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Caption Contest

94 comments

(photo from Tim Blair)
Update: A bit pathetic – but you can see Rudd is in pain.

(photo from Andrew Bolt)

Written by Sinclair Davidson

August 7th, 2010 at 4:51 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

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94 Responses to 'Caption Contest'

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  1. After briefly examining south-east Queensland electorates, a thoughtful Kevin Rudd changes the subject dramatically with an anecdote about how cold it was at this time of year in the Austin Morris he lived in as a boy.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 4:57 pm

  2. That picture is Julia Gillard’s own ankle-grasper.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 5:01 pm

  3. “So we’re agreed: Text messages are fine, but no more sexting!”

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 5:03 pm

  4. Sorry to go triple elephant on all y’all but Bolt has also posted on today’s historical farce. He reports that “grown journalists laughed on camera in describing it.”

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 5:07 pm

  5. That Bolt post is devastating – Centrebet odds for ALP victory out to $1.62 after being $1.56 yesterday.

    Sinclair Davidson

    7 Aug 10 at 5:11 pm

  6. “Kev.. You can use the jet”.

    JC

    7 Aug 10 at 5:12 pm

  7. “There, there, Kevin, you can tell me about the leaks. There’ll be no retribution.” (Mark, Karl, anything else I should ask?)

    Judith Sloan

    7 Aug 10 at 5:24 pm

  8. Kevin, have you given any more thought to the option of Minister for the Pacific Islands?

    Judith Sloan

    7 Aug 10 at 5:25 pm

  9. ‘I know we’ve had our differences, Kevin, but we really need to discuss what we are going to do about Mark Latham.’

    Judith Sloan

    7 Aug 10 at 5:35 pm

  10. “Say, Kevin – Don’t you think Quentin Bryce is looking a bit tired?”

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 5:36 pm

  11. Sinc

    Which Bolt piece? is that the one describing Gillers day in hell?

    JC

    7 Aug 10 at 5:38 pm

  12. “Training is useful, but there is no substitute for experience.”

    [Rosa Klebb} ;)

    Peter Patton

    7 Aug 10 at 5:38 pm

  13. “Corporal, I have chosen you for an important assignment. It’s purpose is to give false information to the enemy. If you complete it successfully, you will be promoted.”

    [Rosa Klebb]

    Peter Patton

    7 Aug 10 at 5:43 pm

  14. “You are very fortunate to have been chosen for such a simple, delightful duty. A real labour of love, as they say.”

    [Rosa]

    Peter Patton

    7 Aug 10 at 5:44 pm

  15. It’s time like these that Labor probably wishes they kept knighthoods around. I reckon Rudd seems the sort who would jump at the chance of being called, “Sir Kevin”

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 5:47 pm

  16. “Staaaay. Staaaaaaay.”

    Jacques Chester

    7 Aug 10 at 5:55 pm

  17. JC – the one CL links to above.

    Sinclair Davidson

    7 Aug 10 at 5:56 pm

  18. “Now, you can can have the foreign ministry – after the election, if I win – or, right now, you can have what’s in this box!”

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 6:03 pm

  19. “I can’t feel a pulse!”

    (Doubt there was ever one there in the first place).

    boy on a bike

    7 Aug 10 at 6:12 pm

  20. @boab: Maybe he’s like Dick Cheney?

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 6:20 pm

  21. Time for a brief interruption: for all of you who think this is so much fun, it suddenly occurred to me today while listening to journalists asking Gillard in 30 different ways “so, how is it really between you and Rudd?” that the media role in this is virtually identical to the way journalists treated the Howard/Costello succession issue at the last election campaign.

    Journalists in both cases are simply drowning out any actual policy consideration by their insistence on talking about an issue that will not ultimately make much difference policy wise. Yes, Howard was in an awkward position as to how to do his transition in the next term; yes, Gillard is going to look awkward working with Rudd (at least for a time.) We all know that, can we move on?

    The media getting obsessed by soap for the sake of soap (as it also does when it fuels leadership challenge speculation too) just drives me nuts, no matter which party is suffering because of it.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 6:38 pm

  22. ‘Bird’s fifteen points ahead of us in the polls…do you want the revolver or the cyanide ?’

    president camacho

    7 Aug 10 at 6:44 pm

  23. Steve – this is not identical to the Howard-Costello questioning. The two palooklas in the photo have destroyed our public finances.

