Which side of politics is more prepared to back their prime minister when the chips are down? That’s the question asked by Bernard Keane in today’s Crikey.
Keane has compared John Howard’s first-term polling with that of our newest former PM, Kevin Rudd. His conclusion? “If you want collapses in voter confidence in first-term governments, Rudd had nothing on Howard.”
All of which suggests that even the twitchiest Labor MPs should’ve known (or did know) that they could win with Rudd, reinforcing the idea that it all came down to a bunch of hurt feelings on their part.
Keane’s potted history lesson also reminds us that “being an effective prime minister — or at least one determined to achieve real change — is hard, and takes practice”.
Rudd, like Howard, may have grown into the role given half a chance at re-election. The result might have been a more mature, more effective reformer.
Instead, the early signals suggest we’ve got ourselves a prime minister who’s prepared to walk away from just about anything that might hurt at the polls.
Gillard said last night we had to get kids out of detention because “no matter what you think their parents have done the kids are innocent”.
Disgusting bitch.
Where’s your respect Marilyn? Sad to see that comment.
What would Rudd have grown into, given the chance ? Answer: “Long pants”.
I agree, Pete WN. I thought The increasing toadification of the ABC with Kerry O’Brien’s insolent questioning of Rudd was bad enough, but I can see that he has many pretenders to the crown.
If it was Obama on the receiving end, we’d have seen Kerry’s sorry arse sailing over the White House front fence for disrespect like that.
Easy to assert, Bernard. Tell us why you believe that Gillard is willing to sacrifice her own and her party’s legacy of achievements as part of Rudd’s first government.
I live in hope that I am wrong. But I just get the feeling there is a huge mining lobby push behind all of this Prime Minister change over. The last time there was so much discussion on something like this was when we tried to buy back the farm in the 70’s. I guess it will come out in the wash when the negotiations are finished with the super profits tax.