This article, like much of the comment on Maxine McKew's appointment, makes the assumption that a media interviewer or journalist has skills as a political strategist. Kevin Rudd obviously also shares this view.
My observations of ministerial staffers and the quality of their advice is that the most astute tend not to be former journalists. The ex-journalists are often obsessed with either keeping their boss's name out of the media, or getting it into the media, and providing smart-arse grabs which get used, but don't make any point that will win a voter. There's a big difference between observing the political scene and taking part in it.
What experience has Maxine McKew as a strategist? None. Her major value is as a conduit for her partner's thinking. I forecast she'll be gone by the end of the year.

I continue to be amazed by the voluntary acceptance by the Federal Labor Party of the status of permanent opposition. When you think of the simple action that would be all that was required to have a serious chance of regaining office.

The required action, is, of course, to endorse Pauline Hanson as a Labor candidate in a marginal Liberal seat.

A bit late, Plerdsus. Pauline's policies were hijacked by Howard about 3 years ago.

I don't expect to see any reports of Maxine for a long time yet. Much of the power of back-room operators lie in their anonymity.

Analyst appears not to give any weight to the fact NSW's most successful premier in recent years was a journo, or that the Northern Territory's leader came directly from the media. Maxine should prove to be a significant asset to Labor, not just because she's media savvy (and not because she was voted one of TV's sexiest women), but because she's got brains.

Check out their latest work for Kevin Rudd's Australia Day message
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS25sTLsiHg

Maxine is as bright as they come and any added intelligence on
either side of the political debate, has to be a benefit for
everyone. So its a great move by Kevin and shows the difference
between him and Kim. Kevin's pretty bright too, wheras Kim just
never had it. Go Maxine, you have my admiration and respect!

Maxine should be an asset.

But never say that Kim didn't have it, perhaps he doesn't have it between the ears but he certainly has it around the waist.

Which is a bit unfair, I guess, and it's just my natural aversion to him showing through.
He is, after all, a Rhodes Scholar so there must have been a functioning brain at one time at least.

Great item. If anyone needed convincing of Mr Rudd's potential and future then Maxine's involvement is it.

Labor by 5 lengths.

And no Mise, Kim was never going to get there after Tampa.

Re Bennie's comment on my posting - I do want to differentiate between politicians and political staffers. WA and SA also have ex journo premiers don't they? There's an apprenticeship in the party system that's required to turn a journo into a politician - some hard yards.

There was a nice,warm ,cosy picture of Kevin Rudd sitting in a room with small children.
Is he going to read them a story? Have we heard all this before? Is this a case of deja vu?
Or have I got the wrong politician?

Well they had to compensate for Gillards lack of chukspah somehow.
Thank god its not Kerry O'Brien and besides they wouldn't listen to his political brain anyway. Why is Max less than?

"Howard should get a real run for his money." Yes, but off whom?
Howard and Rudd will get a real run (I do not mean greasing them) from the big business interests they represent. At this stage it is hard to tell who Mr.Murdoch with his billion dollars will promote. In 1985 the banks all promoted the Labor Party. And the banks made enormous profits. Wages in those days were paid directly in cash. Millions of new accounts were opened up as wages were transferred via the banks and viola a whole new transaction process brought in replete with multi fee system. Hawke and Keating came to power claiming "they were for the poor" and "their would be no children in poverty." When Hawke retired this man of the poor was rewarded with two and a quarter million dollars for his treachery.
In the 1990's the Liberals came to power claiming they were for the battlers! The oil cartels will give them a good run for their money. Whilst for five minutes on election day they will both be crying for the battler, the little man, no child in poverty etc., Well, five minutes might be an exaggeration perhaps a couple of minutes at most.
Of course, for over a hundred years their actions have created the poor.
Some say they cannot tell the difference between the Labor Party and the Liberals and some say their isn't any. Some call them disguised liberals, or closet liberals, others say the Vaucluse Labor Party was an arm of the rich and others call them the Labor liutenants of capitalism

It doesn't surprise me at all that Maxine McKew has been roped in by Labor. She's always infuriated me with her very obvious Labor views in interviews on the ABC. However I think Rudd and Labor will find they still haven't got a hope of winning the next election. From Latham to Rudd is the sublime to the ridiculous. Rudd's prissy little persona is not what Australians want for a prime minister and the gathering in of Maxine only makes people like me even more against a change of federal government. Kim Beasley was a much more likely winner and I think the Labor party will live to regret what they did to him. JMV