Rudd and the author are saddly out of touch with Aussies.

I'll ask one question. Ever been to a gathering where the overwhelming attendees are Aussies who speak only English and heard the response when small groups of people start conversations in another language?

I'd suggest they'd be politely asked, unless it's a union bar-b-que, to speak English.

Why do these characters think such unacceptable behaviour is appreciated and will boost Rudd's stocks in Australia? It's quite beyond me.

Communicat displays his Coalition membership. Being an expert on Chinese language himself I'm sure he'll oblige us with a complete post in Chinese to show his criticism of Rudd is from his own knowledge and not what some Liberal Party hack wrote in some obscure place in some obscure city's newspaper which no one reads there anyway. Whatever you write Commo (Aussie nick name for you mate) it is tainted with your political eye.

By the way when the Chinese Premier was saying how embarrassing it was what did you say back apart from "What"?

Keith also displays a view dating him back to the 50's (1750's that is). Sorry mate but we've had NESB people here since Australia was "colonised". And thousands of years before that too. Try reading mate.

Are you aware, Keith, that many indigenous Australians don't speak English. Before we arrived none of them spoke English at all. You see it's a foreign language in this country. Should we tell them to leave too or should they tell us to leave being people who don't speak the native tonge. Really Keith, what a racist and ignorant comment to make.

Wouldn't it be nice if people actually read what is written and appraised that rather than just regurgitating their usual tripe. Don't they get bored writing the same thing every single post? Perhaps they just cut and paste as there's no original thought going on there is there?

The author is spot on. Rudd can converse with the leader of the country which will become the leading world power or at least 2nd until they overtake the US. What does Howard do? Cock his head and say "Ay?". And then tap on his hearing device as the sounds he is hearing aren't English.

Keith and Commo are both fools if they think there was anything to it other than Rudd talking to someone in their own language. Any other connotation is simply unhappy Coalition barrackers showing their misunderstanding of today's Australia.

"...like speeches by the young John F. Kennedy"

I'm presuming the Labor speechwriter of this article didn't write the Rudd speech...or did he? ;)

Labor has to do better than that to persuade swinging voters like moi.

However Rudd's ability to entertain a Chinese leader is not the making of a national leader. It takes a viable Labor Team that is not hamstrung by the usual Labor factions and tough union baggage.

Rudd's outwould diplomatic ability doesn't do him much good in getting things done domestically. Handling the competing interests of the States, Unions and the Big End of Town is the real measure of a leader.

Its a circular problem - how can Rudd prove he is PM material without PM experience? One way for us to have more confidence is if we're permitted to get a look at each person in Rudd's final Shadow Ministery including their records and expertise. So far we've seen a lot of Rudd.

Its up to an increasingly fawning media to hand over hard details of the WHOLE RUDD TEAM and balanced analysis.

"with 300 words of pure charm" , Kevin Rudd would use that many words to ask someone to pass the sugar!
I've never heard anyone as wordy as him. By the time he finishes a sentence, I've forgotten the beginning of it.
'Earbasher' is the term I believe.

also you never hear Rudd talk of his 'team' as the PM did last night.
In fact it is rare to see or hear Rudd's offsiders and given their personalities, for small blessings, we are very grateful.

RobynH,

Oh dearie me...I've upset a labor voter. Back up your claim of racism. Show me.

All I've done is point out a social and behavioural fact.

Australians don't like the feeling of being left out, when people speak in languages they don't understand, at community social functions or gatherings. Nothing racial in that. There is definately an anti-social behaviour going on though.

Why do you think you can lecture us all on proper social behaviour...when you show you don't understand anti-social behaviour or indeed show support of anti-social behaviour?

The only hint of racism here is in your accusation.

As for indigenous people. They have my support and I wouldn't dare use them in a clumsey attempt to justify an unusual view of how the world works.

Re-gurgitate? Me? You have got to be joking! I have never expressed this view anywhere nor have I seen such an idea presented anywhere before. So tell me in your view is it true that presentation of new ideas when they conflict with your personal dogma are to be regarded as regurgitating?

Nice to see that you are typical labor though. When all else fails and commonsense highlights the latest faux pas of the latest Labor 'messiah' use lies and personal attack rather than debate the point. Don't you understand that's the sort of tactic that led to the election losses by Keating, Beazley and Latham?

The 50's, yep and yet another reminder of another great liberal era of prosperity, full-employment, diversity and abandoment of the working man's and the protectionists racist 'White Australia Policy'. No-one needs reminding of those and similar occurances under the great Robert Menzies team in government.