Belly,

That is a healthy way to take it. Not much any of the rank and file can do about it.

While I might poke fun at Shorten, who is the metrosexual's metrosexual and everyman to anyone who can further his career (after first receiving direction from his missus), I do not take any glee from what has been happening to the Party of Labor stalwarts of decades past. They would be turning in their graves.

I reckon the party faithful got it right and they should have been listened to.

I reckon Albanese should be deputy leader now. It is the sensible thing to do to put someone solid under the self-promoting front man. But Labor would have to do the politically correct thing and elevate a woman because she is a woman, right? Macklin is a worker and reliable, which will probably disqualify her. Almost anyone but Wong or Plibersek, please. Both are show ponies.

The faction riddled Labor Party has no choice other than installing Plibersek as deputy, the left faction has already anointed her for the position, which is theirs. The so called "vote" always guaranteed a Shorten win. The pretense of grass roots democracy by labor is just that a pretense.
Why not take a leaf out of The Greens book and see how grass roots democracy really works in a political party, no spin, no self servicing factional interests, just one big happy family.

"Do not forget Shorten will be a Brilliant leader." that is a big call Belly. He should look good against Abbott, but then a monkey would look good debating Abbott, would he not?

The biggest problem with Shorten as leader is that he is rampantly pro-growth, totally blind to the imperative of balancing supply and demand for all manner of goods, services and infrastructure, and hence totally sustainability-blind.

We are just going to get more of the same old tried and failed pursuance of growth, no matter what sort of growth.

Labor has entrenched itself in its old mindset, which is the most enormous pity. They had a wonderful opportunity to really significantly change direction towards Gillard’s desired ‘sustainable Australia’. But alas, they have just completely bombed out.

We so desperately need a strong opposition that can countenance the new government’s continuation of the absurd continuous growth approach to everything.

But what we’ve now got is basically an opposition which will pick away at the government on insignificant little side issues, while supporting them all the way on the really big philosophical issues, which are the things that desperately need opposing.

BS (Back stabber) Bill while presenting a fresh face to the voters comes with a lot of baggage.

As an ex union heavy weight he came with the skills to claw his way to the top. Each time he "acted in the party's interest" to knife a leader, he and his "faction" somehow ended up with more influence.

As for Belly's assurances that BS Bill will be a "brilliant" leader. this remains to be seen. His first challenge to Abbott is to keep the carbon tax. Given that this tax is still deeply unpopular, primarily the reason for labor losing office, and that Abbott now has the machinery of state, the message that labor is inflicting a higher cost of living on Australian's just to spite the coalition appears to me an endless free kick to the coalition.

Paul,

With respect to the liberal party, the democracy really starts at the bottom, where pre selection is largely determined by local members, not the labor method of parachuting in celebrities or allocated by factions.

Paul 1405,

You are probably right about the intrigue and deals that could give Plikersek the big lift into the deputy job.

Macklin has been producing the results in difficult roles - that others claim though. The show ponies might deliver slogans and throw profiles for hack reporters and their photographers, but Macklin is the far better presenter and debater because she is convincing. She has credibility, uses facts or is silent, and is down to earth. I believe she enjoys the respect of both sides of the House.

If women like Macklin were promoted, there would be more women voted into parliament - by women (and by men). Women voters see through the fraud and futility of voting on gender alone. They generally see right through the self-seeking careerists too (and better than men do). They want to see people with ability put up and if women with ability and credibility come forward and are given a guernsey by their party, they will be sitting in the House one day soon.

Not to mention that it gave the supremely immature, Shadow Minister an opportunity to make up another roolly clever namie.

Scintillating stuff, SM!