Can you explain to me in a few sentences why you think Tony Abbott is such a tasteful alternative?

Some should be drowned at fucking birth to prevent the continuance of defective genes. Good gawd, did you even get through primary school? Yourself, girtrude and davstar are brothers?

I give up.

i have to say i am absolutely gob smacked at the behaviour and the level of which these two so called leaders Gillard and Rudd are prepared to stoop, really a disgrace, obviously two very very desperate people, all the while the country is floundering and the signals that this sends to business owners,investors,trading partners and the like is nothing short of humiliating and embarrasing, not to mention the damage to business and investor confidence, and it just drives home the fact that these two are not looking out for the countries interests, they should be putting there differences aside for the benefit of Australia.....end of story.....like costello did,

Albanese throws support behind Rudd

February 25, 2012 - 12:31PM


Senior minister Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind Kevin Rudd for the Labor leadership ballot on Monday.

The Labor heavy hitter is the last cabinet minister to declare which way his vote will go.

Mr Albanese's support could sway some votes of those who have already made up their mind.

Mr Albanese said the decision had been a very hard one for him to make.

He consulted friends, family, colleagues, branch members and some members of the community in making it.

He told journalists in Sydney today he had informed Prime Minister Julia Gillard of his decision earlier that morning.

He praised the record of both Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd as leaders and said he would not be found criticising either of them.

Mr Albanese had offered his resignation as Leader of the House to Ms Gillard this morning.He said she had refused to accept it and told him she had absolute confidence that were she to win the ballot, he would continue to serve her loyally.

Mr Albanese believed his decision was in the best interests of the party, although he had argued with colleagues and others against having a spill - both now and in 2010.

‘‘I have despaired in recent days as I have watched Labor’s legacy in government devalued,’’ he told reporters in Sydney.

‘‘I like fighting Tories, that’s what I do.’’

He also informed Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Mr Rudd of his decision today.

Mr Albanese said he was not counting numbers and would not be lobbying for anyone during the rest of the weekend.

AAP


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/albanese-throws-support-behind-rudd-20120225-1tut1.html#ixzz1nLxeqmrd

Gillard must abandon leadership: Hawker

February 25, 2012 - 11:43AM

With Monday's Labor leadership ballot looming, newspaper polls report a clear favourite. Tim Lester reports.

The latest polls look so bleak for Prime Minister Julia Gillard that she should consider not contesting Monday's Labor leadership ballot, Kevin Rudd's campaign manager says.

Speaking outside Mr Rudd's home in Brisbane, Labor strategist Bruce Hawker said the public had clearly shown they wanted Mr Rudd leading the country, rather than Ms Gillard.

"I think the Prime Minister should actually think about whether she stands on Monday," he told reporters.

"I think it's that serious, because the public is saying, 'We want Kevin Rudd.' She's got to consider whether the public is right or the back rooms and the factional leaders are right."

Three separate polls released overnight demonstrate that Mr Rudd remains broadly popular with Australian voters as he prepares for Monday's Labor leadership showdown.

Voters prefer him as Labor leader over Ms Gillard by wide margins in all three polls.

He gets the nod by 58 per cent in a Nielsen Poll, 53 per cent in a Newspoll and 52 per cent in a Galaxy Poll, while Gillard polls 34, 30 and 26 per cent respectively.

Mr Hawker said any Labor caucus member with a margin of less than ten per cent in their electorate was at risk of losing their seat without switching their support to Mr Rudd.

"They can sit back and look at what might have been ... or we can go to Tony Abbott. That's the choice they have to make on Monday," he said.

He added it was critically important to secure the support of House of Representatives leader Anthony Albanese, who will speak to reporters later on Saturday.

AAP


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillard-must-abandon-leadership-hawker-20120225-1turw.html#ixzz1nLy2Br9s

How is Rudd's behaviour disgraceful in this case? He was stabbed in the back by his own party, and made to play second fiddle to this Julia Gillard character who wasn't even elected in the first place, and now that Gillard has made a fool of herself, he has a chance to retain the role he earned in the first place.

How Julia has the presence of mind to call out Rudd for being 'unloyal', baffles me. Does this woman have no fucking shame? For me, Rudd is the only tasteful venture atm. Gillard is a joke, and Abbott is no fucking better.

