Your humble correspondent has re-visited the notorious The Latham Diaries, a controversial and brilliant book written by Mark Latham, leader of the federal Opposition from December 2003-January 2005. The book is an unpopular critique of almost everything, from the Australian Labor Party which Latham lead to the rise of consumerism and the decline of community and civility in society. If I had to nominate a few important themes running through the book, they would be the oligarchic regime within that controls the Labor Party, the modern obsession many have with avarice and consumerism, the shallow and opportunistic nature of contemporary politics which has trumped idealism and the conflict between privacy and voyeurism that today’s politicians have to endure.

There is no doubt that Mark Latham, like most people, has his character flaws. His use of crude language in Parliament became famous, and during his leadership he did fail to sufficiently consult his colleagues. His rabid anti-Americanism is also a part of his belief system that I do not agree with. Nevertheless, he was the first leader to actually make the Labor party have an agenda and stand for something in its post-Keating period in Opposition. Unlike Kim Beazley or Simon Crean, Latham had a number of interesting policies and ideas which made the ALP far more exciting and appealing. In many ways, the landslide result in 2004 was not a deserved one.

I have assembled several quotes which I find interesting and/or entertaining. The quotes are thought-provoking, even if the reader does not agree with what the author is arguing. Overall, The Latham Diaries is the most brilliant and insightful book on contemporary politics that I have read. I am certain that years from now it will be remembered as a literary classic.

To see the quotes: http://leonbertrand.blogspot.com/2007/12/quotes-from-latham-diaries.html

Actually, by the electorates own mandate, the "landslide" of 2004 was well deserved. Mark Latham was a an unstable menace and not fit to govern any political party let alone the ALP. Anti-Americanism can be a popular platform dating back to WW2, as witnessed by many an Alp candidate, and yet Pro-Americanism persists. This is not by conspiracy. America represents many things, it is our job to make sure they represent what they think they should.

Was it just me, or did anybody else notice an uncanny resemblance between Mark Latham and Mark "Jacko" Jackson?

Our author not unlike mad Mark Latham lives in a world other than the one the rest of us inhabit.
Latham like his mentor Crean took the ALP to its very worst place it had ever been, both ,yes Crean still are not forgotten by many.
As a result of both the ALP got its act together and both are unlikely to have any impact, yes I understand Crean hangs around still.
It may well be worth listing quotes from Howard only the second PM to be removed from his seat.
And responsible for the coming years in the wilderness of a fractured conservative party.
Truly just one month ago who could forecast that all the big names in his Cabernet would be gone?
Or in a line waiting to leave parlement?

TEAM!......

This is the season of peace on earth and good will..... I need to read about "latham diaries" like CJ needs another dose of "BD_on_a_rant" :)

Save this one for January when we are all back to 'robust' shape.

Thanks AFJA,

I had also read "The Latham Diaries" and found them to have been incisive and informative. I have defended Mark Latham's legacy on online forums and even in an article I wrote which was published on 24 September on OLO (See "Can Labor bring about a just society" at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6395)

However, I found Latham's intervention in the recent Federal election through two articles published in the Australian Financial Review to have been deplorable.

In the second of those articles he labelled the union movement's campaign against Howard's odious "Work Choices" as a "scare campaign".

Fortunately, a majority of the Australian electorate understood all too well the fundamental truth behind the union movement's "Rights at Work" campaign as even the appalling former Industrial Relations Minister Joe Hockey has, since the election, felt compelled to acknowledge.

For more information read my article "Mark Latham's political gift to John Howard" of 19 November at http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/2195

AJFA “There is no doubt that Mark Latham, like most people, has his character flaws.”

That displays your absolute Mastery of understatement.

“I am certain that years from now it will be remembered as a literary classic.”

Please resist the urge to offer racing tips.

But the quotes

I did like the one about the labor party eating its own children

To say nothing of “a secret society of slurs and personal attacks”

I would actually agree with

“I am not opposed to unions, per se, just the idea of six union secretaries sitting around a Chinese restaurant table planning the future for everyone else.”

But in true Latham style he puts the blame squarely where it deserves to be (in his 'umble opinion, that is) re

"My commitment to the labor cause was destroyed by the bastardry of others”

(hmmm maybe he would have faired better with the libs or nationals?)

Thanks for the opportunity to snipe at Latham.. I would offer one final observation

If the paper used in the printing of this book is soft enough, I would use it to wipe my arse, otherwise, I would give it back to Latham, for him to wipe his.

Col R it may be better to ask Latham to wipe his chin.
He was finished long before he wrote for that paper during the election campaign but that finished it.
If any person in Australia feels worse than John Howard it would be Latham.
In truth I get a big kick out of that Christmas presents from two men I have no time for.

Some of the fools here sniping at Latham are explars of what Latham was on about. It won't be hard for any to work out to whom I speak.
Would Latham have been a good prime minister, I personally don't think so, but did he speak truths, definitely.
It's the system that put labor in opposition for so long, the long servers in unions needed a shake and they got it, so making way for the party to move on to where they are today.
He would have been a WOW! in times of old, a case of the wrong time at the wrong place.
The party can thank Latham for many things as is evident in the party today. The unions destroyed themselves as is evident by their member numbers, its no great loss.
I'm not anti union just the way they behaved in the 60's and 70's when they tried to hold Australia to ransom.
I can expect a blast for this post, bring it on.
fluff4

Mark was a believer in absolutism.It was his way or the highway.He was just too irratic and tunnelled visioned to survive.

Mark did not want to give credit to existing structures outside of his philosophy that functioned well without his intervention,and there in lied his fatal flaw.When things are functioning well the game is called evolution,not revolution.The public rightly so, rejected this erratic man driven by the passion of his own narrow convictions,rather than the hard analysis of the realities that ensure our survival as a nation.

A good leader must have both emotional maturity and well as intellectual prowess.

Col Rouge
Discusting uncalled for comments.
No prize for guessing which camp your in.
A dead give away.

ALP are full of load mouth ill informed idiots that do nothing.

Mark may not have had the health the support the loyalty or the personality to lead.
However his comments are certainly honest and clearly heart felt.
He was always with the wrong team I would say.
Thats right Mark- Nobody wants to actually do anything.
Nobody has the brains.
Thanks for this thread I have enjoyed reading the comments greatly.
Especially Marks about the ALP.