Rudd quits: Now for the next episode in his soap opera

Barry Pope says:

07:09pm | 22/02/12

How can we criticize the people that voted for these clowns…little did they know the entertainment that they would provide.

Labor is Toxic says:

07:57pm | 22/02/12

Prior to the 2007 election Rudd announced to Australia that “Labor was ready to govern!!!” Too many Australianvoters were conned into voting for this mob of worthless,soulless imbeciles.

You may find it compelling, I find it vile and expensive

sunny says:

08:07pm | 22/02/12

@Chris the first time around in June 2010 he quit rather than take it to a ballot. Gillard didn’t stick a knife in him like the urban myth goes, she simply informed him there would be a ballot, and he declined to nominate. Surprise surprise, tonight he quits again. Quit, and quit again. Not exactly a street fighter.

@Barry I agree it’s the most awesome entertainment around - better than anything on TV right now. Never been so interested in politics.

john says:

08:25pm | 22/02/12

@sunny “Never been so interested in politics.”

LOL Kevin is now number one in google world news search.
BBC News report.

Riles says:

09:00pm | 22/02/12

Well let the circus begin . It looks as though Mr Rudd has had enough of the ball throwing and is looking to start the ring events. Brining in the clowns and watch them dance .

AJ says:

09:35pm | 22/02/12

@sunny: I’ve never been less interested: political parties, the media and bloggers all dragging each other into ill repute. This has become like WWE Smackdown… but without the class.

Belle says:

09:57pm | 22/02/12

After the election when the Frankenstein monster of Gillard, Brown and the independents formed government I posted that I was going to sit back and watch the implosion. The latest events are fabulous- Labor pollies turning on each other, ABC journos confused about who to demolish and the mammoth ego of Rudd on display in its delusional “grandeur”. What fun!

Merry says:

10:08pm | 22/02/12

It’s not Mr Rudd knifng, the stirrer is Simon Crean and Greg Combey also holding the spoon.  Why should he communicate first with Juliar, if she had concerns she would have rung him.  How many times does the man have to deny the rumours.  The fun would really start when Mr Rudd resigns the Labour Party and becomes an independent.  Then we shall see some real politcs.  Maybe then there will be enough independents to keep all the “bastards"hones.

sunny says:

06:21am | 23/02/12

@John - the irony is that Bieber was probably number one in google main search . I assumed Rudd was quitting to sit on the backbench for rest of the term and continue his shenanigans from there, but looks like he might actually nominate after all. I hope he does so at least this time Gillard has the opportunity to face him in a ballot - then no-one can carry on with all that ‘backstabbing’ stuff about her any more which was all bullshit. It’s getting interestinger!

Danny B says:

06:48pm | 22/02/12

Yup.

I think this move is him getting Ruddy to rumble.

(Pun fully intended)

Pull up a chair, pass the beer and popcorn.  This will be interesting.

Of course, the real winner will be Toby Abbot.

Robert says:

07:10pm | 22/02/12

@Danny

Possibly, although I don’t know who that is.

Tony Abbott , however, is gone.

Delusional says:

07:28pm | 22/02/12

Rudd knows he will lose a ballot,but it gives him a legitimacy to quit Labor which Im sure his family want,by losing graciously he will save face and his future business ventures will only be marginally effected,he will till after the qld election,and the federal govt will lose its majority/minority and he will effectively be responsible for ousting the faceless men and Gillard,Perfect !!

where's the left? says:

08:11pm | 22/02/12

Rudd is incredibly self-absorbed . It’s impossible to plaster over his bursting ego with any number of worn platitudes that spill copiously from thin weasel lips. A genuine narcissist with all the characteristics.

Bullwinkle says:

05:59pm | 22/02/12

Crean is a Moron and fits the Loser mould beautifully,either way you cut it Labor will be decimated at the next election and not a minute to soon
Rudd will quit the party and join Bobby Katter

Hank says:

06:02pm | 22/02/12

This is so awesome.  Where’s Ms.Nossy?  Ohhhhhhhhhh how sweet it is!!!

William Dart says:

03:06am | 23/02/12

Simon Crean is yesterday’s man, he had his turn at leadership in 2003 and failed miserably like Mark Latham. That’s why he is stirring up all this shit, he’s a jealous spoiler who stuck the knife into Kim Beazley and now into Kevin Rudd.

john says:

05:22pm | 22/02/12

@iansand

“Immediate challenge or a few months whit anting on the backbench first.”

I think the news has gone over your head, he’s thinking of LEAVING altogether.  ELECTION TIME.

Thats how you destroy those that destroy you folks.

Take no prisoners.

Mack says:

05:29pm | 22/02/12

He might do ‘a Slipper’ and go Independant!  What a laugh that would be….

Game on, Julia.

Bruce says:

05:39pm | 22/02/12

iansand: Agree he is doing a Keating. Can not see him winning a challenge this time around. I think he will sit on the back bench and let Gillard sink futher. Then strike again.

Do Ron says:

07:00pm | 22/02/12

It will go like this:
KR: Listen Tony how about giving me the Ambassador to the UN position?
TA: Jeez Kev, I hadn’t thought about that. What’s in it for me?
KR: Bloody hell Tony you are thick, how does PM sound to you?
TA: Hey yeah, your right, great idea. Yes we can do the deal mate….

ZSRenn says:

07:04pm | 22/02/12

I’ve got a hundred he quits his seat and takes up a seat in the upcoming Queensland election to help out his mate Anna Bligh.

Hank says:

07:52pm | 22/02/12

Nice observation Sandy.  Any big court cases today?

Jay says:

07:56pm | 22/02/12

I’ll take your bet, ZSRENN ... nominations for the Statie closed a while ago.

Anne Denham says:

08:11pm | 22/02/12

I’d believe Kevin Rudd any day before I would believe David Pemberty. Who voted for these journalists to govern the country? They are supposed to be presenting the news not MAKING IT UP. Herald Sun reports have been chock full of lies and inuendo about this so-called leadership issue. It’s a distraction from the important work that has to be done by the Government and obviously coming from big business that wants the Liberals to be in power so they can make more money and not have to worry about issues like the safety of the planet or the fact that Australia’s wealth is being taken from under our noses by the multinational mining companies. Good on you Kevin - a person who stands up for what he believes and is actually supporting Julia Gillard by this move.

Jo says:

09:50pm | 22/02/12

Ann, are you delusional.  No seriously, are you?

Loonybin says:

09:57pm | 22/02/12

@Anne Denham Surely you are being sarcastic. Anyone who thinks he did Julia Gillard a favour needs their head examined. I love this Labor self destruction. Breasts anything on television and spells the demise of the worst government in or nations history.

J. Holmes says:

03:48pm | 23/02/12

@Loony

“Breasts anything on television” ? What are you watching ?

Ron e says:

05:08pm | 22/02/12

Make mine a double!!!!

nihonin says:

05:09pm | 22/02/12

Can I have mine no butter or salt please!

Mouse says:

05:41pm | 22/02/12

lotsa butter on mine thanks :o)

TimB says:

06:06pm | 22/02/12

What is popcorn without butter and salt? Shame on you Nihonin.

nihonin says:

06:22pm | 22/02/12

TimB…..........diet requirements, but the entertainment is what really counts.