Kevin Rudd brands Julia Gillard a liar who stole his job

by: Jessica Marszalek From: Herald Sun February 25, 2012

KEVIN Rudd has zeroed in on Julia Gillard's credibility problem, accusing her of lying when she stole his job and back-tracking on a carbon price.

Mr Rudd promised a review of the unpopular carbon tax after six months as he made his pitch to "finish the job the Australian people elected me to do".

And he revealed for the first time his version of the night he was toppled as prime minister.

Mr Rudd said Ms Gillard had promised him time to improve his leadership style in 2010, but broke that promise 10 minutes later.

"It was implicitly agreed, in the presence of an impartial observer, that we would work through those challenges ... and then revisit the question before the election was due later in 2010," he said.

"Ten minutes later, Julia came back in the room and said, 'All bets are off, that agreement doesn't hold, I'm challenging'."

Mr Rudd also said Ms Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan had "very bluntly and very directly" urged him to shelve his carbon pricing reduction scheme.

Ms Gillard had wanted to wait for bipartisan support, he said.

After the 2010 poll, Ms Gillard pushed ahead with a carbon tax, despite an election pledge not to.

Mr Rudd said he supported an emissions trading scheme, where the market set the price, but would review the fixed carbon tax after six months.

He wanted a switch to the floating price as soon as possible and not wait for three years.

Mr Rudd said he would accept his fate, go to the backbench and not challenge again if he lost Monday's ballot. But he warned Labor faced certain defeat under Ms Gillard.

"If we're honest with ourselves, all indications are that we are heading for the rocks at the next election, leaving the country to the ravages of Mr Abbott and his government," he said.

Mr Rudd said he was not the "Antichrist incorporated". He was "tired and fed up" with attacks on him.

He angrily placed the problems plaguing the Gillard Government squarely on her shoulders.

"If I didn't exist, people would be casting around for an alternative leader of the Labor Party," he said.

He said Ms Gillard had lost the trust of the people, and although he wasn't "captain perfect", he could restore that trust.

Mr Rudd also offered caucus greater power, pledging to hand back the right to pick the ministry after taking control of that in 2007.

Supporters said no one should underestimate Mr Rudd's "special relationship" with Australians or his ability to win the next election.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/kevin-rudd-brands-julia-gillard-a-liar-who-stole-his-job/story-fn7x8me2-1226281065205

Julia Gillard accuses Kevin Rudd of being gutless

by: Matt Johnston From: Herald Sun February 25, 2012

JULIA Gillard has accused Kevin Rudd of lacking courage when prime minister and defiantly staked her leadership on being the "person who gets things done".

Using the controversial carbon and mining taxes as examples of reforms she has seen through, Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd had run away from tough battles.

The Prime Minister said she had the qualities to be in charge, insisting that choosing a leader was not an "episode of Celebrity Big Brother".

"Talk is easy, getting things done is harder. I get things done," she said.

"The choice that the nation faces, and my parliamentary colleagues face on Monday, is a choice as to who has got the character, the temperament, the strength, to deliver on behalf of the Australian people."

Ms Gillard rejected Mr Rudd's attacks on her credibility, and said if he wanted to talk about trust, he should own up to destabilising her leadership.

"Kevin Rudd spoke about trust today but did not deny when challenged that he has spent time ... behind closed doors, in secret conversations, undermining this Government."

Ms Gillard said tough calls took a political and personal toll, but she had the courage to stick with them.

"What leadership comes down to is: are you prepared to pay those political prices?" she said. "Are you prepared to show the courage and determination you need to, even in the most difficult of circumstances, to get things done?

"I have proven that I am able to do that.

"What Kevin obviously struggled to do when times were a little bit politically tough - particularly in 2010 - was to run a government with any sort of method or purpose."

The PM promised to continue a reform agenda and ensure strong manufacturing and health sectors "so we can keep building on our proud record of job creation".

Defeating the Coalition at a 2013 election was still possible, she said.

"Politics is a contest and I am very confident that at the next election Labor can prevail over Tony Abbott and that I, as Prime Minister, can lead Labor to a victory at that election," she said.

"I am very confident of that because our agenda will stand as a stark contrast to Mr Abbott always saying no."

Ms Gillard has received strong backing from most of her front bench.

