http://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/a/20664839/rudd-speech-put%20pollie-to-sleep/

As Kevin Rudd's long soliloquy about Australian history dragged on, the dinner's guest of honour - then-US defence secretary Robert Gates - couldn't help but nod off.

Gates' memoir Duty has been making international headlines due to his criticisms of US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, but it also contains an amusing anecdote involving Australia's former PM.

Mr Gates visited Australia in February 2008 as part of a global tour, but he says a broken shoulder made for some awkward moments.

"At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia," he writes.

"I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a painkiller, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep.

"This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me."

Mr Rudd was "very gracious" about the whole thing, Mr Gates says.

If you got Rudd for an after-dinner speaker you would want to have dinner at lunch time.

I heard about Gates' memoir, apparently he gave Obama a serve but saved the worst for Biden.
Biden must be to Obama what Johnson was to Kennedy but without any brain matter.

Rudd's voice is like a narcissistic, monotone drone - he could put anyone to sleep in no time at all. Never seen anyone so totally in e with the sound of their own voice as Rudd. No one comes close.

February, 2008? This is news? Must be the silly season.

::)

Bam wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 3:10pm:

February, 2008? This is news? Must be the silly season. ::)

Check the date of the story - TODAY! The incident occurred in 2008 but the story is about Gates' recently published memoir "Duty"...

Another waste of good bandwidth by Maqqa.

Kat wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 3:21pm:

Another waste of good bandwidth by Maqqa.

More wasteful than this thread???

http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1389135337

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 3:16pm:

Bam wrote on Jan 9th, 2014 at 3:10pm: February, 2008? This is news? Must be the silly season. ::) Check the date of the story - TODAY! The incident occurred in 2008 but the story is about Gates' recently published memoir "Duty"...

Who cares? Really, who cares? It supposedly happened in 2008.

It's not news. It's about as newsworthy as a cat stuck up a tree. Silly season filler.

AND NO SELFIE......OH......WHAT A MISSED CHANCE...

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I think they fell asleep at the U.N. as well didnt they?????

and not a bugger listened to him in Copenhagen... ::) ::)


it proves one thing..


the lefties in this country are the only ones to appreciate this ego driven twit.

... and then the story from a NON-Murdoch source





"At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia," he writes.

"I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a pain-killer, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep"

"This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me.

"Rudd was very gracious about the whole thing; my team less so, as they took raucous delight in making fun of my undiplomatic snooze."

Mr Gates, who had broken his shoulder in three places when he had slipped on ice outside his Washington DC house, said he was "shocked" to wake the next morning and find his entire upper body was black and blue.

"The US Air Force doctor traveling with me called in a couple of Australian physicians, and everyone was puzzled that the bruising had appeared a week after my fall, but in typical Aussie fashion and with good cheer, they said it would take care of itself.

"Given the the number of pain-killing drugs he was on when he arrived at The Lodge, Mr Rudd thought it was surprising Mr Gates could remember anything from the evening at all," the spokesperson said.

"Perhaps Mr Gates should have taken up Mr Rudd's suggestion, made to him when he arrived, to forget dinner and just go home to bed"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/kevin-rudd-27soliloquy27-put-former-us-secretary-robert-gates/5192300






The laughingly ludicrous slant to which Murdoch Press applies to any story on the former PM - and former member of the parliament - would make you think they were STILL election campaigning

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 3:33pm:

Kat wrote on Jan 9th, 2014 at 3:21pm: Another waste of good bandwidth by Maqqa. More wasteful than this thread??? http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1389135337

I'd be more inclined to take that up with whoever started that thread.

And it wasn't me.

(For the record, I think it was a waste of bandwidth also).

Ronnie Reagan used to regularly drop off during Cabinet meetings. Don't think Rudd was there.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 8:13pm:

... and then the story from a NON-Murdoch source "At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia," he writes. "I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a pain-killer, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep" "This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me. "Rudd was very gracious about the whole thing; my team less so, as they took raucous delight in making fun of my undiplomatic snooze." Mr Gates, who had broken his shoulder in three places when he had slipped on ice outside his Washington DC house, said he was "shocked" to wake the next morning and find his entire upper body was black and blue. "The US Air Force doctor traveling with me called in a couple of Australian physicians, and everyone was puzzled that the bruising had appeared a week after my fall, but in typical Aussie fashion and with good cheer, they said it would take care of itself. "Given the the number of pain-killing drugs he was on when he arrived at The Lodge, Mr Rudd thought it was surprising Mr Gates could remember anything from the evening at all," the spokesperson said. "Perhaps Mr Gates should have taken up Mr Rudd's suggestion, made to him when he arrived, to forget dinner and just go home to bed" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/kevin-rudd-27soliloquy27-put-former-us-secretary-robert-gates/5192300 The laughingly ludicrous slant to which Murdoch Press applies to any story on the former PM - and former member of the parliament - would make you think they were STILL election campaigning

thanks buzz  ... they must really hate  it when you show them up for the liars they are.  ;D ;D ;D

