Victory wake

The most evocative scene in tonight’s ABC TV Australian Story program about Simon the Unlikeable was the very last one in Crean’s office earlier today, right after the leadership vote he survived seemingly in comfort. Only Simon’s loyal if none too bright wife Carole was happy. Everyone else in the room looked like they were at a funeral from which they couldn’t wait to escape.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, if it’s a “policy contest” not a “popularity contest” (and Crean’s right about that at least), then where are the policies? There was a half-baked “Save Medicare” policy in the budget reply, and an equally half-baked “Save the Murray” announcement. Both were long on rhetoric but short on detail. Then there was the modest but sound asylum seeker policy announced by Julia Gillard and Crean early this year. That’s about it! Can anyone recall any other significant policy announcements?

Don’t forget that a double dissolution election as early as December is by no means unlikely. Simon should be out there announcing and selling policies right now. I actually agree Labor could in theory win the next election. I just don’t think Crean has got what it takes, although he did show more substance during the last fortnight than I thought he possessed. I’d really like him to prove me wrong, but I just can’t see it somehow. Nor could all those stony-faced apparatchiks in his office after this morning’s caucus vote.

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Norman
Norman
2025 years ago

No wonder they’re stony faced. They’re aware of precedents in all too many past campaigns based, on set piece skirmishes prior to the later main campaign. The only puzzle remains, what’s in it for Beazley, setting himself up as a stalking horse?

cs
cs
2025 years ago

… although he did show more substance during the last fortnight than I thought he possessed.

Despite the uniform media view … I can only agree … I never knew the guy had this many friends.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

I too thought the victory moment looked less than euphoric. Simon looking dazed, Jenny Macklin looking for an escape route, Vivian Schenker looking manic and everyone else staring dubiously at Carole’s midriff and wondering whether it was quite appropriate for the Leader of the Opposition’s wife to get around dressed like Britney Spears…

Dave Ricardo
Dave Ricardo
2025 years ago

Does Vivian Schenker work for Crean? If so, the man has no judgement and I want to restropectively back Beazley in the leadership contest.

Ken Parish
Ken Parish
2025 years ago

Dave,

I had exactly the same thought. I mean, just about the only less competent choice for press secretary I can imagine would be Richard Wilkins.

Geoff Honnor
Geoff Honnor
2025 years ago

She’s just joined him as his Media Advisor. Expect to hear Crean abruptly dropping reporters in midflow with, ‘yep, sorry we’ve got to cut you off for the News’

trackback
2025 years ago

Begone, Beazley

SO CREAN HAS WON his election, and Kim Beazley is history. Let’s not waste time on “Bomber”; the fellow has…

trackback
2025 years ago

The ALP & policy formation

in his recent leadership campaign against the challege launched by the socially conservative Kim Beazley, the embattled Simon Crean argued