Back to Beazley: Latham quits, blames health (Aust Labor leader)

[rooboy]

Opposition Leader Mark Latham has quit as Labor leader and Werriwa MP, blaming his health.

Former leader Kim Beazley says he will seek to take over saying he is "aboslutely fired with ambition".

Mr Latham, speaking at a doorstop in Sydney, also announced he would quit politics.

``A number of colleagues have asked me to address the uncertainty concerning the Labor leadership,'' Mr Latham told journalists.


``While I had planned to reassess things at the end of my leave period on the 26th of January, the ongoing speculation is damaging the party and needs to be dealt with now.

''(My family's) conclusion is that I should look after my health and pursue a normal life outside of politics.

``Therefore I've decided to resign both as Labor leader and Member for Werriwa.''

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Back-to-Beazley-Latham-quits-blames-health/2005/01/18/1105810890022.html

[Josh]

1. Beazley's a good guy

The Latham experiment looked okay at first, but Labor suffered even worse results than anyone was expecting, with the Coalition padding its majority for the second time in a row.

Beazley has actually gotten more popular because everyone always likes how nice he is. I think he's a stabilising force, and I doubt he would seek the leadership again (he's now lost two national elections and two party-room elections to get back this position) if he didn't think Labor could win. I have my doubts, as it'll take a reverse landslide the size of the one that brought John Howard to power in 1996, but anything's possible. Latham and Labor have been bleeding badly ever since the election. A change was desperately needed, and some suspect his health was even worse than previously though, which is why he's not only quitting the leadership but politics altogether.

[Esra Star]

2. The lying rodent...

won the election because the idiot voters have bought the
bullshit war thing. They all are quivering just like when
Menzies promoted the "domino theory".
I think, over time, when the truth becomes more apparent
Beazley and Labor will look more of a good thing.
You will notice Howard is not racing over to the U.S.
to do Monica impressions lately.

[SweetLeftFoot]

6. From my understanding

Howard won big on the economy - using interest rate scare tactics in the debt-ridden "exurbs". Until we (on the Left) can develop a strategy to deal with that, piffling on about the war won't get us very far.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi Esra Star!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Esra Star]

9. Hi to you...

and thank you for having me.
I read yesterday that you are the number 1 poster to DU.
Is it possible to be that prolific and have a life too?

[GregW]

3. Bring back Gough!

Heck, a drover's dog should be able to beat that spineless worm, Howard. Speaking of drover's dogs ... bring back Bob for that matter, too!

[Ken Burch]

8. Thanks for the clarification of the political positions of the other three

that was in the duplicate thread.

[sweetheart]

4. Clearly Latham is not up to it, or he'd not have quit

I respect Mark Latham, and hope that he reconsider, though it appears
too late. Whomever is leader, i hope that (we) pull together in
opposition and defeat this meanace of deception, war and social rot.

Good luck to you Mark.

[SweetLeftFoot]

5. The Beazer

... is in a very similar position to the one Howard was in when he got bac as leader of the Libs.

That said, the Beazer also has a distinct US bias and likes tootling about in tanks and the like having his picture taken. This doesn't augur well.

[Esra Star]

10. It's "the beaser".....

or the ruddster, take your pick.
And I am aware that voters are very hip pocket oriented,
but I think that the "war against truth" kicked it over.