Could Rudd’s office be the source of the “Happy Vegemite Video”, but in a bid to damage Rudd?
I know, in the Byzantine world of Labor politics convoluted revenge is a common currency, but how could that possibly work?
Well watch the video again while you think about it and I’ll put a theory in place below.
When Rudd lost the Prime Ministership I was surprised to find that one of the groups cheering loudest was a large tribe of ex-Rudd staffers. I had this on good authority from a member of the Rudd alumni.
So how upset could an ex-Rudd staffer be? Possibly upset enough to get a copy of an out-take from an official government video that showed Rudd petulantly swearing and thumping the table and store it up for later.
It’s possible that whoever dropped this video had access to a whole library of recordings and went looking for something that put the “past and future PM” in a bad light, but much more likely that someone stockpiled it at the time.
That person was most likely present at the recording, making them either a bureaucrat, or a staffer.
Revenge is a dish best eaten cold. Three years after the event makes the release an act of cold-hearted bastardry against someone who the perpetrator viewed as a cold-hearted bastard.
Dropping it at a time that does maximum damage to Rudd, with an election on in his own state (where the Labor position is dire) being relegated to second spot, even on the Queensland news, and at a time that does maximum damage to Gillard, fits the profile of someone whose only dog in this fight is to hurt Rudd.
You hurt Rudd the most by using the video in the middle of the leadership contest in a way where both sides will have reason to blame the other. That way the internecine fight will consume Rudd eventually, whether he wins or loses. That the party destroys itself too doesn’t appear to worry the assailant.
Graham, I think he leaked it himself. It gave him an opportunity to do an interview to say I’m not the same person now and I’ve learnt from my mistakes. He’s such a machiavellian little bastard that it’s certainly not beyond him.
Comment by Nick — February 19, 2012 @ 10:20 pm
I’m with Nick. The language is pretty lame considering it’s Rudd doing the cussing. I’s been well know for yonks that he’s a major potty mouth away from the cameras. His contrition on weekend TV seem extremely self-serving and aimed at quelling back room angst about his (almost certain) return.
Comment by Eddie — February 20, 2012 @ 9:30 am
This is all sounding like conspiracy theory to me.Rudd would surely not release a video that show him such a bad light.
Note that this sort of skull duggery has happened right throughout our political history.The British are experts in it with the interference politically in many countries ie playing one side off against another,false flag attacks etc.
Our pollies and their bureaucrats have had great traditional British role models to further their own ends while completely stuffing our economies.
Comment by Ross — February 20, 2012 @ 12:10 pm
I almost did a blog post saying he is so wooden he can’t even swear and make it look like he means it! He and Julia have both had the same personality bypass.
Comment by Graham — February 20, 2012 @ 1:27 pm
Either side could have released it . The PMO has shown its’ self capable of doing it,after the Tent Emabassy fiasco, but so is Rudds’Camp capable.
Either way, with the trust that the unwashed have in the PM, they will blame her, or at least it will reflect on her negatively.
The Media seems to forget that after Rudds’ other “scandal”.. his visit to the Lap Dancing Club in NY, his popularity actualy went UP.
The visit made him look human instead of a Robot. The same will happen with this. I suspect that Rudds knows this well, so put the release down to either side.It’s a win/win for Rudd
Comment by laurie — February 20, 2012 @ 2:28 pm
Must be the faceless men with the blessings of Gillard that continue to put in the knife again and again into Rudd. So what if he uses the 4-letter word? We all use it. It has become our national vocab for releasing stress. He is human, too. He is Australian, too. So what’s the harm in Rudd swearing, eh? Gillard has lied sooooo much that nothing she says is credible any more. Arbib, Shorten and Co must be shaking in their pants at the remote possibility of Rudd’s return. They have much to gain from its release. Labor is so utterly doomed!
Not because of Rudd or his swearing but because of the Labor lies and treachery. Go on Rudd, swear if you must, we are all Aussies and it’s human to swear to let off steam.
Comment by Jolly — February 20, 2012 @ 4:23 pm
Jolly the video reveals a lot more thasn just swearing.It shows him up as a petulant little narcissist who has absolutely no grip on reality.
Would you want him as a PM is a time of crisis? He has no courage,judgement or care about the well being of Australians.Rudd would trash our economy and flee of to his dream UN posting and not think twice about the carnage he has left behind.