M3245 says:

07:02pm | 22/02/12

curry powder tastes really nice on popcorn

The Big M says:

07:43pm | 22/02/12

And Apple grew to be the biggest valued company on the planet under his leadership…

That should be interesting if this plays out anything like that…

Tator says:

11:00pm | 22/02/12

Yeah,
but Jobs was actually competent at what he did.

Martin says:

11:11pm | 22/02/12

“Lazarus with a triple bypass” Howard did alright for himself the second , or was it third, time around too.

Daniel says:

08:12pm | 22/02/12

Rudd has already started at the press conference. With his weird words lets hope if he wins on Monday he can work with Greens.

sunny says:

08:29pm | 22/02/12

“It’s democracy in action, put your freedom to the test.
A big fat turd or a stupid douche, which do you like best?”

Rory says:

10:23pm | 22/02/12

Isn’t it a Giant Douche or a turd sandwich?...... Which one is the turd sandwich?

Mark says:

11:14pm | 22/02/12

Which of those is Abbott again ? I’ll have the other one.

frankr says:

04:00pm | 23/02/12

Mark,
do you get a labor thankyou certificate every time you can squeeze “abbott” into any article, no matter how irrevelant??

Mike C says:

05:23pm | 22/02/12

That would be JULIE BISHOP, and unless the Government changes tomorrow or she defects to Labor it isn’t going to happen!

But I am looking forward to the next installment of MP, PM, FM TV

Tony of Poorakistan says:

06:00pm | 22/02/12

This is interesting; the sleazy ex-student union agitator and AWU legal machinator vs the Machiavellian public servant. 
 
My money is on Rudd and I hope she bawls her eyes out on TV when it happens. No-one who flatout lies like her should ever be granted an easy ride in office.

Rod Stuart says:

06:57pm | 22/02/12

The red-headed liar bird lies like a dirty old rug. But then, Komrad Krudd can’t even lie straight in bed.
What a shemozzle these two blockheads have created.

Hank says:

08:24pm | 22/02/12

Ease up Rod.  Rudd may be a tool but he’s no communist.

Johnny Citizen says:

10:53pm | 22/02/12

You obviously enjoy wasting hard-earned tax dollars on the consequences of media-fuelled drama and personality contests? Do you understand that government is central to virtually every aspect of your life? Can you comprehend the fact that you and your children depend on stable government for a decent life? Yeah mate, sweet..

I see people like you at the ballot box on election day and wonder sometimes why we have a democracy at all.

Jarrod says:

05:38pm | 22/02/12

Stephen Smith is more likely.  Shorten known too well how it would look if he stood forward at this point.

Thing is, Smith is likely to require the leadership vacated before he’d put his name forward.  Would probably also have requirements that the factional warlords stfu.  Definitely not someone who would challenge himself - doesn’t like his meat bloody that one.

Thing is, he’d probably be the best option Labor has.  If only the factional warlords would accept the conditions he’d likely place on taking the job.

kc says:

08:19pm | 22/02/12

Agreed Smith has at least a shroud of integrity, unlike Gillard, Shorten, or Crean. That said, I think Rudd has plenty of integrity, which is why the public is so pissed at the ALP putting themselves over the nation.

John says:

11:21pm | 22/02/12

@kc

They didn’t. We voted for them.

sp says:

05:41pm | 22/02/12

Stick to hi fi

JL says:

05:20pm | 22/02/12

he is not that good, he is good at acting though. Gillard is very good according to those at the actual coalface but not good at acting to rope in the gullible like yourself.

Dig a little deeper says:

05:33pm | 22/02/12

A vote for Green and independent *is* a vote for Gillard - that was proved at the last election

Gerard says:

06:18pm | 22/02/12

“A vote for Green and independent *is* a vote for Gillard - that was proved at the last election”

That would be why Katter didn’t support her, right? Next time, try thinking before you hit the submit button.

Doug says:

07:15pm | 22/02/12

@Dig

And Adam Bandt is proof that a vote for Liberal is a vote for the Greens.

Rob White says:

06:24pm | 22/02/12

Would someone please translate this for me.

Do Ron says:

06:47pm | 22/02/12

If clubs are trumps the jack of spades is on the table.

Gregg says:

08:12pm | 22/02/12

@Rob White,
If he ain’t got the right and the joker so that could be Arbibby and Simon, he has euchered himself.
But he is knackered in more ways than one so he might as well throw his hand in and go back to the pole dancing club.

splash says:

01:35am | 23/02/12

Yes,
he has got them by the Ballsheviks

Meph says:

11:09am | 23/02/12

@Ron, to run with your 500 metaphor, I’d say its more like Rudd just called Mazaire.

What would be even more spectacular would be if aunty julia calls a caucus vote next week, and Rudd doesn’t nominate, doesn’t say a word, just smiles from the sidelines.

It would make it look like the PM had no confidence in her own position, and was desperate to prove everyone’s loyalty. The odds of labor surviving the next election would become more or less zero.

Love him or hate him, he’s shown he has a big pair of brass ones when it comes to political assassination of his rivals. He may have ended his career as a politician, but he’s administered the coup-de-gras on the way down.

Chris says:

05:15pm | 22/02/12

Ok sweetie… off you go, have fun with those greenies. I am just going to stay here and have a few more beers and watch the fight.

nihonin says:

05:17pm | 22/02/12

lol, you trust the man who manipulated Julia Gillard and the Labor party, stop it, I have a stitch.

PsychoHyena says:

05:26pm | 22/02/12

@Jane, what choice did he have? He has consistently been saying that he has no plan to retake the leadership, the biggest noise about the challenge has been coming for Gillard’s crew, the Opposition and the media.

He cannot do his job if everything he does is being looked upon as an attempt to wrest back control, we can even see it here with his resignation, everyone sees it as a move to take back the leadership, when it could be exactly as he says.

At least this way he continues on without needing to explain every little tic he might have. He may also have been advised by doctors to resign as the stress of his foreign minister role coupled with the stress of everyone thinking he’s out to wrest back the leadership may have been causing problems given it hasn’t been that long since his various operations.

Given the amount of problems he’s been having from the caucus anyway, if he was to take back the leadership, they wouldn’t stop and he would still be unable to do his job as PM.

Australia has lost its most skilled foreign minister ever, we’ll probably see a Greens Federal Government next time around, which wouldn’t be a bad thing, it might slap some commonsense into the Libs and Labor. Remember the Nationals support a few of the Greens’ policies.

Mike C says:

05:30pm | 22/02/12

Hahahahahahahahaha breath breath breath Hahahahahahahahaha@!!!

Jason says:

05:35pm | 22/02/12

The Greens ... or the watermelons?  Scratch the surface of a few of them and they are hard left ... former members of the Communist party ...

Monty says:

05:44pm | 22/02/12

I guess at least with the Greens, they say what they mean. Everything the ALP or the Libs say should come with the caveat “if it proves to be popular with voters”.

