Kevin Rudd (1 Viewer)

[rantman]

Kevin Rudd seems like a decent hardworking MP but some (in the media and public) suggest that he is too bland to become leader, perhaps blander than Beazley. Can he win the next election, whats the difference between him and Beazley besides them both being bland?

And if Gillard wins (which is unlikely) what do people think of potentially having a first female PM?

Whats with this thing of having Left, Right and Centre factions in the ALP. Aren't ALP policies predominantly left anyway (but it seems, according to the media that the ALP is right-controlled)? Isn't just having right-leaders like Beazley and Rudd same as the Liberals because Howard is right too. Do the Liberals have left, right and centre too, or are they all right?

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Firstly, I don't think Beazley is bland at all Though I think he ought to bring a more polished image to the ALP rather than the underdog, battler image that has been so prevalant in Labor.

Secondly, I think it virtually impossible that Australia would vote in a female PM at this time. I also think Labor would be smart enough to know this and not try anything too "extreme" in such a chaotic period (for them), and after such a crushing defeat. So like you I doubt Gillard would win ALP leadership.

Thirdly, no the Libs aren't all on the very right. They have "small-L" liberals (I'm one of them, at the moment).

It's not that important to divide people up so categorically but politicians will always fall on many different places on the spectrum.

 

[Phanatical]

Macklin should be leader, not Gillard.

 

[I-Jester]

The ALP was never formed as a purely "left" political party. It's historical origins are in the labour and union movement - the ALP was formed as the political wing of the unions.

Bearing in mind that the working class back then shared a variety of views - ie straight lefties, to the hardcore Irish catholic right. Hence, an idealogical split was alway inherent in the party - factions.

Basically these groups would meet together before decisions on policy were made, decide their position, and then they would all vote the same way no matter what when it comes to the vote being called.

Nowadays the factions are less ideological splits than differences in political approach. My experience of the factions (i'm biased - a member of the Right) is that the right is prepared to be pragmatic and sacrifice ideals to win government whereas the Left will insist that these ideals must be trumpeted even if it means government. Basically right vs left is pragmatism vs moralism.

Just about every leader of the labor party (especially NSW leaders) have been members of the Right. This does not make them right-wing or Liberals. If you imagine a line from left to right - the ALP would be just left of centre. Being in the right means that you're closer to centre, being in the Left means that you're further left, and being in the Centre means that you are basically centre-left. The Liberals in comparison sit naturally centre right. People like Tony Abbot are far-right, whereas people like Costello are only slightly right of centre.

(FAR LEFT) Greens ------ALP Left-----ALP Centre------ALP Right----Centre----Costello-like Liberals/Democrats----Abbot-like Liberals/Family First/Christian Democrats (FAR RIGHT)

Hope that all makes sense

 

[chubbaraff]

Totally Agreed, No way there are small L liberals in the Liberal Party. A liberal is someone who is infract liberal about he family and issues of social morality and if there ever were any in the liberals, they would have surely been crushed by the conservative currents, I think liberal is a word that should describe Democrats and Greens and Labor Left. Labor right are terrible... You talk about being pragmatic, surrendering PBS and Free Trade and then losing votes... makes total sense to me !!! Labour Right translates to screw the working class over wherever possible and appear to implement some form of socialist policy whilst privatising and deregulating... we wouldnt want another Hawke. Bring back Gough... which they cant so... I guess Labors pretty screwed atm is they dont put someone in from the left.

 

[Lhyviathan]

The naming of the Liberal Party evokes, for me, shades of Orwell's 1984, with the Ministry of Love, the Ministry of Truth, the Ministry of Peace, and the Ministry of Plenty (I hope I got them right...).

By the same token, so does the American 'Ministry of Defence'.


(Ha.)

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Lets turn a discussion about Labor leadership into a discussion about how evil the right-wing Liberal party is, that'll show em.

I can see Rudd winning against Costello, I like Beazley but I can't see him winning.

 

[Ziff]

Ministry of Love = Ministry of injustice
Ministry of Peace = Ministry of War
Ministry of Truth = Propaganda
etc

 

[Xayma]

There are liberal Liberals, they are just overshadowed by the conservatives. With the party voting one way in each issue, you won't see the affects of them.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Yes, of course there are more liberal Liberals... i think what you'll find however is that most of their discussions, arguments etc are settled in the Liberal party, not letting their ideals get in the way of the parties strength as a whole.

 

[Ziff]

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member.asp?electorate=Lalor

What a hottie!

 

[Not-That-Bright]

By the way, anyone know who's going to be replacing Latham in Werriwa?

 

[Cyan_phoeniX]

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member.asp?electorate=Lalor

thanks for that.

 

[Iron]

Rudd is the geek. The canberra geek. Everything points to this, from his haircut and glasses, to his bureaucratic monotone voice.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

What a hottie!

dude no... just.. no

 

[Ziff]

dude no... just.. no

She's still single too

Personal

Born 29.9.1961, Barry, Wales.

Single.

 

[Phanatical]

It's 'cos nobody wants to marry her, that's why.

 

[rantman]

Lets turn a discussion about Labor leadership into a discussion about how evil the right-wing Liberal party is, that'll show em.

I can see Rudd winning against Costello, I like Beazley but I can't see him winning.

Totally agree. Well said.

 

[I-Jester]

Just for the record - whoever the fuck said that Labor Right was about trying to screw over the working class wherever possible and that we need to bring back Whitlam would do well to note that Whitlam was a right-winger.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

Let us just remember that Labor is still a right-wing government, i don't like the way that so many anti-liberal people bash the right, for most people here i doubt they have a problem with the right, more the far right.