The battle lines are being drawn as reports emerged that senior Labor MPs were warning Kevin Rudd supporters to back embattled Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Speculation has mounted that senior MPs were trying to shore up support for Ms Gillard, as the nervous wait continues to find out just what Mr Rudd will do.

An MP speaking to a News Limited newspaper revealed that MPs were now being openly canvassed.

"A lot of people have definitely been deployed to start speaking to the troops on behalf of the PM. There were conversations happening all over Parliament House," the MP said.

Mr Rudd has consistently been ahead of Ms Gillard in preferred Prime Minister polls, and some within the Labor party believe a change back to the former leader is the only way to turn around a government under huge pressure.

One MP told Fairfax they had to kill off any potential challenge now before it was too late.

"I don't want them to be under any illusion about how bad it was and how bad it will be," the minister said anonymously.

"If we don't start doing this, it will get a bigger head of steam than it already has."

One of the most vocal supporters for Ms Gillard, Attorney General Nicola Roxon, has warned returning to Mr Rudd would be a disaster for the party.

"Nicola was telling anyone who would listen that Rudd would be a disaster," one MP told News Limited. "It seemed to me that panic has set in, and they know Gillard is in trouble."
However it is believed that even if Mr Rudd challenged, he wouldn't have the numbers to regain the Prime Ministership.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/12945325/giilard-canvasses-numbers-as-showdown-looms

Yes yankie, and Rudd will loose, resign from politics at the next election where labor will loose by a reasonable margin and the country will enter the same sort of nothing government that plagued this country from when Menzies retired till Hawke was elected. Rubbish we have and rubbish to follow. This country faces some black days politically.

watching some experts on TV one said that if their is a spill..and Kev loses he will have to resign straight away.. dont understand why.. maybe its because he has said he will always be a threat...

what gets me about this is - the Labor MPs who in marginal seats (most of them) are still hanging onto Gillard

If they switch now and it doesn't work out - they can still switch back again to Gillard :o

Classic case of being caught between Rudd and a Hard Place

Just so long as these fights continue to kill off more labor votes.

Beware Australia of stale Media . Same trivia - Costello v Howard  rerun. Difference being Mr Abbott is behind it  otherwise the Media would have to focus on him and his failing Ministers .

Be Wise!

From news.com.au

SENIOR cabinet ministers have been deployed to lobby MPs to stick with Julia Gillard - the clearest sign yet that panic has set in and planning is under way for a showdown with Kevin Rudd.

Several Labor MPs confirmed that ministers loyal to the PM - including Attorney-General Nicola Roxon - had been openly canvassing numbers for Ms Gillard this week in Parliament, warning backbenchers that a return to Mr Rudd would destroy the party.

The push to shore up Ms Gillard's numbers occurred over Wednesday and Thursday following one of the PM's worst weeks as leader.

One MP who was lobbied said: "A lot of people have definitely been deployed to start speaking to the troops on behalf of the PM. There were conversations happening all over Parliament House."

Sources close to Mr Rudd yesterday signalled that "events were moving swiftly" and that a challenge could come sooner rather than later.

"From here on in, anything is possible," a senior MP said.

At least two MPs were heard openly telling colleagues in the corridors that change had to happen.

"It was very brazen, and they didn't seem to care who heard them," one MP said.

Ms Roxon, a member of the Victorian Right, which includes Gillard backers such as Bill Shorten, spoke to several Victorian MPs and warned them against thinking about voting for Mr Rudd in a spill.

"Nicola was telling anyone who would listen that Rudd would be a disaster," one MP said. "It seemed to me that panic has set in, and they know Gillard is in trouble."

The next sitting week of Parliament in two weeks could be critical, with members of Mr Rudd's camp claiming a growing list of MPs privately declaring support.

However, one senior minister loyal to Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd would not have the numbers to succeed. "If he challenged now he would lose," the minister said.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, concerned NSW MPs in particular had lost confidence in Ms Gillard, is also reported to have started counting numbers for her.

The NSW Right, the largest single bloc of votes with 18 MPs, has split, with a majority now behind Mr Rudd.

Party Secretary Sam Dastyari has maintained that the position of the NSW party machine was one of support for Ms Gillard.

It is unlikely it would actively direct NSW MPs how to vote if it came to a challenge.

Mr Rudd is this weekend campaigning in Queensland for Labor premier Anna Bligh.

