Rudd v. Gillard

[Fyrefly]

Let the games begin, muhahahahahaha~!!!!

(Tired, exams, *insert other excuses for randomness*)

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1075130/gillard-to-challenge-rudd-for-leadership

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that Julia Gillard will challenge him for the nation's top job in a leadership spill tomorrow morning.

Mr Rudd confirmed the leadership challenge in a hastily-convened press conference in Canberra at 10.20pm tonight.

"It's important in the interests of the party to resolve this as early as possible," he said.

"I was elected to do a job and I intend to continue doing the job to best of my ability."

Mr Rudd said he believed he could win the leadership contest at 9am tomorrow.

Mr Rudd said he'd lost support from key members of the party during the last few weeks.

"It has become apparent to me in the course of the last period of time ... that a number of factional leaders in the Labor party no longer support my leadership," he said.

"That is why it is imperative this matter be resolved."

The announcement came after the Australian Workers' Union withdrew its support and a group of young turk MPs threw a rocket under his prime ministership.

Treasurer Wayne Swan, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner, Defence Minister John Faulkner and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese were in with Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard through the night.

The drama is believed to have begun on Wednesday morning when NSW powerbroker Mark Arbib, Victorians Bill Shorten and Dave Feeney, and South Australian Don Farrell visited Ms Gillard to tell her they had lost confidence in the prime minister.

Late Wednesday Mr Rudd's leadership began to look untenable when senior union powerbrokers Paul Howes and Bill Ludwig threw their weight behind Ms Gillard.

Nine News political editor Laurie Oakes said Mr Rudd had turned in a "brilliant performance" at the press conference but it was probably too late.

"I can’t see any way Kevin Rudd can survive [tomorrow’s spill]," he said.

"Kevin Rudd is being brave, he’s going to fight to the end, but I can’t see him winning."

Late Wednesday Mr Rudd's leadership began to look untenable when senior union powerbrokers Paul Howes and Bill Ludwig threw their weight behind Ms Gillard.

Mr Howes told AAP they had looked at the Labor research in recent hours and decided a change in leadership was in the best interest of their members.

He and Mr Ludwig had decided it was in the best interest of their members to throw their weight behind Ms Gillard.

Only hours earlier Mr Rudd had denied suggestions that his chief of staff, Alister Jordan, was taking the temperature of caucus to gauge support for his leadership.

"Alister's job, since I became leader of the opposition, is to be in constant contact with members of the parliamentary party and with ministers and with cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries," Mr Rudd told reporters.

"I don't think anything's really changed much in the last four years.

"Those are the sorts of conversations that happen every day and have done so ever since I got this job."

Trade Minister Simon Crean, a strong ally of Ms Gillard's, came out in support of Mr Rudd.

"I do not support any leadership challenge," he told AAP through a spokesman.

"Any loose talk or idle speculation on this matter is counterproductive.

"I urge solidarity behind the leader. I support Kevin as the leader."

[TrueLight]

Not sure but i will bet Kevin Rudd will still be prime minister

But even if Julia Gillard becomes prime minister... i see no change in policies, same old... it will just be the media saying how shes the first female prime minister etc...etc...

[Mao]

Not sure but i will bet Kevin Rudd will still be prime minister

But even if Julia Gillard becomes prime minister... i see no change in policies, same old... it will just be the media saying how shes the first female prime minister etc...etc...

Ditto. I can't see any reason for policy change either, it'll just humiliate the ALP, Rudd and the Australian Parliament, and give time for the very smart folks to come up with a way to get out of this Super Profits Tax without the corporates popping a cap in their ass.

[Noblesse]

Via http://www.thepunch.com.au/

[ninwa]

I felt sorry for Rudd til I read this:

THE final straw for Julia Gillard came early yesterday.

Angered by a morning newspaper report leaked from the Prime Minister's office, questioning her loyalty, she called senior powerbroker and fellow Victorian MP Bill Shorten. She wanted to know what to do.

"It p***ed everyone in the caucus off," said a NSW senior factional leader.

"And it p***ed her off, too. She has been nothing but loyal. And to have that happen was not only stupid but unwarranted."

RUDD YOU FRIGGIN MORON.

I'll probably vote labour now. But only if they keep the mining tax...

[Hutchoo]

If you ask me, Krudd didn't really "fight" as hard as I would have expected to remain prime minister.

Julia does most of what the PM does anyway + shes funny xD

[laynie]

yeah he stepped down. didn't want a humiliating defeat?

[ReVeL]

I think the lack of fight may be a result of his realization he can no longer win the election the year.

[EvangelionZeta]

I feel kind of bad for Rudd.  Yay for first female PM though! (y)

[Fyrefly]

If Rudd stepped down and Julia Gillard stepped up to the plate, then I'd vote for Labour.

I think Labour will win the election now.

Not because of policy changes and stuff, but because of marketing and economics stuphz.
I don't feel like explaining, but this is quite an entertaining explanation of what I mean: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html
(Skip through to 11:09 if you don't feel like watching it all

[transgression]

'The public should not be allowed to forget that all the decisions, programs and projects put forward by this Government were planned and developed by a group of four, only one of that group will be expelled.'

Same horse different jockey

[lolbox]

Rudd really didn't have a chance this morning, a string of bad decisions in the past 6 months and the mining tax. Theres no way Gillard would have challenged unless she was 110% sure she had enough support to win the ballot. He did the honourable thing by stepping down. Meh, Libs will be back in 5 months so it doesn't really matter

Same horse different jockey

agree

[transgression]

I'm kind of disturbed that our first female Prime Minister takes office via a loophole.

Honourable? I believe it to be mere gutless. Standing down without a fight (to something you really genuinely care about) is more embarrassing than being thrashed in a leadership ballot.

[ZachCharge]

Honourable? I believe it to be mere gutless. Standing down without a fight (to something you really genuinely care about) is more embarrassing than being thrashed in a leadership ballot.

It wouldn't look good for Labor party though if he fought against it...

[vexx]

Sorry for my ignorance (i dont watch the news).. but why is gilliard now PM? lol people were talking about it today but no one actually new exactly><