The Rudd Rebellion, The campaign to save Labor, Bruce Hawker

 

This is the second campaign political book I've read; they can be insightful. A few thoughts::

I don't think much will come from the Rudd/Gillard period, time will tell. Though a reform of Rudd's, which I'm certain will start to take off is the dilution of Union power and branch members having a direct roll in electing their leader, Hawker described it as becoming similar to the US presidential elections.

The loss of the election can be traced back to the knifing of Rudd. The disunity never really settled after this.

Union power within the labor party stinks. I couldn't get over that Paul Howel, Union boss was still ringing up Rudds team with who he thought should get preselection. I'm positive that coming up through the union ranks is not a great endorsement for representing your electorate.

I think Labor had better policies than the Coalition, did they have the unity and talent to implement them. No. This I believe is how Austalians voted how they did. I'm not sure any of Abbott's policies got him into power, rather bad labor government.

Murdoch's publication hampered the campaign. I didn't need to read the book to see this. In the end people will find other sources of news which reports on policy not just opinion. People will find alternative sources of news which is now easier than ever to do. I think Newscorp will be more neutral next election for the sake of there readership.

I enjoyed the insights and frenetic pace of the campaign 4/5

 

The Rudd aftermath

Well I thought there would be a bit of a reaction post the Rudd declaration of support for same sex marriage. Predictably the 'Christian lobby group' responded with all guns blazing.

One of my favourite blogs is Simon Holt at Colin street Baptist. He often writes succinctly what I cannot::

It’s a frightening read and, I suspect, is intended to be so. Members of this lobby group are clearly troubled by the prospect of change to our definition of marriage and genuinely believe their fears are well grounded. Whatever I make of these assertions, the ACL has the right to voice them and to do so as passionately and directly as they can. They speak for their constituency. What troubles me is not so much what they assert but who they infer that constituency to be.

In today’s press interviews and media release, the ACL speaks broadly of ‘the Christian constituency.’ It infers, first, that there is such a thing, a uniform Christian community—perhaps that church-going 20% of the national population or the 64% of Australians who ‘declare themselves to be Christians’— that stands united against marriage equality and, second, that the ACL is their preferred public voice. This is not the case.....

Despite the posturing of the ACL, I want people to know that there are many sincere ‘church-going’ Christians around this country for whom the ACL does not speak. Not at all. We find their assertions and fear mongering as offensive and alienating as do many others. We may not be members of the Kevin Rudd fan club, but as fellow Christians we welcome Rudd’s support on this important issue.

Well written! Yes the ACL, does not represent my views either.

 

Kevin comes out

I was surprised that Kevin Rudd came out in favour of same sex marriage. The statement put out on his blog was fairly detailed. There was the personal side behind the move, as well as his Christian theological underpinnings (without mentioning the usual suspect texts), and lastly how he saw a difference between religious and civil marriage. It was also interesting that he defended the idea that family made differently than the typically family unit can also be just as loving.

Why as a Christian I want to put my head under a pillow...

Every time Danny Nalliah opens his mouth in public I want to hide.

That's because Mr Rudd "spoke against Israel" in December 2010, Daniel Nalliah from the Catch the Fire Ministries has written on his website.
"It is very interesting that Kevin Rudd is from Queensland. Is God trying to get our attention? I believe so," he said.
Mr Rudd, during a visit to Israel in December, called on the Jewish state to allow international inspectors into its nuclear facilities.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/pastor-says-kevin-rudd-to-blame-for-floods/story-e6frfku0-1225985730895#ixzz1AsXZPA3V

 I've never heard so much rot come from a Christian mouth. It happens every time a natural disaster occurs in Australia Danny has someone usually from the Labour party to blame.

A much better response if from the 'Wondering pilgrim' 'Responding to natural disasters' .

Lets hope the collective church responds appropriately and includes a response to Danny Nalliah.
Mark Connors did so last time with the Brushfires lets hope he does so again...For the sake of Christian credibility in Australia.

Related articles

• Pastor blames Australian floods on Rudd's Israel views (thejc.com)
• What Caused Australia's Devastating Floods: Why Kevin Rudd of Course (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)

Wikileaks and truth

I've enjoyed the revelations from Wikileaks. In many ways it has increased my cynicism of Government. Some of articles which confirm my discomfort with government.

:: "The Age" RIO Tino giving evidence to Chinese authorities regarding one if its employees. Why isn't the Australian government responding to this?

:: "The Age" Mark Arbib one of labour 'faceless' men, telling the US that Rudd would be replaced months in advance from when it happened. Giving the US the low down on how Australian government decisions are made. What a RAT!

:: "The Age" Kevin Rudd reporting that the Afgan war 'scares the hell' out of him. It makes you wonder was the whole parlementary debate was about? What are we doing there if Rudd has such resovations?

