Mr Rudd did no favours for his own part on Q&A. He revealled the total hypocrisy of the Labour front bench. Some wanted the ETS scrapped. The 'consenus' is crumbling. Gillard herself cares only about clinging to power. I doubt whether she will survive. You reap what you sow.

Dear runner,

What an interesting "Q and A," it was last night! Former PM Kevin Rudd
was amusing, charming, and surprisingly honest. Kudos to him for admitting that he was wrong in scraping the ETS (a rare thing to do for a pollie - as Robert Manne pointed out). And what a contrast Rudd was to the faithful "Lady-In-Waiting," Shadow Deputy, Julie Bishop - who couldn't tell us what she thought on any matter but simply insisted on toeing her Party Line of condemnation. Even Tony Jones pulled her up on it several times. Anyway, we should have more shows like the one we saw last night. TV at its best!

I thought Rudd looked statesmanlike Lexi, in the snippets I saw. And very entertaining.
Despite Julie Bishop's crude interjections.

I do wonder how much pressure Julia Gillard will be feeling right now, though.

Just where is Kevin going with this ?. Could the next election end up being between Rudd and Turnbull after all.
Malcolm's been doing his share of public pot stirring as well.

At least we can see some colour at last.

I find it interesting that when Mr Rudd gave his fare well speech it was reported that he was frank and honest and that if he had showed this quality during his time as PM chances were he would not be leaving the top job.

And now when there is blood in the water Mr frank and honest pops up again.

Dear Thinker 2,

The next election should be an interesting one. I also feel that there will be a major change in players prior to it. We have to wait and see but it won't be dull that's for sure.

Dear Pigsta,

Julia Gillard remains a work in progress. On the one hand, she was the second-most important figure in the government that in her words,
"lost its way." On the other, she was at the very least, complicit in the decision to retreat on climate change that triggered Rudd's demise and the departure of many Labor voters. And she led an election campaign that was risk-averse to the point that it failed to win a majority of seats. Yet she understood the message of that election almost immediately promising a more inclusive style of politics. However part of the problem lies with the factions. They still exist. The Labor Party does need modernisation and change.

Who knows who the task of driving the change will fall to. I certainly don't know. But now is the right time for the Labor Party to get their act together. The key ingredients are the ones that have been in short supply in both political parties and those are -
confidence, conviction and courage. As I stated earlier - the next election will be interesting.

I didn't see Rudd last night, but I'm assuming that he was back to his old relaxed self that won him a lot of friends prior to the 2007 election. That sort of relaxed and frank persona is, no doubt, difficult to maintain when in office...but if he could find a way to do it, then I think his popularity would be assured.

I've gone right off politics with this latest bunch...totally turned off by Julia and Tony.

There, of course, is only one thing for it for the next election.... chuck 'em out and start afresh. I reckon Rudd verses Turnbull would give Aussie politics a whole new impetus....can't wait to see what happens.

(Sorry Shadow Minister - you're barking up the wrong tree if you think Abbott and Bishop would go anywhere near making the grade.)