Darrell says:

05:44pm | 22/02/12

Make sure to break out your hob nailed boots and get your goose step down to perfection when you go out boycotting jewish business with the greens.

Wayne says:

05:54pm | 22/02/12

You poor thing.  The greens are the most hopeless bunch of loonies on the political landscape.  Anyone who votes for their extremist, un-implementable policies needs a good reality check.

Hank says:

05:59pm | 22/02/12

Off you go then toots.  Go and burn your bra or whatever else you leftie socialist man hating femo’s do.  Toodaloo

Tracker says:

06:19pm | 22/02/12

All is fair in love and war….and politics xoxoxoxo

Chris Joslin says:

06:24pm | 22/02/12

Get real

No more Greens says:

06:34pm | 22/02/12

Jane please wake up. We are sick of people who are not capable of the job, like Julia, and as for the Greens.. where can i start, they need to be wiped of the political landscape. they should worry about the enviromement, and leave their faithless, feminist, godless, structure out of politics. You disgust us with your stupid comments

Rob White says:

06:36pm | 22/02/12

If we had first past the post voting we wouldn’t have the Greens in parliament.  We wouldn’t have had a carbon tax, we wouldn’t have had the unions stuffing up the economy, and we wouldn’t have had Julia(r).

Do Ron says:

06:51pm | 22/02/12

I will forgive any good woman who makes mistakes, we just need some in politics.

Rod Stuart says:

07:01pm | 22/02/12

Jane be sure to read the whole party platform first. If you do you’ll find the very heart of Lenin and Stalin in there.

Me says:

07:11pm | 22/02/12

Oh!. The Greens say what they mean? Monty?
Then why are their meetings closed to the press?
Commonsense says that the current government is incapable and in turmoil
Time for a return to stable coalition GOVT

Me says:

07:12pm | 22/02/12

Oh!. The Greens say what they mean? Monty?
Then why are their meetings closed to the press?
Commonsense says that the current government is incapable and in turmoil
Time for a return to stable coalition GOVT

Ray Chen says:

07:13pm | 22/02/12

Greens? You will see another massive numbers of boat people coming. They welcome everyone as they are very humilitarian. Then you will see more billions of dollars spend on them.
Next you will need to ride your bike to go to work as they don’t like fossil fuels.
Next you will see Australia becomes Greece as we will be running big budget deficits. Look at Tasmania, that’s Greens’s work.

Jane says:

07:58pm | 22/02/12

Not much wrong with the Greens from what I see, they have principles. . I am very left wing, maybe more so than the Greens. left wing politics does not support mass immigration at all, they simply prefer that nobody is subject to bullying. Is that so hard?

Immigration is right wing policy. Howard got everyone hating on asylum seekers that numbered like what 10 ? all the while he was welcoming mass migration from Muslim nations. However he had the workers fearful for their jobs and culture etc thinking they all must be aslyum seekers so they never really objected to the real threats - legal migration.

So I am way too left even maybe for the greens

I think it a pretty good place to be, the globalisation means pourous borders for profits like we see in the US and Greece. The taxpayer ends up paying for what the wealthy avoided paying for while they made their trillions. We see it, we have quaried the third world nations ourselves for hundreds of years now they start on us and we do not see it?

So what is wrong with left wing?

year of the dragon says:

08:16pm | 22/02/12

Monty says: 06:44pm | 22/02/12

“I guess at least with the Greens, they say what they mean.”

Do you really believe ths?

In any case it’s hardly a redeeming quality. Some of histories worst tyrants were sincere about their ambitions. Pol Pot was also pretty sincere about his desire to take the world back to Year Zero, just like Bobby Brown.

Jane says:

08:24pm | 22/02/12

PsychoHyena

Rudd is the leaker that has had the fuelled the press speculation so all his own doing.

Plus he does not resign to sail into the sunset, he resigns because he can put the Labor party in a position to choose between his royal higharse or an election.  He just needs a couple to support him really, not half. Just enough to trigger an elction adn they they will have to choose.

Hank says:

08:29pm | 22/02/12

Should’nt you be in the kitchen preparing tomorrow nights dinner Jane?  Jools a la orange sounds good so get cracking young lady!

Jane says:

08:52pm | 22/02/12

Hank.

No my darlingish. I am lefty, we do not “do” domestic. That is slavery sweety. They made food raw for a reason.

Hank says:

09:11pm | 22/02/12

Nice one Jane.  Seems you have a sense of humour after all.  Take care of yourself sweetheart.

PG says:

10:36pm | 22/02/12

The Greens? ROFL, they’ll be suing the mining companies for the bill from the 2010 Qld floods

Mouse says:

06:01pm | 22/02/12

John, he actually said “There is no way that I will ever be party to a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by the people,”

I think the last 4 words say it all.  What you or I believe, that she was elected by the people or by dealing with the Greens and Independents is irrelevant.  What is relevant, is the way Rudd sees it.

Interesting times ahead I think!  :o)

Jason says:

07:06pm | 22/02/12

Mouse.  Please write his down ten times so you remember.  Prime Ministers are not elected by the people.  In the case of the Labor Party the caucus elects the PM.  Sorry to spoil your day for a second time but please get it right next time.

Ian says:

07:29pm | 22/02/12

The whole “There is no way that I will ever be party to a stealth attack on a sitting prime minister elected by the people,” thing, was IMO, a shot fired directly at Julia…because that is what he thinks she did to him. Old Kev is either moving into full frontal attack mode, or he’s going to take the mutually assured destruction option and quit politics. Much as I absolutely hate the guy, all credit where it is due. Brilliant move on his part…Julia is no doubt crapping herself right about now.

Mouse says:

08:08pm | 22/02/12

Jason, no need to be catty! I just finished off your sentence for you. If you read my post, you will note that I have put ”  ” around the sentence. That usually means that I have used another person’s quote, this one being Rudd’s. My comment was based on HIS comment. 
But thanks for pointing that out for me anyway!

Jason, you don’t spoil my day at all, always up for a good discussion, any time!!  :o)

jb says:

05:28pm | 22/02/12

Oh rosie hows those glasses looking???

Trent says:

05:55pm | 22/02/12

Juliar would make a great Liberal PM.

ex qlder says:

06:26pm | 22/02/12

What bullshit !!!
Anna Bligh has sealed her own fate by the utter contempt she has shown her own electorate.
I can’t believe she has the audacity to blame the federal labor party !!!

Martin says:

07:28pm | 22/02/12

@Rosie

What the? You’ve always stated that Julis Gillard is the most unmarried, atheist, untrustworthy, worst person in the world, and that Kevin Rudd’s the “People’s PM”, and a lovely Christian family man, and you couldn’t wait for him to be PM again.

Or maybe that was a completely different Rosie ? Do tell.

john says:

05:24pm | 22/02/12

where is nossy?

TimB says:

05:31pm | 22/02/12

I know right? Is it Rupert Murdoch? Is it Tony Abbott? Perhaps John Howard has the outsiders odds.

Where are you Acotrel? End the suspense. Explain to me who is responsible for this Liberal News Corp beat up .

HP says:

05:32pm | 22/02/12

Abbott of course….

