Arbib, who's only 40 despite his reputation as a formidable weaver of political dark arts, says the same when we speak. His decision to leave the Senate was all about family. Although Bob and Helena Carr are ''family friends'', Carr's move took him by total surprise. ''I wasn't involved in any of the discussions … [But] if I had known he was interested in going into the Senate, I would have stepped aside for him.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/arbibs-stab-at-nobility-was-paying-the-price-20120302-1u8bp.html#ixzz1o0BpdWc9

Under the redrawn political rule book of the post-Rudd era, the ALP Right factional heavyweights have emerged more powerful, and even less scrupulous and principled, than ever. If Gillard’s standing in the polls should fall as Rudd’s did, she can expect no mercy from the “lean and hungry” men who surround her. The ambitious and ruthless men who now run the NSW ALP Right are truly the models for The Hollowmen. Keating is surely correct when he says they believe in little more than the “pursuit of power”. It is also certain they will use Richardson’s “whatever it takes” credo to achieve it. Far more is at stake than Julia Gillard’s future as a successful Labor prime minister; only fundamental and permanent reform of the party will alter that awful truth and ensure Labor’s political future as Australia’s natural party of government.

http://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-mark-aarons-hollowmen--2642

I would not be too sure about this... (It looks like this article has been written by a Rudd secret admirer...)

First the Liberals (conservatives) see themselves as the "born-to-rule party of government" and second, the number of women in key Labor government ministries is telling a slightly different story... Can't say more here, except the women have their own powerful networks and ... thus things are never as clear cut as one makes out.

Why did the "hollowmen' from Labor right choose to quickly replace Rudd — a non-factional rightish self-centred rude catholic — with a single atheist woman from Labor's left?... At the time, It was well known around the traps that Rudd had lost the confidence of the cabinet, that of the caucus and even that of the greater electorate... He was fumbling and seen to be rageful at times. That video of him blasting a diplomatic person from another country is but a recorded sample of other non-recorded rude occurrences...

It's only because of the manner RUDD CHOOSE to be dismissed that the electorate is still being manipulated about the whole shamoozle... By now he should be helping Labor to win the next election, AS HE HAS PROMISED to do... BUT he keeps undermining Labor at every street corner he can find... Go figure... Hypocritical.

Anyway, Rudd had the choice to go to a party vote.

If his dismissal had gone to a vote, he would have lost near 100 per cent...

If Rudd did not know he was going to loose near 100 per cent, he would have been an idiot.

He knew he would loose, so he decided to have a few public tears and go, like a WHIMP.

If he still does not know why he would loose, then he is an idiot.

I don't think he really wants the truth come out, though he says so... Hypocritical manipulation.

A k-niving hypocrite he is... "As bad as the rest of them" but far worse.

Not as bad as the Anthony Abbott Detritus, though.

Meanwhile. the Liberals (conservatives) are crapping on as usual:

From Peter Reith (Head commentator at the ABC and former Minister — still a liar though)

The right of Liberal members to choose their representatives has helped distinguish the party from the destructive factionalism of Labor, writes Peter Reith.

The NSW Liberal Party is in a mess. The party is in the extraordinary situation of being subject to an injunction which prevented a meeting of the NSW Division. After months of haggling, the various factions within the party are expected to soon agree on a settlement of the current legal action in the Federal Court.

But that will not determine the future of the NSW Division. These latest twists in the ongoing battles between NSW factional interests have a long history. While factions are not new in the Liberal Party in other state divisions, NSW is more factional than most.

Factions in the Liberal Party are nothing like factions in the Labor party. Most Liberal members are not in factions and many are actively opposed to the concept of factions. When I left Parliament in 2001, the majority of federal MPs were not factionalised and most senior Cabinet members would consider factional games as an unhelpful distraction, a waste of time, and contrary to the best interests of the Liberal Party.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4339558.html?WT.svl=theDrum

Peter Reith makes my eyes water with laughter... SEE TOON AT TOP...

Meanwhile at The Graham Richardson hub:

Maxine, you're dead wrong about Julia planning to oust Kevin

THIS was a column I was looking forward to writing. Here was a golden opportunity to be nice to Simon Crean. He and I have not been close for many years and I can recall that when his leadership of the opposition was coming under pressure I even received a call from his mum. She told me what a fine fellow her son was and what a so-and-so I was for being part of the plot against him.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/maxine-youre-dead-wrong-about-julia-planning-to-oust-kevin/story-fnfenwor-1226505623136

The rest is on rent per view... Bugger that... the headlines shall suffice...