    Sinclair Davidson

    7 Aug 10 at 6:47 pm

  24. Jeez louize, Latham meets Gillers and they sorta have it out. WTF is going on with these people.

    Labor complains to Channel 9 about hiring Latham?

    These labor trogs have serious mental issues. The whole fucking lot of them.

    JC

    7 Aug 10 at 6:50 pm

  25. Kevvie, you’ll be fine. I hear the ICC is hiring. I’ll even get Kelvin Thomson to give you a reference…

    Skuter

    7 Aug 10 at 6:55 pm

  26. FFS

    I just saw the Gillard/Latham meet up with Latham asking her why the Labor party was trying to stop him working at Channel 9.

    This entire ALP campaign has descended from a charade to a complete farce.

    I can’t believe it what’s going on.

    JC

    7 Aug 10 at 7:07 pm

  27. At first glance it looks to me like the typical “let’s just be friends” routine that chicks often do when they ditch their beta boyfriends. But I don’t think this is quite right – she’s the one who really needs Kevin’s cooperation now and he knows where all the bodies are buried. So I think it’s probably more like “Let’s just be friends…and PLEASE DON’T POST THOSE PHOTOS YOU TOOK OF ME ON THE INTERNET!!!”

    Believe it or not, Kevin the uber-beta has definitely got the Hand in this one.

    Michael Fisk

    7 Aug 10 at 7:21 pm

  28. “Kevin, now I want to tell you something … Mark Latham is outside, and he is asking for you.”

    It’s amazing, yeah JC? And they have the hide to call themselves ‘professional politicians’. I can believe it though – this is the same mob who in their heart of hearts believed that they could con the public with pink batts, the education ‘revolution’, fuel watch … etc etc. After so long succeeding with PR garbage at the state level they are no longer in touch with reality.

    Dandy Warhol

    7 Aug 10 at 7:22 pm

  29. ‘Yes, we have dropped behind George Bush and Helen Clark, but how was I to know ? A leaked sex tape did wonders for Paris Hilton’s career.’

    president camacho

    7 Aug 10 at 7:26 pm

  30. Sinclair: what you’ve raised is a question of past performance and which party deals with the economy better. The journalistic lip smacking over how much Kevin loathes Julia adds nothing to that issue.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 7:27 pm

  31. Steve
    What the he’ll are you trying to say?

    Jc..

    7 Aug 10 at 7:30 pm

  32. Steve, get a grip. You are babbling now because the possibility that Abbott might win this election is doing great damage to your mental well-being.

    Michael Fisk

    7 Aug 10 at 7:34 pm

  33. Steve – I don’t agree in this instance. The dysfunction within the ALP reflects poorly on future prospects for good government.

    Sinclair Davidson

    7 Aug 10 at 7:35 pm

  34. Well frankly, I can understand Labor being livid with Nine for paying Latham to stalk her. Same as I would hardly think it would be appropriate for Fraser or Hewson turn up with an ABC camera crew at a Howard/Abbott campaign.

    I mean, it’s fine to let ex pollies mouth off about their colleagues in the past, but to actually pay them to attend at press stuff?

    Insiders should be interesting tomorrow.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 7:37 pm

  35. Tim Blair has more: POPCORN TIME. Including ths update:

    UPDATE III. Thursday:

    Mr Rudd vowed ‘’I can’t be silent’’.

    Saturday:

    Mr Rudd wasn’t commenting.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 7:40 pm

  36. Steve – can you imagine if Labor win and these two have to work together in cabinet? How do you think that’s going to work out? Do you really think they’ll provide us with the best alternative if this is how they get on together?

    boy on a bike

    7 Aug 10 at 7:41 pm

  37. b on a b: well, as I kind of expect Rudd would be given Foreign Affairs (from which he’ll spend all his time working towards a UN post anyway), I don’t know that the Rudd/Gillard working relationship would need to be that close.

