Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The big #spill

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    I gather his indecision over an emissions trading scheme, the hostile attentions of the mining lobby, and a fairly nasty public mood over refugees all contributed, but it still seems bizarre to me.

    OK, am I the only Kiwi who suspects this is just the usual Australian political party factional wars (and the Liberals are as toxic as the ALP) gone feral, public and I suspect electorally suicidal? Aussie politics is a toxic mash-up of Neighbours and I Spit On Your Grave at the best of times, but the ALP better be praying that the "Rudd can't win, Gillard can" polling that keeps being cited is right.

    The only thing I'm sure of is that Tony Abbot is thanking Jesus for the early Christmas... The ALP was ruthless in exploiting divisions and ill-discipline in Howard's Coalition, don't think Abbot is not going to do the same. Karna's a bitch...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Aussie politics is a toxic mash-up of Neighbours and I Spit On Your Grave at the best of times

    Gold. I'm going to pass that on to Mr Wallington, who was explaining the matrix of Labor factionalism to me this morning.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Okay, that's weird. I'm listening to a Keane/Everboudys Changing soundtrack that covers Doctor Who's regenerations and this happens in Oz?

    In any case. most Aussie LGBT expats I've talked to reckon that Rudd was too much of a backward Queenslander redneck to continue to lead a modern centre-left political party. Gillard looks much more like Helen Clark (no kids) and Tony Blair than he did.

    She does perform well against Tony Abbott on the other side of the fence, apparently...who must be wearing a frozen smile right about now...

    C.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    A good analysis on the ABC: How it came to this.

    Leadership challenge: how has it come to this?

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    BREAKING: It's over. Rudd has apparently stood down before the vote.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I'm most intriged about the term "leadership spill". I woke to a screenful of toots using the #spill hastag, and it look a bit of googling to realise it was a legitimate Australian political term and not a media lol mixing politics with an oil spill.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Think you could also argue that for all the sound and fury, the protests against the '81 Tour did not hasten the fall of apartheid by a single day, let alone stop The Tour.

    Yet they made this country significantly more civil. Go figure, eh?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    you're gonna have to think the mining tax was a biggie. those are some pretty powerful players to be messing with.

    will read deborah's link with this hypothesis in mind.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    We looked at the changing cinema business, and at the likelihood of cinemas becoming venues for non-feature-film content – especially in 3D.

    I note my local Reading cineplex (Palms, Chch)
    hosts evangelical church meetings on Sundays...
    the other 3D - the Trinity?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • MikeE,

    RuddRolled..

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    That was so quick, it's like it never happened. Almost wish Rove was around to give up to the minute commentary, but the minute passed already.

    And so did the 15.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • GLaird,

    NSW Labour lost Penrith last weekend with a 25% shift away from them which is huge. Whilst to a certain degree there were local issues at stake ( an MP fiddling parliamentary expenses) and an unpopular state government, all the pundits are saying that the asylum seeker issue is really hurting them in places like Western Sydney. The flip flop on emissions trading really hurt them with its green leaning labour educated base too. Then there was the mining tax as Che says.

    Personally I quite liked Rudd, however apparently women don't like him and he's a fairly poor communicator and not a great parliamentary performer. Julia Gillard has the ability to communicate complex policy far better than he did and she will no doubt bring the female vote back. It looks like a very smart move to me and may well give Labour a second term in office which under Rudd they would not have got.

    AK • Since Oct 2009 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I hit the wrong thread above, didn't I?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Australian political scientists are lobbying to rename a small unit of time as a Rudd. As in, that was ruddy quick!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Ocker pallor...
    Leadership's pill is bitter to swallow...

    "leadership spill"

    spill your guts...?
    or a technicolour yawn
    all very Ocker, very Barry McKenzie

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    I hit the worng thread...

    Yep, and I tried the save, but scored an own goal.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Gutted I missed the Maori game, trawled some of the rugby newsgroups and Twitter later in the evening and realised I'd missed a classic.

    Bit of sport overload going on in our house....

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Confess: We're all looking forward to The Standard explaining how Julia Gillard's rise to the top of the greasy pole is nothing like the ascent of that baby-eating back-stabbing hell-bitch Jenny Shipley. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    nope. but... the ETS? maybe that dug the hole, but the mining tax was the nail in the coffin, IMHO.

    ah well. i guess his political obituary will read: "John Howard - i knocked the bugger off".

    PS, @craig, at least gillard might actually win an election...

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Well, didn't Shipley make a point of walking up to Bolger as he was about to catch a flight to attend CHOGM and conceitedly tell that she had the numbers ?

    At least Gilliard had the grace to mount a coup whilst the PM was in the country.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • GLaird,

    You can't underestimate the impact of the whole asylum issue over here and how worked up your average Aussi gets over it either.

    AK • Since Oct 2009 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Gutted I missed the Maori game, trawled some of the rugby newsgroups and Twitter later in the evening and realised I'd missed a classic.

    Yeah, it was. It was just magnificent.

    Big games, interestingly, from McAlister and Brett -- who both looked to be on a whole 'nother level of motivation compared to the Super 14 season.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Just now on Twitter:

    Betting agency says Labor's odds of election win have shortened to $1.38. Coalition out to $2.95

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I like Kevin Rudd. He has a very nice voice. I like those very intellectual, naturally introverted politicians like him (and Helen Clark) who put principles before populism.

    I hope he goes somewhere bigger such as international relations or the UN where he can make use of his intellectual and linguistic skills. His fluency in Mandarin could come in handy.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • GLaird,

    Take that bet while you can Russell - the commentators over here are saying that Gillard will destroy Tony Abbott in an election.

    AK • Since Oct 2009 • 12 posts Report Reply

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