Comments on: Ritual December bloodletting

By: Don Wigan

Don Wigan — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:59:36 +0000

Thanks for that insight, Chris. It sounds complicated, but it may lead to a break of the traditional mould in front-benchers. Who knows where that will lead, but I’m hoping some of the rising females may get up. That alone will give hope to the ‘fresh approach’ mentioned.

Re Garrett- Albanese, maybe Ruddster ought to find room for both to stitch up some more votes.

By: David Jackmanson

David Jackmanson — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:54:32 +0000

Interesting analytical article called “The Lady in Red” at stoush.net re Rudd and Gillard:

this quote starts with a description of today’s Sunday Sunrise interview:

The Team basked in the glow of approval, Rudd repeating his âbucketloadâ? soundbytes ad nauseum and Gillard looking competent and compliant, and thus they were slightly wrongfooted when at the end of the interview Lisa Wilkinson said something like:

“Well, the two of you have very strong body language. You look very comfortable together”

leaving Rudd and Gillard looking slightly embarrassed, like two daggy divorcees caught snogging by their teenaged children.

This is an emerging issue for the two, who are increasingly presenting themselves using the same language, imagery and tactics as the dynamic husband-wife team who run the local Lions Club, yet are seeking to distance themselves from the sexual implications of such a partnership.

By: David Jackmanson

David Jackmanson — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 01:10:31 +0000

This quote from what should have been a perfectly routine puff-piece sounds a bit bitter.

Fellow federal Labor MP Wayne Swan was two years ahead of Rudd at Nambour High and one of the cool kids and school captain. Rudd graduated as dux of the school in 1974. They are not friends.

From The Age: 20 things you need to know about Kevin Rudd

By: Brian

Brian — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:04:12 +0000

I think I read somehwere that the front bench vote was done on the preferential system. So you’d have to find out who was running and organise a ballot paper. This together with seeing who won the leadership positions first would make Rudd’s notion of delaying the front bench vote for 24 hours seem sensible.

By: cs

cs — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:01:13 +0000

Any chance of coaxing Plibisek over? The challenge is a complicated matrix, given the front bench spill. Faction leaders (actually, they are all sub-faction leaders these days) have to secure their own caucus positions and negotiate their portfolios all the while simultaneously working the leadership numbers. In opting for one leader or another, they may find their faction splitting underneath them; in securing their own numbers, they may find themselves forced to a different leader, or putting their portfolio at risk, etc. At the same time, opportunities for kingmaking etc will likely loom. Re Plibers, my guess is that her position in support of the Beazer yesterday goes to these underlying and overlaying complexities. It seems clear that one of the key inside contests is between Albanese and Garret for the position of the frontbench environment shadow, and my guess is that Plibers is working for Anthony. If Anthony moved to Kevin, Plibers and the rest of his support would move, and it'd be game over. The Ruddster, a cautious man, has claimed the numbers in the latest battle of the press releases (read: "I'm ahead at this point"), while the Beazer is pleading for a "fair contest" (read: "I'm now playing dirty"). The chicken gizzards at this point thus appear to favour the Ruddster. In the same release, Kevin has sharpened the Garrett-Albanese battle, which seems close to the nub of the tensions: Mr Rudd said Peter Garrett, Labor's parliamentary secretary for reconciliation and the arts, would be promoted to the frontbench under his leadership."He has a bucketload of talent, a bucketload of ability," Mr Rudd said. "Let me tell you, he'll be up there in Labor's frontbench team." Remember, the vote is already being counted, and Monday's meeting really only amounts to a deadline. If it becomes clear earlier that one candidate has an unassailable lead, the other may well withdraw to save the humilation of a ballot. Go the Ruddster ...

By: Martin B

Martin B — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:56:12 +0000

The Rove thing is silly.

The interest rates scare campaign was outrageously silly and empirically unsupportable.

Conventional wisdom is that it had an impact.

Just sayin’

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:24:11 +0000

I don’t think the ballot for the shadow ministry could be by vote of hands, Darryl. I’m pretty sure that’s wrong. All the ballots are secret – for leadership as well. The point is that you have to show your hand (literally) to force a ballot if the leader doesn’t bring one on.

They should put the bloody caucus rules up on the web.

An article in the Oz by Sam Maiden (not online) suggests Rudd agreed to the spill of the frontbench, but wants it at the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday after the special Caucus meeting on Monday.

By: Darryl Rosin

Darryl Rosin — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 16:11:16 +0000

I think it is the case that a “leadership Challenge” happens when 30(?) members of caucus sign a petition, a special meeting is called and there’s a secret ballot. But a “spill motion” is moved and carried in a caucus meeting on a show of hands and the subsequent ballot(s) are by show of hands as well.

The differing implications of the two methods are left as exercises for the readers.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:29:09 +0000

mick, same time as the timestamp on the comments!

By: mick

mick — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 14:54:28 +0000

God Kim, I’m glad you aren’t at work! What time is it there?

I’ve been out on the intertubes arguing about all this with people and the only conclusion I’m coming to is that they all suck. I’ve tenuously supported Rudd, but I really would like to give him a swift kick in the head. I’ve seen people put a convincing case that Rudd has been given airtime and failed to impress anyone other than the easily impressed (I guess like me). Beazley on the other hand has had heaps of time to get his image to improve and has failed to do so. Really, I don’t know who to back, I keep swinging between the two. I’m glad I’m not in caucus and my job doesn’t depend on who to back…