I don’t usually talk politics because I think it’s crazy and most of the time, it reminds me of how disillusioned I am with a lot of things that has happened in the world and will continue happening. of course, I come across as idealist even to myself. Who the hell would join politics without any thoughts of self-benefit?

When I first started politics as a course in ANU in 2003, it was amazing. I was completely filled with naivety and the sheer amount of knowledge I have to acquire to stay afloat in the course overwhelmed me. I mean, I thought I was smart – but the amount you need to know in politics is so broad that it’s both cool and scary. To be a minister of a single portfolio also requires you to know bits and pieces from across other subjects and etc etc. That impressed me just a little.

At the same time, I also fully learn the power of the “opposition” and what they are meant to do. I mean, I am from Singapore after all, we really only have a what… 1 man opposition? haha.

anyways. In 2003, my textbooks listed the ALP as a party that hasn’t been in power for a while and even when they did, it wasn’t for long and there weren’t many (2 prime ministers in total if I remember right). as a party that has too much infighting to really support themselves through an election, much less through an empowered term. Indeed, it seemed they have had a number of leadership changes.

Then, Kevin Rudd came along, with his bright smile, ability to converse in mandarin (oh that bit melted my asian heart HAHAHAHA) and just charmed a whole nation into his pockets. I will admit, I absolutely love his charms. At the same time, I adored his confidence, his ideas on education, health reform, climate changes and some other smaller proposals. This is, of course, in consideration that I intend to live here permanently, that this would be my country and I would love to live here according to those proposals.

The Liberals, on the other hand, seemed to have turned into the ALP’s old self. There were many infightings straight after the 2007 election and they went through leaders like toilet paper.

I don’t really know when it happened – or maybe I do. I am not disillusioned by Rudd, since I am more than willing to give him and his party a large inch to get things done. I firmly believe that if his predecessor has left him a certain mess (and indeed, some portfolios were severely neglected and therefore some legislations hasn’t changed despite many changes in technology and etc), that Rudd and his inexperienced party would take time to “fix things”. so to speak.

I think, however, that people got tired of waiting for things to happen. And when things did, such as the home insulation case, and then delaying the CPRS legislation till 2013, the emissions trading scheme till 2011… things hurt him. In every interview that questioned him about his motives, about his lack of popularity in the last couple of months, he was quick to draw attention to other “important issues”.

now… it seems the infighting has grown into something else. In fact, it doesn’t seem like infighting in the papers. It’s just as if, the party refused to toe the line with Rudd anymore.

Julia Gillard is now our first female prime minister.

It feels strange to see those words at the moment. like I said, I really liked Rudd back then. I still do to a certain extent, so this is a feeling of loss for me.

At the same time, I like Julia Gillard and what she was proposing for education changes, how she supported Rudd and how she seems so down to earth and all. It just feels so odd after all.

Of course, this is not definite until the Governor General “accepts” Rudd’s resignation. It is, of course, eminent. I have yet to see the Governor General refusing it lol…

and so, here ends Rudd’s rule, it’s kind of bitter sweet. However, if he’s as temperamental as the papers make him out to be, if he’s everything they say he is in the office towards his own party – well then, he surely deserves the door.

Of course, it is ironic that on such a day as this, the socceroos fail and exited the world cup right in round 1.

p.s this marks a date of firsts of course. Despite Rudd having willingly resigned in the face of a failure of the challenge, it is also the first time a prime minister’s been ousted by his own party. We do have our first female PM!!! that’s quite extraordinary in itself. now textbooks and classes will have to slightly change their tunes (“if you’re not white, male and went to private boy’s schools…” lol)