One reason for this is, I suspect, that people are thinking that any criticism of Rudd's family is not nice, and they decide to punish the Liberals for it, despite the fact that it is the media coming up with the stories, not the government.
Secondly, surely everyone has noticed that when Rudd says "we'll take a battering in the polls" or "this is embarrassing", it doesn't hurt his polling at all. I think he has recognised and will keep using the magic formula. Maybe it is some sort of Jedi mind trick, or a pact with the devil, and the way for the public to be reassured that it isn't supernatural forces at work is to see it deliberately put to the test.
My challenge to Kevin is therefore to demonstrate that he can be unpopular by doing something really wrong. How about being caught on camera having sex one night with Julia Gillard on the grass under the flagpole on top of Parliament House? If all he does, while brushing grass off his suit, is to look sheepish and say "well I have to acknowledge this is very embarrassing, it will put a strain on my marriage and I expect to take a battering in the polls" and next week there's another 5% increase, then we will know there is something sinister about him.
Update: I wrote this before I read Matt Price in The Australian this morning. He makes a similar point:
At this rate, Rudd could be captured on video wearing leather bondage gear while snorting ice - and the punters would still find some excuse to look kindly on the Labor leader.I bet in his heart Price wanted to use sex with Gillard as an example, but he has to get on with Rudd and his minders.
I'm puzzled at your dislike of Rudd. You recently wondered why everyone hates Costello and suggested it was unwarranted prejudice, but at least we have a long history of watching that particular smug bastard at work to judge him. Rudd is getting no free ride from the press but the Libs attempts to smear him don't seem to be working well. It may be that the years of abusing the public's trust have weakened their ability to take someone else down.
ReplyDeleteRudd reminds me a bit of you, Steven, a mildly conservative Christian bloke.
Geoff
Well, I wouldn't actually say it is an intense dislike; it's more annoyance that he is being Teflon man at the moment, and I increasingly get the feeling that there is a unpleasant degree of fakery in the public persona. If the polling was actually close, I could live with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you are right, but I'm convinced that they are all like that. Since the media is obsessed with gaffes and it appears the public want to believe that they can vote for someone worthwhile, when they are always only going to get politicians, the parties spin furiously on the personalities of the leaders.
ReplyDeleteAt some point this fantasy reaches a use by date. Beazley reached that and no amount of spin could make him electable. I suspect that the electorate has seen enough of the current lot to be somewhat immune to polishing. It may be that voters resent being told that their only alternative is not really that different (ie still a politician) and turn on the messenger. They have to maintain the fantasy or admit that it's all a waste of time. Never underestimate the political niavety of the masses.
I'm still in favour of weekly ballots for a figurehead President and banning politicians from seeking election.
Geoff
Geoff
In fairness Steve, Howard has had a raft of Teflon man episodes during the last decade.
ReplyDeleteWell, not so much "fairness", merely observing the obvious.
Standing for not much of anything got Howard into the gig, and being Teflon man kept him there, through some rather odious times, politically speaking.
Yes, the very same could see Rudd as the new Teflon Prime Minister. Although, with Rudd, I think the Teflon would wear off far more quickly. He might walk like Howard, quack like Howard, and look like Howard, but his driving ideology and political experience does not match Howards.