Rudd's human face
Lots of people have been in touch from Britain commending the leadership of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during what was unquestionably one of the most difficult weeks in his country's 108-year history.
Breaking down repeatedly as he was overcome by sadness and anger, the leader who appeared on the breakfast programmes last Monday morning in the immediate aftermath of the weekend's fires was unrecognisable from the technocrat with the almost robotic turn of phrase who parliamentary sketch-writers - and foreign bloggers - have found so easy to caricature.
Whether it was comforting the victims or expressing outrage at the possibility that some of the fires were allegedly started deliberately, Kevin Rudd displayed a human side that defied his reputation as a passionless automaton.
Shortly after John Howard became the prime minister in 1996, he, too, confronted a national calamity of shocking scale: the Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people were killed at the historic former convict settlement in Tasmania after a gunman, Martin Bryant, run amok.
In its aftermath, Mr Howard found words to articulate the anger of the nation and famously stood down the gun lobby, which included many of his coalition partner's rural constituents, at considerable personal risk to himself.
One of the lasting images of the Howard years is of the former prime minister addressing an outdoor rally of gun-owners dressed in a bulky bullet-proof vest, having received credible threats minutes beforehand that a gunman in the crowd was intent on assassinating him.
After the Port Arthur massacre, a tragedy that unfolded less than 50 days after he had taken office, John Howard was emphatically prime ministerial. Thereafter, his rivals, Kim Beazley, Simon Crean and Mark Latham, found it hard to present themselves to the electorate as plausible alternatives and potentially strong national leaders. He went on to enjoy an almost 11-year political ascendancy.
Kevin Rudd may well have elevated his leadership in a comparable way.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~30~RS~)
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I think that he has been pretty high in the popularity polls even before these recent events.
As a nation we seem to be comfortable with leaders who are "boring" most of the time, who are religious but keep this to themselves and who can display empathy when it is really needed.
Rudd and Howard also both seem to have wives who have kept a low profile, though apparently differing markedly in their lifestyles.
Although I agree that Rudd may have cemented his leadership I feel that the handling of the economic crisis will be a bigger test. I know a lot of his usual supporters who are upset at the cash handout portion of his stimulus package, believing the money should be spent on long term projects. He needs to come up with some convincing explanations there.
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Nick I am curious about your opening line:
"Lots of people have been in touch from Britain commending the leadership of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during what was unquestionably one of the most difficult weeks in his country's 108-year history."
The wording is rather odd wouldn't you say? 'his country's 108 year history' ?
I have noted how careful you try to be with terminology relating to Australia and it's past, but to say out right it has a 108 year history?was that just a small slip on the keyboard?
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OliviaAnne34 -
Yes, 108 years. What's wrong with that? A federal government was created in 1901 establishing the post of Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia 108 years ago.
Of course that's the history of the 'country' Australia, but Australia's human history stretches back tens of thousands of years earlier.
But federation was certainly in 1901. You disagree?
As for Rudd - he's doing a brilliant job. I think a little less automation and a little more humanity in the day-to-day would be appreciated. But perhaps not to the extent that Bob Hawke became a blubbering mess.
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Nick, I suggest you do a background check on "Kruddie's" popularity before he entered "Feral" politics - particularly around the time he earned a reputation for being a "dictatorial toe cutter" when employed as Head of the Premier's Dept for the Wayne Goss led Queensland Govt in the early 90's before he was given a "safe" labour seat from which to enter "Feral" politics.
Methinks you'll be surprised at his popularity back then.
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Why is it that in any disaster we always take side of our leader and put him onto a whole new level of status - surely these people are politicians and they have this art of “reactional disaster response” down to a fine art. An example of that was G.W Bush where he was at an amazing low point after the 2000 Gore Florida election scandal and then the convenient 9 11 attacks took place allowing Bush to take on high popularity and thus a war in Iraq. We still do not know why World Trade Centre 7 fell in a demolition free fall as the first ever steel structure building ( taller then any in San Dieago ) It fell in a FREE FALL after pocket fires inside the building in CERTAIN areas and medium damage from debris from the impact of the two towers. It is funny how we don’t ask these important questions. If you have read the 9 11 commission report (I have) you will see no explanation for this collapse. Let us not over react to politicians when there is a disaster as it is in our nature to do so and we all know what happened in America when they got behind a man who was not even voted into power... ( Florida = election fraud ) we should never forget that.
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I always find this issue a vexed one - the cynic in me says Rudd is here to help prop up Premier Brumby, whose state government has put in a shocker over the past few months, what with issues around water, public transport and infrastructure in general.
There is no doubting Rudd's concern and grief - I think a lot of us not even directly affected feel this way. I just hope he lives up to those promises about rebuilding everything. Its easy to turn up straight after the event, hug a few people and make lots of promises - its what happens down the track that really matters. Having said that, I was impressed that he has visited twice already and the second time stayed for quite awhile. Some pollies fly in, do a photo call and quick press conference and are never seen again.
