Vision? A leader of a major Australian political party? Please!!

Mr Rudd certainly has had a vision, he's had it for some time and the vision has been of himself as PM. Who do you think has been behind much of the leadership instability over the last few years? Rudd wanted it when Latham took over. He hasn't stopped wanting it and has shown about as much loyalty and support to his ex leader as Howard does to the Australian public.

As to the so called new front bench, have you actually looked at the 4 people chosen to lead us into the new era? Talent? Well one of them can sing at least but frankly I'd prefer Jimmy Barnes as he's a "working class man".

Some of the comments here are complete drivel. Whose town is "tough"? And who's the biggest drinker? What next? Perhaps who has the biggest ...

Beasley did have to go, he has been the major negative for the ALP since the Tampa appeared over the horizon. In that regard any change is good but what will be the reality of the "team" work? Same old backstabbing and pursuit of personal gain?

Mr Rudd no doubt wants all ALP members and supporters to unite behind him but then again so did Kim, and Mark, and Simon. Didn't happen. The blades are still there, waiting for a handy back in which to be inserted.

Saintfletcher's statement that most voters are polling against the government is also ridiculous. Read the polls, it's tight and will be tighter come election time.

Why? Simply because the incumbent government has a huge war chest to buy votes with plus the usual. That is short term memory. People forget all the damage done when it's time to choose.

To Tapp, couldn't agree more mate. Major party voters are fools who reap what they sow. Unfortunately the rest of the population also cops what these people vote for.

RobbyH
your right

I had been thinking how to describe the liberal and labor party monopoly and it suddenly came to me

Just like the AWB they dont want anyone else in

this way the people can have no choice

Steve M,

In my day it was Souths. The working class drank in one pub, the business class in the others.(Royal George,the Club Hotal or down the road in the Commercial). The RSL was perhaps the only place where the two met.

And the high school curriculum was divided along similar class lines.

CLP and National party territory, the local Labor party branch met secretly somewhere. Both Swan and Rudd were politicised at university.

Swan was a real Redneck, still is in many ways.

Rudd on the other hand knew what it was like to be considered an outsider, demands loyality and gives it in return.

Its a miracle he got past the right wing unions. I'm glad he did.

Neither of them could play rugby to save themselves.

Why not take the entire Labor Party, the Greens, the Democrats and retire the whole bunch of self interested , mediocre no hopers. Make a clean sweep then perhaps we can find some dinkum candidates who really care more about Australia to form a party and put the interests of Australia ahead of their personal ambitions.
It will be a damn sight cheaper too.

Yeah would be cheaper but to get the members and those that wish to represent their community is the hard bit

Rudd's first opinion poll has come in neck and neck with the little rodent. I will wait for clear transparent policy before I make a judgement one way or the other, however Rudd seems to be off to a flying start.

For those comments on a separate new party I have some sympathy on that issue, however if Rudd can turn the Labor Party around, and bring it back to the centre of politics again, perhaps he will create the new party from the existing one, time will tell.