Jase says:

05:37pm | 22/02/12

Drumroll ... It must be Abbott’s fault?

LJ Dots says:

06:06pm | 22/02/12

@john, nossy does not have a dog in this fight, he’s moseying along, big hat in hand down the Katter Ranch way.

john says:

06:54pm | 22/02/12

@LJ it’s game over Rudd said he won’t unseat a PM elected by the people. I’m guessing he won’t backbench it, like he said he will consult his family. I think we are witnessing his departure.

Hank says:

07:50pm | 22/02/12

Julias’ farsical empire is crumbling.  All Tony has to do now is sit back and watch.  Does’nt need any policies and in fact does not have to say anything at all.  Just watch and laugh as Labor crumbles into the ground and goes down in history as the biggest bunch of incompetent unionist clowns in history.  Ohh how sweeeeeet it is!!!

Gregg says:

08:18pm | 22/02/12

Just like the pressure has got to poor ol kevolemon and he’s probably having a late night at the bar, Acca and Nossy will have both folded after their bottles had a few shots used.
Poor ol fellas are probably in dream time about now and dreaming up their lines for tomorrow.

Shane says:

11:29pm | 22/02/12

@john

Don’t be silly. Haven’t you ever seen a leadership challenge before ?

HP says:

05:31pm | 22/02/12

Abbott of course….

jaki says:

06:27pm | 22/02/12

That would be dead Duck A L’Orange in Gillard’s case !

Bill says:

08:53pm | 22/02/12

Nice Jaki

Rachel says:

06:25pm | 22/02/12

road kill

nihonin says:

05:30pm | 22/02/12

We are us, less one and his supporters!

Do Ron says:

07:03pm | 22/02/12

You mean, now we can move forward and get the job done.

chris says:

05:26pm | 22/02/12

If he calls a bi-election who is going to run… I guess only bakla will be eligible?????

jb says:

05:32pm | 22/02/12

Nope he is waiting for them to beg to have him back and funnily enough that may well happen. I love the post Howard era politics, its just like one really long awesome play! Talk about 3 acts of brilliance only 1 more to play out and seriously I have no idea where it will end…

Mick says:

05:35pm | 22/02/12

exactly what I was thinking - why not use this as a chance to quit the labor party and see what happens. It’s a dirty fight, and if done right he’d look ‘noble.’ I think he’s fairly safe in his seat regardless if he is an independent or with labor. The state of the labor party is a mess anyway so it’ll be fun to watch. And might help us avoid the air tax.

Nan says:

05:44pm | 22/02/12

Hope he does and with Craig Thompson hopefully in the slammer this goverment will be “gone with the wind”

Babs of Sydney says:

05:48pm | 22/02/12

Yes Shaun I agree.  The undecided MPs could now have Rudd saying to them, go with me or I will walk and force an election.  Some choice they have - vote for Rudd and buy some more time or ditch him and go to the polls now.  He alluded to his 30 years as a member for Labor as though it was coming to an end.  He could bring the whole house of cards down if he bailed.

Thomas says:

11:35pm | 22/02/12

What is wrong with you people ? Have you never seen a leadership challenge before, or are you just too scared to deal with the result ?

S says:

06:08pm | 22/02/12

Here, here!
Bring back JH! This country would run back in to his arms now if it could. With a massive, sobbing apology.

Rod Stuart says:

07:11pm | 22/02/12

In a scant five years this mob of SOB’s has managed to destroy a perfectly good country.
We need JH back NOW!

ellen says:

08:30pm | 22/02/12

John Howard was a good PM, family man and at least he did try to stop the boats.Now they are comming like the ants. We the taxpayers pay for it, Of course, I am for Tony Abbott, but Andrew Bolt would be a great PM if he was “in”. Can’t wait for the next episode of wrestling Gillard versus Rudd .

Shane From Melbourne says:

08:51pm | 22/02/12

JH was incompetent- first home buyers grant- boosted housing prices (sellers just raised the prices), private health insurance subsidies- boosted premiums way above CPI, baby bonus- incentive for teenage girls to have a baby they could ill afford (but that’s okay the state pays to raise it), middle class families hooked upon their “entitlements” (and lord do they squeal when anybody dares to cut them back). Huge immigration surge under John Howard that Australia did not need. John Howard was as socialist as they come, it was just wealth transfer from singles and childless couples to middle class families, just not to the lower class like the ALP. John Howard can get ......

William says:

11:40pm | 22/02/12

Are you all children ? Are none of you old enough to remember Howard VS Peacock ? Google it before you make yourselves look even more foolish.

splash says:

01:47am | 23/02/12

Bullshit Shane,
they were the Stable and golden years in Australian history.
and look at what you have now Buddy Boy.

hearsay says:

06:42pm | 22/02/12

@Benno
Hilarious yet true!

We’re soooooo sorry to interrupt the office politics guys…please don’t let the interests of the nation get in the way of that.

Moss says:

08:03pm | 22/02/12

I completely agree, Benno. I’m over it.

AdamC says:

10:12pm | 22/02/12

Apparently so. The Punch’s sad set of Labor tragics must be upset that reality has spied them. Again.

Green Power says:

06:51pm | 22/02/12

@ MickP - I voted Green at the last election and my preference went to the Liberal candidate, guess what, the Liberal candidate won…how was this a vote for Labor?

Dumb people should think before they type or talk…that’s you Mick.

PsychoHyena says:

07:00pm | 22/02/12

@MickP, given that in a number of seats the Liberals preference the Greens and Labor does that mean a vote for Liberals is also a vote for Labor? (possibly doubly so given that a vote for Greens is a vote for Labor).

year of the dragon says:

08:35pm | 22/02/12

Green Power says: 07:51pm | 22/02/12

“@ MickP - I voted Green at the last election and my preference went to the Liberal candidate, guess what, the Liberal candidate won…how was this a vote for Labor?”

I guess Mick was talking about the broader electorate and not just one individual.

Wayne says:

11:44pm | 22/02/12

@yotd

You mean like in Melbourne where the Green candidate Adam Bandt won thanks to Liberal prefernces ?

robbie says:

08:51pm | 22/02/12

Oakeshott will be lucky to get a job picking up glasses at the local rsl club
Windsor can go and pick brussel sprouts for the rest of his life

Bruce says:

10:53pm | 22/02/12

Was’nt it Windsor and Oakeshott the ones who wanted to support a more stable ALP government. !  I guess its what your definition of stable is ! Definately NOT the ALP.

Krusty says:

07:02pm | 22/02/12

Good question, which is which, Tony or the Nats leader…you know Warren, no wait it could be Barnacle….

Frogman says:

09:38pm | 22/02/12

Or maybe Malcolm….....a proper statesman and a man of principle.