It is believed she has up to 70 of 103 caucus members in her camp.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said she could not work with Mr Rudd if he became leader. "It was increasingly impossible to get a sensible outcome" when he was PM, she said, and his behaviour was erratic. "I did witness quite a lot of very bad behaviour."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/julia-gillard-accuses-kevin-rudd-of-being-gutless/story-fn7x8me2-1226281059281

The events of the last couple of days highlights more than any other issue, how badly out out step, out of touch and unrepresentative of Australians, the Gillard Government is at this time...and they don't care!

We prefer defeat to Rudd: MPs Misha Schubert, Stephanie Peatling
February 26, 2012


LABOR'S most marginal seat holders overwhelmingly would rather risk an electoral wipeout than back Kevin Rudd as leader, despite his popularity with voters.

A Sunday Age survey of the 20 members of Parliament with the slimmest margins around the country found just five intended to support the former prime minister in tomorrow's caucus ballot, with some predicting Mr Rudd's popularity would evaporate were he returned to office.

The seats have margins between 0.3 per cent (Darren Cheeseman, for Rudd) and 5.2 per cent (Peter Garrett, for Julia Gillard), which means the MPs would be flung from office if an election were held now. Opinion polls show voters strongly back Mr Rudd as Labor leader over Ms Gillard.

The backbench support came on a day when Ms Gillard suffered a significant blow, with senior cabinet minister Anthony Albanese declaring he would back Mr Rudd, becoming the fifth minister to do so. Mr Albanese, at times in tears, said he was supporting Mr Rudd in part to right the ''wrong'' of the 2010 coup that deposed Mr Rudd.

''It was not fair, it was wrong … We cannot have a situation whereby a first-term elected prime minister is deposed without warning under the circumstances in which it was done,'' he said.

In remarks that quelled the angry tone between the two camps yesterday, Mr Albanese praised Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard as ''formidable'' politicians and people, but said he believed ''our future prospects would be stronger under Kevin Rudd''.




Ms Gillard, who is expected to retain the leadership comfortably tomorrow, with about 69 votes in the 103-member caucus, declined Mr Albanese's offer of resignation as Leader of the House and as Infrastructure and Transport Minister. Rudd backer Kim Carr said Mr Albanese's decision could swing more votes before tomorrow's ballot. ''The situation's actually quite fluid,'' he said.

In other developments yesterday:

■Former member for Bennelong Maxine McKew, writing in The Sunday Age, accused Ms Gillard of ''shirt-fronting'' Mr Rudd into dumping the emissions trading scheme and trashing Labor's green credentials in 2010.

''At some point the advocacy turned into a threat. It was made clear to Rudd that the survival of his government was conditional on his abandonment of the ETS,'' she said. ''This was a case of a deputy shirt-fronting her leader with an ultimatum and forcing a decision that would come close to wrecking the government's environmental credibility.''

■Furious Labor MPs lashed out privately at Rudd strategist Bruce

Hawker for suggesting Ms Gillard should not even stand tomorrow, saying he should ''butt out'' of caucus business.

■A senior Labor source loyal to Ms Gillard attacked Mr Rudd's declaration on Friday that he was not involved in the decision making on the Malaysia people swap deal on asylum seekers, saying there were eight occasions between November 2010 and August 2011 on which senior ministers - including Mr Rudd - met to discuss the plan.

Ms Gillard yesterday continued her theme of being better able to get things done and brushed off the landslide poll numbers against her. ''Delivering good government isn't about keeping your eyes on the opinion polls. It's about keeping your eyes on what's right,'' she said.

Writing in The Sunday Age today, Mr Rudd noted Labor had lost the backing of 1.5 million voters since 2007. ''Let's put that in stark electoral terms. Without a change, Labor stands to lose 30 or more seats at the next election … a loss that would set us back for a generation.''

Meanwhile, Rudd backer and West Australian senator Mark Bishop is tipping a third candidate will come forward after tomorrow's ballot as part of a ''tricky two-part play'' by some of those backing Ms Gillard.

Of the 20 Labor MPs with a margin of 5 per cent or less - who would be swept from office if an election were held now - only five are expected to vote for Mr Rudd: Victorians Laura Smyth and Darren Cheeseman, plus Janelle Saffin, Mike Kelly and Craig Thomson from New South Wales.