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 8:13pm:

... and then the story from a NON-Murdoch source "At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia," he writes. "I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a pain-killer, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep" "This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me. "Rudd was very gracious about the whole thing; my team less so, as they took raucous delight in making fun of my undiplomatic snooze." Mr Gates, who had broken his shoulder in three places when he had slipped on ice outside his Washington DC house, said he was "shocked" to wake the next morning and find his entire upper body was black and blue. "The US Air Force doctor traveling with me called in a couple of Australian physicians, and everyone was puzzled that the bruising had appeared a week after my fall, but in typical Aussie fashion and with good cheer, they said it would take care of itself. "Given the the number of pain-killing drugs he was on when he arrived at The Lodge, Mr Rudd thought it was surprising Mr Gates could remember anything from the evening at all," the spokesperson said. "Perhaps Mr Gates should have taken up Mr Rudd's suggestion, made to him when he arrived, to forget dinner and just go home to bed" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/kevin-rudd-27soliloquy27-put-former-us-secretary-robert-gates/5192300 The laughingly ludicrous slant to which Murdoch Press applies to any story on the former PM - and former member of the parliament - would make you think they were STILL election campaigning

Politicians are ALWAYS election campaigning. But I wouldn't expect a halfwit such as yourself to realise that.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 8:13pm:

... and then the story from a NON-Murdoch source

Where is the Murdoch report?  I read them both, the first one which you seem to object to is AAP, which is a Fairfax source.  The second one was ABC. 

And they both contain the phrase " Mr Gates, who was taking medication for a broken shoulder, "should have taken up Mr Rudd's suggestion... to forget dinner and just go home to bed," Mr Rudd's spokeswoman said in a statement." and "In the memoir, Mr Gates wrote: "I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a painkiller, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep."

Datalife wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 10:56am:

The second one was ABC.

What? The ABC have run an anti Kevin Rudd / anti Labor story?
No that is simply not possible.
I have been reliably imformed by members of this forum that the ABC are left wing Labor apologists.

It may be an old story but the release of the memoir by this cabinet secretary who served both a Republican and a Democrat administration, before the latter had expired, is very newsworthy now.
The Rudd story is just a footnote to the rest of it, which gives Obama & Biden big serves.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 10:24am:

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 9th, 2014 at 8:13pm: ... and then the story from a NON-Murdoch source "At a very nice dinner given in my honour by Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, I was doing fine at table conversation until Rudd began a long soliloquy on the history of Australia," he writes. "I had made it just past World War I when the combined effect of a pain-killer, jet lag, and a glass of wine caused me to fall asleep" "This led to not-so-subtle attempts by my American colleagues at the table to rouse me. "Rudd was very gracious about the whole thing; my team less so, as they took raucous delight in making fun of my undiplomatic snooze." Mr Gates, who had broken his shoulder in three places when he had slipped on ice outside his Washington DC house, said he was "shocked" to wake the next morning and find his entire upper body was black and blue. "The US Air Force doctor traveling with me called in a couple of Australian physicians, and everyone was puzzled that the bruising had appeared a week after my fall, but in typical Aussie fashion and with good cheer, they said it would take care of itself. "Given the the number of pain-killing drugs he was on when he arrived at The Lodge, Mr Rudd thought it was surprising Mr Gates could remember anything from the evening at all," the spokesperson said. "Perhaps Mr Gates should have taken up Mr Rudd's suggestion, made to him when he arrived, to forget dinner and just go home to bed" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-09/kevin-rudd-27soliloquy27-put-former-us-secretary-robert-gates/5192300 The laughingly ludicrous slant to which Murdoch Press applies to any story on the former PM - and former member of the parliament - would make you think they were STILL election campaigning Politicians are ALWAYS election campaigning. But I wouldn't expect a halfwit such as yourself to realise that.

If you read it AGAIN - perhaps a little more SLOWLY - you would realise it was a reference to Murdoch Press still election campaigning

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 2:02pm:

If you read it AGAIN - perhaps a little more SLOWLY - you would realise it was a reference to Murdoch Press still election campaigning

Where?  Which article is the Murdoch press still campaigning? 

