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| Even More Unexpected Greatness | |
True leadership is a dangerous characteristic in political parties, and such
deviant behavior is normally conducted only by the very brave and the very stupid. Johnny (beloved-little-leader) Howard understands this well - strongly
criticizing leftist stupidities such as feminism, aboriginal rights and
multiculturalism only after the issues have already been totally discredited in
the eyes of mainstream Australia. Watching a little man like Johnny lay his boot into the rotting corpse of
political correctness while looking statesman-like is a bit of a giggle, but it
is no more 'leadership' than it is 'divisiveness'. It's just leading from
behind. However true leadership was shown yesterday by the National Executive of
the Australian Democrats. Normally content to be faithful sheep following their
ever diminishing flock of supporters around, they hit back at Aden
(I-offended-nobody) Ridgeway for masterminding the downfall of their
leader. Some people might have expected that a deputy leader would take be
appointed as interim leader until the members elect another one in six weeks.
Instead of appointing him as the interim leader until the member's vote in
October, they instead appointed one of the (only) two senators who supported
Natasha - someone who few people had even heard of until yesterday, Senator
Brian Greig. They are playing for higher stakes than they may think. There is a
three-way tug-of-war between the members, the national executive, and the
senators themselves, and the national executive are flexing their
muscles. However the gang of four, who ambushed Natasha with their ten
commandments on Wednesday, may just join their former leader Meg
(chortling-from-the-backbenches) Lees and create a new party of five - leaving
Natasha and her faithful national executive with just three. At the next election the party members will vote for Natasha, but the
electorate will prefer Meg. True leadership is a funny thing in a party famous
for the blonde leading the blind.
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