Ms Smyth said the decision to depose Mr Rudd in 2010 had ''weakened the party beyond measure … It has undermined our ability to tell the story of what we have done to create a better future for all Australians. It was inconsistent with what ordinary Australians know the Labor Party works for - fairness.''

But three-quarters of marginal seat holders surveyed were holding firm for Ms Gillard. ''She has taken some hits along the way but I don't think it's fair or reasonable for people to then say we want the benefits of this reform but we now want to discard the leader that made it happen,'' said David Bradbury, who holds his Sydney seat by just 1.1 per cent.

Mike Symon, who holds Deakin in Melbourne's outer suburbs by 0.6 per cent, said while Mr Rudd was good at ''the big picture'', it was Ms Gillard who could deliver reforms to help Labor's heartland. Backbenchers had rallied to her cause because she was inclusive and always available to them. In contrast, Mr Rudd had not called him once in his five years as a Labor MP or candidate.

Yvette D'Ath, with a 2.5 per cent margin, said she did not accept the proposition Mr Rudd was a better electoral prospect.

''I think it's a difference between being popular and people voting for you. I think everyone needs to go back to 2010 - and remind themselves what the electorate was saying to them then.''

The tone of the debate had less sting yesterday, with Mr Rudd saying Mr Albanese had reminded Labor people of ''the importance of owning all the good stuff we've done together: myself, Julia, the whole team''.

Ms Gillard refrained from criticising Mr Rudd, as she insisted she could beat Mr Abbott, despite ''lazy talk'' of electoral defeat.

But the brawling of the past week has left many Labor MPs in despair. Dr Kelly, who oversees the government's strategy in Afghanistan, refused to confirm his vote. ''I have been weighing up many things, including whether to stay in politics,'' he said.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/we-prefer-defeat-to-rudd-mps-20120225-1tvfn.html#ixzz1nOvKEoq1

Kevin denies bizarre, expletive-laden attack

by: Samantha Maiden From: The Sunday Telegraph February 26, 2012

KEVIN Rudd has denied describing Julia Gillard as a "childless, atheist, ex-communist" as he plotted a comeback a year ago.

Labor frontbencher Kate Ellis and other witnesses have revealed for the first time the "full story" of Mr Rudd's alleged behaviour at Adelaide's Stag Hotel in February last year.

Ms Ellis, a strong Gillard supporter, claims Mr Rudd addressed his assault on Ms Gillard to guests associated with Senator Don Farrell, a Right-faction powerbroker and one of the "faceless men" who brought down Mr Rudd in June 2010.

"I've been wondering how you reconcile your conservative brand of Catholicism with a childless, atheist, ex-communist as Labor leader," Mr Rudd said, according to several witnesses.

Mr Rudd's spokesman said: "These allegations are lies. Mr Rudd was invited to the function by the then premier (Mike) Rann and his wife. Mr Rudd spent the entire evening out with them."

Former South Australian premier Rann said of the evening: "I did not see or hear any inappropriate behaviour or comments by Mr Rudd. Nor did I hear him attack or criticise the Prime Minister or the government."

But Ms Ellis, who referred obliquely to the incident in media interviews last week, told of her "disgust" at Mr Rudd's disloyalty.

"I know for a fact that he was talking down the Prime Minister," Ms Ellis said.

"Kevin Rudd was there at the Stag. He was telling anyone who would listen that it was his mission - that he was going to get his revenge and come back. He should be honest about what he's been doing. And we shouldn't reward that behaviour."

Ms Ellis said guests at the event had subsequently met to compare notes about what Mr Rudd had said that night.

A lawyer who was present said: "He was just on a rampage. I came away firmly of the view he was going to tear the whole thing down ... (He was) using foul language."

Adelaide Fringe Festival party was also attended by former SA Premier Mike Rann, who did not witness the "ex-community" exchange, Finance Minister Penny Wong and Senator Farrell, who was one of the key figures in Mr Rudd's downfall.

One witness who was at the pub said: "He said he was going to make a comeback. From that point on, for the whole 12 months, he's been texting journalists in the middle of the night. He was telling anyone who would listen this was Kevin '07 - the comeback year."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/kevin-denies-bizarre-expletive-laden-attack/story-e6freuy9-1226281535757

Ms Ellis, a strong Gillard supporter, claims Mr Rudd addressed his assault on Ms Gillard to guests associated with Senator Don Farrell, a Right-faction powerbroker and one of the "faceless men" who brought down Mr Rudd in June 2010.

