'Mr Richardson described Mr Rudd as "the unluckiest prime minister ever elected. There are few politicians who've lost popularity as quickly as Rudd but he's had a shocking run of luck. You get elected and then the worst financial crisis in 80 years comes along. But he's tough; he's not a weakling.' - The Sunday Telegraph
http://www.news.com.au/national/kevin-rudd-unluckiest-pm-ever-says-alp-hardman-graham-richardson/story-e6frfkvr-1225872988655

Graham Richardson is right.

keith:

Gough!

:)

Malcolm Fraser was known to be a bit of a control freak in his time too, however I much preferred the Liberal Party of that time.

The Coalition don't know if they're Arthur or Martha at the moment and are suffering from the previous Labor opposition faux pas of no clear policies when Howard managed to scrape in despite falling popularity. And the Beazley habit of waiting to see which way the wind blows did not get him very far. We don't have politicians anymore, only meteorologists.

Echidna is very prickly about the author, and protests far too much for what the article is.

The author is correct, so I believe, and he raises a few interesting points about Gillard, too, the assumed 'next PM'.

Sadly, the journo's we suffer from are busy building her up as the 'commonsense' next choice.

I hope not, and I hope that she is not just being touted because she is a woman.

After all, she has never wavered from Rudd's plans, and so should not be split from them. Why be fed up with Rudd, yet seek salvation from Gillard?

I have no views on Combet, he may be OK, or he may revert to being a PM machine if he were to get the gig later.

But there is certainly a lack of obvious talent on the front bench of the ALP (and Coalition for that matter).

The election is a poor decider, with Rudd and Abbott being so similar in so many areas.

The best result can only be a return of the ALP, although only because the Coalition is abhorent, still, and should not get the prize at all, with a massive change in the Senate to favour Green votes...since 'independents' tend to be either Xtian fundies or total nutters (is there a difference?)....and rather than constrain Rudd, that would probably encourage him with his dream of being a god, and we would remain lumbered with him.

Rudd's inability to negotiate with the Senate will bring him undone, with any luck, and he will evaporate only when his drones get fed up and move to get rid of him themselves.

Like Howard, he will never understand why he is so loathed by so many, including those who do, or did, vote ALP.