Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and wife Therese Rein greet Ambassadors' and dignitaries at The Lodge, on July 11, 2013 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
POPE Kevin. It has a nice ring to it.
One wonders if that's Kevin Rudd's ultimate goal. The adoration, the worship, the scores of faithful lining up to get a glimpse.
Blink and you might have thought an event at The Lodge in Canberra yesterday was a dry run for when Kevin Rudd - who now attends an Anglican Church but was raised Roman Catholic - takes the top job at The Vatican.
The nation's Prime Minister had more than 100 ambassadors and top diplomats lining up outside The Lodge for a chance at small chat and to shake the hand of a man resurrected.
The "real Kevin" was back. And his ego on full display as the line grew and ambassadors braved the Canberra cold on the gravel outside The Lodge.
As The Australian's Brendan Nicholson eloquently put it Mr Rudd became a walking, talking atlas.
As he and wife Therese Rein greeted their visitors who were invited over for an afternoon tea, Mr Rudd thrived. He was in his element.
"How are our friends in Kiev," Mr Rudd asked.
"Give my regards to those in Tehran. It would be good to keep in contact given the challenges we face."
"Say hi to Xanana and give Kirsty a big kiss from me," he said to the representative from East Timor."
And he received as much praise back.
Labor powerbroker Graham Richardson said on breakfast television this morning that Kevin Rudd's ego was "getting out of control … again".
He may not be too far from the truth.
Yesterday's events looked like something one would see at Buckingham Palace or at a rock concert (perhaps he's been taking tips from his Instagram friend One Direction band member Harry Styles).
It's been just 17 days since Kevin Rudd took back the nation's top job after three long years in waiting.
He claimed he had changed, he claimed he would be more consultative, he claimed things would be different this time around.
But can a leopard really change its spots?
Mr Rudd was catapulted back into the nation's top job in order to give the Labor Party a fighting chance at the next election.
Commentators, including Mr Richardson, say that if Mr Rudd continues his tour of self-worship and a multitude of overseas trips he risks losing the momentum Labor now has.
Kevin Rudd is a great campaigner and has achieved much in his political career. But he loves power, he loves adoration, he loves media spotlight.
It may be his undoing … again.
Follow Lanai on Twitter: @pollietracker
Join the conversation on The Punch's Twitter account @ThePunchHQ or at our Facebook page.
Have your say in the comments section below.
###
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Rudd just can't help himself
Dengan url
https://duniadiggi.blogspot.com/2013/07/rudd-just-cant-help-himself.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Rudd just can't help himself
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar