What just happened? 24 hours ago, we had a government that was stable and working, but not doing so flash-hot in the polls… no dramas that can’t be sorted out by a general election. All of a sudden, we have a new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. I repeat: what just happened?
I may not have been a big fan of everything that Kevin Rudd did while in office, however I was prepared to give the man time to get his house in order before the next election. In every respect, he was and is of Prime Ministerial calibre, and nothing makes me doubt my expectations. It is especially uncanny how he does things that seem to be textbook Art of War. To sum it up, I think he knew what he was doing.
But what happened today was not something out of the Art or War; it is better explained by a passage from The Prince:
A prince far more easily wins the friendship of those who were formerly satisfied with the existing government, and so were hostile to him then, then of those who, because they were dissatisfied, became his friends and favoured his occupation.
He should have been watching his back. The factions timed this in order to install a new leader, rather than to allow an old leader the ability to reassert his leadership. A political coup de grâce, and one that I think is unfair. The man should have been allowed a fair go at completing his term with his (very busy) political agenda addressed.
What we have witnessed is the reason creative types (builders, designers, authors etc) avoid showing their clients their products before they are finished. They are quite often a mess while they are being put together, but to be fired (or even given a dressing down) for the fact is simply a demonstration of impatience and rash impulsion.
I am not suggesting that Julia Gillard will not make a fine Prime Minister; she more than likely will. What I am not comfortable with is the fact that Kevin Rudd was never given the chance to be one too.
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