On another note, I heard some time between nine and ten this morning that Windsor has cleared the way for Barnaby Joyce to lead the Nationals in the House of Representatives. With Oakeshott announcing his retirement earlier, it seems that both have suffered with the venomous ranting and drivel of people like 2301.

Election may go early then? These two independents may side with Rudd knowing it matters little. If election is called immediately, thats about 3rd week of July or on current plan mid Sept. 7-8 weeks difference without the house sitting, diffeernce, minimal.

Peter Garrett had said that he would resign his ministerial position if Rudd became Labor leader. It seems that Wayne Swan was the "first to jump" and that there might be more pro-Gillard stalwarts following.

A substantial cabinet-reshuffle now would be pointless so it's forcing the Prime Minister to call an election sooner. Even so, it would be hard for Swan to get the Treasurer's position back, which is a pity. In circles that compare the performance of treasurers and finance ministers in managing economies he will stay highly esteemed for decades. Unfortunately, he was poor in conveying his achievements to voters. He's unlikely ever to be Prime Minister.

Senator Conroy is someone whose resignation will be warmly received by those who remember "clean feed" proposal. I suspect that there's so little discussion of policy in the past year that more people remember Conroy's underpants quotation than any serious ideas that he considered.

The Mole TV show spoiler - Bill Shorten?

A lot of people seem to forget what a little megalomaniac KRudd was.   Fair shake of the sauce bottle!

How would this country look last night in the eyes of the rest of the world when we have just knifed our first female prime minister.

How would this country look last night in the eyes of the rest of the world when we have just knifed our first female prime minister.

How would this country look last night in the eyes of the rest of the world when we have just knifed our first female prime minister.  Interesting view. Anyhow.

Julia Gillard will be PM at the next election.

 How would this country look last night in the eyes of the rest of the world when we have just knifed our first female prime minister.  Interesting view. Anyhow.



Regards
Brian

Julia Gillard will be PM at the next election.

How would this country look last night in the eyes of the rest of the world when we have just knifed our first female prime minister.

• The Jakarta Post had a report on Rudd announcing a challenge, but nothing subsequent.
  
• The South China Morning Post had a report on Rudd winning the vote around 21:43.
  
• (French newspaper) Liberation had a report on Rudd winning the vote around 21:41. They explained that this was just a vote for party leader, what a Governor General was and what Bryce had to do before the Prime Minister changed.
  
• (Belgian newspaper) De Standaard had coverage on Carlos the Jackal but nothing in Australia. The status of women issue was the imprisonment of Femen protesters in Tunisia and protests during the Tunisian leader's European visit.
  

...
Thinking of that speach... If you want to see former Prime Minister Gillard being hard-done-by, you'd look at this picture, rather than one of a "faceless man of the Labor Party".

As Chris Berg said, Conservatives share those ideals [of compassion, fairness and liberty], but they add group loyalty, respect for authority and ''sanctity''

Rumour has it that Gillard was a conservative plant in the ALP to make them look bad, as a double agent she might well have been the best PM the Liberals ever had!