Rudd really was a crying shame

[icyfroth]

YOU'D have to be heartless not to feel sympathy for Kevin Rudd, tearstained and forlorn, announcing his resignation from politics.

It's also only human to feel exasperation at his self-indulgence and emotional flaccidity.

Overseas visitors who watched Wednesday night's performance could scarcely believe the behaviour of a grown man, a former prime minister, in parliament with streaming tears, sniffily nose and the demeanour of a child who has just spent an hour in his bedroom bawling his eyes out.

Get a grip, Kevin. People in the Philippines have something to cry about.

The contrast could not have been more stark between a blubbering Rudd capping off his spectacular career with another spectacle and Tony Abbott just 10 minutes earlier giving the interview of his life on ABC's 7.30, as he tried to fix his predecessor's biggest mess.

But Abbott is one cold turkey. "I'm not interested in providing sport for journalists," he told 7.30. "I'm not interested in starting a fight or provoking an argument; I'm interested in stopping the boats.

"And why I'm interested in stopping the boats is because this is a humanitarian disaster as well as an affront to Australian sovereignty."

"I want to stop the boats for Australia's sake and for the sake of common humanity," Abbott said.

"Surely all Australians, including the media, should want to stop the boats, not to provoke an argument."

Abbott's construction is correct. Those calling for blow-by-blow details of "on-water" operations are only providing marketing material for people-smugglers and causing trouble with Indonesia. Why should the government help them?

Again, how different it was to John Howard's behaviour when he lost office in humiliating circumstances in the Ruddslide of 2007, losing his own seat of Bennelong to Maxine McKew by 2434 votes.

But Howard was gracious in defeat, even turning up at the official declaration of the poll when he didn't have to, smiling and shaking hands with the victor, and having a cup of tea with the voters who had rejected him.

"This is a wonderful exercise in democracy and it is a privilege to be part of that process," he said at the time.

John Howard was indeed a class act. History will treat Rudd less kindly.

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And with that I'm off to bed. Anyone want to take pot-shots at me, I wil be back tomorrow to reply.

'night all night owls

[icyfroth]

Good morning

[i-need-a-martini]

So the point of the article (in an unnamed editorial) is what?

That a real man doesn't cry? That real men aren't allowed to be emotional?

That a real man should be a "cold turkey"?

[icyfroth]

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

So the point of the article (in an unnamed editorial) is what?

That a real man doesn't cry? That real men aren't allowed to be emotional?

That a real man should be a "cold turkey"?

---

The point is that the Rudd/Gillard administration was a circus from start to finish. The Labor party will take years to recover.

Instead of crying over the fact that they've lost this round and tearing strips off the current Liberal Prime Minister at every turn, Labor Luvvies should concentrate on strengthening ties with their own party and wait until the next election to hit their target.

There's not much difference between the parties after all. They're just allowed to each have a turn from time to time and make Aussies think they actually have a choice.

Both parties are locked in to the dictates of large corporations and business conglomerates.

[i-need-a-martini]

If that was your point then why post the article?

The article was specifically berating Rudd for being emotional and shedding tears whilst announcing his retirment from politics. According to the article he should be more like "Cold Turkey" Tony or "classy" Howard who did not cry at his election defeat.

That is what the article was about.

The article was not about the Labor adminstration. Wasn't even about politics really.

[icyfroth]

Here's an illustration to my point:

'PM reluctant about GrainCorp bid'

Prime Minister Tony Abbott might not want a foreign takeover of Australia's largest agribusiness but his views have no bearing over any approval or rejection of the bid.

Treasurer Joe Hockey needs to make a decision about the $3.4 billion bid by US food giant Archer Daniels Midlands for GrainCorp by December 17.

Under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act, it is the treasurer's decision alone to approve or reject the ADM bid.

The law specifies that if Mr Hockey prohibits the takeover he needs to be satisfied it is contrary to the national interest.

The treasurer is on the record as saying he will not be bullied or intimidated by "anyone" into making a decision one way or the other.

As if.

Click Here To View Full Article

The takeover is being opposed by The Nationals, some rural Liberals and eastern wheat-belt growers.

But WA Liberal senator Dean Smith, like others in the nation's biggest wheat-growing state, is backing the ADM bid.

"This deal ... ticks a lot of boxes for the 21st century," he told parliament on Thursday.

I'm sure it does...for some people

Australia was a big exporting country and needed the "absolute best infrastructure" and best global connectivity.

"We need competition - this is the absolute imperative that underscores everything," he said.

Except competition won't be tolerated once the big corporations have established their rule.

[icyfroth]

---

@i-need-a-martini wrote:

If that was your point then why post the article?

The article was specifically berating Rudd for being emotional and shedding tears whilst announcing his retirment from politics. According to the article he should be more like "Cold Turkey" Tony or "classy" Howard who did not cry at his election defeat.

That is what the article was about.

The article was not about the Labor adminstration. Wasn't even about politics really.

---

I don't care whether you approve of my motives in posting certain articles find worthy of discussion, Martini. After all, when have I ever questione yours?

I will address your question though.

My motive in posting the OP was to illustrate the futility of posting the poisonous **bleep** for tat Labor vs Liberal bickering that dominate this board. And I mean from both sides.

Such sniping simply detracts from the real issues, ie, the boat policy and the current sell-out of Australia's grain and dairy industries.

The Liberal party leadership may not be better in terms of policy than the Labor, but Mr Abbott at least represents some STABILITY after the shambolic antics we've seen under the past years of the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd administration.

The Australian people need to be united in their support of the current leadership. Labor tried and failed to stop the boats, and frankly, I don't think Mr Abbott will be able to, either, for all his brave rhetoric. It's a bigger problem worldwide than any single country's leadership.

I do however admire Mr Abbott's fervour and I think he should be left to do what he can without the media hounds snapping at his heels and the howling at the moon at delight over his every slip from those who wish him ill.

[lakeland27]

i think the 'stability ' you mention is an illusion. there's no or little proof of it. do you have a practical example ?

[icyfroth]

Do you have any reliable proof or example of in-party bickering of the Liberal such as we saw in the Labor administration, Lakey?

Anyone you know of being groomed to stab Mr Abbott in the back in a leadership challenge?

It seems to me the Labor Lubbies have nothing positive from their own party to focus on and so need console themselves with the continued character assassination of Mr Abbott they tried to win the election with.

Get over it fgs, it's distracting us from the real issues.

We should all be out on the steps of Town Hall in Sydney protesting with big placards the sale of Australian Industries and resources to foreign interests, especially our food sovereignty, instead of sitting behind our computers bickering about what party is better. They're as good or bad as each other!

I'm sure Labor will get it's turn again at a future election. That's the nature of Aussie politics.

[lakeland27]

Do you have any reliable proof or example of in-party bickering of the Liberal such as we saw in the Labor administration, Lakey?

Anyone you know of being groomed to stab Mr Abbott in the back in a leadership challenge?

yes. the N part in LNP is opposed to the sale of graincorp, land to indonesia (done). among others. they lack the guts to follow through. (they havent threatened to cross the floor and meant it since doug anthonys day. rubber stamps that they are, not rural reps at all.)

and the knife was put in turnbulls back, slippers throat . as well as two state premiers.

if you are suggesting  i stop and accept this **bleep** i'm sorry. because i'm not.