    Of course, it would help to know who the leaks were coming from before so as to judge things. I mean, if Tanner was behind some of it, and he’s out, it would indicate limited problems in the future.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 7:47 pm

  38. The journalistic lip smacking over how much Kevin loathes Julia adds nothing to that issue.

    Of course not, and you as a social conservative are merely trying to be even handed, and resisting your natural urge to judge Labor harshly.

    daddy dave

    7 Aug 10 at 7:51 pm

  39. Steve,
    You labor hack. The Abc has been broadcasting disaffected lib leaders for years and now you pick a problem with channel 9?

    Please tuck off.

    Jc..

    7 Aug 10 at 7:53 pm

  40. By the way, Fleeced had the best caption.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 7:53 pm

  41. Honestly, I can’t do a funny caption here. Caption contests work when there is much scope for deliberate misunderstandings. But the meaning of the picture is clear to all. The grief is too apparent. One feels betrayed as if by a lover. The other feels regret, and struggles to maintain a forced emotional distance.

    It’s all there, written on their faces.

    daddy dave

    7 Aug 10 at 7:57 pm

  42. I pointed out the difference, JC. Sending a former colleague turned rabid critic to be a distraction (at least for the other easily distracted media) at a press conference is not the same as panel shows.

    steve from brisbane

    7 Aug 10 at 8:00 pm

  43. On the upside, it was reassuring to know that Prime Minister Abbott was attending to the nation’s affairs today.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 8:16 pm

  44. The man who Won’t Be Silenced:

    Rudd sidesteps media after Gillard talks.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 8:17 pm

  45. “It’s OK Kevin – at our next photo op, I’ll bring in your podium and a couple of flags for you to stand in front of”.

    boy on a bike

    7 Aug 10 at 8:32 pm

  46. Anyone see the clip of the Rudd and Gillers meet? Rudd is going over a map of hospitals babbling on about abbott’s hospital spending plan.

    No kidding but it looks like the overdone vid clip of hitler going over the map and then scream at his subordinates.

    Jc..

    7 Aug 10 at 8:37 pm

  47. Using Latham is a bit suspect, and seems designed to stir up shit… but on this:

    it suddenly occurred to me today while listening to journalists asking Gillard in 30 different ways “so, how is it really between you and Rudd?” that the media role in this is virtually identical to the way journalists treated the Howard/Costello succession issue at the last election campaign.

    I’d have to disagree that there’s any comparison. The Labor party really is dysfunctional on this one – it’s not just a beat up. The fact that the question is asked dozens of times is because the question is evaded dozens of times. The media is refusing to just accept the spin, and it’s about time.

    By the way, Fleeced had the best caption.

    Which one?

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 9:03 pm

  48. They do seem like kids in the playground, don’t they? With the Latham confrontation, Gillard looked like a schoolkid trying to talk/joke her way out of a fight with a bully (probably not for from the truth). Though she did get the one dig in about, “hope you enjoy your life as a journalist”

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 9:09 pm

  49. Rudd alone is a big headache. Rudd and Latham may be too much.

    A genuine question: where was Latham at the last election? He seems to be able to add spice to a boring campaign.

    Boris

    7 Aug 10 at 9:56 pm

  50. In retirement – Latham’s more valuable with the ALP in government.

    Sinclair Davidson

    7 Aug 10 at 10:03 pm

  51. His presence will boost Gillard’s vote, not Abbott’s – which makes Steve’s hysteria inexplicable.

    C.L.

    7 Aug 10 at 10:18 pm

  52. I dunno… it might increase sympathy for Gillard – but will it increase her vote, or just make the whole party seem a shambles?

    Fleeced

    7 Aug 10 at 10:22 pm

  53. Latham was the goose that sliced and diced the parliamentary superannuation arrangements, so now that he’s out of the big house, he has to feed his family somehow. If he hadn’t stuffed around with the old snout in the trough arrangements, he’d be at home in an armchair in front of the fire with a noice bottle of Grange.

    boy on a bike

    7 Aug 10 at 10:25 pm

  54. It’s easy, reality is funnier than anything you can dream up. Well, at least in a black humour kind of way.

    Kevin, I hate to be the one to tell you this,…….I wish Therese had stepped in earlier,….but the gang said I should do this,…..anyway,…Kev, here goes,… you’re not important,..no one respects you and people do just want you to go away,…..look, this really hurts me too, you were Prime Minister which is really great,….well done,there,..well done…. but you’re going to go down in history as a joke – you need to learn to accept it now, for your sake, the families, the party’s……It’s not like Gough, OK. You’re not going to be up there with him, OK? …..I know it meant a lot to you, and you’ve made a big effort coming back,….but it’s not going to be like it was. It’s over…Kev. OK?……(here’s a tissue)..look, we can still be friends……….

