Who will the new ALP leader be?
Let's look at the contenders.

Beazley, Kim "Bomber" (Brand, WA)
Advantages: Avuncular, Electorally Popular, Stable, Nearly won in 1998
Disadvantages: Two time loser, Will be over 60 by 2007, Long-winded talker, Only one KFC bucket short of a heart attack
...more here.

Gillard, Julia "Goolier" (Lalor, Vic)
Advantages: Feisty up-and-comer, Capable Parliamentary Peformer (Allegedly), Female, Better Looking than the other two candidates
Disadvantages: Untried and untested at a leadership level, Probably too-left-wing for the electorate, Female, Sounds like a cast member of Kath and Kim, Red Haired Pollies usually crash and burn.
...more here.

Rudd, Kevin "Pixie" (Griffith, Qld)
Advantages: Intellectual, Strong Grasp of Foreign Policy, Not a Union Hack, May Signal Generational Change, Good Compromise Candidate
Disadvantages: Intellectual, Preppy, From Queensland, Looks like Martin from the Simpsons, His Daughter once nearly slept with this guy.
...more here.
Posted by Quentin George at January 22, 2005 07:56 AMRe Gillard.
You forgot the undershot jaw and the big arse. Not sure if these are advantages or disadvantages in an ALP leadership stoush.
I betcha if Rudd gets up Ben will let everyone know about that.
Posted by: Darlene at January 23, 2005 01:33 PMBeazley is the only choice. Whoever gets it will lose the next election & if it is Beazley, he can retire & fade away leaving it to the others. If it is Rudd or Gillard, losing will look bad on their record. I think they will let Bomber have it this time then step in when he fails.
As a Liberal supporter, I hope Gillard gets it. She will be the easiest to beat. She is just a female Latham. Never had a job outside the union movement or politics.
Aidan - you smart. You get good job and stop wasting time on I.T.
The end.
Posted by: Slobbodany at January 23, 2005 06:51 PM