Rudd’s rant – so f*cking what?
This video, that’s making all the headlines, was actually made some time ago, when Kevin Rudd was still PM. It’s a ‘blooper tape’ of Rudd attempting to record a message for the Chinese New Year, getting frustrated with it and letting fly with a few adjectives.
Obviously he knew the camera was still running so you’d reckon he felt pretty sure it’d be secure and not become public. It’s equally obvious that whoever posted it did so in an attempt to damage Rudd’s chances of retaking the leadership from Julia Gillard. At least that’s what The Age has implied:
A Labor insider said the video could only have come from the Prime Minister’s office, which stores such clips. If true, that would suggest a bitter escalation of the leadership crisis between Ms Gillard and the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Gillard, of course, denies it came from her office. Then again, she also denied that the stirring up of the tent embassy people on Australia Day came from her office too. I reckon this will backfire on her just like that event did.
Quite frankly, I don’t think there’s anything in the video for Rudd to be ashamed of. We all know that, as PM, he had a reputation for not suffering fools and throwing the odd tantrum. So what? He wouldn’t be the first PM to bang his fist on a table and come out with a few expletives to describe the idiots around him. Keating comes to mind. So does Hawke.
The reality is that good leaders don’t have to be Saints or even liked by their underlings. This is politics and sycophantic nice guys do not good Prime Ministers make. I also like the fact that Rudd is not afraid to show his feelings about – and dislike of – the Chinese:
Mr Rudd has previously used disparaging remarks in relation to Chinese officials. It was reported in June 2010 that he had privately told journalists in Copenhagen amid climate change talks:
“Those Chinese f*ckers are trying to rat-f*ck us
Way to go Kevin. Bring him back … please!
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Who released the Video? The suspect list: Gillard and/or Supporters, Rudd and/or Supporters, The Opposition or an external stakeholder. All have motives.
I’d go “Gillard and/or supporters”. Because (without wanting to sound sexist), I’d suggest that only a female would think that that video would harm Rudd. And even then, I think a lot of females would have no issue with it … but she would.
Krudd by all appearances is a likeable fellow but I’m not sure this particular leopard will change his spots. He is egotistical, rude, a control freak and a poor people manager. A “smug prick” might be a more fitting description.
I’m proud to be a Labor voter but I’m reconciled to the party dwelling in the wilderness for at least the next two elections. Krudd as the leader of the party would not be sufficient to retain government and I envisage the factional hacks (who really lead the party) would still be casting around for someone else. Just who that someone else might be is a moot point. Bill Shorten has in my view tarnished his reputation by his role in ousting Krudd, Greg Combet might be a safer bet. I wouldn’t give you two bob for the rest of them.
The thought of living under the “Mad Monk” would be appalling, however, the same is true of the Liberal Party who below the surface are just a riven. Malcolm Turnbull anyone?
A good leader is one with a vision, the intellect to carry it through and the ability to take people with him. That’s a rare beast – the last guy with such talents died rather badly about 1,979 years ago!
Are you talking about Rudd or Keating? Or Hawke? I don’t see those as negatives to being a good leader, Noel. And I disagree with your definition below:
Well, I agree with the “vision” bit and “the intellect”, both of which there is no denying Rudd has in droves. But a good leader (especially in something as cut & thrust as politics and even in football) does not “take people with him” by being Mr Nice Guy and holding their hands. He (or she) takes them with him by DRAGGING them along … yelling & kicking if need be. You see, most of the others are plebs, dimwits and just along for the ride. Real leaders say “follow me … or f*ck off”.
As a corollary, after viewing Krudds comments today, I wouldn’t put it past his own office as the leakers of the video. His white-anting of Gillard has been masterful and given her propensity for lousy judgement the natural conclusion is that the leak came through her, but I’m not so sure.There’s an element of reverse psychology here I suspect, where the “victim” (Krudd) can defend himself as the target of a smear campaign and then leave the public to assume who the perpetrator was.
Btw, fluidcthought, I like your comment (on your blog):
So true. Gillard has lost credibility with the electorate. They don’t trust her. They don’t believe her. And they are perceptions she cannot recover from. She has got to go. Rudd, on the other hand, can certainly recover from his perceived weaknesses (the one’s Noel refers to) because, above all else, the people like and trust him. He’s honest.
I doubt Rudd would have taken the risk of releasing the video, Noel. In hindsight it looks favourable to him but in foresight, well, you just wouldn’t take that risk.
Real leaders say “follow me … or f*ck off”. Ummm, wasn’t that the reason why his cohorts sacked him?
Yes it was, Noel. Well, that and because ‘the rats’ (like Arbib & Shorten) had their noses out of joint. And they were wrong to move on him. Obviously wrong. Look at the 2010 election result! Great move, eh?
Arbib & Shorten are political animals with an eye to future elections. I suspect neither would have sharpened their knives if Krudd had been a better leader.
The 2010 election was an exercise in spin. Neither Gillard nor Abbott were able to take the majority of people with them. Gillard was uninspiring and Abbott was, to put it simply, Abbott. The voters then left it to a rump of independents and Greens to get Labor through. It is worth commenting that Abbott failed to convince the minor players to give him a slim majority.
Yes, Krudd’s demise was a key factor in the way people voted, but not of such import that Labor was promptly
relegated to the opposition benches with a vastly reduced number of seats. Given the mess Labor is in right now I see eight years in the wilderness – it might do them good!
