Calamity overtakes Kevin Rudd.

Just when the Australian Labor Party ( ALP ) finally elected a leader with the flair and charisma to have a hope of being the next prime minister a ghost from his past entered centre stage.
Kevin Rudd was riding high in the opinion polls with poll results indicating the ALP was ahead of the government on preferences - and Rudd was even ahead of John Howard as preferred prime minister.
And then thunderclouds from the west rained on his parade !
Rudd had three meetings with disgraced former West Australian premier Brian Burke, who was a convicted felon who has served time in prison and is now peddling influence from his government contacts, resulting in an investigation by an anti-corruption body. The West Australian government has banned all contact with Burke - and three of it's ministers have been sacked for defying that ban.
The Federal government has gloried in the opportunity to crucify Rudd in the parliament. Rudd apologises and admits that the contact was a poor choice of judgement, but refuses to step down as leader.
He refuses to divulge the reason for the meetings, but there is likely conjecture that they were to garner support at the time he was planning a move to unseat then leader Kim Beazley. His suggestion that he was a mere visitor at a dinner, attended as a guest of his friend Julian Grill - exploded when printed invitations emerged naming Rudd as the honoured guest and reason for the event.
Now a new factor has emerged. Human Services Minister Ian Campbell has come forward and admitted that he also had a meeting with Brian Burke. This happened when Burke attended a meeting - standing in for Grill - to decide future plans for a sports ground in Perth. Campbell offered his resignation - for the good of the party - and prime minister Howard reluctantly accepted it.
This changes the whole context of the situation - and puts Rudd in an impossible situation. If he stands firm and bluffs it out his credibility will be badly damaged. He met with a notoriously crooked ex-politician and this was enough for three Western Australian ministers to be sacked - and a sitting Liberal minister to voluntarily fall on his sword - and yet Rudd refuses to accept punishment.
He may survive - just. But his credibility will be badly damaged - and for him the " honeymoon " would seem to be over.
The ALP has little option than to bluff it out and take flak. Should Rudd do the right thing and stand down - the Labor party would be - if you will permit the pun - left Rudderless. There simply isn't anyone else suited to be leader, much less in an election year.
Kevin Rudd must be wondering what he did to enrage the Gods of politics !