Should Rudd "retire"?

For those of you in Upover and Elsewhere I will probably have to explain who Kevin Rudd is. He is Downunder's Ambassador to the United States of America. 

When it comes to diplomatic posts there are none considered more important in Canberra. It is a post which should only be given to someone with outstanding diplomatic skills, personal relationships and understanding of both national and international affairs. 

Although his supporters may try and suggest otherwise Rudd has none of those things. He was perhaps the worst Prime Minister we have had in recent years. The complaints I heard from colleagues when he was Prime Minister, people who actually had to work with him and his parliament on a day to day basis, have never been equalled. They may not have cared greatly for other Prime Ministers from both sides but they actively disliked Rudd. 

Rudd became Prime Minister, lost the position to Julia Gillard, and then won it again. He used tactics that still cause concern in Canberra today. They will likely go on causing concern. When he lost the election, as it should have been lost, he gave a lengthy self-serving speech. It was not the "gracious" gesture many claimed it to be. He knew exactly what he was doing. 

He refused to believe his political career was over. He knew his attempt to become Secretary-General of the United Nations was doomed to failure.  He was trying to pave the way to eventually becoming President of the Labor Party in Downunder.  It would have been a very powerful position in his hands and the current Prime Minister was having none of it. How to get rid of the threat? Offer him an Ambassadorship he could not refuse, the top post in diplomacy.

He had already been highly and very vocally critical of the now President of the country he was being sent to. That alone should have been enough to question his suitability for the position. Apparently it was more important to see him sent abroad than risk his interference here.

The exchange between PresidentTrump, Prime Minister Albanese and now Ambassador Rudd might be amusing to many but it also shows there is a problem.  Our Prime Minister is still supporting his old foe. He does not want him back here causing problems. He is still telling the world that this man is doing a great job.

In reality he is doing a very poor job. He has not been able to make the connections he should be making in Washington. One of his predecessors played golf with the President. It is most unlikely such an invitation will ever be willingly extended to him. That they loathe each other is all too obvious.

He could be removed from the position. It would be a very political move, an acknowledgment he cannot do the job. This is unlikely to happen but it is there as a possibility. He should be aware of that but he would probably laugh it off if someone suggested it to him.

If he had any self-awareness and he really did care for his country though then he would announce his retirement. It is time for him to go and that would solve the problem he presents for the rest of us.   

 

It is a job he should never have been offered. He was highly