The Winter of our Kevin
Wow. What a day in Aussie politics it was today. Australians now have a female Prime Minister. Ms Julia Gillard has sworn an oath (formally, not in the traditional Aussie manner) to serve her country. Interesting times indeed. (For my non-Aussie readers, check here and here for the relevent news stories.)
Those who know me in real life will know that I have kind of a love-hate relationship with politics. Well, Politics anyway. Big P. Party Politics. I have spent some time uncomfortably close to the fringes of it in my personal and professional life. Politics is one hell of a game – it takes brains, it takes courage, it takes cunning and it takes a VERY thick hide. No matter how well-intentioned a politician starts out, they all get poisoned by the game a bit in the end. (I’m a wee bit cynical about it all – and I generally avoid Political discussion – and blog posts – with vigour… but it’s hard to ignore such a day when little else fills our news reports.)
Many blogs are making a big deal of our new leader’s gender – our Very First Female Prime Minister. Whoo-hoo for us. As she herself pointed out, she hasn’t been VOTED in by the Australian public – she has arrived in office in one of the worst ways possible. At the expense of the leader to whom she was Deputy. She will be looking over her shoulder for a long time, methinks. (At least she will if she has any measure of political nous.)
My funny, naughty friend Jenny has threatened to write one of her infamous songs for PM Gillard. I wish I had Jenny’s talent (and intestinal fortitude for expressing her views). Venture to her place with caution!
It seems fitting to me, that before Twitter starting going ballistic last night with #spill2 tags sharing updates and opinions on our (now sobbing, ex-) Leader’s political woes, that these were the two lots of images I had ready to blog:
Some tired, almost-transparent, barely-holding-on leaves …
…from our once-vibrant (now dormant) Flame tree.
And a fully-blown red rose…
…wet behind the petals with dew.
Read into that what you will.
-*-*-*-*
(Next post will be pretty and bush-themed I promise!)
7 Comments
JENNY TALIA
Dude, I totally had to google ‘intestinal fortitude’
I couldn’t work out if it meant ‘guts’ or a ‘stomach virus’
As always, I come here and I learn something
I wish I could promise you the same from my site
But I’m pretty sure you know what to expect when you go there
An education of a different kind?
Your pics are gorgeous!
JT
JENNY TALIA´s last blog post ..video of the week
Bush Babe
Oh honey – you got guts girlfriend! (And I mean that figuratively!). I feel so namby pamby compared to you.
🙂
BB
Cheryl
Yes an interesting day indeed. I think the media plays a huge role in the rise and fall too – a few friends today said they didn’t realise he had done so much and I’ve felt the media has turned on him in the last few months. I wonder how long Julia’s “honeymoon” will be? Hats off to anyone willing to stand for office, it’s a dirty game.
Bush Babe
You are right – the media did have a lot to do with it. Just as they had a whole lot to do with getting him elected. It’s all part of the ‘game’ – and one of the major reasons I distrust both sides of it. And why I never dipped my toes in the political side of journalism.
And why I’d just much rather take photos and whinge about broadband!
🙂
BB
Suzinoz
Definitely an interesting day. Mabye you can help me with something…what is the obsession with Julia’s hair colour? I never realised there was such a stigma to being a redhead here in Australia. After 10 years, this is new to me.
Suzinoz´s last blog post ..The Big USA Pilgrimage: Traveling with Preschoolers
Bush Babe
Actually I LOVE her hair… but you are right. Aussie do tend to focus on it a bit. I wonder if it’s to do with the fact that redheads have a colouring uniquely incompatible with our climate (at least here in the northern parts!). And that we (affectionately) call redheads ‘Blue’.
I don’t think it’s a stigma though. At least I don’t mean it to be here!
🙂
BB
Kelly
Nothing wrong with redheads…one of my daughters is a redhead!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Cornish Hens with Rice Stuffing