Braving the Comedy watch-list
To Brisbane for the official launch of the Labor campaign. To the very same auditorium, in fact, where . "Geographical me-tooism" I hear you cry. But at least Kevin Rudd hails from these parts.
Remember his opening gambit at the Labor Party conference earlier in the year: ‘My name is Kevin. I’m from Queensland and I’m here to help,’ which confessedly I thought a little feeble and nerdy at the time, but which seemed to raise a couple of tension-breaking chuckles in the hall.
Security is tight, as they say (how many times do we write and hear that these days?). A police dog has just given my laptop a good sniff, and there are lots of stern-looking security officials hanging around with curly plastic things protruding from their ears. Very presidential.
The mood is leavened by lots of cheery young volunteers wearing bright red "Australian Labor" and "Kevin 07" t-shirts (the party’s had a bit of a presentational make-over since Mr Rudd took charge). Lots of Rudd aides are moving purposefully around, looking like extras from the "West Wing". Very quasi-presidential.
Hilariously, there’s a woman at the door with a sheet of paper with five mug-shots of the guys from , the comedians who delight in ambushing events like this. It has come to this: a "Comedy watch-list".
From a distance - three miles, say - a colleague from New Zealand looks a little the one of the Chasers. But I’m glad to report that after a few suspicious glances, he made it through the door. If he dons a chicken outfit or starts peeling off his clothes, I will be sure to alert security.
I’ve just run into one of Mr Rudd’s most senior advisors and asked if this is going to be the "Sheffield rally moment" of the Australian campaign. I was referring to the cringe-inducing event held a week before the 1992 UK general election at which the then Labour leader got a little carried away with his lead in the polls and started shouting "Well Alright! Well Alright!"– a display of triumphalism thought to have cost him the election.
He didn’t seem to know what I was talking about, so I said it was a little like the after the Iowa caucus in 2004 (although Dean had just come third, and Kinnock thought he was on the verge of victory). No chance, he said. Kevin Rudd doesn’t do screams or "well alrights". Quite.
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Nick I enjoyed your comment on being called an A1 Galah. As you know a Galah is an Aussie of the parrot family and has some pink feathers. I recall a QLD state opposition pollie calling a government pollie "one pink feather short of being a proper galah". A refreshing variation of the old similar chestnuts.
Congrats on your future marital endeavors and best wishes from sunny QLD.
Enjoyed your blog over the last few weeks and keep it up with plenty of future juicy ingredients in the offing.
Ern
Dear Nicholas,
I believe now. Now. It is time to unshackle this party and yell with one voice
"Well Alright! Well Alright!"
Thank you for support. My best wishes to the 91Èȱ¬.
Kind Regards,
Kev