Last edited Thu Mar 21, 2013, 01:19 AM - Edit history (1)

If there's one thing the Labor factions can't abide, it's a politician who doesn't owe anybody anything.

Rudd has said he wouldn't challenge again, and there's nothing to say that he'll change his mind. He probably hasn't got the numbers, so why should he put himself through a challenge again?

Truth is, Julia's political judgment is terrible - she has a knack for saying and doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. This week's media reform legislation bungle is all too typical. Reform is needed, but it was badly handled and only succeeded in annoying a lot of people. Achieved nothing but made the PM look weak.

The biggest misjudgment she made was when she knifed her leader in 2010. Had she been content to wait for the right time, we wouldn't be where we are now, with Julia about to lead her party into the wilderness. That's what gets me - we shouldn't be in this position, facing an Abbott government in September. Because no matter what the caucus says, the Australian people don't like her and they don't trust her, and theirs is the only vote that's going to matter.

If Rudd were to regain the leadership, he could lead the party to victory, but the caucus would be divided. There are many who have publicly derided him, and it would be virtually impossible for them to work with him as leader.

If Julia holds on, it would mean that the majority of the caucus is behind her, but the people still don't like her. They don't like Tony Abbott either, but it looks as if they will hold their noses and vote for him in preference to a Gillard-led Labor government.

The rot started in 2010, when Rudd was knifed, and it's been downhill for Labor since then. People don't like what Gillard did to Rudd, and she hasn't been forgiven.

There's a morality tale in there somewhere, if only politicians would pay attention.

after the bollocking he gave Rudd, theres no way he can stay on.

Swan is in the same boat.

Other than that, Pilbersek and Wong have no real problems with him, Shorten only cares for himself as does Combet, Macklin, pretty much everyone on the Left hate Julia more than they hate Rudd these days.

What goes around, comes around. As you said, she shouldn't have stabbed Rudd in the back in 2010. That kind of behavior does not elicit loyalty.

I don't know much about her, in your opinion, has she been a bad leader?

I remember her first presser after she became PM, when she announced that she was an atheist as well as an opponent of gay marriage. Chapter 1 in how to piss off social conservatives and progressives at the same time.

She's intelligent and tough, but as you say, has a terrible tin ear and absolutely no political judgment whatsoever.

they are done for.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/rudd-refuses-to-run-for-leadership-pm-prevails-20130321-2ghh9.html

and I think Kevin should have challenged. Unfortunately, by not doing so, he now looks weak, and I think it's all over for him.

Gillard's supporters are crowing, but they are ignoring one inescapable fact - the electorate does not like her at all, and they are still riding to a major defeat in September on current figures.

and Gillard survived only by a handful of votes it would have served only to worsen Labors prospects even more. I agreed with a lot in Kim Carr's resignation speech today.