Kevin Rudd for PM

[Julia]

Nikki Saava sums Rudd up pretty well:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opi...era-inaction-man/story-fnahw9xv-1226680960113

 

[explod]

Was not able to log into that article Julia.

Would it be possible for it to be posted up perhaps.

Thank you in anticipation.

 

[sptrawler]

Here you go explod.

Illustration: Eric Lobbecke Source: The Australian
IN the documentary Truth or Dare, Warren Beatty, of all people, gets exasperated by the constant presence of cameras recording every moment of the life of his then girlfriend, Madonna, during her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour.
"She doesn't want to live off camera, much less talk . . . what point is there of existing off camera?" Beatty says, funnily enough, to the cameras.

So to the Cult of Kevin and his Blind Ambition tour to remake Labor in his own image, and in the process more deeply entrench the presidential nature of Australian election campaigns, to guarantee parties remain subordinate to the dominant personality. Right now that would be himself. Rudd's behaviour, which at any other time journalists would have risen en masse to describe as manic or egomaniacal, prompted recall of the Beatty quote, particularly after Rudd posted his selfie with a piece of toilet paper stuck to his face, replete with note to selfie urging care in the use of razors.

...For someone extremely adept at using both sharp and blunt instruments, it demonstrated again, that when it comes to Kevin, there is no life away from cameras, and for the rest of us, now that he has dared Labor to effectively ordain him leader for life, there is the prospect of no life without Kevin.

We are told Facebook aficionados liked the photo of Kevin's self-inflicted wound, probably almost as much as social media loved Julia Gillard's misogyny speech and the skateboarding dog. Introducing Barry the Back Cushion Mate proved there would be no end to it as Kevin had previously warned, when he explained that because he is only human and he feels compelled to prove it, he will continue to share private moments with the world. Adults shuddered at the prospect of future postings of bathroom mishaps, while children called for more.

In three short weeks Kevin has offered up his vision of how modern Australian democracy should function, and it is not through quiet governance. It is by the camera, of the camera and for the camera, a formula suited to the whims and celebrity fantasies that preoccupy the social media generation, which abhors detail. Just like Rudd himself.

Carbon, boats, deficits don't get fixed - they get quickie makeovers. A slash of lipstick here and a clever line there, and problem terminated. Kevinator moves with lightning speed to the next issue before star-struck media probes too deeply or focuses on deficiencies or repercussions.

Displaying rare but commendable curiosity, Townsville ABC radio's Paula Tapiolas asked Rudd about the costs for abattoirs of his decision to replace the carbon tax with an emissions trading scheme. Before burying her in verbiage, Rudd replied he could not be expected to go through it sector by sector or business by business and he couldn't do it anyway. Why not?

John Howard and Pete Costello were expected to know the price impact on every product and every business when they introduced the GST.

Later, at the press conference to announce the changes, Rudd repeatedly assured families they would be $380 "per year" better off. When a journalist queried whether it was in fact just for one year, his Treasurer had to get the pooper scooper out. For Kevin the importance of the occasion resides in being there, not being across the facts.

Because he removed Julia Gillard and made Labor competitive again, Rudd has been forgiven behaviour which would otherwise be deemed intolerable. Keeping the conga line of diplomats waiting outside the Lodge in the Canberra cold to pay homage at the court of Kevin would have wrought condemnation from every quarter for either being disrespectful or way too up himselfie, even if some of the ambassadors were willing props.

The media have been very kind to Kevin, tolerating and promoting his talent for endless distractions, which is even more finely honed now than it was the first time around, and which is paying the same kind of early dividends as it did the first time around too. His standing in the polls is proof of his success in amusing and bamboozling. It also underscores Tony Abbott's inability to consolidate his standing as alternative prime minister. If Rudd's success is rooted in campaigning - not governing - then Abbott's lies in his ability to exploit the flaws and foibles of others. Rather, it used to. He has had trouble getting a proper bead on Rudd.

Rudd exudes confidence, his determined cheerfulness in public hiding for a time the trail of policy wreckage, backflips and shattered careers behind him. Abbott destroys prime ministers with lethal force, yet people remain unconvinced this qualifies him to do the job himself. He remains unable to sell his own credentials as a solid administrator and generally decent human being.

Rudd looks and sounds ready for battle, the Kevinator shape-shifter on speed, whereas Abbott, as well as looking discomfited by the turn of events, seems worn down by the prospect of having to kill Kevin again.

Asked what Abbott needed to do this time around, one senior Liberal offered up one word of advice for his boss: "Relax."

Rudd is practised at masking his feelings in public, whereas Abbott's are written all over his face.

