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The Forum > Article Comments > Rudd - legitimately ambitious or a control freak? > Comments

Rudd - legitimately ambitious or a control freak? : Comments

By Mark Bahnisch, published 21/6/2007

Nicholas Stuart’s 'Kevin Rudd: An Unauthorised Political Biography', to be published on Saturday, reveals a man who doesn't take kindly to opposing views.

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So Kevin Rudd did not want Nicholas Stuart to write his biography. Shock horror! On the other hand John Howard was happy to get a couple of mates to write his. So what?

Ho, hum, Mark. Are you short of things to write about?
Posted by FrankGol, Thursday, 21 June 2007 11:19:17 AM
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The article raises one important question.

Given the emphasis on Rudd's recognised very personal ambitious nature, if he succeeds in his goal of becoming PM, in his mind, simply what would be his next ambition?
Posted by keith, Thursday, 21 June 2007 12:03:06 PM
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FrankGol, I think it's an important book because so little is known about Rudd's persona, and it's clear at this point of the electoral cycle that he's quite likely to be our next PM. As I've suggested in the review, his attempt to control what information Stuart had access to in fact goes to what might be his greatest weakness (as well as - perhaps - something that has served him well to date). As far as political bios go, it's also very well written, and Stuart is noticeable unbiased as an author.
Posted by Mark B, Thursday, 21 June 2007 12:15:23 PM
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Yes, Mark, I accept that; but you can only guess at the reasons why Rudd did not want Nicholas Stuart as biographer. It's one thing to say: "Rudd asked associates and friends not to co-operate with the biographer" and another altogether to say that Rudd has an "overweening tendency to attempt to maintain control over events and their representations". People can always find some evidence to confirm and rationalise their predispositions.

Other explanations are possible. Maybe Rudd had other preferred biographers in mind (just as Howard did when he knocked back several would-be's). Maybe Rudd just wasn't ready for a biography (interviews do eat up time and require research even for the subject). As you say, "Rudd has, from an early age, shown that he pursues his goals with incredible focus and energy." Maybe he just wanted to devote all his energies to the political campaign.

Somewhat off-topic, I know, but since you raised it: you single out Christian Kerr of Crikey! as one of the more astute political commentators this year for negative comment on Rudd. You would know - but perhaps others don't - that Kerr has been a Liberal Party hack and still gives the political right a pretty good run in Crikey!
Posted by FrankGol, Thursday, 21 June 2007 12:40:23 PM
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FrankGol, yes, but Stuart makes a pretty convincing case as to the reasons for Rudd's lack of co-operation.

I know Christian used to be a liberal staffer, but I do think that often he picks up on things that are completely missed by the commentariat herd.

Disclosure: I write for Crikey as well.
Posted by Mark B, Thursday, 21 June 2007 12:42:35 PM
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Though only an old agrarian socialist from Depression Times, and who still won't vote for Labor, reckon you should give Rudd a go.

In fact, his control freak so-called present status, might be just what is needed to prove change against a Federal Government which has truly handed over control to the Corporate Culture, Liberal Ministers when challenged getting fanatical looks in their eyes like Nazi stormtroopers.

Wonder who's really running the show, when we have the IMF in the background ready to clamp down on a world record foreign debt for the size of the country. And making things worse, Costello skiting about the size of his still battling Future Fund, but with the Corporates having such strong connections with the media, the size of our foriegn debt is never revealed to the public.

Much more can be told about the lack of political revelation
especially about Federal Government boo's boo's being quietened down, but apparently because the ABC and SBS do seem to be informative enough to a rather naive public, cultural contentment still mostly reigns.
Posted by bushbred, Thursday, 21 June 2007 1:27:04 PM
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Haven't read the book but from Mark's article the similarities between Rudd and Howard are pretty striking. During their political careers, that is. Nobody seems to know what childhood trauma produced John Howard's aversion to the disadvantage.

The single-minded determination, the tight control over image, learning from mistakes and remaking himself as required all describe Howard as well. So does working around the clock, although Howard doesn't seem to mind if others around him doze off occasionally.

The outstanding difference between them as I see it is their intellect and aptitude for education. It's becoming common knowledge that Howard limped his way through school and uni, thought a kiwi is a brand of boot polish, had to have economics explained to him with cuisinaire rods when he became treasurer and so on. It's a bit hard to see at what point Howard starting working hard to achieve his goals.

Rudd seems to have worked hard on himself and his goals from childhood and has the intellectual capacity to work things out for himself. It makes me wonder whether he's as vain as he's made out to be, or just justifiably proud of his achievements.
Posted by chainsmoker, Thursday, 21 June 2007 1:29:06 PM
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Kev was known to be an arrogant bugger in the Goss government, thought that all the worlds problems could be fixed if everyone learnt to speak Manderin.

