Tell us if this tale sounds familiar:
A charismatic leftist gets elected in an overwhelming rout that decimates his country’s conservative party. As soon as he takes office, he begins pounding money down a rat hole with one crazy spending scheme after another, proposes a complete overhaul of the country’s healthcare system, institutes immigration policies that allow unparalleled numbers of illegal aliens to flood the nation, and proposes a hugely unpopular “excess” profits tax. After a euphoric period of initial popularity, his poll numbers drop precipitously.
Despite what you may have thought, this is actually the sad story of Kevin Rudd, Australia’s leftist Obama-wannabe Prime Minister for the last 944 days.
Wednesday, in what we can only hope is a preview of coming attractions here in the United States, Rudd was booted out of office by his own party.
The Sydney Morning Herald has details that the Obama administration should pay attention to:
Julia Gillard has become Australia’s first woman prime minister after Kevin Rudd stood down from the position during a Labor Party leadership spill.
Ms Gillard has been elected unopposed to the position and Wayne Swan will become deputy prime minister.
The spill came after a newspaper report claiming Mr Rudd had instructed his chief of staff Alister Jordan to ring around the caucus to see whether MPs were still behind him.
944 days. Just about two-and-one-half years. It’s days like this we wish we had a parliamentary system in the United States.
NOTE TO OUR AUSTRALIAN READERS: We apologize for the misuse of the word “charismatic” in regard to Kevin Rudd. Consider it poetic license.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
This post was last modified on June 24, 2010
View Comments (4)
"It’s days like this we wish we had a parliamentary system in the United States."
That's why they call us the "lucky country" mate!
I would ignore what Ant says. The ALP is the center left party in Australia. They are not conservative. Refugee numbers in Australia have sky-rocketed. See:
http://blogs.news.com.au/images/uploads/red_dot_feb_thumb.jpg
The red dot indicates when former PM K. Rudd changed refugee policy.
The mining tax is not popular. In Queensland a recent poll said 54% against the new tax compared to 37% for it.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queenslanders-turn-against-kevin-rudd-according-to-galaxy-poll/story-e6freoof-1225875677553
I could go on but I wont.
This article is absolutely hilarious in its inability to distinguish the author's dreams from reality.
Australians did not get rid of Rudd, his own Party's right wing power brokers did. The Mining Super Profits Tax is very popular with the population, it is only the mining bosses who complain about it. If you did you research you would realize that the tax is not even really a tax, it is a state guarantee of profits to mining companies in times of economic downturn! Try researching instead of spouting nonsense.
The health system was not overhauled, in fact it is basically the same as it was under the conservative Howard government. Unprecedented numbers of refugees have not come, only the usual amount. The difference being now they are actually processed and allowed to stay or shipped back to their homeland instead of being left to rot in prison for years, wasting huge amounts of tax payer dollars.
I'm a conservative, I dont hold with that left-wing claptrap that comes from the Greens, but if your talking about the Labor Party and Kevin Rudd, you are talking about conservative parties with conservative values and policies. Rudd was just as conservative as John Howard was which is why i supported him.
I respect your hatred for Obama but dont make conservatives look bad by not researching the facts.
which Australia do you live in mate? The one at the top of the magic tree? What a load of bollocks.