Two for the Price of One
I am not sure if Labour is trying to give ‘added value’ for your vote, but we have the spectacle of Kevin Rudd being included on the front line of Labour’s campaign push for re-election.
As one journalist has noted:
In six weeks, Labor has dumped Kevin 07 as leader because he was unpopular, installed Gillard because she was popular, changed strategy and Gillard’s image to the “real Julia” because the false, campaigning Julia was unpopular and now turned to Kevin 10 because the real Julia was unpopular.
Rudd is the stricken deer of the ALP who will not die. Neither the faceless men of the ALP can stop him, nor even gall bladder surgery it seems.
Rudd looked nothing short of presidential in front of Australian flags confirming he could not stand idly by and watch Abbott cruise unchallenged into the Lodge (also Rudd’s former digs).
The press conference was a masterpiece of personal revival, even political resurrection.
Rudd is like a cat having been thrown out of office by the tail, has managed to land on his feet and seems to want to come back for more pain.
I had to almost sit down and try to comprehend what on earth is going on here.
The about turns and political back flips I have seen these last few weeks have left me and perhaps many others almost breathless. I just want this election over with (almost regardless of who wins even though my conservative sympathies run deep).
I think we have witnessed the death of substantive politics and that includes both major parties.
The cynicism of the ALP leadership fiasco has not ended and this election is only a hiccup.
Just wait for the recriminations after the election is over. Parties tend to be at their most united during elections.
The divisions and leaks that have marred the ALP’s campaign all point to some monumental blood letting over the next few months.
Even if Rudd and Gillard are able to form something of a partnership for the sake of the next 2 weeks you have to wonder if the public is going to swallow it.
Is a vote for Gillard ultimately a vote for a resurrected Rudd? Or is it a vote for whoever the opinion polls prefer in a year or so? These are legitimate questions.
I suspect no one really knows the answer.
Abbott needs to adopt the strategy of Steven Bradbury, the Aussie gold medallist at the 2002 Winter Olympics 100m short track event: Just stay on your feet Tony, do nothing stupid, and you might just win this race.
By Robert Apps
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Love the comment about Rudd being the stricken deer, made me chuckle.
It has been entertaining but I want it to be over too. It is a distraction, especially at church, when all people want to talk about is politics (never mind about the word of God, or witnessing to the lost – infinitely more important than politics I think).
“Labor” not “Labour” (otherwise, nice post)