I just wanted to be the first to put that into a headline. If Rudd makes a meal of his leadership, The Australian will be running headlines like that by March, 2009.
Now deputy prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, had some very nice and very respectable things to say about defeated PM John Howard :
"This is a man who devoted his entire life to public service, you've got to admire that, and I do," Ms Gillard said.
"He's led the nation through some difficult periods.
"I did admire the Prime Minister when under very difficult circumstances he achieved better gun laws in this country - it was obviously divisive amongst his own support base, and he stood up and did it.
"There have been times when this nation's obviously faced great tragedy, like Bali, and John Howard's led the nation in mourning, so once again I would acknowledge that.
"I think John Howard will be remembered ... with respect and, I suspect, some affection as well."
It's a shame that due to the absurd nature of Australian politics and media that Gillard couldn't have said such things about Howard before today.
Hopefully the nasty, sanctimonious nature of politics and media in Australia will change in the immediate future, off the back of a Rudd Labor government. But probably not.
The Liberals attack pack, with Costello at the helm (for now) will be even more savage and vile in opposition than they were in government.
The conservatives will have to change their attitude, nature and culture if they can even hope to have a fighting chance in 2010 or 2011.
