Posts Tagged leadership

Warning not heeded

In the wake of Kevin Rudd’s shock dethroning by former deputy Julia Gillard, analysts and commentators have been quick to blame Rudd’s communication style, ALP factions, Rudd’s consultative style, unions, Rudd’s language choices, the media, Rudd’s tie choices, the mining tax, and Rudd’s mannerisms.

But all those analysts and commentators are wrong. Plain wrong.

Instead, it’s only the brave economic and social warriors at the Citizens Electoral Council who have successfully cut through the spin and bullshit and have highlighted the real reason behind Rudd’s downfall in their latest press release (not online): a planet-wide mass-strike.

Rudd falls in global mass-strike; who’s next?

One year after Kevin Rudd’s infamous outburst, “I regard Mr LaRouche as right off the planet”, he’s fallen victim to the planet-wide mass-strike that only LaRouche saw coming.

On 30th June, 2009, Rudd had reacted to CEC Queensland Secretary Jan Pukallus asking him why he didn’t heed LaRouche’s advice on the global economic crisis that his government falsely claimed nobody saw coming.

[...]

That outrage was identified by Lyndon LaRouche in his 1st August international webcast, as a global mass-strike. It has sparked an extraordinary wave of mass protest inside the U.S. against Barack Obama’s bailout of Wall Street and his gutting of healthcare, a wave that has claimed many sitting U.S. politicians and threatens to oust Obama himself.

On the unfolding dynamic of the mass-strike, Lyndon LaRouche commented yesterday, “most people do believe in the idea that history is shaped by events. And on the contrary, history shapes events. That’s the way it works, and you see this in the process of the mass-strike … .”

Oh, well. Too late for Rudd. Hopefully Gillard will heed these dire warnings of … well, whatever it is those freaks are warning us of.

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Because that’s never a lie

The ALP is denying that there are any plans to replace Rudd as the leader heading into the next election, says Penny Wong:

“We are absolutely focused and united behind Kevin,”

“Mr Rudd will remain being Prime Minister and leader of the Party, and I hope we will win the next election and he’ll be Prime Minister next term.”

Just like Malcolm Turnbull.

And Brendan Nelson.

And Kim Beazley.

“Kim Beazley has had my consistent support since his return to the leadership in January 2005, there is no change in my position. My support continues for him as leader.

“Like all Labor members I am working hard for the election of a federal Labor government.”

- Kevin Rudd

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Never mind Hockey, I have a Fielding feeling

This first appeared in Monday’s Crikey email and is on the Crikey website

__________

Let me tell you, weeks like last week don’t come along every week. Calling it extraordinary would be the understatement of the century, as even seasoned political observers would attest. For starters, this nation’s government considered a number of highly important issues and my speeches in the Senate were some of the most passionate, articulate and emotional presentations the Parliament has ever seen. They had everything: shouty voice, soft voice, pauses for effect, graphs as props, and moral appeals to right and wrong. I’m exhausted just thinking about them. One of my speeches was so powerful that I went to do it again for Susan and the staff back in the office but Susan yelled at me to get down off the desk.

Read the rest of this entry »

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King Joe Redux

[I once posted this at a certain other execrable blog. The time seemed right to revisit this theme.]

joe shrekey

Imagine you are a husky fellow of simple tastes and modest abilities. Imagine that, until now, you’ve been a long way back in the queue to the throne, but that suddenly the whole line of succession has been catastrophically blown up, leaving you as the heir apparent.

Where would you turn to find a precedent for your frightening situation? Could there perhaps be a work of cinematic art that might provide a way for you to understand your predicament?

Joe Hockey: The King Ralph of Australian politics.

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Two words

It's time

It's time

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Turnbull’s leadership: The Book

Time for the launch of Groupthink’s first competition, and this one’s going to be interesting.

With the Coalition seriously lagging behind the government in poll after poll, and with constant white-anting of leader Malcolm Turnbull within his own party, it’s a reasonably safe bet that Turbull will never be Prime Minister of this country. Not only will it take a miracle for the coalition to win in 2010, it will take a Herculean effort from Malcy to remain Opposition leader until 2013. So with that in mind, Groupthink has opened a Book and it’s time for you to take a punt: on what date will Malcolm Turnbull lose the leadership of the federal opposition?

Place your bet in the comments of this post, ensuring that you nominate a full date: day, month and year. For bonus points, also nominate the person you think will take over as leader upon Malcolm’s departure. The eventual winner will win something that will be determined at the time of the winning. A mystery prize, if you will.

Have at it!

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