knightmare' might be the straw that broke the camel's back. It wouldn't matter if it was his first gaffe in his 15 odd months as PM, but it isn't.
Opinion polls suggest Abbott is on the nose with voters, and Liberal would lose an election if it was held this weekend. Backbenchers are very aware of this.
He's being marked by he very standards by which he held the prior government. He carried on about broken promises and lies while in opposition, and what does he do as soon as he's elected? Breaks promises, then tries to wriggle his way out of it with weasel words.
He criticised Rudd and Gillard for blaming the media for their woes, yet does exactly the same thing once he becomes PM. The hypocrisy is off the charts.
The Prince Phillip thing represents to his colleagues a few things. It shows he doesn't listen. and it shows extremely poor political judgement. Not knowing who this would play in modern Australia is inexcusable.