Ella

Saw this one coming.....Latham's illness coupled with the disastrous Labor defeat in October...plus his silence after the Tsunami. Many of the party faithful spoken to over the past couple of days believed he should resign - now let's hope Beazley gets the job again. He's certainly the best of an average bunch.

ABC News Link

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Stick

To me, he never looked like he had the minerals for the job of PM. He always looks as though he's forgotten to do something important and is desperately trying to recall what the fuck it is.
Yep, "average bunch" is right, none of them seem to make a lasting impression on me. Mediocrity seems to be the order of the day around Labour Party HQ.
They need someone with the charisma and brainpower of Gough.
Personally, I've never even considered voting Labour at anytime in my life, but I loved listening to Gough talk and debate.
Anyway, I hope they can get their shit together and do something worthwhile for themselves and for Austalia.

ps. I built Lathams' office at Ingleburn.
So there!

pps. No, I don't vote Libs or Greens.

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Spartak

Man he looked absolutely awful, the news here haven't really showed him since he lost the election, but man he looked really sick.

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Ella

You're dead right, Spartak...he looked noticeably different on the news. My stepfather has pancreatitis and you never get over that, according to him. He believes it will kill him one day, and he doesn't even drink (anymore)!

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Rlyss

I think Latham's new haircut is rather spiffy, to be honest. Enough with the old man part-on-the-side! Whether it has to do with his treatment or if he thought it was just time for a change, I don't know.

As far as him shuffling off, I think Australian politics won't miss him much. The guy's always struck me as a bully, the bigger guy in high school that intimidates everyone but appears charming to many. I can't think of too many things he's done for us lately, and it just seems that he has no real place anymore.

But personally, if he's suffering an illness as serious as they're making it out to be, then I wish all the best for him. I don't like how he acts in front of the camera but if he's sick then he deserves sympathy.

I wonder if we should think 'Thank goodness we didn't vote him in as PM' or if we should assume that he would have dropped out of the PM position too, if he'd won. On the one hand being PM would certainly make you want to soldier on that being a nobody, but on the other hand from what I hear pancreatitis is pretty damn serious and that nobody in their right mind would ignore it.

Ella

Yep, I do feel sorry for Latham in terms of his health. But I honestly thought he had promise when he first took over in December, '03. His changes to parliamentary superannuation was an excellent move, so at least he has that as his legacy.

I read he will more than likely be a housedad while his wife heads out to work - she graduated from law a couple of years ago.

Both Beazley and Kevin Rudd are vying for the leadership. I have a hunch Labor will vote for experience this time - not wanting to be burnt Latham style again.

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high_way

you are probably right but i would like to see kevin rudd get the leadership. i think beazley has had more than enough goes at being leader. i think latham brought some good ideas and policies to the mix and i hope kevin rudd would do the same.

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spindles

We have seen what the electorate think of choosing a young leader. I think he had a lot of good ideas but just needed a bit of help with how best to get the messages across. I personally think choosing Beazley would be a mistake, but may be a good idea politically/short term.

I do live in one of the country's safest Liberal seats, so what would I know.

Good luck for the future Mark - home dad is a cool idea

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Latch

I spent an hour yesterday arguing with someone that pancreatitis wasn't that bad and it's a cop out excuse when I realised I was thinking about appendecitis, which is nowhere near as bad (as long as it's caught in time). Doh!

Ella

Jesus, Latch...don't you have anything better to do? And put some farkin' pants on!!

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Latch

Ella, I work for a public institution.. of course we have nothing better to do. You should know this.

I have shorts on for the moment, you'll be happy to know.

Ella

Good to know. Don't make me tell you again!

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slimshaydee

My mum has it aswell, although it's no where near as bad as it used to be. She's allowed to drink every now and then.

Leo

Although when Latham got the leadership I thought it was a huge mistake, one thing's for sure - he made people sit up and take notice. Unfortunately I think you're right Ella - they are an average bunch and what's worse is that there doesn't seem to be alot of hope on the horizon either. But I think they'd be crazy to consider Beazley - he seems a good guy, has truckloads of experience, and a very competent frontbencher, but he hasn't put much of a dent in the Libs before. What's that saying about insanity - keep on doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? If Beazley takes them to the next election, I think it will be history repeated. From what little I've seen of Kevin Rudd, I would prefer to see him get up.

bundy

i'm fed up with Beazley.
i'm certain he's been sitting on the back bench with his Labor right buddies fucking with the Labor leadership since the day he stood down. i'd say that 80% of the internal faction fighting within the party, that has gutted the party for the past 9 years, is because of Beazley.
if Rudd is voted party leader, expect Beazley to *catergorically* rule out any challenges, while he plots and schemes. and if Beazley does get up, i wouldn't expect much for Jenny Macklin or Juila Gillard... Beazley is known for not tolerating women.
and, if anyone out there thinks Howard has jeopardised any leverage Australia had when dealing with the United States, by becoming too much the 'deputy sherrif', expect an even bigger yankie hug from big Kim... 'cos he's excited' when it comes to the US.
not only should he not run for leader, he should retire completely.

Kevin Rudd is a remarkably clever man. i think he'd be a better choice for Labor leader, but i think he would make a far better Foreign Affairs minister than Prime Minister.

oh Hawkie, where for art thou Hawkie.

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Ella

Hehe....I long for the Hawkie days, too. What a leader that guy was. Charisma in buckets, and a damn good negotiator as well.

Rudd will announce this afternoon if he's challenging at this Friday's caucus meeting. He's still ringing around, gauging his numbers. Not sure where Gillard's up to.

Bundy, interesting take on Beazley. Gotta say I never noticed any of those attributes in him when he was leader of the oppostion previously. Guess they just weren't that obvious to me...or I didn't take notice! Either way, it's a race between him and Rudd...just don't think Labor will take a punt on Gillard.

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Ella

Rudd has announced he won't challenge. Still no word from Gillard. Could be a one man race....

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stonecurran

latham was piss poor! the quicker we get a better oppoition leader the better. little johny has too much power. we need it more evan

Ella

Ahhh..but you gotta love this classic Latham quote!

- Mark Latham on Coalition support for the war in Iraq

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Latch

haha that's awesome. my new MSN name.

Ella

Classic! You've updated it already!

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Latch

hehe yeah.. get back online.. I wanna speak with you hehe.