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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Aussie Girls -- Rudd's Resignation
Wow!
Kevin Rudd resigned at 1:30 am Wednesday Washington time while in the US on a tour.
What do you think of it?
I don't mind being held to a higher standard; I mind being held to a lower one.
(Sam Seaborn, The West Wing)
Re: Aussie Girls -- Rudd's Resignation
I don't think he'll challenge her, but I do agree that he was asked to step down. He is far more popular than she s and the general election is this year.
I hate to speculate about what will happen in politics. I would like to think that he will not challenge her, but I think that's what the media wants. It seems to be what the media is hanging out for -- Rudd to challenge Gillard. I have never really liked Gillard. And I heard her in 2006 when I was here on my first visit to meet DH, so it's not just her tenure as PM that has formed my opinion. I have always liked Rudd. Everything I have seen and everything I have read about Rudd points to a genuinely nice guy, last week's outburst pseudo-scandal aside. I think he is too nice, and too genuine to be an MP long term. He's the kind of candidate I could actually support, which based on my political support history, means he's probably not the right candidate for the position of PM.
Just as an aside, and you do not have to answer, is he the MP for your electorate?
I think the whole situation is making the ALP look ridiculous. The only thing it is showing is that in the next election, Tony Abbot will be PM because the voter support of the in-fighting, snipey, childish ALP will have been lost.
I so want to go over to P&CE and post
just to see what happens.
I don't think many posters would know who that was on P&CE!
They have called a leadership ballot for monday. tehre is no way this would have happened unless Rudd knew he had the numbers to challenge the leadership.
And this is exactly why no one should listen to my political opinion.
DH, who follows politics as his sport, said the absolute worst thing Gillard could do was call a leadership spill. The ABC reports that she has called a press conference for tomorrow morning, and is expected to set a leadership vote then, but has not officially called one.
It's interesting to say the least.
I want to post at P&CE just to see. They are all over US politics, but I want to see if they realize there is a whole world outside the borders.
I agree with you on every point.
Sorry I meant to answer the bolded part. He's not the MP for my electorate. At least I don't believe so. He's the MP for Griffth (I think?)
And I don't know if the women on P & CE would know enough about it to really comment. I could be wrong, though. I think it would depend on how a question was phrased for them to be interested or comment on it.
Only the Labor MPs get to vote. I really don't think it will solve anything, other than ensuring that in the next election that Tony Abbott and the Liberal/National Party will win, if only because people will be tired of the in-fighting in the Labor Party.
I saw a report on the ABC that there is talk in the Liberal/National and Green Parties may call a vote of no confidence after the Labor's leadership vote, forcing an early election. I had actually wondered aloud to DH about this possibility.
I think Gillard was right to wait until Monday to call the leadership vote, ensuring that Rudd will have time to answer the allegations made during his flight from DC. Though, I felt Gillard was a bit pushy to launch straight into a campaign speech after announcing the leadership vote, especially since at that time, Rudd was traveling the airport and it would be several hours or a full day before he could answer.
Though I am tired of the news people asking if it's time for the Australian people to vote for Prime Minister. The Australian people do not vote for Prime Minister, only the MPs for the majority party do! You'd think the media would know how the system works!
In an interesting bit of timing, I got my absentee ballot for the Louisiana Presidential Preference Primary in the mail today.
I still don't know why she called the vote. If he quit can he really challenge for the leadership position? Why wouldn't Gillard just tell him, thank you for your years of service and we'll have your desk packed up for you when you land here. Peace out K. Rudd. Why is she opening herself up for a possible upset? Will you ask your DH if he's eligible to run for PM if he quit his position of Foreign Minister?
Any of the Labor MPs are eligible, and can, nominate (run) for the leadership position at the vote on Monday. Gillard will definitely be nominating, Rudd has not said one way or the other. No matter what happens with the leadership vote, there will be a shake-up in cabinet positions, as Minister for Foreign Affairs is now vacant and will have to be filled.
I find it interesting that I have seen no coverage of what Deputy Leader Wayne Swan's plans are... Has no one postulated that this whole thing could be part of Swan's master plan?
The report on SBS News tonight said there are 103 Labor MPs, one will not be at the vote on Monday, as she has just given birth, meaning there can be a 51/51 tie, and then DH all heck would break loose. That outcome might just force a no confidence vote, and an early election. Gillard's camp says she has 54 votes for leader, but who knows what will happen Monday, and who may change their mind over the weekend.
Ohh, I agree. Abbott is no better than George W, and certainly not the person I would pick as leader. DH says he can't trust Abbott because Abbott does horrid things to ties. I laugh that is quite aside from the fact that he comes off as an idiot.
To your other point, I had someone explain it very well to me one day. The public votes a party not a person to run a country. Its different to think of it that way.
LOL, it's late at night, it would stay there for a while, just doing nothing. However, the other day there were three or four people who'd heard of Azaria Chamberlain, which was pretty surprising.
Tony Abbott will never get elected (famous last words, but he's openly fundy). And Rudd wouldn't call an election straight after taking over, either. There's what, 18 months before they have to?
That's not entirely true. A lot also depends on who is the leader of the party. Someone like Tony A is not very likable so more voters would be turned off voting for the liberal party because of this.
Julia is my local MP and I have met her a couple of times (I work in local government) and she often would come out to community events/launches etc before becoming PM. Now we don't see hide nor hair of her which to the local community is a bit of a slap in the face. Almost like thanks for getting me here but now I don't need you! It doesn't help that the area is a safe labour seat. Now all that might make me change my vote to the greens or an independent (even though it is a bit of a wasted vote) rather than vote for Julia.
But basically all politicians are the same- they have to invest into areas to ensure votes so safe seats get nothing. This would only change if the whole giovernemnt was made up of the greens or independents but then nothing much would get done anywhere because the greens would be spread too thin trying to retain votes and the independents wouldn't agree on anything!