Steven says:

11:12pm | 22/02/12

He is disloyal in that he has spent his time, after not contesting the ballot for the leadership that placed Gillard as Prime Minister, by undermining a government, through the media, that he is a cabinet minister of. He has done this during a federal election, and continuously over the last 18 months.
Penberthy obviously, as an editor and influential media person, has some background knowledge as to how a lot of the leaking that has been going on has come about. As a professional he has every right to keep his sources confidential, but one could assume that his words indicate that those permutations, and the activities that have given this government the destabilised tag, have disseminated from the Rudd camp.
I dont see how this makes Rudd look good. He has effectively heard the cool kids talking about him and stormed out of the room. I imagine foreign ministers around the world, envious of the position that this country finds itself in, in the context of the worlds troubles, would see him as a petulant, selfish, egotistical maniac. Wouldnt be surprised if the Prime Minister got a few calls expressing sympathy from other leaders after this episode.
In regards to the whole episode i ask only one thing;
Can i have my country back please?

Gerard says:

06:29pm | 22/02/12

Decent people don’t join the ALP. If they were the slightest bit interested in improving the lives of ordinary Australians, they would be actively working AGAINST the ALP.

Brian Taylor says:

02:27am | 23/02/12

lol mark good one, that brought a smile to my face thanks mate
labor is finished no matter who leads them.

EmmaE says:

08:20pm | 22/02/12

That’s absurd. Firstly, the PM doesn’t call a double dissolution, the GG does in the event of a deadlock regarding a Bill from the Lower House being rejected twice by the Upper House .

Secondly, why would any PM risk another election for the sake of one Bill? That’s not cowardice, it is logic. If you were in his shoes, I doubt you would have let it get to a DD election. Especially over such controversial issues. There is potential that the outcome of the election may have resulted in the ETS not passing again.

Barry says:

11:52pm | 22/02/12

@resi

So you’ll vote ALP when he’s PM again ?

Mickey T says:

08:11pm | 22/02/12

@ Ben C - “to all those that have been denying such an event would happen”

Show me one person *anywhere* that predicted this. (Rudd resigning as the foreign minister) You for one, certainly did not.

I’m guessing Rudd will stand down and a by-election will be called for in his electorate.

Ben C says:

09:18pm | 22/02/12

@ Mickey T

Plenty of people, in the media, within Labor and within the Opposition, have been predicting such an event will happen. Simon Benson was one, if I remember correctly (albeit he’d been calling it for over a year). At the same time, a few people here on the Punch have been saying that it’s all been a media beat-up.

As for your prediction, that would be my second choice for Rudd’s likely course of action. Either that or he’ll just white-ant the ALP from the backbench, and resign before the next election.

Vivian says:

07:43pm | 22/02/12

He wanted to take the moral high ground. He got it.

Gillard took 3 and a half hours to respond. She is weakness personified.

Swan just went nuclear in the most extraordinary rant I have ever heard from a senior government minister.

They disgust me.

TimB says:

08:01pm | 22/02/12

Oh yes, the high ground thing too. Forgot about that.

(BTW Viv, I’m on to you )

Arthur says:

12:00am | 23/02/12

@Tim

He’s got all the time in the world. He’s got great timing and will be back as PM when it suits him.

Gregg says:

12:12am | 23/02/12

You had to laugh at his comment re he having only resigned one other time so he cannot help himself in twisting the truth that he was sacked by his own party, pushed out the door and no resigning BS but that’s Kevin for you and even though he has got in earlier this time, he knows he was about to be launched again.

@Vivian,
Kruddy has no moral ground for what a shitty thing to do, having a dummy spit whilst on another of his worthless overseas tours.

That guy together with the likes of Swann, Gillard and Tanner has overseen billions of Australian Taxpayers money just bloody wasted.
And then they find all these new taxes to hurt the Australian economy just so they can rake in some more revenue in the shorter term to cover their irresponsible spending.

jb says:

06:10pm | 22/02/12

Whatever….

Tracker says:

06:30pm | 22/02/12

over my dead body!

Rod Stuart says:

07:26pm | 22/02/12

Would that be Malcolm Turncoat, or Malcolm Bullshit?

nihonin says:

05:53pm | 22/02/12

Oh, how sweet it is, revenge best served cold. (sorry nossy)

Thomas says:

12:03am | 23/02/12

Don’t be silly. He’d rather be PM.

Gerard says:

07:05pm | 22/02/12

You’re right, this is an outrage! Whoever takes over the foreign ministry will be an illegitimate appointment! I clearly remember voting for Rudd on the foreign ministry ballot paper at the last election. Do these politicians really think they will get away with performing their constitutional duties?

Danny B says:

07:28pm | 22/02/12

Unfortunately, it can be said that the ‘Kevin07’ campaign is at least, in part responsible for the ALP’s current position.  By running a presidential style campaign, casting himself as the leader to bring down Howard, Rudd did pretty much tie a vote for Labor as a vote for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the public’s perception.  A tactic that backfired on the party when Gillard took over.

MattB says:

08:00pm | 22/02/12

Wow, the ignorant and uneducated not only beleive they vote for the PM, they now beleive they somehow vote for the make up of the government front bench too. Idiot….

Against the Man says:

08:17pm | 22/02/12

I agree with your point Danny.

George C. Parker says:

12:07am | 23/02/12

@Matt

I can’t believe you fell for that. I have a bridge in Brooklyn you’ll love.

nihonin says:

05:57pm | 22/02/12

I don’t think it really matters now who is leading the Labor party come the next election, this group of idiots has completely and utterly shot the Labor party in the foot.  But on the up side, maybe now the true members/believers will finally get to have their say and tell the union overlords, where to really shove themselves.

bruce c says:

06:35pm | 22/02/12

Obviously you’re not from Brisbane, he is my local member and I have found him to be a slimeball, slippery Kev not unlike Pete, talks the talk but never see any action apart from incompotance , does everyone forget the insulation scheme, people paid with their lives and we are all still paying for it, Labor has to go

nihonin says:

07:12pm | 22/02/12

lol bruce c, sorry mate but I am from Brisbane, north Brisbane actually, I agree Labor has to go, bit it has to go the whole way and cleanse itself of all the union hacks infesting it.

Shane From Melbourne says:

06:09pm | 22/02/12

You’re looking at hell freezing over, before you find a decent or even competent Liberal or Labor government. Last competent government Australia had was Paul Keating…..

Do Ron says:

07:13pm | 22/02/12

Holy cow you can’t be serious, Keating?

Dash says:

01:32pm | 23/02/12

Highest unemployment rate since the great depression under Keating 11.4%. Interest rates at 17.5%. AAA credit rating lost and record levels of federal debt. Only a fool would suggest that was competent government!

Tony (not phony) says:

02:07pm | 23/02/12

@dash
Just shows me how educated you really are….......NOT. Even you messiah little Coward once said Keating made some incredible reforms that the maggot Liberal government enjoyed late on.

Barry says:

12:13am | 23/02/12

Dream on. He wants to be PM. If he’d wanted to be an Independent he would have just resigned from the party, not his portfolio.

Shane From Melbourne says:

07:02pm | 22/02/12

“Australia needs clear, intelligent, strong leadership” and they ain’t going to find it in either the Labor or Liberal Parties…..

Danny B says:

07:30pm | 22/02/12

I know.  The Lib/Nat coalition won’t need to spend too much to work out their next electoral campaign - the ALP’s pretty much writing it for them.