"I've been wondering how you reconcile your conservative brand of Catholicism with a childless, atheist, ex-communist as Labor leader," Mr Rudd said, according to several witnesses.

Mr Rudd's spokesman said: "These allegations are lies. Mr Rudd was invited to the function by the then premier (Mike) Rann and his wife. Mr Rudd spent the entire evening out with them."

Former South Australian premier Rann said of the evening: "I did not see or hear any inappropriate behaviour or comments by Mr Rudd. Nor did I hear him attack or criticise the Prime Minister or the government."

"I know for a fact that he was talking down the Prime Minister," Ms Ellis said.

Ms Ellis said guests at the event had subsequently met to compare notes about what Mr Rudd had said that night.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/the-gender-agenda-gillard-and-the-politics-of-sexism-20120225-1tv7n.html

Whether you agree or not, it's good reading.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/the-gender-agenda-gillard-and-the-politics-of-sexism-20120225-1tv7n.html

Whether you agree or not, it's good reading.

My limited observations of Australians are that, Ms Gillard is not hated as she is woman, she is hated as she does seem to know how to Govern a Country.

The author of article is woman. You must remember that.

Who do you support as Labor leader and why?

February 26, 2012 - 11:32AM

Opinion


Kim Carr and Craig Emerson discuss who they support as Labor leader and why.

Julia Gillard supporter: Craig Emerson, Trade Minister and Acting Foreign Affairs Minister


This is not a celebrity contest – it is a contest of ideas and a choice between Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who makes the big policy decisions, courageously, in the national interest, for this country's future — and Kevin Rudd.

We don't really want a return to poll driven politics, where you get up in the morning and determine what public opinion is on that day, or in that week, and then make your decisions on that basis.

But what we really need to do is put this behind us and focus on defeating the coalition at the next election.

There is a distinct difference between the policies of a Labor government, led by Julia Gillard, and those of Tony Abbott, who wants to tear down all of the great Labor reforms in education, health reform, the mining tax to share the benefits of the mining boom more fairly and also, fundamentally, putting a price on carbon.

Julia Gillard had the courage to proceed in putting a price on carbon that has an adverse effect on our standing in the polls and Julia's own standing.

She is the right person to lead the Labor Party, the government and the Australian people.

Kevin Rudd supporter: Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Manufacturing and Defence Materiel


On Monday the Labor Party has a huge question to address. What is Labor's future direction, and how do we best position ourselves to realise it by victory at the next election?

I am deeply concerned for the future of the labour movement.
Labor has formidable political challenges. For the first time in history we face both a viable political force on our left namely the Greens, and a resurgent ultra-conservative opposition on our right. Our primary vote remains dangerously low.

Electoral politics do matter.

It is simply not credible to claim that Labor's poor polling can be sheeted home to our most popular representative.

Can we afford to dismiss such a talented communicator for the Labor cause?
Australians would be profoundly disappointed at attempts to diminish Kevin Rudd in the eyes of the public.

It pays to remember that Labor's cause will live on long after all of the current caucus have left Parliament.

Labor at its best seeks to inspire the better angels of our nature.

Our task today is to ensure that Labor's mission is understood by the public, and that we reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people to build a better Australia.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/blogs/the-party-line/who-do-you-support-as-labor-leader-and-why-20120224-1tsmn.html#ixzz1nS6N6ytv

He's quitting his seat?

Well its lovely watching Labor destroy themselves. Abbott must just be laughing his head off.

Please please please can Turnbull challenge, and defeat Abbott now? Whilst Abbott would be a step up from Rudd and Gillard, it would only be like moving from a team in 20th to a team in 19th.

How, HOW, and how is Abbott a step up fro Rudd?

Let's rewind. The real reason Rudd was put out of power in the first place was because of the introduction of the mining tax. Of course, the big bastards involved in mining didn't like their toes being trodden on, so they made sure Rudd was OUSTED from his position as PM.

Please tell me what's bad about Rudd? That mining tax would be a step in the right direction for equality in Australia..

:shock: news to me, i only resigned as foriegn minister, doesn't that mean he goes to the back bench???[/b]