He won't listen to anything other than his own echo..

Very myopic, very ideologically challenged.
Posted by Rainier, Thursday, 21 June 2007 1:37:48 PM
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FrankGol, Kerr did work for the Libs, but listen to him on Phillip Adams little wireless programme. He is often quite damning of Howard and the Libs. and always supercilious towards them.
With such a commanding lead in the polls Rudd is likely to win the next election. I've speculated that the Libs. best chance of winning would be to get Rudd talking as much as possible, and to engage with him at every chance. He comes across to me as an ambitious soul who is something of a control freak: who intellectually understands issues, but lacks real empathy. I find something robotic in his delivery and character which would be exposed if he were confronted with 'live' issues.eg the Burke lies or the 'stolen' document, later shown to be his mistake.
Posted by palimpsest, Thursday, 21 June 2007 4:33:58 PM
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Rudd is ambitious and a control freak. He is not however legitimately ambitious and he may find that the unions make it hard for him to be in control
Posted by Communicat, Thursday, 21 June 2007 4:40:45 PM
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What does 'legitimately ambitious' mean Communicat?

Sounds a bit like a Rudd-ism to me, like the fork too far or you can't teach an old dog to call a pot a black kettle.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it change its leopard spots.

Hey, this is fun.

A stitch in time saves a bird in the hand.

Ok. Move on folks. Nothing to see here. Chainy's head got broken trying to decipher 'legitimately ambitious'.
Posted by chainsmoker, Thursday, 21 June 2007 5:05:33 PM
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Ah well now I was not the one to use the phrase...I am not sure that there is such a thing as being "legitimately ambitous" - but if it means you want to get to the top and don't mind who you tread on to get there does not that describe all pollies?
Is it legitimate if you attain your goal? Mmm...I doubt it...sounds a bit too like a dictatorship to me - but that is what Rudd would like of course...only problem us the unions will get in the way...like big business gets in the way of Howard...neither side can win.
Posted by Communicat, Thursday, 21 June 2007 5:11:36 PM
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So Kevin is really an arrogant, bullying, foul mouthed, foul tempered, shallow individual with no firm beliefs except in himself , a chameleon who will present himself in any way, say or do anything to win.
No one's perfect.
Posted by Admiral von Schneider, Thursday, 21 June 2007 5:51:31 PM
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qualifier: but I'll vote for him cos its better than having a lying rodent infest our national reputation for another term.
Posted by Rainier, Thursday, 21 June 2007 6:01:27 PM
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Communicat please try to use other than the standard Howard insults against Rudd.
Unions had a great deal more power and members when Hawk and Keating ruled.
Unions did not in any way control them.
Rudd in fact right now has taken a great deal of his and the party's promises away from unions, even some degree of true fairness in my view.
His bringing the few who put themselves and workers in general into line is not just an election ploy.
Rudd knows such radical actions are not going to be excepted in the future.
However while I think a better way exists for a union official to get better results I ask why the cameras?
Was it planned to get a man known for his heated exchanges hot under the collar?
What was said to him of camera?
The lie that Rudd is driven by the unions is just not working and just a lie.
He however will return the Aussie fair go to IR 12 months after he enters the lodge you will agree.
Posted by Belly, Thursday, 21 June 2007 6:54:22 PM
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Funny thing about the lying rodent is that most of us appear to feel fairly safe to say bad things about him without worrying that we might suddenly qualify for a tax audit.

I wonder if Rudd will keep his need to control in close or will the arms of government be seconded to make sure that critics find it's not worth the effort. Time will tell but I don't think that Rudd will be leading a charge to a more open and accountable government. I doubt that we will see critics holding senior roles in the government.

I suspect that a lot of matters will pass through cabinet (or whatever the federal mechanism is) to avoid FOI.

The spin will be slick, dissenters silenced and after a while the decade of the lying rodent will seem like the good old days of open and accountable government.

But then Rudd may prove me wrong. There is certainly some space for him to better than those who are there now have done.

R0bert
Posted by R0bert, Thursday, 21 June 2007 6:54:51 PM
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This is most definitely a 'lesser of two evils' argument.

One of my biggest problems with Rudd is that he's too much like Howard - on various dimensions. Mind you, this is undoubtedly one of Rudd's greatest electoral assets.

Most relevant to this debate is the fact that they're both ambitious control freaks - although this is not necessarily a bad thing for a political leader, IMHO. On the other hand, I won't be voting for Rudd - rather I'll be voting for a regime change.

