Aussies, wither Labor?

[reprise]

I'm thinking that about the smartest thing the ALP could do right now is dump Crean and make one of the up and comings (Kevin Rudd is my preference) leader with Beazley as deputy leader.

Short of something absolutely catastrophic befalling the Liberals, they aren't going to lose the next election even if the voters believe that they'll end up with Costello as PM half way through the next term.

So Labor really needs to be looking towards the election we'll be having around 2008. Kim's presence as deputy would provide some depth and substance to the leadership of the ALP while allowing someone who intends to be around for the long haul to build their profile and relationship with the voters.

Much as I believe Wayne Swan is an extraordinarily astute politician, I can't see the electorate buying him as a potential leader, plus his real strength is the power he wields within the party itself - rather like a latterday Richardson.

Policywise, obviously the ALP needs to push its health and education policies, but between Beazley and Rudd there's also considerable experience and goodwill in the areas of defence and foreign affairs.

Anyone else have any suggestions on what Labor could do now to be a serious contender come 2008?

Oh yeah, I'd kind of like to see Michael Kirby as G-G too, but we all know that ain't going to happen.

[a_unique_person]

They have been to stupid to do what they should have been doing all along, saying what they thought. They have been so overtaken by their minders and spin doctors, that an intelligent and humane person like Kim Beazley comes across as in idiotic 'me too' man.

If they had stuck to their principles on the War and Illegal Immigrants, they would have lost voters in the short term, but kept their credibility for the long term. Now they don't have either.

Beazley had his chance, they should try someone else. As much as I hate to say it, his size works against him, and a sleaze like Howard isn't afraid to use it.

I think Tanner would be also good for a try. And they should drop Sacchi and Sacchi from as their advertising company. I mean, these were the guys who helped keep Maggie Thatcher in power. The advertising campaign in the last election was, in my mind, one of the biggest reasons they lost so badly. Talk about running dead. The Liberals have been widely seen to be sneaky and shifty, have been the highest taxing party in history, running an underlying deficit which has only been kept a cash deficit while there are things to sell off, destroying Medicare and Education.

There are plenty of issues to attack on and present options to. They just have to have the guts to do so.