Labor have had the last 40 years to do the job. Instead they have squandered opportunities and created the problems that we have today.

To list a few:

Privatisation - The GATS agreement.
Immigration and refugee policy.
UN treaties.

I don't know how a year out of an election, replacing Kim Beazley is going to help the Labor Party image and direction.

His latest rounds of gaffes and lack of information, are a combination of his public labor party advisors and secretaries.

Napoleon said, never assist your enemies when they have made a mistake.

Perhaps the factionalism and greasy pole climbing within the Labour ranks and caucus is causing the lack and inabiltiy for the Labor leader to do his job.

The combination replacements that was presented as an alternative to Kim Beazley as leader only leaves a door wide open to mock and ridicule from a Liberal party that has a solid record of succeeding with this agenda, combined with the monetary funds to do it.

The sideshow which is deliberated at high noon on Monday 4th December between the Labor power brokers sounds like another Latham episode. And they lost that one too.

I think Australia should take a major step to the left and elect Greens. Both the major parties are afraid of upsetting someone and will do nothing but produce spin worthy of Warnie. If we don't do something serious in regard to GW we will most likely be in for disaster. In this sense electing the greens may be the middle way. No doubt there we be an economic price to pay, but if you believe in the dangers of global warming, a lesser of two evils. Both the Labor party and the Liberal party are extreme risks to our children's furture. Even if the greens had the balance of power, the major parties could do something and then blame the greens. ps till now I have been a labor voter.

Earlier this year I heard one of my University tutors, a former Howard Government MP, disclose that Howard was comfortable with Beazley as Opposition leader, as internal Liberal Party polling had found that Australian’s would not elect a fat Prime Minister in this day and age. Perhaps this explains the ritual and very public morning jogs of Honest John and his zealous support for Australian sporting teams. The former MP also explained that the government satisfaction with Beazley meant that they would never go for his jugular.

Regarding the leadership ballot on Monday, I don't think the ALP has anything left to loose in voting in Rudd/Gillard. Beazley has barely given the government a blood nose on any issue since the last election. His monumental slip up in referring to Karl Rove instead of Rove McManus was a colossal gaffe. Such a slip provides the government with a cache of ammunition over his ability to run the country, as I would expect the government to play on his past lapses with his health concerns (leakage of brain fluids). How would Beazley cope with remembering the fine details of politics when he confuses one of Australia’s current premier entertainers with a George W. Bush staffer? Beazley is campaigning on experience. The only experience people remember is his experience of losing. How many voters would remember him serving as Defence minister, and what relevance does that have, as it was many moons ago.

I like Kevin Rudd as a foreign minister (perhaps that is because I compare him to Downer), but I think that he is too astute to connect with the Australian public as a whole. I am a fan of Julia Gillard. Beazley and Macklin will not win the next election. While Rudd and Gillard may also not win, I think they have a much better chance than Beazley

"The facts are always friendly" This aphorism, that I attribute to one of my teachers along the way, means that it is wise to align oneself with reality rather than to deny or distort it. With respect to Industrial Relations it means that relatively unskilled workers who do not enjoy the protection of locally bound functions are destined to lose their jobs. If work can be done more cheaply elsewhere then it will be done there. Holden and Ford are not ogres with respect to Ajax, and they are quick to assert that they need to protect the jobs of their assembly workers. So we need to skill and educate our people so that they can compete effectively in their labour. The Labor party has a great message here, but why are they unable to push it effectively?

Fencepost

We need an industry policy, not free market rape and pillage. :)

"I believe the country is calling out for a fresh vision, for new ideas, for a new agenda for Australia," said Kev Rudd.

mmm?

I wonder what this means?

Is it just the unual banal noise that challengers make?

Has the country ever NOT called out for a fresh vision and new ideas?

I suppose we'll all just have to wait till after Monday.

If Beazley wins it'll be be business as usual with the usual faction fighting.

Two things are for certain, if Rudd gets up Howard will need to think of how to dress-down his credibility. Not an easy task if you ask me.The other is that some of the shadow and Ministerial aspirations of some of young bloods will be curtailed.

My heart says Rudd, my mind tells me Beazley by one vote.