Kevin Rudd

[MrBurns]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

I'm disappointed O'Brien didn't throw out the rest of the show and just continue with Rudd for the half hour, I think there would be a good chance O'Brien could have made him slip up or just continuing the way he was going he would have clearly exposed Rudd 's substantial deficiencies.

 

[noirua]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

No, O'Brien is far more intelligent than Rudd, there's no bias, just an an observation thats impossible to ignore.
Rudd under the spotlight of O'Briens questioning came up smelling like manure.
He's not very smart, he jusr parrots the same lines fed to him that morning by his keepers.

Looks like one of the most clever and intelligent guys on the block: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd

 

[MrBurns]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

A life of academia and public service, never had a job, cunning and as as Calliope said, slippery and dangerous.

 

[moXJO]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Looks like one of the most clever and intelligent guys on the block: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd

Forget fish, earwax is brain food

 

[noirua]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

A life of academia and public service, never had a job, cunning and as as Calliope said, slippery and dangerous.

Looks as if no one will get a hand on our PM. Should be around for a longtime if his health holds up.
"Never had a job", you say MrBurns. He held positions abroad in foreign embassies and even had a job cleaning to fund his studies.

 

[Calliope]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Looks as if no one will get a hand on our PM. Should be around for a longtime if his health holds up.
"Never had a job", you say MrBurns. He held positions abroad in foreign embassies and even had a job cleaning to fund his studies.

I admire your loyalty to Rudd, but as Mr Burns has pointed out he has never actually done anything. He has had taxpayer funded jobs all his life ( except for the cleaning and we don't know if he was any good at that.)

 

[Julia]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

No, O'Brien is far more intelligent than Rudd, there's no bias, just an an observation thats impossible to ignore.
Rudd under the spotlight of O'Briens questioning came up smelling like manure.
He's not very smart, he jusr parrots the same lines fed to him that morning by his keepers.

and equivocating, prevaricating, pompous, slippery and dangerous.

I'm disappointed O'Brien didn't throw out the rest of the show and just continue with Rudd for the half hour, I think there would be a good chance O'Brien could have made him slip up or just continuing the way he was going he would have clearly exposed Rudd 's substantial deficiencies.

I agree with al the above, but I'm not sure Kerry O'Brien was as demanding of Mr Rudd as he always is with Malcolm Turnbull. It's fairly clear on which side of the political fence Kerry O'Brien sits. I think maybe I'm so fed up with Rudd that I flick through the other channels when he's being interviewed.

I admire your loyalty to Rudd, but as Mr Burns has pointed out he has never actually done anything. He has had taxpayer funded jobs all his life ( except for the cleaning and we don't know if he was any good at that.)

Now that is just really unkind, Calliope. I'd imagine Mr Rudd would be a top cleaner - just consider his obsession with detail and capacity to nit pick. Don't you think that would transfer really well to perfect cleaning?

 

[Calliope]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Last night Mr Rudd was very cagey about the implementation date for the ETS. Both he and Swan are careful not to say anything to give the impression that they would delay the start up a year or two beyond 2010.

They are relying on the Senate to reject the scheme in it's present form. They can then lay the blame on Turnbull, and avoid being seen as breaking a promise.

 

[MrBurns]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Costello nailed Rudd last night but I wish he would get off his **** and get back on the front bench -

Liberal backbencher Peter Costello has put himself back in the political spotlight with an attack on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

On ABC1's Q and A last night, the former treasurer criticised the Government's handling of the economic crisis, in particular, the use of cash handouts to stimulate economic activity.

Mr Costello accused Mr Rudd of using the economic crisis to position himself for a place in history.

"Kevin's always looking for the big play. Kevin's always looking for the historical turning point that he can be at the centre of," he said.

"Where we have a financial crisis brought on by, I believe, failed regulation in the United States, it becomes an epochal turning point in the hands of Kevin, with him as the midwife to usher us into a new era."

 

[Aussiejeff]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

THE federal government will try to retrieve taxpayers' money given to Pacific Brands in view of the company's decision to slash 1850 jobs, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25146868-5005961,00.html

Oo-er! Gee, that will inspire confidence no end! How much will the legal case cost taxpayers? $20 Million???

Will this "populist policy" rave party ever end?????

 

[rhen]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

There's no doubt where Jim Rogers stands on this question:
Jim Rogers Says Hyperinflation Will Consume US (towards the end)...
http://www.allthingsjimrogers.com/2009/03/12/jim-rogers-says-hyperinflation-will-consume-us/

 

[noirua]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

We must just accept that PM Kevin Rudd is Americas' man in the Far East. The only one, and he is right to make the most of it. Good luck to him I say!
Costello is yesterday's man, not a spent force, but a general pain in the butt.

 

[rhen]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

An email doing the rounds right now:

Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009
>
> To All My Valued Employees,
>
> There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of
> this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy
> has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the
> good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What
> does threaten your job; however, is the changing political landscape in
> this country.
>
> However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help
> you decide what is in your best interests.
>
> First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
> employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is
> a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by
> what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Subaru Outback outside.
> You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all
> these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealised thoughts about my
> life.
>
> However, what you don't see is the back story.
>
> I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 2
> bedroom flat for 3 years. My entire living area was converted into an
> office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which
> by the way, would eventually employ you.
>
> My diet consisted of baked beans, stew and soup because every dollar I
> spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a
> wonky transmission. I didn't have time to go out with women. Often
> times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and
> partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work,
> discipline, and sacrifice.
>
> Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
> modest $50,000 a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove
> flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer
> clothes. Instead of hitting the David Jones for the latest hot fashion
> item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing
> item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends
> refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did
> not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision
> that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries
> my friends supposedly had.
>
> So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in
> at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button
> for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend
> all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and
> breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is
> no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached
> to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only
> see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Subaru, the
> vacations... you never realise the back story and the sacrifices I've
> made.
>
> Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
> decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who
> didn't. The people that overspent their pay suddenly feel entitled to
> the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
>
> Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is
> steep and not without wounds.
>
> Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
> starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell
> you why:
>
> I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough.
> I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
> Payroll taxes. Workers compensation. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes.
> I have to hire a accountant to manage all these taxes and then guess
> what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and
> regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of
> my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a cheque to the Australian tax Office for
> $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" cheque was?
> Zero. Zip. Zilch.
>
> The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
> who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000
> people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother
> sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next
> welfare cheque? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic
> stimulus of this country.
>
> The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your pay you'd quit and
> you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants
> to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why
> your job is in jeopardy.
>
> Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy
> you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had the government suddenly
> mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
> depositing that $288,000 into the Canberra black-hole, I would have
> spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic
> growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in
> the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
>
> When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't
> defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to
> life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the
> heart of Australia and always has been. To restart it, you must
> stimulate it, not kill it. But the power brokers in Canberra believe the
> poor of Australia are the essential drivers of the Australian economic
> engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of
> change you can keep.
>
> So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple.
>
> If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be
> swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead
> with the government to pay for your mortgage, your 4WD and your child's
> future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
>
> Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and
> retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalises the
> productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to
> provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
>
> So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it
> will be at the hands of a politicians that swept through this country
> changed its financial landscape forever. If that happens, you can find
> me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....
> Signed,
>
I have left off the remainder since I can't verify the writer as given.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

An email doing the rounds right now:

Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009
>
> To All My Valued Employees,
>
> There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of
> this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy
> has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the
> good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What
> does threaten your job; however, is the changing political landscape in
> this country.
>
> However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help
> you decide what is in your best interests.
>
> First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
> employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is
> a back story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by
> what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Subaru Outback outside.
> You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all
> these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealised thoughts about my
> life.
>
> However, what you don't see is the back story.
>
> I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 2
> bedroom flat for 3 years. My entire living area was converted into an
> office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which
> by the way, would eventually employ you.
>
> My diet consisted of baked beans, stew and soup because every dollar I
> spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a
> wonky transmission. I didn't have time to go out with women. Often
> times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and
> partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work,
> discipline, and sacrifice.
>
> Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
> modest $50,000 a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove
> flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer
> clothes. Instead of hitting the David Jones for the latest hot fashion
> item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing
> item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends
> refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did
> not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision
> that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries
> my friends supposedly had.
>
> So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in
> at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button
> for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend
> all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and
> breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is
> no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached
> to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only
> see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Subaru, the
> vacations... you never realise the back story and the sacrifices I've
> made.
>
> Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
> decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who
> didn't. The people that overspent their pay suddenly feel entitled to
> the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
>
> Yes, business ownership has its benefits but the price I've paid is
> steep and not without wounds.
>
> Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
> starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell
> you why:
>
> I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough.
> I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
> Payroll taxes. Workers compensation. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes.
> I have to hire a accountant to manage all these taxes and then guess
> what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and
> regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of
> my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a cheque to the Australian tax Office for
> $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" cheque was?
> Zero. Zip. Zilch.
>
> The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
> who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000
> people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother
> sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next
> welfare cheque? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic
> stimulus of this country.
>
> The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your pay you'd quit and
> you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants
> to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why
> your job is in jeopardy.
>
> Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy
> you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had the government suddenly
> mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
> depositing that $288,000 into the Canberra black-hole, I would have
> spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic
> growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in
> the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
>
> When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't
> defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to
> life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the
> heart of Australia and always has been. To restart it, you must
> stimulate it, not kill it. But the power brokers in Canberra believe the
> poor of Australia are the essential drivers of the Australian economic
> engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of
> change you can keep.
>
> So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple.
>
> If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be
> swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead
> with the government to pay for your mortgage, your 4WD and your child's
> future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
>
> Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and
> retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalises the
> productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to
> provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
>
> So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it
> will be at the hands of a politicians that swept through this country
> changed its financial landscape forever. If that happens, you can find
> me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about....
> Signed,
>
I have left off the remainder since I can't verify the writer as given.

Excellent rhen

Richie Rich Rudd will be a very small footnote in the history of Australia with a large corpus of quotes, speeches and other drivel he goes with.

gg

 

[noirua]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Kevin Rudd will appear on several UK TV interviews next weekend. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[MrBurns]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Kevin Rudd will appear on several UK TV interviews next weekend. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

Let's link HIS pay to performance, at present he owes up about $1b

 

[Happy]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Let's link HIS pay to performance, at present he owes up about $1b

Yes, that idea of spending our way out of recession is totally against any logic.

Who said that recession is bad?
Like human being you grow to certain age then stay the same for a while to shrink between 7 to 15 centimeters closer to the other end of life.

So not growing or shrinking economy is sign of maturity not disaster!

 

[Calliope]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Anything Howard could do, Rudd can do better.

 

[Julia]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Reading some letters to the Courier Mail today, one contributor referred to the Leader as "The Kevinator".

I really like this. Either GG or Mr Burns (apologies to whomever it isn't) uses "Ruddmeister" which is also good.
Something about "The Kevinator" which conveys his robot like delivery, I think.

 

[Bafana]

Re: Does Rudd inspire confidence?

Rudd's like the downtrodden geek who finally gets the girl, the cash and the condo (revenge of the nerds style). Got to love him. Better than turnip who can only agree to disagree with everything - Boring lah.