So good to see. How funny and spectacular would it be to see Rudd back as PM, and that arrogant, lying bitch getting her comeuppance. Rudd reclaiming leadership is imment, Gillard just embarrasses herself and the Labor party more each week. Just when you think that it cannot possibly become worse than already is, it does. Expect Rudd to be PM again by the 6th-10th of March.

Maqqa wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 11:15am:

what gets me about this is - the Labor MPs who in marginal seats (most of them) are still hanging onto Gillard If they switch now and it doesn't work out - they can still switch back again to Gillard :o Classic case of being caught between Rudd and a Hard Place

Which ones do you mean in particular, Maqqa?

I know that Deb O'Neill and Janelle Saffin support Rudd, probably because their electorates (Robertson and Page) are always marginal, and they really go the way of the government at every single election. Warren Snowdon supports Gillard though, and his electorate (Lingiari) is now marginal, although it never used to be.

IMO, Labor is toast if they stick with the Red Dalek.

At least with Rudd, they may have a chance, especially
if he has used his ousting as a learning-experience.

He'd need to put the cleaners through the current Cabinet
and Caucus, and ruthlessly crush any dissent, but a
revitalised, Rudd-led Labor govt is the best option currently
available to us.

Julia is toxic, and Abbott and his crew are no option at
all. I do not wish us to return to the dark days of the
late 70s-early 80s.

And as for the Greens......

Kat wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 6:13pm:

IMO, Labor is toast if they stick with the Red Dalek. At least with Rudd, they may have a chance, especially if he has used his ousting as a learning-experience. He'd need to put the cleaners through the current Cabinet and Caucus, and ruthlessly crush any dissent, but a revitalised, Rudd-led Labor govt is the best option currently available to us. Julia is toxic, and Abbott and his crew are no option at all. And as for the Greens......

Exactly, a revitalised Rudd is just what our country needs. He will make a far better PM than any other politician in Canberra. We need a strong Labor government, because Tony Abbott would be an asbolute disaster, unlike Rudd, who will make this country paradise on earth. We won't need to worry about heaven, because we will be living in it if Rudd is reinstated. He will turn hate to love, war to peace, and misery to happiness.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 9:24am:

Speculation has mounted that senior MPs were trying to shore up support for Ms Gillard, as the nervous wait continues to find out just what Mr Rudd will do. http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/12945325/giilard-canvasses-numbers-as-showdown-looms

He CAN'T/WON'T do ANYTHING
He DOESN'T have the NUMBERS

matty wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 6:17pm:

Kat wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 6:13pm: IMO, Labor is toast if they stick with the Red Dalek. At least with Rudd, they may have a chance, especially if he has used his ousting as a learning-experience. He'd need to put the cleaners through the current Cabinet and Caucus, and ruthlessly crush any dissent, but a revitalised, Rudd-led Labor govt is the best option currently available to us. Julia is toxic, and Abbott and his crew are no option at all. And as for the Greens...... Exactly, a revitalised Rudd is just what our country needs. He will make a far better PM than any other politician in Canberra. We need a strong Labor government, because Tony Abbott would be an asbolute disaster, unlike Rudd, who will make this country paradise on earth. We won't need to worry about heaven, because we will be living in it if Rudd is reinstated. He will turn hate to love, war to peace, and misery to happiness.

Matty! Brilliant post.

You'll be writing your own speeches next - good work.

matty wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 6:17pm:

Kat wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 6:13pm: IMO, Labor is toast if they stick with the Red Dalek. At least with Rudd, they may have a chance, especially if he has used his ousting as a learning-experience. He'd need to put the cleaners through the current Cabinet and Caucus, and ruthlessly crush any dissent, but a revitalised, Rudd-led Labor govt is the best option currently available to us. Julia is toxic, and Abbott and his crew are no option at all. And as for the Greens...... Exactly, a revitalised Rudd is just what our country needs. He will make a far better PM than any other politician in Canberra. We need a strong Labor government, because Tony Abbott would be an asbolute disaster, unlike Rudd, who will make this country paradise on earth. We won't need to worry about heaven, because we will be living in it if Rudd is reinstated. He will turn hate to love, war to peace, and misery to happiness.

Matty, you've made many insightful, witty, relevant and
incisive comments since you've been here....

Unfortunately, that wasn't one of 'em..... :P

How many threads do we need on this rumour???

