Aussie PM dumped by own party

[Peter Dawson]

I don't know what faction Rudd is from. Probably some variety of right faction. I know he hasn't come the usual route through the unions. Gillard is nominally left but I don't expect her to actually *walk* left at all. She was conspicuously silent during the Israeli bombing and invasion of Gaza and the subsequent fake passports used by Israel. Like many others who started in the Trotskyist parties she will probably make a good neo-con. I hope I am wrong but we will wait and see. I certainly do not feel any joy or optimism about the change. It is just a palace coup by the right wing union factions. I think she may, at best, be like Hawke, and he was sure was no lefty. Think 'Accord', think of CIA ties to the unions, especially the AWU which is right behind this.

I think she'll be much like Rudd - compliant (to the big end of town) on the big issues, compassionate (re. the battlers) on the small ones, with a few pleasant surprises thrown in, and a few unpleasant ones. I've pretty much lost all hope in conventional politics and politicians, but I was brought up in a Labor household (in Joh's Queensland), and I’ve gotta say, I’ll much prefer it if she wins the next election. I had a hell of a time ignoring politics for all of the 11 years Howard was in. It’s much easier for me to ignore when Labor is in!