Liberals still believe they can win, albeit with a much reduced margin now, speculating a 10 seat majority remains within reach. They do not even whisper about Malcolm, not yet. Time is Abbott's enemy and friend as it is Rudd's.

If Rudd surges ahead in the polls, he would be neglecting his responsibilities as leader - and reneging on his pre-coup undertakings to listen to colleagues - not to call the election immediately. If he doesn't and he waits, there are grave risks.

The first is that he will struggle to keep a lid on the hatreds inside Labor. Apart from the obvious stuff-up with the naive young diplomat, the withdrawal of candidates to give Gillard's preferred choice a clear run for her seat of Lalor was described by one insider as an exercise in keeping the peace. Those who have spoken to the former prime minister report she is "in a very bad way".

The second reason Rudd won't want to wait too long is that it could give Abbott the time he needs to tear him down, or if he can't, then Liberals might - repeat, might - be tempted to emulate Labor and replace their unpopular leader with the popular one. Nothing is beyond the realms of possibility. Rudd himself proves it.

 

[Calliope]

Illustration: Eric Lobbecke Source: The Australian

The point is I think, that Wily Coyote never catches Road Runner.

 

[sptrawler]

I must admit, I do smile when I see the Kev advert, with the smile on saying "we must raise the bar".

I think what an absolute dick.lol

 

[Country Lad]

The point is I think, that Wily Coyote never catches Road Runner.

Actually he does catch the Road Runner in the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyNh6MCHws

 

[drsmith]

The point is I think, that Wily Coyote never catches Road Runner.

The reality I think will finish the other way around.

Kev's currently going harder to try and catch Tony Abbott.

 

[Julia]

Was not able to log into that article Julia.

Would it be possible for it to be posted up perhaps.

Thank you in anticipation.

Sorry explod. I tried clicking on the link and was able to bring the story up. If access is barred because of the Australian's pay wall after the first couple of paragraphs, all you need to do is to copy the header, then paste it into a new Google search which will bring up the original article, unimpeded by the pay wall.

Thanks to sptrawler for posting the complete op ed piece.

 

[drsmith]

In terms of scale, Kevin Rudd's pre-election campaign is impressive,

 

[sptrawler]

I think this more represents Kev and his policy.

 

[dutchie]

From Mark Knight - Herald Sun.





Another photo opportunity (Look at me, Look at me, Look at me)

 

[basilio]

I think we'll another thousand personal attacks on Kevin Rudd in The Hun and Australian. It's probably the most effective way of undermining him. You certainly wouldn't want to engage in policy debate or anything to do with direction of the country.

 

[Calliope]

Stopping the boats appears to be Rudd's only stumbling block to election victory. Richo gets it right;

My final advice to the PM: go back to the Indonesians with a bucket full of money to get them to stop the boats and zip out to Yarralumla and call the election for late August

 

[Calliope]

Since Mr Rudd proclaimed that he will decide who comes to Australia and not the Greens and the do-gooders, the most popular criticism by the extreme left is that he is "lurching to the right". I think the word "lurch" is very apt, but like the original Lurch, I think he is more comical than scary.

 

[drsmith]

Stopping the boats appears to be Rudd's only stumbling block to election victory. Richo gets it right;

unsurprising comment from Richo. Labor's solution to everything seems to involve as a propriety not just buckets, but truckloads of money.

The results speak for themselves.

 

[drsmith]

Now the gloss is waring off, it would appear the panic within is re-emerging,

The Australian has confirmed "friction" within the government as the Expenditure Review Committee meets today to finalise an economic statement likely to be delivered by Chris Bowen as early as next week.

But with revenues believed to have dropped by up to $6 billion since the May budget, Labor MPs and campaign officials have become increasingly nervous about the political impact of more spending cuts before the election.

This follows a backlash over changes to fringe-benefits tax reporting arrangements for company cars announced as part of savings measures to pay for a switch from a fixed carbon price to an emissions trading scheme a year early.

Former treasurer Wayne Swan forecast an $18bn deficit this financial year, with the budget returning to "balance" in 2015-16.

With time, it will only become more evident that the Labor cart regardless of leader still has the same wobbly wheels.

If Labor don't announce the election date soon, it will be proof that plan A for the election under Rudd 2 has failed.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...-surplus-promise/story-fn59nsif-1226685248384

 

[Calliope]

Underbelly!!

 

[Knobby22]

TinTin the crime fighter. Where's the little dog Scotty?

 

[Julia]

Good to know that the NSW taxpayer will be funding the legal counsel for Obeid and McDonald at the rate of thousands a day.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Mr.Rudd has the vote of so many people I have never met, it makes me feel that I live in a parallel universe.

I find his tomfoolery glib and inglorious.

What do the bogans in shopping centres see in him?

God help the ALP if he gets them over the line.

gg