I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!!

Kat wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 7:11pm:

matty wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 6:17pm: Kat wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 6:13pm: IMO, Labor is toast if they stick with the Red Dalek. At least with Rudd, they may have a chance, especially if he has used his ousting as a learning-experience. He'd need to put the cleaners through the current Cabinet and Caucus, and ruthlessly crush any dissent, but a revitalised, Rudd-led Labor govt is the best option currently available to us. Julia is toxic, and Abbott and his crew are no option at all. And as for the Greens...... Exactly, a revitalised Rudd is just what our country needs. He will make a far better PM than any other politician in Canberra. We need a strong Labor government, because Tony Abbott would be an asbolute disaster, unlike Rudd, who will make this country paradise on earth. We won't need to worry about heaven, because we will be living in it if Rudd is reinstated. He will turn hate to love, war to peace, and misery to happiness. Matty, you've made many insightful, witty, relevant and incisive comments since you've been here.... Unfortunately, that wasn't one of 'em..... :P

Yes, Matty has many insights, but he usually doesn't post them.

As if Rudd's coming back. Labor had one falling on their sword chance, and they've used it up. Personally, I can't see what's wrong with Gillard. Things are going fine. Gillard's got one problem.

The electorate hate her. They hate her for no other reason than they hate her. They'd hate her if she didn't say:

THERE WILL BE NO CARBON TAX UNDER A GOVERNMENT I LEAD.

They'd hate her if she didn't assasinate Rudd. They hated him too, remember?

So Gillard will go, but it will be the electorate that finish her off. In the end, Labor won't take the risk. And why would Rudd? Apart from sheer vanity, what's in it for him? Wouldn't his legacy be better as a martyr than a loser?

I can't see Labor making the same mistake twice. I know the back benchers are itchy, but the long-term damage to Labor will be far worse if they put Rudd back in. And we all know that with Rudd, they'll lose anyway.

Labor can't win. All Gillard can do now is keep the chair warm for Abbott. As sad and tawdry as this is, as much as it sh!ts all over the very notion of democracy in this country, this is destiny. Short of a real assasination, it's our fate to be led by a dull ideologue with no policies and no vision.

This isn't to say that Abbott is not creative. But let's be honest, we all know very little about Abbott. We don't know what he'll do, and we have absolutely no idea what he stands for. Abbott is a shapeshifter with the sole ambition of getting elected. Apart from his dogged loyalty to mining companies, the fossil lobbies and the church, we don't know where he stands.

Rudd was a very indecisive PM. In the face of huge unpopularity, Gillard is able to delgate, consult and get things done. In the end, this is the job of leaders. The choices are put on the plate in front of you, and I doubt you can ever tell where they'll take you.

You can end up like Howard, or you can end up like Gillard. The winds that take you there are fickle, but the forces that blow those winds are heavy.

Big mining, the business lobbies, News Ltd, and the ones we don't even know about. These are the forces that are driving this country, and as dark as it is, these are the forces that will determine our destiny.

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 7:24pm:

How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!!

The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened.

NOTHING!!

Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise.

Gist wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 7:50pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise.

its looking pretty much like it wil happen now. what exactly is your beef anyhow? predicting anything in the political spehere is diffcult. it doesnt meant that the prediction was wrong just because ti didnt happen the month originally expected.

longweekend58 wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 7:54am:

Gist wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:50pm: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise. its looking pretty much like it wil happen now. what exactly is your beef anyhow? predicting anything in the political spehere is diffcult. it doesnt meant that the prediction was wrong just because ti didnt happen the month originally expected.

Hard? No, it's dead easy when you lot come out 6 times a day every day for years predicting a challenge. I count 6 threads on this topic on the front page right now. And that's just today!

One day of course you'll be right, there will be a challenge by someone on Gillard and she'll lose the leadership. Then you lot will probably come out and try to tell us what geniuses you all are because you got it right.

Once.

I guess we're supposed to forget about the 3,417 times you've got it wrong to date (so far).

Gist wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 7:50pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise.

They are covering up the anti-NBN-case disgrace!

END OF STORY!!

Oh, and their associated inability to understand the basics of econonomic concepts such as PRODUCTIVITY!