It is the impeccably groomed Rudd and his media image is all that matters.He is totally consumed by his own ego.The empty vessels are ringing loudly and we should take heed.Psychopathic narcissist comes to mind.
Comment by Ross — February 20, 2012 @ 4:45 pm
Ross, there appears to be far too much personal interpretation about Rudd’s reaction to a frustrating situation. Have you ever seen Howard, his ultra remarks and his tantrums when under stress? Man, you’d pull your eyes out, trust me. But both of them are humans with their own human frailties. So what? We are all broken people, imperfect beings. At least Howard and Rudd were not treacherous. Rudd is an intellect and an over achieving bloke. It is both his strength and his weakness. We never gave him a chance to do his job as PM. That was unfair and so utterly wrong and mean of us. The ‘fair-go’ culture is soooo Australian and yet we are slowly becoming a nation of ‘kick him while he is down’ people. Rudd has always been “impeccably groomed” just as Keating was, too. What is so wrong with that? Do we all have to become like the crude, rough, unkempt, arm-breaking Latham? “Ego” is the driving force that gets men & women into politics and leadership aspirations. Look at our corporate leaders; they are certainly not your simple, humble, mousy chaps!
Swear and be “petulant” as much as you want Rudd, as long as it is the privacy of your own office. It is our God-given right to let off steam. Well done, Aussie Rudd!!
Comment by Jolly — February 21, 2012 @ 11:52 am
Seems like Rudd is not to be harmed that much from this video.
Have you seen this parody?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GOfWfSCZ4c&context=C3995db9ADOEgsToPDskKsOOJMszsEobp_BLFCvhBl
Comment by Neville Krudd — February 21, 2012 @ 1:02 pm
Jolly ,I don’t like Howard either but at least he could balance a budget and create a surplus.The differenee between Rudd and Howard is that one is a petulant self indulgent,narcissistic, child and the latter a pragmatic political realist who actually had leadership qualities.
The body language of Rudd oozes with false bravado,and even the anger is pretentious.He has a born to rule mentality with nothing of substance to back it up.He believes in Global Governance by the UN just like Bob Brown and will sell our freedoms to the devil of Global Socialism under the ruse of saving the planet from climate change.
“The Conger line of suck holes” are creating a downward spiraling vortex from which Labor may never escape.
We need a new party of Libertarians who will give the power of Govt back to the people.
Comment by Ross — February 21, 2012 @ 6:38 pm
Ross, some corrections please … it’s Costello who was able to bring the budget to surplus and Howard blew that on bribing us to buy our votes. It was Howard who promise Costello ‘succession’ and betrayed him and consequently the Liberal party as a whole. Some of us haven’t forgiven Howard for that. Howard was delusional about his popularity and consequently lost his very own seat. Today the Liberal Party is undergoing a schism with the ultra conservatives (Abbott & co) on one end and the moderates on the other. We also have a few conservative members doing their utmost best to decry Rudd because they are s##t scared about Abbott having to face Rudd. Keeping Gillard is in Abbott’s best interest. Notice how the Liberals are a wee bit restrained about their blistering and sometimes cruel attacks on Gillard? Not that she doesn’t deserve some of that. Meanwhile Shorten is gleefully rubbing his palms at the expected fall out of Rudd-Gillard saga. He will be left standing for the Labor leadership. Politicians and treachery! Who cares about the country! Certainly not the Conservatives, certainly not the present Labor. Rudd was not given a fair go, that is a fact.
Ross, your exaggerated hatred for Rudd reminds me of that small but vociferous Liberal conservative group bent on unfairly tarnishing Rudd. Hmmmmmm. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, eh.
Comment by Jolly — February 21, 2012 @ 10:45 pm
Jolly ; the Labor Party will choose their next leader to the formulae of the popular Murdoch Press.He/She will be chosen on points of media image over substance and integrity.
Labor have totally lost their way.They treat their own constituients like dirt and methodically shaft them with taxes and oppressive regulation.Labor like the Coalition have been taken over by Global Corporate interests.The shame for them is that they have the pretence of representing the working poor and middle class,whilst totally screwing them.
Labor have raised the definition of impotence to a new art form.Economically they could not get service in a brothel with a tonne of Viagra and $ billion of shares in Ansell.
Rudd has resigned but does he have the courage and integrity to do the right thing and bring on an election?
Comment by Ross — February 22, 2012 @ 9:19 pm