Re John Howard and gun laws - only decent thing he did as PM! But I don't think you can link that one thing to his 11 year time in office.
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Moresby-Parks
Elevate the quality of your comment and maybe someone MIGHT take note of what you have to say.
Definitely low class...no wonder the libs are a spent force floundering in the murk while the government forges on and upward.
Onya Ruddy...stick it to em buddy.......
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PM's human face doesn't bring any solution to the problems, years of ignorance and aggressive greediness.. companies, home builders.. and now searching arsonists to blame.. houses should not have been built without respecting to the nature in the first hand.. I don't see that PM approaches in his talks any of the reasons to address the problems.. but just expressing his griefs.. not technical and professional..
PM was talking rebuilding in days and months.. without considering the natural facts.. but rather a safer area away from the forest could have been considered.. and move entire towns away..
and.. and..
Human history of Australia?.. Shouldn't Australia be preserved (and left) untouched (any more) (at least the in land and the majority of coastal areas) for other species before being too late as a "continental wild (world) park"..
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Rudd is just a human being and in tragedy is acting like one, its good to see he's not a robot and has a heart, Little Johnny did the same in 1996 as Nick pointed out after Port Arthur. I will admit I am not a major fan of Kevin07 but seeing his human face in this tragedy has given me a better opinion of him as your article seems to say so Nick.
Re #5 Netcrusher, what the heck are you talking about, this is an article about Rudd and the fires and you're ranting about Bush and 9/11, grow up you sad person
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The north = floods. The south = fires.
I'm beginning to wonder if I live in an antisocial country - all she's done so far this year is sit in the corner by herself and throw tantrums!
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@NETCRUSHER
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Unless you're a conspiracy theorist, and prefer to believe in myths instead of facts.
@BrightSharon
More then double the amount spent on cash handouts has been allocated to projects such as schools or insulation.
And then there is the money brought forward (which should have been the case from the start) for the Murray-Darling basin.
While the cash handouts remain controversial, I think it's worth point out just how much is being spent on infrastructure, and not just being handed over to tax-payers.
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In regards to BrisbaneBen it is often those who blindly follow mainstream media that label anyone who suggests something different to be conspiracy nut... that is why Thomas Jefferson warned us of the "sheep to the slaughterhouse" remarks. Do not follow blind. I actually took the time to look at all the evidence and I bet you just watched the mainstream news. Why would thousands, even famous personalities such as Charlie Sheen, the star of CBS‘s Two and a Half Men, who is debating whether to narrate a controversial documentary about the September 11 tragedy. Why did the buildings fall like that? Give me your answer Ben? Scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology say their three-year investigation of the collapse determined the demise of WTC 7 was actually the first time in the world a fire caused the total failure of a skyscraper. It relates to the fact that we should never get behind a leader with pure conviction just because there is a huge tragedy and that is how it links to this story Taz....
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#12
Do you think maybe people accuse you of being a conspiracy nut because you act like one? I mean, shoe-horning 9/11 into this thread brings to mind Cinderella's step sisters trying on the glass slipper.
Oh and you've looked at all the evidence...don't believe all you read on the internet bud. You're still a 'sheep' its just a different 'slaughterhouse' you've ended up in.
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Kevin Dudd is paying for votes. His popularity isnt as high as people read. And it is a disgrace to mention John Howard and Kevin Rudd in the same sentance. John Howard is a man to be respected. Keven DUDD 24/7 is a man to vote out. Aust wanted change and we got a problem.
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George Bush was popular after 9/11 too.
It doesn't mean he was in any way a nice person or competent though.
Rudd is the same, much like Jacqui Smith in the UK is a little Hitler, wanting to control every little thing people do.
I was considering emmigrating to Australia due to the fact I fulfil skills requirements they have a dire shortage of but not now, not under this little dictator.
Still it seems to be the way of the world, worldwide things have been bad leadership wise in recent years- George Bush, Rudd in Australia, Harper in Canada, Amadhinejad in Iran, Brown in the UK, Putin in Russia.
At least America woke up to it and voted Obama in, let's just hope the rest of the world will follow and actually vote in leaders with some amount of intelligence and care of the people they represent rather than just care for themselves and their own agendas.
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#14
How's Rudd 'paying for votes' then (i am genuinely intrigued)? Oh and the Dudd thing...almost as naff as the he-larious Zanu-Labour pun...or saying naff to be fair.
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Touch a nerve did I NOmadsUSR ?
I call it as I see it mate.
Still haven't read much about him, or his Nambour schoolmate "Wayney Poo" - or for that matter Cap'n Bligh - visiting flood ravaged NQ. But then again the southern media doesn't even know inland Qld exists.
Cheers
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Nick:
It is nice that Mr. Kevin Rudd is able to show his kinder (human) side to the people of Australia during a time of tragedy...
~Dennis Junior~
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Speaking of faces, Nick..
I think you should ask the BBC to swop back to your previous mugshot, the Clint Eastwood lookalike one
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I like the new mugshot. Kinda more Pierce Brosnan. "The World is not enough......."
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