  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D TRUE STORY BTW!!  ::)

BatteriesNotIncluded wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 12:30pm:

Gist wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:50pm: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise. They are covering up the anti-NBN-case disgrace! END OF STORY!! Oh, and their associated inability to understand the basics of econonomic concepts such as PRODUCTIVITY!   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D TRUE STORY BTW!!  ::)

I know its been said before but

You really are as mad as a hatter.

longweekend58 wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 7:54am:

Gist wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:50pm: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise. its looking pretty much like it wil happen now. what exactly is your beef anyhow? predicting anything in the political spehere is diffcult. it doesnt meant that the prediction was wrong just because ti didnt happen the month originally expected.

WOW ,you claim his prediction is wrong, you have been saying for over a year it will never happen, goes to show how inept your radar is.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 9:24am:

The battle lines are being drawn as reports emerged that senior Labor MPs were warning Kevin Rudd supporters to back embattled Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Speculation has mounted that senior MPs were trying to shore up support for Ms Gillard, as the nervous wait continues to find out just what Mr Rudd will do. An MP speaking to a News Limited newspaper revealed that MPs were now being openly canvassed. "A lot of people have definitely been deployed to start speaking to the troops on behalf of the PM. There were conversations happening all over Parliament House," the MP said. Mr Rudd has consistently been ahead of Ms Gillard in preferred Prime Minister polls, and some within the Labor party believe a change back to the former leader is the only way to turn around a government under huge pressure. One MP told Fairfax they had to kill off any potential challenge now before it was too late. "I don't want them to be under any illusion about how bad it was and how bad it will be," the minister said anonymously. "If we don't start doing this, it will get a bigger head of steam than it already has." One of the most vocal supporters for Ms Gillard, Attorney General Nicola Roxon, has warned returning to Mr Rudd would be a disaster for the party. "Nicola was telling anyone who would listen that Rudd would be a disaster," one MP told News Limited. "It seemed to me that panic has set in, and they know Gillard is in trouble." However it is believed that even if Mr Rudd challenged, he wouldn't have the numbers to regain the Prime Ministership. http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/12945325/giilard-canvasses-numbers-as-showdown-looms

--------

We are no better off which one of these two bast*ads gets the seat.

Neither will change their policies, policies that have got them into this mess. I doubt that neither knows the score and, even if they knew, they have two things in common - unrelenting ambition and stubbornness.

Gist wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 12:25pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Feb 19th, 2012 at 7:54am: Gist wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:50pm: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 7:24pm: How many threads do we need on this rumour??? I lost interest after we where told it would happen before Christmas!!! The righty wankfest is a moveable feast. It will definitely happen in October 2011. They gave us a cast iron guarantee. We waited with bated breath (well, OK, more like scornful derision). And what happened. NOTHING!! Did they forget to carry the one?? Or maybe it was a Tony guarantee... y'know dead, buried, cremated. Just not in writing. Certainly not a core promise. its looking pretty much like it wil happen now. what exactly is your beef anyhow? predicting anything in the political spehere is diffcult. it doesnt meant that the prediction was wrong just because ti didnt happen the month originally expected. Hard? No, it's dead easy when you lot come out 6 times a day every day for years predicting a challenge. I count 6 threads on this topic on the front page right now. And that's just today! One day of course you'll be right, there will be a challenge by someone on Gillard and she'll lose the leadership. Then you lot will probably come out and try to tell us what geniuses you all are because you got it right. Once. I guess we're supposed to forget about the 3,417 times you've got it wrong to date (so far).

Longy has got it wrong 14 228 times so far!!!

[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

While I hate to agree with LW and Andrei, I have to say it is looking more likely now then it ever has. With the QLD election looming, it is the perfect time for Rudd to make a move. If he was ever going to, it will be before those polls open.

And it isn't the Media and Lib rabble rousing that has convinced me either; it's the silence of most of the Labor front bench. If Gillard was as safe as has been claimed, the ones with the biggest vested interest in keeping Rudd away like Shorten and Abib would be screaming it from the rooftops that Rudd will never again be PM.

Instead, we have Tanya Plibersek on the ABC stating in political spin that she is basically on the fence. All I'm saying is, if it were EVER going to happen, it will be within the next month.