Frank C says:

12:15am | 23/02/12

Rudd will defeat Abbott as easily as he defeated Howard.

Belle says:

10:29pm | 22/02/12

GSM- a true believer, delusional to the bitter end.

Jason says:

06:51pm | 22/02/12

No different to T Abbott who still thinks he was robbed at the last election.

Jane says:

07:40pm | 22/02/12

Gillard has actually been too nice to him. She should have come out when he was dumped and plainly said he was a bully and could not work with others. People relate to that but she made out he did a good job but the government had lost it’s way. Sounds weak so poele think she did not have good reason. So by protecting him she dug her own grave,

Kim says:

12:18am | 23/02/12

The Prime Minister can just appoint a new Foreign Minister. Why would she need an election to do that ?

Danny B says:

07:34pm | 22/02/12

Katter crossing the floor?  He doesn’t support the ALP in the first place.

And what’s wrong with a QLD-centred view?  As opposed to a Sydney/Melbourne centered view from pretty much everyone else in government?

Mark says:

12:21am | 23/02/12

@Yeti

Never seen a leadership challenge before ?

R.E.J. says:

06:47pm | 22/02/12

Just like the words of an old song .....he did it his way!

nihonin says:

07:14pm | 22/02/12

ATM,some are still trying to bring TA into the ‘conversation’, gawd bless them.

Against the Man says:

07:35pm | 22/02/12

Yes really funny? TA….Media…...I’m surprised they weren’t creative enough to blame the crisis in Greece or Greenpeace

Coop says:

10:41pm | 22/02/12

Comical Aco is outside Sophie Mirabella’s office thinking he’s bringing down the LNP (sic)

Brian Taylor says:

02:34am | 23/02/12

I think nossyand Co suffered heart attacks from this news lol thats why they’re so quite

Borderer says:

09:35am | 23/02/12

@ATM
I think they’re pretending its all going to be OK.
Me, I hope that Ruddy challenges on Monday and Gillard smashes on the vote. A sad Ruddy resigns from labor and with Gillard at the helm they are forced to an election. Ruddy gets the satisfaction of seeing Gillard demolished at the polls while retaining his seat as an independant.
Only with a crushing defeat would Ruddy leave, only with his dream of leading gone and banished to the back benches for eternity would he do so. It’s not like he needs the job as his family are already loaded and never before has a leadership aspirant had the opportunity to bring down the current leader one way or another. This is the reason why Julia gave him the ministerial role, she had to keep him happy as she needed his vote to keep government. Julia probably doesn’t have the sweats because she fears being voted out as leader, the party don’t like Rudd enough for that, she’s worried what Rudd will do when he doesn’t win.

JL says:

07:36pm | 22/02/12

I agree. We do not have democracy right now, we have “I am A Minister,  get Me Out Of Here, reality TV Wednesday night special.

Rudd neevr had the qualification or skills for the job, yet the public think he is better than Gillard, Media fault. not accurate reporting.

They have not served us. The collectve ego of the media plus Rudd is treasonous imo.

Danny B says:

09:20pm | 22/02/12

Am I the only one reminded of the ‘Yes Minister’ Christmas special episode ‘Party Games’?

Against the Man says:

07:18pm | 22/02/12

All the Coalition fans aka the vast majority of this country!

HooHoo the ALP is so finished!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kurisu Sonsaku says:

07:30pm | 22/02/12

I’m actually enjoying watching the carcas of this ‘so called’ government.decompose.

MattyC says:

07:43pm | 22/02/12

Must be loving this ATM but steady up a little. I don’t think you can claim the vast majority as coalition fans.

john says:

09:19pm | 22/02/12

@Against the Man “HooHoo the ALP is so finished!!!!!!!!!!!! “

LOL horse before cart,

Now that Kevin looks set to depart labor the numbers will be 74-73 PROVIDED his seat is lost. If Kevin sits in the backbench {highly unlikely} it will still be 75-73.

So as long as Julia does not go to an election. Labor will serve out its term.

Its unlikely Labor will go to an early election…at this stage.

Even if all 75 declare themselves independent tomorrow, as long as they swear alliance to the labor party, they will continue to govern because they have the numbers.

Now if Labor MP Craig Thomson is bankrupted or found guilty and sent to prison {you loose your rights when you go to jail}  then things get interesting.
 
They way I understand the constitution is:

Then the GG will have to ask Abbot if he can form a government. -if he can….but if he can’t…....

........the house keeps sitting till a double dissolution trigger situation arises because a government has already been formed and fully functional in conducting business, however ultimately fails a majority to pass bills in the house therefore business is stalled..

Then Gillard as the PRIME MINISTER will be forced to set an early election date because the house regardless which side governs cannot go through its full term.

Its the houses that are called for an election not the parties and the house must serve a full term of 3 years where ever possible.

T. Barber says:

12:27am | 23/02/12

We have a winner ! Stupid Comment of the Year and it’s only February.

Against the Man says:

07:13pm | 22/02/12

The Independents are finished. They will retire with their pensions and eternal shame and humiliation. I’m guessing they might head overseas as they will be National pariahs.

Jason says:

07:16pm | 22/02/12

The two independent clowns you say.  Well Abbott was not able to come to an agreement with them and therefore form Government, but he did say he would offer his bum if necessary they were still not interested.  So wait for Abbott he will give you unemployment in spades, starting with the sacking of 10,000 public service followed by the Car Manufactures sacking workers because Abbott will withdraw support to the Car Manufactures.  Then you can think about paying more tax to support his hair brained parent support scheme, his direct action carbon plan which means you will pay $ 1300 to the polluters to stop polluting instead of the polluters paying the Government.  You have to ask how dumb can you be?  Like that is stable Government NOT.

SimonTigey says:

08:19pm | 22/02/12

Jason, it’s far better to sack 10,000 public servants that aren’t needed and reduce the burden on the tax payer than to let possibly hundreds of thousands of jobs be lost in the private sector because the carbon tax will make many businesses non viable. You got your head firmly in the sand mate!!!

Christo says:

08:35pm | 22/02/12

Jason, until you see what sort of Prime Minister Abbott will be you really cannot judge him. The offer of his bum statement came from one of those Independent clowns, perhaps it was for them to lick it. It would seem there was no need for Gillard to make the same offer as she gave them everything they wanted and more, including making a promise to Wilkie she had no intention of keeping. As for the car industry, how many more times do we have to throw money to them, govts in the past have them given hand outs in one form or another before. The plain fact of the matter is, manufacturing in this country is too expensive and a carbon tax, one of the most, if not , the most expensive carbon tax in the world will only make it worse. Goodness knows what giant brain thought about introducing that at a time of global financial difficulties. As a self funded retiree I pay no income tax so I won’t be paying any additional income tax unless they change the tax laws or introduce a new tax and Labor are good at that.

Martin says:

12:29am | 23/02/12

@Jason

Exactly. It was Tony Abbott who delivered this Labor Government. Credit where it’s due.

