Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day;
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way.
Oh, Monday morning, you gave me no warning of what was to be.
Oh, Monday, Monday, how could you leave and not take me?
or
Monday, Monday, so good to me;
Monday morning, it was all I hoped it would be.
Oh, Monday morning, Monday morning couldn’t guarantee
That Monday evening you would still be here with me.
It’s an oldie, but a goodie and if you’re born in the same era as your Bannerman, you’ll recognise the Mama’s & Papa’s tune. The thing is, who will epitomise which verse come Monday lunchtime? The Labor Party seems to love a good bloodletting, and while it may have been deemed good for the body in times long past to bleed a little and let that which ails you out, bleeding can only seriously deplete the body of necessary fluids. Such it is with a political party. Labor makes a habit and a somewhat bad habit of spilling leadership blood on the caucus room floor at monotonously regular intervals. Usually just prior to a federal election. Hawke & Keating; Crean & Beazley; Beazley & Latham and now Beazley & Rudd. Notice the theme there? Yes indeed…..Kim Beazley. A two-time loser, albeit close loses, but a loser none the less and staring a third in the face come 2007
Yes, even your Bannerman can see the light on the hill when it’s bright enough. Kim Beazley isn’t the leader Labor needs against Howard. He’s had his time. He’s had two solid jousts and as I say, come close but unless you’re unpacking your furniture into The Lodge one week after polling day, close just doesn’t cut it. Especially when Australia seriously needs to move away from a government and a government-inspired culture which has blithely ignored the electorate and run roughshod over public opinion in a bid to cement it’s own ideology onto Australian society.
The Bannerman is a Rudd fan, no two ways about it. Always favoured the intellectual Laborite, has the Bannerman. Especially one who has worked as a diplomat and understands the foibles of foreign policy in our region. Kevin Rudd has that experience. He has also worked at State level and has a solid understanding of the necessary liasons between state and federal spheres. As a charismatic personality, Kevin Rudd is about as exciting as rice pudding, but with Julia Gillard as deputy and a cleaned out, refreshed front bench – a necessity and inevitable eventuality regardless of who wins on Monday – he stands as much chance as anyone and in my mind, a much better chance of defeating Howard than Beazley will ever have. Howard knows Beazley. They are creatures of the same time and they’ve grown old politically together. One in Opposition as leader, the other as Prime Minister. There is no better place than on top, especially if you’re on the winning side every time.
As with Latham, Howard will have to re-learn Kevin Rudd as a leader and not just as a member of Labor’s front bench. Labor cannot do any worse right now, unless they buckle in fear and stick with Beazley. I don’t believe that will happen and judging by what the pundits are saying tonight, the numbers are falling on Kevin Rudd’s side. The ability to speak fluent Mandarin may not be a pre-requisite for political leadership in Australian politics, but I believe Rudd’s urban, non-inflammatory style gives Labor it’s best chance since 1996 of retaking the reins of power and returning Australia to the rational, even-handed, egalitarian state it once was.
So, come on, Monday Monday. Be good to Australia and make 2007 all that Australia could want it to be by giving Labor the best chance it’s had in the last six years. Finger’s crossed, eh?