GoddyofOz wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 4:57pm:

While I hate to agree with LW and Andrei, I have to say it is looking more likely now then it ever has. With the QLD election looming, it is the perfect time for Rudd to make a move. If he was ever going to, it will be before those polls open. And it isn't the Media and Lib rabble rousing that has convinced me either; it's the silence of most of the Labor front bench. If Gillard was as safe as has been claimed, the ones with the biggest vested interest in keeping Rudd away like Shorten and Abib would be screaming it from the rooftops that Rudd will never again be PM. Instead, we have Tanya Plibersek on the ABC stating in political spin that she is basically on the fence. All I'm saying is, if it were EVER going to happen, it will be within the next month.

Barry Cassidy doesn't usually play those political games, today he said there WILL BE A CHALLENGE tomorrow week, he doesn't usually make outrageous predictions like that unless he is pretty certain they will happen. So, I think its on, though I think Rudd will lose, THE FIRST TIME.

It will never happen MR K. Rudd has got it too good now as Forigin minister for Australia

Maybe K. Rudd should stand for Election in Qld He will be seen a More Popular than our Anna

skippy. wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 5:01pm:

GoddyofOz wrote on Feb 19th, 2012 at 4:57pm: While I hate to agree with LW and Andrei, I have to say it is looking more likely now then it ever has. With the QLD election looming, it is the perfect time for Rudd to make a move. If he was ever going to, it will be before those polls open. And it isn't the Media and Lib rabble rousing that has convinced me either; it's the silence of most of the Labor front bench. If Gillard was as safe as has been claimed, the ones with the biggest vested interest in keeping Rudd away like Shorten and Abib would be screaming it from the rooftops that Rudd will never again be PM. Instead, we have Tanya Plibersek on the ABC stating in political spin that she is basically on the fence. All I'm saying is, if it were EVER going to happen, it will be within the next month. Barry Cassidy doesn't usually play those political games, today he said there WILL BE A CHALLENGE tomorrow week, he doesn't usually make outrageous predictions like that unless he is pretty certain they will happen. So, I think its on, though I think Rudd will lose, THE FIRST TIME.

That post of mine is actually the first time I have said I think there will be a challenge. This is because this is the first time I think there is one likely.

However I think both are on a loser.

I think Rudd will not have the numbers to get over the line.

However for Gillard, if the predicted 1/3rd of MPs don't back her, then her credibility is shot through as well.

How can you continue to lead when so many have voted for you to go??

yeah ther'll be a challenge but it won't be for mr K Rudd, it will be done by the unions with mr W Swan, waiting in the wings.

Who knows, goddy. The leader only has the job while they have the majority of supporters. The second they lose that, they've lost the leadership. That's the same on either side. So if Rudd had the numbers we wouldn't be talking about it, he would already be leader.

But all I can say is if Labor do ditch Gillard for Rudd then they'll have lost the plot completely as far as I'm concerned. We'll go back to all the reasons for changing over in the first place just when Gillard has finally finished clearing the log jam created by Rudd in the first place.

Paki gob on a stick wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 7:37pm:

(SNIP) Big mining, the business lobbies, News Ltd, and the ones we don't even know about. These are the forces that are driving this country, and as dark as it is, these are the forces that will determine our destiny.

Yes, I agree 100% with what you have said. Labor have botched it up. They will go, and the future will be very dim for people who don't live in Sydney's North Shore mansions. 

cods wrote on Feb 18^th, 2012 at 10:15am:

watching some experts on TV one said that if their is a spill..and Kev loses he will have to resign straight away...

Well the "experts" are talking ... 

                            http://tdjj.yolasite.com/resources/imagesCAGT8B49.jpg





The ONLY scenario that would force Rudd to "resign" - would be being voted out by his costituants at the next Federal Election




( ... you may recall - Belinda Neal could not be forced to "resign")

I believe Kevin Rudd could bring the Government down by resigning if the party does not support his leadership push - thats the end of them I think...
http://yoursmiles.org/csmile/goodbye/c0217.gif

buzzanddidj wrote on Feb 19^th, 2012 at 6:12pm:

cods wrote on Feb 18th, 2012 at 10:15am: watching some experts on TV one said that if their is a spill..and Kev loses he will have to resign straight away... Well the "experts" are talking ...                              http://tdjj.yolasite.com/resources/imagesCAGT8B49.jpg The ONLY scenario that would force Rudd to "resign" - would be being voted out by his costituants at the next Federal Election ( ... you may recall - Belinda Neal could not be forced to "resign")

they were referring to resigning his CABINET ministry position. Everyboyd but you seemed to have worked that out ok.