Stephen T says:

12:23pm | 23/02/12

@Jason: The independents Windsor and Oakshot were never going to support the coalition, their hatred for the Nationals runs to deep and it didn’t help that Hawker is also Tony Windsor’s cousin.  Wilkie strung it along for a bit, but like the others he had a long standing grudge against the Coalition because of Howard, Abbott never had Buckley’s of forming government.  It was Tony Windsor who said Tony Abbott begged crossbench MPs to make him prime minister, joking ‘‘the only thing I wouldn’t do is sell my arse - but I’d have to give serious thought to it’‘.  Strangely none of the other persons present at the meeting could recall Tony Abbott making that comment, says a lot for Windsors credibility, but then what do you expect of a man who went against the wishes of his electorate and sold his arse to Labor.

Kurisu Sonsaku says:

07:32pm | 22/02/12

I’m betting you’re a 17 year old emo with a superiority complex

Rod Stuart says:

07:38pm | 22/02/12

You are of course absolutely correct.
It really annoys me when people say I voted for Rudd” or I wouldn’t vote for Gillard”. Of course not, unless you are resident in the riding the constituency in which they run. The pathetic part is that it is party politics which has destroyed democracy.

Mickey T says:

07:51pm | 22/02/12

Best comment so far…well said Gidgee.

“we really should know more about our Constitution and a little more about the way politics in this great country of my birth works”

+1…So true.

john says:

08:14pm | 22/02/12

@Rod Stuart

“You are of course absolutely correct.”

He is not realistic therefore not entirely correct about how in this case Labor stays with or loses power.

Its all about the magic numbers.

The Labor government increased their parliamentary majority on 24 November 2011 from 75–74 to 76–73 when the Coalition’s Peter Slipper became Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, replacing Labor’s Harry Jenkins.{sic} from wiki

Andrew Wilke has withdrawn his support for Labor now back to 75-73
in a sloppy undated letter to his electorate. he is independent now and has not sided with the liberals.

http://www.andrewwilkie.org/content/pdf/letter_to_the_electorate_Jan_2012.pdf

Now that Kevin looks set to depart labor the numbers will be 74-73 PROVIDED his seat is lost. If Kevin sits in the backbench {highly unlikely} it will still be 75-73.

So as long as Julia does not go to an election. Labor will serve out its term.

Its unlikely Labor will go to an early election.

Gidgee says:

08:49pm | 22/02/12

Gee, Kurisu Sonsaku, I don’t want to comment in a dergoatory sense on where you fit into our global society but I have to tell you that my 17th birthday was over seventy years ago.

You know so much, you youngsters, and yet, you know so little.

Gidgee.

jim says:

09:22pm | 22/02/12

JR that is rubbish. When Rudd was PM, all I hear from ministers were “Oh he puts too much pressure to perform, theres too much work…etc”

We’ll, we’re taxpayers and we hate lazy public servants. When Rudd asked every minister to visit a homeless shelter, Australians thought it was a great initiative ... but no, ministers prefer to sit on their arses and play politics.

Rudd is popular because in the real world, the business world he gets things done. The only fault in Rudd, is that you lackeys were part of the party.

Bertrand says:

09:39pm | 22/02/12

@jim - I agree that our pollies should work hard… however, they should also work smart.

The ‘go out into a homeless shelter’ initiative sounded great. We all had visions of our highly paid MPs trouping off into the alleyways and slums of our cities, where they would be enlightened about the plight of the homeless.

What actually came of it? How much reform was put in place? What was achieved?

I would say, nothing.

It is all well and good to be a hard worker, but you need to have results at the end of it.

JR says:

10:12pm | 22/02/12

@jim

Pressure Ruddy put on ministers was mainly due to his micromanaging.
Now, I’m no supporter of Gillard, her voice irritates me to the point that Abbott starts to become appealing.

But like or loathe her, you’ve got to recognise she’s managed to weasel her way into passing legislation in very difficult circumstances.
With honour and integrity befitting a leader of our country? hell no, more like deceit and trickery.
Is it all policy I support? er no, but she has got a lot done.

But credit where it’s due, Rudd did stimulated us all pretty well, not that I think it was at all spent wisely, but the objective of avoiding a recession was achieved.
Beyond that he tried to do too much himself, didn’t delegate enough and ended up not delivering all he wanted to, which although a bit admirable, is unfortunate.

I don’t get what you mean by “you lackeys were part of the party”.
Are you assuming I am a Labor member?
FYI, I’m not a member of any political party, nor even GetUp or anything of the like, I just have an opinion that differs to yours.

jaki says:

08:02pm | 22/02/12

“Full forward” position for Gillard ???

She’s “Full backward” !

Mouse says:

09:56pm | 22/02/12

jaki, that’s a LIKE button hit!  :o)

Mickey T says:

08:19pm | 22/02/12

Surely you’re trolling?

RBarron says:

09:17pm | 22/02/12

No I am not trolling.
I am dead set against the Carbon Tax have you read the latest findings with Climate Change go and do some research.
EU and US are broke with public debt.
In 2007 was the 1st time I split my vote and voted for Kevin in the lower house and the Libs for the 1st time in the upper house because while I wanted a change from Howard I never trusted Rudd the guy is a millionaire. Thank god I spilt my vote and I was 1 of many that flooded the liberal party to stop the carbon tax in 2009. Like I said I never trusted Julia and for the 1st time voted for the libs in both houses.
It was the 1st time ever in the last NSW election that the Labor party loss the set of Granville.
You wait until the next federal election.
My family have had business for 50 years the area the people are doing it tuff and can’t wait to vote mainly because they were lied too.
A person word out here means alot.
There are drive by shotings even 2nd night here.
If your word means nothing here then you are in trouble.

Frank C says:

12:42am | 23/02/12

@Barron

Well, excuse me. You’ve forgotten 6,216,445 two party prefered votes. Without them the Independents would have had no choice to make.

RBarron says:

06:33am | 23/02/12

“Well, excuse me.”
You are excused
I said
All the people who voted for Labor or the Liberal Party at the last election voted for No Carbon Tax.
And the people didn’t elect either party or either leader to be the Prime Minister.
It was the Independents that got to elect this Prime Minister.
When Gillard changed her mind on the carbon tax.
Before the election she said there would be No Carbon Tax.
And during the election Gillard said that they would form a Peoples Forum on Climate Change and that climate change would be tackled when there was a consensus was formed.
The only consensus that was formed was between the Independents and Gillard. Wilkie as well as the people that have voted for Labor know that her word means nothing.

RBarron says:

08:27am | 23/02/12

Mate 2 party prefered votes 6,216,445
Rubbish Dickhead
Mate Coalition 5,365,529 votes Labor 4,711,363 votes
Mate both the Coalition and Labor said that there would be No Carbon Tax.
That is 10,076,892 Voters that voted for to parties that said that their would be no Carbon Tax.
There is only one Liar.
Her word is mud.
She would do anything and did 2 times now to be Prime Minister.
I am still waiting for her to be Full Forward.
Mate I voted for Rudd but never believed in a carbon tax and at that time both parties wanted a carbon tax. The work reforms went too far under Howard.
The Carbon Tax is no good and no one is bring it in around the world and at the level Australia did.
I have been a Labor most of my life.

