My thanks to the other contributors for a stimulating blog on a fascinating political day. It’s rare that you see cabinet blood on the floor, especially from friendly fire. FWIW, I find it hard to escape the feeling that we are watching the death throes of an old government. Cheers.

Union leader saw Rudd as leader after Burke meetings.

Mr Rudd denies he was in WA in 2005 to discuss any leadership prospects.

But in an interview in August 2005, two days after Mr Rudd had dinner with Mr Burke, union leader Kevin Reynolds told ABC television he saw Mr Rudd as a future leader.

“I mean I know for a fact that he met with Rudd the other day when he was here,” Mr Reynolds said.

“He’s a future leader of this country and he sees there’s no problem in meeting with Brian, in talking with Brian.”

Kevin backs Kevin after Kevin meets influence-peddler Brian.

Another Muriel coincidence!

Rudd challenges PM to call early election.

Four WA Labor pols have resigned for ignoring the ban on Burke. Rudd ignored an earlier ban and mysteriously met with this malign cafe di tutti capo three times. Phone calls weren’t good enough; nor faxes, nor emails. Rudd felt he had to be in the presence of The Man. Homer and Christopher believe these meetings were what the Treasurer this week characterised as Muriel’s Wedding happenstance. There is no doubt to any adult watching that Rudd has lied about his motivations. He was there to nationalise his backroom power base and he wanted Burke to facilitate that ambition. The only other explanations are that Rudd flew across the continent because he loved eating with Burke or that the two men were having an affair.

What has he done, specifically, to warrant resignation? Time to put up, I’d suggest.

Howard has a problem, in relation to pushing that line (without specifics, relying on public agreement on the face of what Rudd supposedly did), of his own making. One of the first things he did when he got in was set a new code for ministerial standards. Then, bit by bit and again and again, he condoned – nay, supported – shitty ministerial acts and failings. C.L., the public are now sick and tired of how ministers behave and get away with it, you can bet your socks there is a lack of public push to have a fresh Opposition Leader thrown out, when they’ve been wanting for years to have a government more accountable.

The gist of this thread for latecomers: Rudd must resign.

No debate on that so far.

Senator Campbell quit after lengthy discussions with Mr Howard over the revelation the human services minister met Mr Burke last year.

Mr. Cambell didn’t jump. He was pushed. This is the classic example of workplace bullying. If Senator Campbell had any protection at all under the Government’s draconian work-choice regime, then he wouldn’t have to stand for this workplace bullying.

Senator Campbell, here’s the link. Register your complaint now with Greg and the boy’s. They’ll put in a good word for you with Kevin. He’ll fight for your rights. You don’t have to take this treatement you know.

Homer, Edwards wanted to introduce Rudd as a “future leader”. We now know this. Had it become widely known and written about that one of Beazley’s supporters was breaching the WA Labor ban on Burke by introducing the ambitious Foreign Minister as the “future leader”, that would have been gold for the government and trouble for Beazley. Rudd has presented his faithful ad limina visits to Burke as pure happenstance. This is a lie.

Anyway Homer, you believe Rudd flew across the country on three occasions to have breakfast, lunch and tea with Burke (and hours of conversation) – because, what, he loved the Burkster’s company? Doesn’t have a phone?

Either that, or the real story here is that they admire one another in what Dr Karl might call “a very special way”.

No-one attempts a challenge and tells unknown businessmen about said challenge.

Edwards has not backed you up at CL. There is no newspaper talk to back you up at all either
.
What is more as acknowledged by Edwards himself, Edwards would be the last person involved if there was.

If Rudd was touting leadership ambitions why would he go to WA of all places given the low number of votes and the entrenched votes at that.
He would have been better off atrtempting to change Bill Ludwig’s mind.

The intervention by the unnamed businessman is interesting. Quite possibly, he is the source of the government’s intelligence in the first place. Having dumped his own side in it, the guy is now desperate to say anything that could save his face around the PM’s office. This issue is becoming hilarious.

Rudd ignored the ban, flying thousands of kilometres to meet him.

The topic? Rudd “can’t recall”.

LOL.

You’re being silly, Homer. It’s now a matter of public record that Edwards introduced and touted Rudd as a “future leader”. Had that become public – along with the other Burke meetings Rudd lied about yesterday – it would have explosive.

Yes Robert, strategy can go haywire in political parties. Witness the Emmersen disaster on ABC radio this week, the laughable Give The Nod conversion of Peter Garret, the stolen national curriculum policy, the uraniun fiasco, the ever-changing Labor IR catastrophe, the now buried Secret Nuclear Businessmen Conspiracy Theory, the ALP President inviting Hugo Chazez to Australia to give advice on economic policy and Kevin Rudd borrowing “Brutopia” from Donald Duck.

Who’s advising Labor – Mark Latham on crack?

Edwards would NEVER EVER give up on the Bomber. You obviously have never met the bloke.
There was no Challenge anywhere in 2005 and if there was you wouldn’t be talking about one to people who came to a dinner.

You talk to people who vote.
Trust me on this I have been close to two challenges on either side of politics.

CL you are talking about things you haven’t the slighest clue about.

My question is why in heaven’s name does someone have to resign merely because they met Brian Burke?

Reminds me of the death signs you often see at the end of an administration. Remember when Hawkie had to sack Treasurer Kerin for not remembering an economic acronym? Then there was the famous Brian Howe cupboard walk. Not to forget the Ralph Willis letters, with which this also resonates. How will this go down? The rugby picture is gorgeous. Doing a Burke-Campbell? I keep seeing a Bill Leak, with Howard, Costello, Abbott and Downer covered in their own buckets of do do, saying to Tin Tin, standing non-plussed to the side: “See sonny, this takes experience”.

The immediate take-away is that, in its fury to smear Kevin Rudd, the government has seriously damaged itself. The questions about political judgement, so quickly directed to the opposition leader, are suddenly all pointing one way, the other way.

The actual story: Kevin Rudd, in his fury to smear three eminent businessmen and the Prime Minister with a whacky conspiracy theory, seriously damaged himself. The questions about political judgement, so quickly directed to the opposition leader, have been proved justified.

The Womble: he’s fluent in Mandarin but “can’t recall” what he discussed with Brian Burke when he flew across the continent to kiss his buttocks on three occasions.

I note Howard’s now going Rudd publicly on ‘honesty’. “Bring that on,” was the reply.

Something is amiss in all this – it’s not vintage Howard, but echoes of it. I tend to agree he’s missing Sinodinos.

Ahhhh, excuse me, but I love the smell of a burning conservative cabinet minister in the evenings. It’s been a long time between drinks. I’m thinking I might fetch me a Lionel Murphy Shiraz. Good luck.