:: The ABC Paypal refusing payments to wikileaks? Yet takes money from the porn industry, the klu klux klan. What is it about company's that make moral judgement about what is right and wrong?

I certainly don't think wikileaks is doing the wrong thing. I'm sure the Murdock press and other media moguls would publish whistle blower material if it was in there interest. But I fear that Murdock has to much money and to many friends in high places, its not in his interest to be the first to publish. Sure his paper rats on small local stuff. But this, no way.
One of the good thing about the internet is that we don't have to read media moguls material. We have a choice. Murdock et als  power base is been chipped away.
The thing which is most worrying is governments not doing things because they are the 'right thing to do'. Rather there motivations are about alliances, what's best for business, what makes our country look better.
Is there such a thing as open government? Honest government? Honest people in power?
It just makes the Greens party look better and better.

Related articles

• Arbib revealed as secret US source (theage.com.au)
• ABC The Drum - Rudd and Arbib duck the North Korea of the internet (angryindian.blogspot.com)

No Deal, Rudd.

Interestingly their was a deal on the table on the 23rd of June, with Mr Rudd, Ms Gillard and the others in the Labor leadership group. From the 'Crickey' blog::

Oakes’s question revolved around a claim that Kevin Rudd offered to Gillard to stand aside closer to an October election if polling indicated, and senior party figures agreed, that Rudd was an impediment to Labor’s re-election, an offer Gillard rejected after being told by factional leaders that she had the numbers to topple Rudd.

So what does it all mean?

Julia was hungry, hungry for power.
Kevien was trying to get more time. Rally the troops.

Either way, I think Rudd should have been given another go. While Julia should have taken the reins second term. This in itself would have extended Labours time in power. An agreement like that seems fair. But then again these agreements have happened both sides of politics and usually backfire in someone's direction.

Christian responses to Mr Rudd

Two Christians who I admire have given a bit of a Eulogy on Kevin Rudd's term as PM


Mark Connor gave a bit of a nice summary which I pretty much agree with, except of this bit ::

Over time, his popularity declined and he didn't deliver on a number of his promises. Was this due to an inability or lack of discipline to implement change or did he lack internal support for his change agenda? 

I'd say he is right but I'd also say that the opposition since Abbott was highly antagonistic in letting legislation through.

Tim Costello was the other resposne which I thought was really generous.

Unlike others who mocked him as out of touch, I liked having a prime minister who read theology and had a hero called Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I detected echoes of Bonhoeffer in his penultimate speech last Wednesday night in calling the ballot on. He spoke of not letting the party lurch to the Right in harshness to refugees and asylum-seekers.

 Also this which I didn't know from Costello,

Unmentioned in his list of achievements at his final press conference was one that I think is his finest legacy. He lifted our overseas aid program by more than $1 billion to date because he saw development and achieving the Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty as something that was right. Against the Howard government's refusal to budge, he took an electoral risk. He promised to lift our aid to 0.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2015 or 50c in every $100 because this would help cut the number of hungry and absolutely poor.

Julia the Athiest

Nathan Hobby over in Perth has pointed out a link about Julia Gillard being an Atheist. The article left me with a few questions, most importantly: I'd like to understand how she came to this position coming from a Church background.

I suppose my greatest dread with Julia being an  Atheist is that all Christians who have political agendas in Australia will come out of the closet! (I wonder if Danny Nalliah had any prophesy on K Rudd's downfall.) We will then end up with a real American electoral system. Although Australia has had a few Athiests lead the country Bob Hawke and more than likely a few closet Atheist.

I do belive that having a 'Christian', label is a positive in an election. Implimenting a Christian position is more of a positive for me during an electoral term. So strong social justice, a pacifist position, a strong green component and treating all people with equality is very important. If an atheist such as Julia can implement these policies then I'm ok with her. I doubt either the ALP or the Liberal will bring in an pacifist position, so this then like all elections brings the choice down to the lesser of two evils. I believe that God is big enough to implement his will though Atheist.

On the side. While I think that Kevin is a genuine Christian, I think he went a bit to far with the press conferences outside the Church which he attended! It just cheapened his Christian faith.

Watch out for the Factional Power Brokers

I can remember a few years into my nursing talking to nursing union representative about unions and the ALP. I can distinctly remember him telling me about that the factional element within the Labour party. He said that that it was rough, the people who aligned to the left or right where rough; if need be and they would "eat their own mothers", for their own objectives.

Today we witnessed how ruthless the factional power brokers can be. Rudd gone in a flash and Julie standing proud.

The Julie Question?

In many ways you can't help but feel sorry for Kevin Rudd, as he goes to his party room for support today.

