A " Hissy Fit " !

Kevin Rudd clearly demonstrated why the Australian government decided not to put his name forward as a possible Secretary General for the United Nations.   The reversal sent him into a blistering rage attack in which he released confidential papers and began apportioning the blame for his defeat.    The problem is - Kevin Rudd is a politician and the United Nations job calls for an ambassador.

Ban Ki-moon was an inconspicuous little Korean who took countless rejections in silence.   Over the years of his tenure he had many successes - and many failures.  He was adept at dealing with people who exercised great power - and who were motivated by great ego.   He was a master at compromise and this required the ability to walk away from savage confrontations without burning bridges.  He endured insults with a ready smile - and always left the door open for another later round of new negotiations.

Even the Australian Labor party could not stand the micro managing Kevin Rudd in office and promptly dumped him.   He burned through advisory staff at a rapid rate and many found his decision making mercurial.  Insiders frequently learned of new decisions taken when they read the morning newspapers.

There is no doubt that Rudd was good at selling himself to the general public.  That boyish, friendly smile went over well but his extrovert personality called for the spotlight to be shining on him - and him alone.   The United Nations Secretary General job called for very different skills and both sides of politics had doubts that Rudd was the right person for that job.

Rudd is now seeking to exploit differences of opinion from those who initially gave tacit support to his putting his hand up for the UN job.    This is where the politician diverges from the ambassador.  Worse, Rudd is now admitting to openly coercing losing past politicians to jump ship by way of offering access to plum administrative posts overseas.   This will certainly open an area of conjecture ranging back over his term in office.

Asking the Australian government to put forward a name as a possible contender for the office of United Nations Secretary General is to fix it with a seal of approval.   The Commonwealth of Australia is virtually certifying that in its opinion this person is not only suitable for the job but enjoys the confidence that he would serve with distinction.     If either is lacking, such a proposal puts the good name of this country at risk.

Of course, the very nature of politics now comes into play.  Despite the histrionics of Rudd's two terms in office and his inglorious defeat his old political party has no option other than to close ranks behind him.    Those who detested him in office must now bestow the laurels of a conquering hero and applaud his claim to a post on the world stage.

The "  Hissy fit  " with which Rudd greeted his rejection probably cemented in many minds his unsuitability for the job.    Had he accepted rejection with silence and aplomb many may have wondered whether the passage of time had tempered the man and improved his skill set.