It won’t do them any good if the current opinion polling stays firm through to the election (and it will if Gillard stays) – they’ll be wiped out. Rudd returning will at least make the 2013 election a close thing and save the ALP from being reduced to a rump. And they don’t need “8 years in the wilderness” to come good. Give Australia 3 or 6 years of Abbott and they’ll come running back to Labor.
Two comments:
1. If Krudd takes over before the next election (possible), and then loses that election, his detractors (Arbib et al) will be doing their darndest to white ant him regardless. The one thing Labor is good at is venomous hatred.
2. What if Malcolm Turnbull makes a move against Abbott after he becomes PM? That could be a game changer!
All in all, it’s a mess and likely to stay that way unless a white knight emerges from Labor’s ranks. We could be going back to the days of the ALP split in 1955 where Labor spent 17 years in the political wilderness.
Something deep inside me, Noel, tells me that the Aussie electorate would NEVER put Tony Abbott in as Prime Minister if (and only if) he were facing Kevin Rudd.
But if Rudd does come back and lose (narrowly I’d suggest) then he’ll have still done his job of preventing a whitewash. Yes, he’d then soon be replaced but could go out with his head held high. Better that than Gillard going out with the tarnished record of leading the party into oblivion.
Turnbull’s best bet is for Abbott to lose the next election – then he’ll get another go. No chance otherwise.
“Turnbull’s best bet is for Abbott to lose the next election – then he’ll get another go. No chance otherwise.”
I don’t necessarily agree that it would take Abbott to lose the next election. Rudd won 83 seats in 2007 to the Lib’s 55. Three years later he was out for the reasons I’ve stated above. To say Abbott is safe for a four-year term, given his track record, suggests that a series of stuff-ups would see Turnbull nipping at his heels.
Make no mistake that given the nature of the 24 hour news cycle and the onset of social media, it would not take long for the power brokers to get behind Turnbull. I’m not saying he’s the ants pants and he does come across as being arrogant, but at least he has both a brain in his head and a sense of where Australia should be.
I wouldn’t change my vote though.
Noel, to start with, Federal terms are only 3 years, not 4. You’re thinking about State (or council) elections. Secondly, if Abbott wins in 2013 (and I reckon that’s a big if, and only possible if he faces Gillard) he’ll definitely serve out a full term. I can’t see how the Gillard knifing of Rudd has any relevance to that, or to any other PM. The only other PM that was outed mid term (in living memory) is John Gorton and how long ago was that? Make no mistake, it’s Abbott or Rudd in 2013. And Turnbull will be praying it’s Rudd … so he can be PM the next time.
Update
According to news report, a spill for the leadership is expected when Parliament resumes on Monday week (the week beginning 27th Feb). I reckon that’s about right. I also reckon that Gillard will actually win that spill … but not the next one. Within a few months.
What a relief! Only three years, not four.Thanks for the correction.
The next 7 days will be very interesting and I reckon the trolodytes in both parties will be waiting with baited breath for the results of their own and other poll results.
As a postscript about John Gorton, his career has some similarities to what is happening right now. His career as PM echoes the travails of both Krudd and Gillard. Gorton was “outed” only after he tied in a no confidence vote against Billy McMahon and decided the result was not really a vote for him so he declined to stay on as PM.
If you can be bothered, here’s the link to his Wikipedia file: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gorton.
I remember it well, Noel. Vietnam and all that. McMahon may have “outed” Gorton but he never “outed” himself. Things were not so, um, liberal, in those days regarding one’s, um, preferences.
Big Ear’s proclivities were never proved although he had some strange habits in the local squash court changing room.
I notice that Krudd appears to be backing away from challenging Gillard. If his comments from Mexico today at the G20 Tequila Conference are to be believed – quote: “That is not in prospect, because we have a prime minister and I am the foreign minister.”, the lad might be backing off.
Of course, he’s a politician ………………
I just wish they’d sort it out and concentrate on the real enemy.
When are we starting the footy tipping?
)
That was meant to be a
How about we start with Round 1, Rox?
Where have you been?
Family crises and still sick. I’m currently working half-days.
Oh, sorry. Everything okay?
Bit of post-viral syndrome after the pneumonia. It’ll pass.
Hi Rox,
Sorry to read you’ve been ill. When you’re back in harness there might be a vacancy for a fierce new member for the seat of Denison!
There might also be a vacancy for “a fierce new member for the seat of” … Indi !
I nominate Ray Dyer. Even he would be better than Sophie.
Nah! One of the goats would be a better choice, seeing we live in a Nanny state.
Hey Noel. I can’t run for Denison, it’s not my electorate, and if it were, I’d be voting for Wilkie. :0
Be good to see Sophie go though – I’m depending on you boys.
If anyone is to unseat Sophie it would have to be an independent. Labor has no hope in this rusted-on conservative seat.
Mind you, there are enough dumwits & ferals around here to get this bloke up.
He’s the man:
If he wears the helmet he’d make a good Treasurer.
He’s only got 7 days in which to honour his pledge to present those Mt Buffalo letters to Julia Gillard on the steps of Parliament House. If he doesn’t at least try, then he’s broken a promise and … oh, that makes him really perfect for the job as MP.
Judging by today’s news he might have to talk to Krudd instead!
Poor Ray Dyer has left his trip to Canberra too late it seems. Even if he goes now, no one will notice him, not with all this going on.