Datalife wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 2:05pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10th, 2014 at 2:02pm: If you read it AGAIN - perhaps a little more SLOWLY - you would realise it was a reference to Murdoch Press still election campaigning Where?  Which article is the Murdoch press still campaigning?

In Buzz's depraved and disturbing wet dreams...

Datalife wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 2:05pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10th, 2014 at 2:02pm: If you read it AGAIN - perhaps a little more SLOWLY - you would realise it was a reference to Murdoch Press still election campaigning Where?  Which article is the Murdoch press still campaigning?

AAP provide the COPY

Murdoch Press attach their OWN headline



Kevin Rudd was a snore, says former US defence chief Robert Gates

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/kevin-rudd-was-a-snore-says-former-us-defence-chief-robert-gates/story-e6frg6so-1226798089369



Robert Gates reveals a Kevin Rudd speech was so long it sent him to sleep

http://www.news.com.au/national/robert-gates-reveals-a-kevin-rudd-speech-was-so-long-it-sent-him-to-sleep/story-fncynjr2-1226798081669




NB

Murdoch Press hold 45% share of AAP - with Fairfax at 47%

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 4:31pm:

Murdoch Press attach their OWN headline[/i][/b][/size] [size=18]Kevin Rudd was a snore, says former US defence chief Robert Gates http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/kevin-rudd-was-a-snore-says-former-us-defence-chief-robert-gates/story-e6frg6so-1226798089369

ahhhh you are now talking about an article in The Australian.  Instead of being distracted by playing with crayons and font size if you had posted that originally you may have made sense. 

.






* ... CHRIST, this place can be tiresome



The Australian is OWNED by Murdoch Press - you DRONGO !

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 6:07pm:

. * ... CHRIST, this place can be tiresome The Australian is OWNED by Murdoch Press - you DRONGO !

Yes, yes it is.  And you only just introduced The Australian.  This whole thread you have been ranting about an AAP article. 

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 4:31pm:

Datalife wrote on Jan 10th, 2014 at 2:05pm: buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10th, 2014 at 2:02pm: If you read it AGAIN - perhaps a little more SLOWLY - you would realise it was a reference to Murdoch Press still election campaigning Where?  Which article is the Murdoch press still campaigning?  AAP provide the COPY Murdoch Press attach their OWN headline Kevin Rudd was a snore, says former US defence chief Robert Gates http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/kevin-rudd-was-a-snore-says-former-us-defence-chief-robert-gates/story-e6frg6so-1226798089369 Robert Gates reveals a Kevin Rudd speech was so long it sent him to sleep http://www.news.com.au/national/robert-gates-reveals-a-kevin-rudd-speech-was-so-long-it-sent-him-to-sleep/story-fncynjr2-1226798081669 NB Murdoch Press hold 45% share of AAP - with Fairfax at 47%

Yeah, the Fairfax press never prints headlines like that about Abbott or O'Farrell, do they?!?!?  ::)

Maqqa wrote on Jan 9^th, 2014 at 1:24pm:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/a/20664839/rudd-speech-put%20pollie-to-sleep/ As Kevin Rudd's long soliloquy about Australian history dragged on, the dinner's guest of honour - then-US defence secretary Robert Gates - couldn't help but nod off.

he got off lightly... most people get the urge to commit 'huri kuri' if they listen to him for more than 10 minutes...

lucky for him he went to sleep...

Datalife wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 6:29pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 10th, 2014 at 6:07pm: . * ... CHRIST, this place can be tiresome The Australian is OWNED by Murdoch Press - you DRONGO ! ... you only just introduced The Australian.  This whole thread you have been ranting about an AAP article.

HALF of the "journalists" with AAP are 50% in the EMPLOY of Murdoch Press

- you DRONGO !






NB

AAP is a news reviewing and editing agency - from news gathered from around the globe
It writes NOTHING


Due to budget constraints, even our ABC have been forced to source it - being cheaper than hiring REAL journalists

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 11^th, 2014 at 11:21am:

HALF of the "journalists" with AAP are 50% in the EMPLOY of Murdoch Press - you DRONGO !

I have never heard of AAP being referred to as Murdoch Media.  But then again I don't move in the same circles as people who write with crayons.

Quote:

AAP is owned by three Australian news organisations - News Corp Australia, Fairfax, and Seven West Media. Fairfax owns 47%, News owns 45%, and Seven West 8%.[1] Together these companies produce the vast majority of Australian newspapers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Associated_Press

Looks to me like the majority owner is Fairfax.