@hingehead,
Quote:Do you think that the #respill will actually turn ALP around in the polls? I've never heard such a constant stream of affirmation of their achievements since 2007 in the media.
Assuming Gillard retains the prime minister-ship .....
I think it will take a bit of time for the dust to settle in the Labor government & party. And for a bit the media will not know what to do with itself. ("We was robbed" Rudd articles? Maybe. But believe it or not, I believe the public could actually tire of the same old, same old & might actually become bored with it. Seriously)
As to the Labor government .... it will have to seriously lift its game, particularly in communicating its achievements & the benefits of its policy achievements to the electorate.
Labor needs to seriously improve its communication skills. Bring in the communications experts to teach them how!
It is astonishing to me that Labor has not been able to capitalize more on its economic achievements during the GFC. As that British Tory politician said on Q&A on Monday night ....
if only Britain had Australia's economic problems!
Apart from that, the benefits of Labors tax reforms for lower income earners have not been capitalized on, either. Say nothing of what would happen to those reforms & benefits under a LNP government. I think ordinary people have not gotten messages like this & yes, if they
do finally get the message, I'm optimistic it will influence their vote.
I think the "carbon tax issue" has been handled less than wonderfully by Labor, too. Abbott & co are really hoping for an early election to overturn Labor policy before it actually happens, in July, I think?
And yes, a
real education debate has to be had. Properly. None of this "politics of envy" stuff dominating the public agenda. The current proposed reforms are so much more important than Rudd's so-called "education revolution" (don't start me on that! You'll be sorry!
)
But, in answer to your question,
if Labor unifies behind their leader & Labor's policies following Monday's stoush, I will by no means be writing off Labor's prospects in a future election. Certainly not at this point. If ever there was a time to rally & unify behind Labor (the alternatives are so horrific to Labor/Greens supporters, we all know that .....say nothing of ordinary, not remotely wealthy Australians) it is now. It is time to relegate the destructive nonsense to the dust heap, where it belongs.
One last word on Julia Gillard & leadership.
Assuming she remains her job as prime minister after Monday, she will have endorsement of her parliamentary colleagues (as opposed to the blessing of the "faceless men" of 2010 & all the negative fall-out from that ..) & no doubt this will give her a boost within the Labor Party. She will be vindicated as the legitimate Labor leader, endorsed by legitimate Labor processes.
She & her team will then have something like 17 months to sell Labor's message to the electorate.
And I'm certain she will continue to work as hard as she has to date on Labor policy achievements.
Once & for all she should forget all about about "popularity" with the electorate . She may
never be "popular". Her strengths are that as she is tough & determined & retains her focus despite incredible pressure.
My advice (if she asked
) would be to be her real self. (no more "which is the real Julia?" nonsense)
Forget about worrying about public perceptions. She is clearly as tough as
any successful male politician. And be judged on her achievements, nothing else. It is more important to have the electorates respect as a leader than anything else.
In other words, be the Julia Gillard we've seem fielding journalists questions this week. Too bad if Australians are unused to seeing a woman behave like a competent political leader!
People forget that as deputy to Rudd she virtually
ran the government while he was constantly conferencing overseas. How many portfolios did she hold down at the time?
Anyway, hinge, see what happens when you ask a simple question?
I start writing & can't stop!
Please don't let me give you the impression that I believe all will be hunky dory after Monday. I don't believe that for a minute. It is going to be a very, very tough 17 months ahead, regaining lost ground. Winning back Labor's heartland after the destructiveness of this Rudd diversion. Exposing the Lib's policies (?) for what they are & what a Liberal government will actually
mean in government. They have had a very easy ride in the media while everyone has been distracted by Team Rudd's antics.
So (finally!
) I am definitely not writing off Labor, definitely not at this stage. You might think I'm some sort of eternal optimist, but this is genuinely what I believe. We will just have to see what happens from here ...
And now .... can I redirect your question back to you, hinge?
Quote:Do you think that the #respill will actually turn ALP around in the polls?
Very interested in your (& others) thoughts.
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