Month: July 2013

The seven votes Kevin got could be up for grabs

There are probably seven Labor MPs who regret they supported Kevin Rudd for Leader of the Labor Party, against Julia Gillard.

His proposed nobbling of any future vote against a leader in a leadership ballot is going to cause a lot of friction in the Labor caucus. It will in effect take away any real power an individual has.

The caucus vote on this issue will take place next week. That may be an opportunity for a re-think and the call for another leadership ballot.

Now they’ve had another taste of Mr Rudd, Labor MPs may prefer electoral wipeout to another three years of his smug, dictatorial and didactic leadership.

Happy Birthday Ringo

A belated happy birthday to Ringo Starr, who turned 73 on 7th July.

I saw him and his All Starr Band in concert recently. He sang our favourite Ringo songs, which we loved. But he showed what a giant he is by taking a back seat during most of the concert and giving the stage to his All Starr Band members.

There’s no ego with Ringo. Just a humble and talented man who wants to live a life of peace and love by giving joy to others.

Think about the homeless, especially when it rains

There’s a lot of chatter going on about politics at the moment, and almost all the people involved in it have a roof over their head tonight. A night when it’s raining and cold.

Now think about the homeless people who aren’t so fortunate. They are probably huddled under an awning or a makeshift cardboard roof, freezing and hungry.

When you vote, think about whether your vote will elect someone who will make their lives better.

Abbott should have called Rudd’s bluff

When the Prime Minister challenged Tony Abbott for a debate on the economy, Mr Rudd said ‘any time, anywhere’.

Mr Abbott should have called his bluff and accepted the challenge immediately, and I mean immediately. He should have said that he would meet him at the Press Club that day for the debate, or first thing the next morning if the challenge was made at night. The media would have turned up willingly and it would have been on.

The Prime Minister would have been caught off guard and Mr Abbott could have stopped Mr Rudd in his tracks. But I suspect Mr Abbott wasn’t ready either, because debating the economy is not his strength, or so we’re led to believe.

This politician is not worth the paper he’s printed on

I received the latest colour brochure from my member of parliament. It looks professional, full of staged photos with the Premier and locals, but it’s eight pages of ‘look-at-me, look-at-me’; ‘look what I’ve done for you’; ‘I’m fantastic!’

It even has a questionnaire on the back page with the opening statement: “Please let me know what’s important to you.”

What’s important to me? Well Mr Member of Parliament, why don’t you get off your seat of self-importance and actually knock on my door and ask me? From the time you campaigned to win your seat in parliament, I have never met you and to my knowledge you have never made any effort to meet me.

It’s easy to spend taxpayers’ money on a glossy brochure about stuff I already know about, but it’s a lot harder to actually get out there and earn your keep.

This politician is not worth the paper he’s printed on and I’ll be damned if I vote for him at the next election.

Take the gloves off, Tony!

Now the sisterhood has lost its cheerleader, it’s time for Tony Abbott to take the gloves off and take on Kevin Rudd.

Man to man. No perceived sexism. No false misogyny.

Kevin Rudd has no policies, yet he is sucking the air out of the debate. Please Tony, go after him and go after him hard. Otherwise you will be left on the sideline grasping for breath.