Given where I live, I'm going to give my first preference vote to the Greens candidate, even though I personally am singularly unimpressed with him. When his few hundred votes exhaust, my second preference will go to the Labor candidate (who I don't think has been announced yet). After that, I'll list the other candidates randomly, but ensuring that the Nationals bench warmer has my last preference. He'll undoubtedly romp back in on 67% of the primary vote.

With any luck Bruce will be sitting on the Opposition back bench next year :) The Senate is another question...
Posted by CJ Morgan, Thursday, 21 June 2007 9:02:08 PM
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Where do ya start with this guy.

The whole fiasco with the conflict of interest regarding his wife's company. He couldnt admit obvious conflict re possibility of preferential treatment if govt. depts dealt with her employment agency. She only admitted grappling with the conflict... when she got pinched. Or the blatant use of IR legislation he's been slagging off.

Rudd then changed the subject to gender politics... he'd never tell independent spouse what to do. haha. On ABC radio, the back peddling interview went a bit longer than commercial media and Rudds wife said, he'd be sleeping on the couch if he tried to tell her otherwise. How 1950s is that attitude. Oh, the irony. He just stood there in the TV footage, with a silly scolded little naughty boy look on his face. Very prime ministerial old boy. Cant even lead on the home front... and he would be leader of a country. Oh, the irony.

Some days later he switched to... its a big company, 500 employees, its hard to keep track. How, so very capable and independent of his other half. Not more irony, surely. How so, forgiving Rudd. What can we expect of you, running a country of 20mil. Think ya can, er, keep up.

Prolly not. The guys a bit fuzzy on the national accounts. Maybe his other half would be better at balancing the cheque book and keeping budgets. Afterall, he's not the one concerned with pragmatic realities like running a biz and keeping 500 people in jobs.

That incessantly pursed upper lip is very sus. So is his kid(s) in private school, or whatever euphemism used to cover it up. He has no working class credibility. None. Its politics after all and correctly affecting the requisite image is crucial to conning the electorate.

But, he and the deputy are light yrs ahead of the hackfest fronting labour the last 10yrs or so. Thats an improvement.

They say that govts usually gets voted out. Cannot see Rudd as an exception at this point.
Posted by trade215, Thursday, 21 June 2007 10:34:44 PM
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Every time I see Rudd he looks like he has just gotten out of the beauty palour!

He looks one of those department store mannequines. A carefully crafted image.

So who is the real Kevin Rudd.

If I had a wife earning as much as his is or was, Stuff being Prime Minister.
Posted by JamesH, Thursday, 21 June 2007 10:40:22 PM
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Trade215 and jamesh make some very good points.You do wonder who the real Kevin Rudd is.I suppose to some extent he has to be a control freak since he is surrounded by incompetents.His poor grasp of economics is a real worry.

Kevin may have recently lost his briefs,however who will be wearing Rudd's duds when they assume the mantle of power under the shadow of backroom deals with the Unions?

Abolish the States,have fewer pollies/fat cats and pay those left a lot more to Govern this country.The quality of our pollies is absymal.
Posted by Arjay, Friday, 22 June 2007 12:11:36 AM
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Relax, Stay Cool - the focus must be grounded... anything else is satire when running the country is at stake. A Fresh Approach is good for ALL - see the alternatives - a strong savy shoulder has Mr Kevin Rudd.

Have a GO ya self - it is all good - with a nation doing its homework, learning what it has to ID for diversity of ALL. It is a GOOD LOOK no matter where ya party comes from!

I SAY...

Productivity of Government performance itself requires urgent focus.

ADMINISTRATONS!

How do we justify SERVICES - OUTPUT and ALL the Labor? i.e., Government Redtape vs what is being shifted onto society. A Governement that boggs everyone with RedTape smokes away productive social capital at all levels, producing top heavy idle heaps of waste.

SUBSTANCE?

Government needs to free itself and us of the REDTAPE.

Make things possible again at a two-way practical level.

Sustainablity... The rate at which radiant (connective) energy is used by services to form platform to build capacity for all citizens, through total participation. ENABLING CULTURES through Civic Engagement.

Terms of Civic Engagement requires CHANGE - NOW!

Innovation and Nation Building is the TEST here... not the polemic squabbles - twitters teasing untrue declaration of canard fuselage, deliberately misleading US on debates with inaccuracy.

Australia Needs to TALK!

And, WE need to do something proper about DARFUR immediately. IT is a human-tsunami .....!

www.miacat.com
.
Posted by miacat, Friday, 22 June 2007 1:11:48 AM
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Can anyone here tell me that any PM, current, past or future is anything but a control freak? They want the job so they can be in charge. I think that fits the description. End of discussion.
Posted by DavoP, Friday, 22 June 2007 1:13:29 PM
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