He sounded like a proper Labor man and behind the well chosen words of Anthony Albanese was an exposure of the ridiculous decision to oust Kevin Rudd in the weird fashion that occurred before the last election.
A politician of principle and commonsense has finally emerged.
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This is the second time in recent years that Anthony Albanese has shown himself to be a man of courage. The first was when he stared down Sophie Mirabella’s crazed Rentacrowd when they descended on his Marrickville office.
Maybe some of the others will now step up, and start remembering what the Labor Party is supposed to stand for.
The contrast between Albanese and Simon Crean couldn’t be more stark.
Crean, Swan, Roxon and Burke have done an innumerable amount of damage to the Labor Party in the long term, and Gillard is to be condemned for not keeping her attack dogs on a leash.
I completely disagree. Rudd’s challenge has been the most petulant and poorly planned challenge in Australian political history.
He’s overseas when he does it, spends most of the next 48 hours returning so he’s isolated on a plane and then doesn’t bother returning to Canberra but Brisbane? On a Friday when pretty much all of caucus is flying out in the afternoon? When and how is he going to lobby them?
Didn’t he think of the schedule? Nup. Apparently not.
There is no possibility of face to face contact, he doesn’t have a plan for inducements he can offer people. He’s got nothing.
Now for Crean’s arguments. Crean is – as Keating would say – tribal Labor. He has very deep roots in the party and his criticisms are very, very valid. The Labor Party is bigger than any individual member no matter what their past contributions, and remember Crean’s contributions are extensive. And you don’t see Crean as a former leader attacking his successors, other than one particular narcissistic demagogue.
Rudd’s contributions don’t extend much beyond the 2007 election and a demand that the party be his personal plaything.
He’s doomed. And he deserves it.
Trust guys, very easy to give, extremely hard to fake and what has Gillard learned out of this – nothing! its back to the same tactic of pretense and fantasy. Gillard saying that she alone will chose her cabinet based on ability is a bald faced lie and the sad thing is she thinks the citizens will believe her.
Why not use the opportunity to present a new Labour face – one that does not treat the citizens as uninformed idiots. Just say the Labor party is driven by its members. Those members choose like minded caucus colleagues to speak on their behalf. These views are balanced and a collective decision is made that represents real Labor values.
No we will not be honest with the people we will keep being less than honest and less than transparent. Stay on this role and you will be decimated and rightfully so.
“underestimate the intelligence of the Australian citizens at your peril”