Will the real Joe Hockey please stand up?

Since Tony Abbot announced he would challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership if would not resign, Joe Hockey is the name on everyone's lips. Most believe that he is the right person to lead the party, but most believe he doesn't want to do it right now. Hockey is a realist and knows that even had the events of the past week not occurred, the Liberal party would not be strong enough by the next election to wrestle it from the Government.

Now however, as his name is bandied about as a potential leader, Joe Hockey has gone into hiding. He has made no public statements since the crisis started and when confronted by reporters he refused to be drawn on the issue. (Personally I don't blame him, they stalked him at home and propped him on the front driveway!)

Now my argument with Joe is that on any given week he will provide interviews for any show currently airing on television. But now when he will be seriously questioned he goes into hiding. This may be because on the ETS issue he agrees with Malcolm Turnbull and is trying to devise a plan to take the leadership while holding true to the same values as Mr Turnbull. Or is he hiding trying to work out how to reject the leadership because he knows that it is a poisoned chalice. Either way, if he becomes leader or dodges the bullet he needs to make a statement on where he stands. Leadership is about taking positions not hiding out for calmer waters.

UPDATE:
Joe Hockey now appears certain to run against Malcolm Turnbull in the leadership spill on Tuesday.  He is believed to be meeting with his proposed deputy Peter Dutton.  The way the Liberal Party has acted this week it is fairly clear that the face a steep climb up the political everest if they want to win back the confidence of the Australian people.  Surely Hockey doesn't think that he can turn around the Liberal party before the next election.  I think you made the wrong move Joe.  You have set yourself up for failure and once you do the political brutus' now supporting you (Minchin, Abbott and others) will knife you as well.