Frank C says:

04:03pm | 23/02/12

@Barron

You absolute dickhead. Look at the correct figures here on the AEC website. You obviously just made yours up.

Australian Labor Party 6,216,445

Liberal/National Coalition 6,185,918

RBarron says:

06:04am | 24/02/12

Frank you are a Drop kick.
That 6,216,445 for the Australian Labor Party is two party preferred figures.
Whether you like it or not at the last election Labor got 4,711,3631st Preferences votes the Coalition 5,365,529 3631st Preferences votes. So together both parties said that there would be NO CARBON TAX FULLSTOP. So together 10,076,892 Voters voted 1st Preferences for a party that said that the would be No Carbon Tax.
Gillard and Swan are Liars.
She stole 4,711,363 votes by telling them that they would be no carbon Tax under the Government she leads. Gillard’s leads the Government so she is a Liar.
Swan said that “what we rejected is this hysterical allegation that somehow we are moving towards a carbon tax” (Meet the Press, 15 August 2010).
Swan “We have made our position very clear, we have ruled it out” (7.30 Report, 12 August 2010).
Whether you like it or not NO voter elected Julia Gillard as Prime Minister it was the Independents.
That is not a democracy when the people that voted didn’t elect a Primer Minister. The Independents were not elected to pick the Prime Minister.
The system needs to be fixed when 10,076,892 Voters voted 1st Preferences for a party that said that there would be No Carbon Tax. At best less than 2 million voted for a Carbon Tax.
And you don’t have a problem with 10,076,892 votes 5 to 1 voting for No Carbon Tax.

Martin says:

12:46am | 23/02/12

@Vivian

I have no doubt it’s beyond you but it’s very simple. Just look at their only other option.

Mickey T says:

07:56pm | 22/02/12

“will the Queen’s Representative please enact her powers and bring Australia a fresh election”

Don’t be silly Ian…We do not have a constitutional crisis, it is the ALP who have a crises and they will work through it.

John says:

12:48am | 23/02/12

The Prime Minister can just appoint a new Foreign Minister. She doesn’t need an election to do that.

St. Michael says:

10:53pm | 22/02/12

Where, on Q&A?

William B says:

12:51am | 23/02/12

@Patient It will be good to have two candidates worth voting for again.

Ian1 says:

07:59pm | 22/02/12

Or Rudd could resign from Parliament all together.  Bogey of the ALP perhaps, saviour of the Australian people sighting the attitude - “a fair go”.

His colleagues ought to be hanged, drawn and quartered for the workplace bullying they are engaging in.  Respect to Julia, she hasn’t stooped to the level of vitriol those who share her political persuasion are.

Shame Labor, Shame.

mick says:

09:26pm | 22/02/12

Thanks mate. I’ll be emailing to let him know that as a taxpayer and citizen, he can take his petty behaviour elsewhere. we can do better than have a foreign minister resigning at 1am in a hotel lobby in the US. we look like a national embarrassment to our greatest ally and for what? a policy difference? an issue of concience? no no no, nothing of the like…just pure ego. Rudd has gone one step too far now in his fantasy to be recrowned. you’ve made us an international laughing stock, now take your bat and ball and go home kev. the shows over.

Benno says:

06:54am | 23/02/12

If he was in the armed forces, and deserted his job in this manner he would face a court-martial. Un Australian to walk off the job…

Steve says:

10:35pm | 22/02/12

He’s already been the PM. I think his legendary ego’s too big to allow him the lesser job of leading a state after leading the whole country.

Mouse says:

11:27pm | 22/02/12

and she was going to sack him for disloyalty next week anyway! Looks like someone leaked to Kev so he thought he’d get in first, this time.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/rudd-forces-say-labor-leadership-change-is-inevitable/story-fnccyr6m-1226278167364

Now swan is getting stuck into Rudd, he’s “pulling no punches” and he’s got his heavy boots on too!  I think things are going to get quite nasty. It is hard to believe that these are the same people that are busy running our country.

Poor gillard, things just aren’t going her way lately, are they?

Shane From melbourne says:

09:28pm | 22/02/12

Better import some politicians from another country then….

sunny says:

09:23pm | 22/02/12

I reckon Malcolm Turnbull would rather enter a three-legged steeple-chase with Kim Jong Il than form a new party with Kevin Rudd.

Mike says:

11:30pm | 22/02/12

Some dreams do come true. We can only hope.

Seriously, Turnbull and Rudd together would bring real leadership to Australia

what happened to the Democrats anyway?

ellen says:

01:04pm | 23/02/12

No way Malcolm Turnbull, he is for the global warming crap.

Martin says:

06:19pm | 23/02/12

@Mike

The Democrats sold Australia out to Howard and gave us the GST. We killed them off for it.

Against the Man says:

10:07pm | 22/02/12

Rudd and Gillard actually make Latham look sane!

robbie says:

09:40pm | 22/02/12

Ah Jane - you had there up until “a good PM”

Paul Cantwell says:

10:36pm | 22/02/12

a good PM.??

You have to be joking.

Sorry , I now realize that was sarcastic

Happy to see you are not a Watermelon

frankr says:

04:22pm | 23/02/12

Journalists dying in Syria?, bloody tony abbott

SD says:

10:28pm | 22/02/12

And you seriously think a conservative government gives a damn about an ‘Aussie Battler’? If so, you are a fool. Enjoy that tax cut for the rich while you get a sandwich and a milkshake!

LH says:

12:28am | 23/02/12

SD, if you only pay 20 cents into the pot, why expect more than 20cents in a reduction?

If your friend pays $200 into the pot, why begrudge him 60 cents in a reduction?

You ‘progressive’ social redistribution types are greedy liars, and your passive-aggressive victimhood is tiring, because it never ceases to yawp,“more’.

Gregg says:

11:54pm | 22/02/12

@Jason,
Ha ha ha ha! , so funny Jason for it was Tony Abbott that brought enough pressure to bear on Krudd that had the Labor factions move on him in the first place.
The very reason why Kruddy has so much hatred for Tony Abbott.

Krudd is Krudd and might as well be used for fertiliser, not that he’d be much value as that either.

Gregg says:

11:48pm | 22/02/12

@BS,
You’ve got the right ID at least for you do sprout some.
Democracy still means a government will work best as a team and that’s where Krudd fails dismally.
Australia’s system is far better than having something like the US where you can have a lame duck President.

JB says:

11:15am | 23/02/12

Let me see, The Liberals kept money in the bank (That Labor has now all spent) and kept the economy running smoothly. Life WAS good under them, then Kevin the snake oil sales man came along, conned everyone into buying what he was selling and Australia is going down the toilet! Australia Can’t afford to keep Labor!!!

Enough is enough says:

11:33am | 23/02/12

And their cobwebs of sterile inactivity really sends most of us in a spin. Sadly we have seen the most childish display by the Labor Caucasus’s   carcass of the walking dead trying to justify their leaders and backstabbing activities. FYI Labor, the Coalition and the public are laughing at your display of moronic behaviour. However Brown, Bandt, Windsor and Oakshott can see their days numbered (if not hours) in the lower house