Every aspiring hopeful starting out on a political career hopes that one day he or she may attain the coveted position of " Prime Minister of Australia ". That would be the pinnacle of political success, and yet at this moment it has become the job that nobody wants !
A successful stint in the Lodge ensures that holder of office will join the panoply of former leaders who feature in the history books, have places and events named after them and whose portraits line the great hall of parliament house. Every leader eventually leaves office - but it is the manner of departure that bestows either fame or ignominy.
The famous people of this world are those who were successful in some way. Lord Nelson won a victory over an invading fleet, resulting in his statue commanding attention in central London. George Custer badly underestimated enemy strength and this resulted in his entire command being massacred. He is remembered as the butt of comedian's jokes !
The once mighty Australian Labor party has managed to lose the affection of it's supporters to such an extent that it was soundly reduced to a rump in Queensland and New South Wales - and has now faced a similar massacre in Western Australia. The governing Federal party will go to the polls on September 14, and it is predicted to suffer a similar fate.
Many are calling on Julia Gillard to resign for the good of the party. Those convinced that she can not win are hoping that a new face in the Lodge may turn things around, but - strangely - neither Rudd, Shorten or Combet seem interested in taking up the cudgels and going into battle.
It seems that those inside this government are convinced that it has passed the point of no return. A new face may bring an upward blip in the ratings, but the end result will still be loss of government - and whoever is leading the party at that time will be consigned to political oblivion.
Those with aspirations know that they would be better served by emerging from the debris of defeat to start the long journey back from opposition to the stage when the ALP may again be considered an alternative to whoever is in power. A failed leader simply does not get that opportunity to take a second bite at the cherry.
There are still long weeks before the voters deliver their verdict and if the pressure mounts to the extent that Gillard falls on her sword, the contenders will face an awful choice. If one of them is drafted to take the reigns of power it would be a bitter sweet victory. To lead a government to defeat is to end ones promising political career.
Events in Australian politics seem a mirror image of what is happening in the Vatican. There opposing views are battling to either hold the church to it's ultra conservative stance, or bring it into the twenty-first century. Here, the battle is to find a sacrificial lamb to be sent to the slaughter and atone for the party's sins.
As some wit once remarked about politicians. " One day a fine Rooster - the next day a feather duster " !
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