more labor hijinks

The Latham story has been great fun, except if you are Labor MP.

The poor buggers agonised over the last leadership vote because, although many of them believed Latham to be barking mad they doubted that Beazley could or would change; after all who can forget him telling Maxine McKew, ‘ I have learned my lesson, from now on simplicity will be my talisman’.

One shadow minister said a couple of nights before the vote, explaining why he was reluctant to vote for Latham despite having no faith in Beazley, ‘mate, you don’t know the half of it, he (Latham)’s a f.......... lunatic’.

I expect that right now the next generation will be thinking hard about whether they can or should run if there is a contest in the next month or so.

Tanner probably has to, he needs to get out there and gather some solid support around him, even if it is only to direct preferences to the winner. He needs to establish a solid base of support.

Gillard I suspect has seen Latham as the best chance to advance her own interests, whatever his shortcomings. A sort of ‘riding the tiger’ tactic. Tricky to know what to do next, is it better to stand and maybe just miss, but be well placed for next time, or to cut a deal and deliver votes for the winner in return for the deputy's job.

Rudd probably figures that if Beazley runs Smith and Swan won't, so he then must decide if this is his great opportunity to gather those right votes who are wary of going back to Big Bomber.

It is always tricky to know whether your current level of support marks a stage in enexorable growth, and you can afford to be patient, or whether it's a high water mark best cashed in while you can.