The Australian Labor Party has a new leader, Kevin Rudd. I imagine his predecessor but 56 Bob Hawke will have had quite a turn when he heard Rudd say this...
"It's critical that when we say to the Australian people that we want to construct an alternative vision for Australia, that they know the values for which we stand. Socialism isn't one of them. Any political party has to be absolutely confident in the objectives for which they stand. I am not a socialist. I have never been a socialist and I never will be a socialist."
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10 comments:
I don't think Bob Hawke was particularly left-wing either, a populist not a socialist. The Australian Labour party hasn't been really socialist since about 1949 when Ben Chifley tried to nationalise the banks.
He may not be a socialist but he's probably still a statist. But then most major political parties are nowadays. People won't vote for looking after themselves, that would be far too much hard work.
I expect Rudd will be the end of Australia then?.He will give Victoria more powers, but let Vicyorian MP's vote on NSW affairs,let's call it the Albury-Wadonga question.
Strewth mate, your getting into hot water there anonymous !
Shame DC. wasn't as honest: I'menot a Tory, have never been a Tory, will never be a Tory.
Iain - Bob Hawke was Australia's Tony Blair - winning a string of elections by capturing the centre ground and embracing market reforms.
(Warning)! Blair changing the perceived question again!
During the last election campaign,Blairs strategy response to the 'LIAR' allegation over Iraq (ie he knew the intelligence was wrong/manipulated it) was to change the perceived question in the public's mind.-'I made the difficult decision to go to war in Iraq and I stand by it.'
The media didn't exclaim 'WHAT!?' and neither,to my recollection,did the Conservatives.
Now we have the same situation regarding cash for peerages.-'I recommended people for party peerages as other leaders are entitled to do.' If the media don't point out the evasion of the substantive question (and they didn't in the case of Iraq) then IMO the public (who believe they have an unbiased and crusading for truth media) will perceive the question/substantive issue to have changed and the criminal Blair and Labour's spin apparatus will again have triumphed.
Australia didn't needto invent their own TB. They could have had our one just by asking.
And so he wouldn't get lost on his way there, he could take our ex-pat Australian Health Commissar-es Hewitt with him as guide and mentor.
Please.
Hmm...very interesting, although it would be useful to understand his views on the famously tough policy on immigration in Australia to know if he is a real 'heir to Blair'.
Is anyone else as worried as I am that Blair will end up working for the EU or the UN ? Or possibly both ?
He has said he wouldn't, but then he also said he would be 'purer than pure'...
I did think that Blair had his eye on Europe believing the constitution would be ratified.I've always believed he is actually psychologically flawed and that the media manipulators behind Labour/the left and he were made for each other.Unless there's a charge proven against him I'm afraid his charisma could yet see him resurface in an important job.
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