Dear Cornflower,

You said that you believe that "the Labor caucus
provides a democratic way of electing leaders?"

There was nothing democratic about eight faceless
factional manipulators approaching Julia Gillard
to talk to then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd behind
closed doors. I presume the "democratic" action
came in the Party Room the next day when the gauntlet
was thrown down by Gillard to challenge Rudd for the
leadership. He did not pick up the gauntlet.

What would have been democratic is if they would have
talked it out beforehand in the Party Room with everybody
present. Isn't this precisely what the factions had been
complaining about, that Kevin Rudd did not communicate
with the Party Room, yet they turn around and do exactly
the same thing themselves.

Doesn't look very democratic to me.

Dear Yabby,

You obviously haven't watched the news lately, where
a top mining company director expressed surprise
at Kevin Rudd's demise. The director claimed
that their negotiations on the mining tax were reaching
amicable conclusions. And, this director was one of the
most obstinate critics of the mining tax.

Before the axing of the Prime Minister, there was no rioting in the streets, or nation wide-strikes, or plummeting share market prices, or a decline in the value of the Australian dollar, or a falling credit rating.

There was no need to axe the Prime Minister at all, and I wonder what ministers and Prime Ministers in other countries are now thinking about Australia.

A country run by an amateur actor theatre corp?

Intelligent voters acquaint themselves with the various parties' overall policy platforms and vote accordingly, or vote for an independent candidate if s/he espouses views which they prefer to party platforms. Unfortunately, far too many voters behave like 'sheeple' and respond to the quasi-presidential personality politics that the media have created in recent years.

Those idiots who think they voted for Kevin Rudd actually didn't - they voted for an ALP candidate who, if elected, was part of the caucus that democratically replaced its parliamentary leader.

It's called the Westminster System. Ignorance is no excuse for bleating.

*You obviously haven't watched the news lately, where
a top mining company director expressed surprise
at Kevin Rudd's demise. The director claimed
that their negotiations on the mining tax were reaching
amicable conclusions*

Dear Foxy, I am far better informed about all this, then
you may imagine. I am fully aware of Twiggy Forrest's
latest claim. I also also aware of Twiggy Forrest complaining
that Rudd refused to return his calls and Twiggy demonstrating
on the streets of Perth.

This whole thing played out over time, Kevie clearly woke
up far too late for his own good.

Besides, the really big players in this are not Twiggy,
but BHP, Rio and Xstrata, so what their CEOs think has
vital bearing on all this. Just a few days ago, the
Chairman of BHP was still sending out notices to us
shareholders, that the Govt simply refused to negotiate.

So if anyone is out of touch, it is seemingly not me,
but you.

Foxy,

I tend to the same position that you have on this. Though I didn't vote for Kevin Rudd, I just can't sort of stomach this whole rotten deal.

I'm getting a little bit angry too, because I really wanted to see a female pollie as PM. I have itched for the big event - someone elected in her own right, and Julia prolly would have been my pick (certainly not that other cranky one in the Liberal mob) and so I am disappointed too.

As I recall, people voted for Kevin07 not Labor musical chairs.

What the hell is the point of drumming up public attachment to any individual if their retinue can unseat them at will.

Also, if he is the party leader and they are supposed to be working as a team - why didn't his assisting ministers use their negotiation skills and their excellent understanding of law and of union matters, in the interests of their party as a whole. Shouldn't one expect a team member to contribute their best regardless of whether they are leader or not.

I saw Kev07 sitting in the back row and it was - awful. I really became quite fond of the man at that point. How hard it must have been to turn up and bear that. That takes guts - and add to that the additional indignity of not even being given a portfolio.

He continues to demonstrate a loyalty to the party as a whole that his backstabbers haven't.

I still say I would have liked to see Kim Beasley have a go as PM too. I think he'd have made a very good one.

Beware the ides of March, a Magpie squawked as it swooped over the head of the PM on his way home to the Lodge, unbeknownst to him, his final weary after work journey home as PM, that’s odd thought the PM; she must have a nest nearby and thought me a threat. The following fated morning the PM gathered his Caucus for a strategy meeting and on his arrival at the forum a group gathered around him.

Their leader, his deputy a trusted red Medusa headed woman known as Julia “Vinegar Tits” Gillard approached the PM. The multi headed red serpents on her head hissing and flailing wildly in all directions as she floated across a floor covered by an icy mist in a scene reminiscent of a classic Boris Karloff horror movie. Then when she was sure, she thrust her steel blade deeply into the PM’s back, her head serpent’s eyes ablaze hissing loudly in unison as the blade cut through flesh and bone. She retreated leaving her blade firmly embedded her white silken toga splattered with the PM’s blood. The PM mortally wounded was just barely standing when his General Wayne “Toe Cutters” Swan thrust the second dagger into the PM then one after another all the treacherous followed.
The PM grasping a marble pillar to remain upright surveyed his assassins and gasped his last words “Et tu, Brute”, “Et tu”. Then in victory Vinegar Tits standing atop Parliament House let out a nationwide hysterical howl, a deep demonic cackle in harmony with the gathering black clouds, thunder and lightning.
A darkness had begun to slowly creep across the Land of Oz and the people were heard to say in hashed tones, “who shall save us now”. The Captains of industry later claimed “what problems” we were negotiating just fine