Australian Rules Politics: Gillard Out, Rudd Returns - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
Australian Rules Politics: Gillard Out, Rudd Returns
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For more than a decade, Australia was governed by the steady stewardship of John Howard. 

But all good things must come to an end. In 2007, Aussie voters ousted Howard’s Liberals (which is the country’s main conservative party) in favor of the Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd. 

However, in 2010, Rudd would be removed from office in a bloodless coup by his Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It would be like Hillary Clinton walking into the Oval Office with the SEIU on one arm and the Teamsters on the other and telling Obama to step aside.

Gillard would be elected in her own right in August 2010 narrowly defeating the Liberals, now led by Tony Abbott. With a hung parliament, Gillard needed to form an alliance with the Green Party to attain a working majority. 

Although Gillard named Rudd her Foreign Affairs Minister in an effort to keep her enemies closer, he wasn’t close enough. As I wrote here back in February 2012, Rudd did everything in his power to undermine Gillard. During a trip to Washington D.C., Rudd resigned as Foreign Affairs Minister and launched a challenge to Gillard’s leadership. However, Gillard would survive Rudd’s challenge.

Well, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. With Gillard’s popularity plummeting, Rudd saw blood in the water and struck. The Labor Party caucus ousted Gillard in favor of Rudd. Gillard subsequently resigned as Prime Minister and Rudd will now lead his second administration. 

An election had been set for September, but now Abbott wants Rudd to move up the date. However, Rudd has always been more popular than Gillard and the election might not be a cakewalk for Abbott’s Liberals. One way or another, Australians will be going to the polls soon. Do Aussies want more drama under Labor? Or do they want a return to steady stewardship under the Liberals?

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