He is like a bloke who can't hold his beer and only drank because it looked cool, and he really has no mates to help him out.
It seems apparent Rudd really never got the hang of been PM, he really has stuck to the same autocratic way of leading the whole way through. Has been seen as back-flipping, not implementing his election policies on lots of issues. (I think he did do some good stuff, its just not the public perception.) He just looked awkward.
Now when things are getting tough, his mojo in the polls are disappearing. There are no labor factions to help him and to watch his back. I always thought that it would be difficult for him without an alignment with the factions.

I think what ever happens this is terminal for Rudd. He will be in paralysis in the job watching his back. ineffective.

Maybe terminal for Labor in the elections.

Julie I think has got it. That's my pick.

Australian Politics

I havn't given much commentary on politics for a while, yet much has happened.

The most interesting is the dramatic drop in support for the government in the polls. Which it appears is related to Mr Rudd's performance.

It would appear to me that a few things have hit Rudd hard

-Pink bats,
-ETS,
-Back tracking with ausilum seekers policy.

I think the government when the election starts will start to ramp up his positive

-getting through the 'Global financal crisis'
-negotiating with a single funding for health with the states (Except WA)
-The new broadband looking like a viable competition to Telstra

While I think Mr Abbott is still Mr Negative, he seems to be a bit more conciliatory?
I've got to say I was pretty impressed with his ultra triathlon stuff.

The Greens look like the biggest winner in the poles.
Overall if this translated to votes it would be a good thing. For two reasons, A third party 'Keeps the barsteds honest', I'm all for a more 'Greener' Australia.

Australian politics::

Havn't put any political musing for a while so here it is.


Kevin Rudd:: He looks like he is in a spot of bother. Not only is his usual opposition upset but so are his supporters. It does look like he weaseled out of the Emisions Trading Scheme. Doing so he has lost credability.

Tony Abbott:: Poo Poo man. Poo poo this, poo poo that. That's all I can hear. I never anything positive. Its all a government conspiracy. The reason why: We are the opposition.

Malcolm Turnball:: I'm glad he is back. It seems that there is a moderate now back in the liberal party. (Jo Hockey, seems quieter now, it must be fatherhood) If or I should say  when he gets back on the front bench the Liberals will look a bit more balanced. I dare say the media will go to him for some constructive conversation. (I bet they already know what Mr Poo Poo Abbott would say).

Overall the next couple of months should be rather colourful as the election looms.

Oz Politics 25th March, 2010

Interesting week in politics, the supposed big story was Rudd winning the health debate with Abbott. Abbott was always going to struggle with this one. He was health minister and couldn't fix it, and he had not policy!

What I see as the bigger story is Nick Minchin resigning. Sure Abbott will make it to the first election, and more chance than not loose. But after that his biggest backer Minchin will not be there. He only got to the position as opposition leader by the smallest of margins.

This week in Politics

You can feel the rumblings of an election coming upon us. Strangely even before the election is called a debate is been arranged with Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd. 
As I mentioned previously. I think the governments stratagy will be to do Abbott 'slowly', a reference to Keating and opposition lead by John Hewson. As time goes on the slips will add up, and as the election looms political scrutiny will increase. Abbott will loose his shine.
This was a week in example when Costello former treasurer had a poke at Abbots proposed extended maternity payments. When Abbott speaks about Rudd's 'Big new tax', Rudd will be able point out Abbott's proposed 'Big new tax' with extended maternity payments.

Lastly, our politicians at work.

Liberal Peter Slipper having a quite nap during proceedings. I wish I could do this at my work, I often feel like it.

John Howard's rubbish

John Howard has come out against the current government (not suprisingly), saying::

The former Prime Minister has launched a scathing attack on his successor, saying Kevin Rudd has "done nothing" in government, that the economic stimulus was "too big" and that Labor lacks the courage for reform, but he concedes Labor will probably be re-elected.

This to me is more to do with the current system::

1) The current political cyle is to short,

2) The opposition is blocking anything the goverment is trying to do.

I also suspect that the current Rudd government will not want to go to an early election because they will want to fry Abbot "Slowly". His natural conservative style will slowly reveal itself. Which to the media and the general public is not the middle ground.

Its a shame because it just reveals the limitation of our political system. Political inaction.

Advice for Joe Hockey

Joe Hockey, put out a tweet for advice regarding what he should do regarding the current Liberal party turmoil. (He also had lunch with his old boss John Howard, I suspect, John dosn't use Twitter, thus the advice was face to face)

Here is the advice I Tweeted back::
"JoeHockey it the right thing to follow through on the agreement. Climate change is here to stay. Good on you supporting your leader. A+"

Interestingly on JoeHockeys friend list on tweeter is a "KRudd". I wonder what advice he gave...