    Michael Sutcliffe

    7 Aug 10 at 10:34 pm

  55. But Latham is on a fat pension so I don’t think his journalism career has anything to do with money.

    Michael Fisk

    7 Aug 10 at 10:39 pm

  56. It’s revenge then. A dish he’s having well chilled.

    boy on a bike

    7 Aug 10 at 11:15 pm

  57. but you’re going to go down in history as a joke – you need to learn to accept it now, for your sake, the families, the party’s……It’s not like Gough, OK.

    The public never gave a verdict on his leadership. Maybe he would have won the election. Because of the way they removed him, he will not go down in history as a joke.
    But Gillard might.

    daddy dave

    7 Aug 10 at 11:15 pm

  58. She will always be our first female Prime Minister.

    Apart from ‘the apology’ what could save him? The answer is that there is one thing: lots of people are embarrassed they supported something that pathetic, especially after what came before, and don’t want to be reminded they picked a loser. So that might help tame history a little.

    Michael Sutcliffe

    7 Aug 10 at 11:22 pm

  59. Malcolm Fraser – the non-lamented former PM – was asked whether he thought the Coalition was ready to govern and he replied ‘no’. Pity he wasn’t also asked whether Labor is ready to govern as the answer is a clear ‘no’.

    Samuel J

    7 Aug 10 at 11:25 pm

  60. Caption for the second photo” “Take a look at me, Im Yesterday’s hero.”

    Rococo Liberal

    7 Aug 10 at 11:42 pm

  61. Channel Nine CEO has apologised to the PM for the undignitied way in which Latham confronted her. A good move in my book. It is one thing to ask tough questions but Latham wasn’t asking a question that has anything to do with the public interest (just his personal interest) and his style was quite disrespectful and physically intimidating.

    TerjeP

    8 Aug 10 at 12:05 am

  62. The CEO may apologise, but the damage is done. The whole Labor campaign collapsed today, and is now beyond repair.

    Rococo Liberal

    8 Aug 10 at 12:12 am

  63. I watched Michael Clayton again tonight. I was struck by the cold, single, desperate big law firm villainess who whacked Arthur and her resemblance to, um, somebody.

    C.L.

    8 Aug 10 at 12:46 am

  64. ‘ his style was quite disrespectful and physically intimidating.’

    But he always was like that, wasn’t he?

    And since he knows these guys personally, doesn’t he have the right to behave a bit more intimately? :)

    Boris

    8 Aug 10 at 1:59 am

  65. RL,
    That may be true, but the betting odds don’t show it. Centrebet still has the ALP in front, $1.62 to $2.27. I just wish I had put money on the Libs at $4.10 at the start.

    Andrew Reynolds

    8 Aug 10 at 2:46 am

  66. ‘Though she did get the one dig in about, “hope you enjoy your life as a journalist”’

    That’s quite huilarious. Maybe she is smarter than we think… when she departs from the script?

    Boris

    8 Aug 10 at 2:49 am

  67. Jukia Gillard is not fit to be in opposition. This is the saddest day in Australian political life. Horrendous.

    Infidel Tiger

    8 Aug 10 at 5:07 am

  68. Gillard is probably used to Latham acting that way. I imagine that’s how he has always operated. It wouldn’t have been a surprise to her. No need for apologies. If she disliked him acting that way, why did she back him as leader of the party?

    boy on a bike

    8 Aug 10 at 8:28 am

  69. Have you seen the SMH this morning? The caption on this photo is “no hard feelings”. Ha ha ha. Someone at Fairfax has been smoking crack again.

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/prime-minister-shaken-by-the-ghosts-of-elections-past-20100807-11pc5.html

    boy on a bike

    8 Aug 10 at 9:00 am

  70. “Kevin, your home is here. We currently have every last F-111 in the air. If you move more than 1km from your house, they have orders to take you out”.

    boy on a bike

    8 Aug 10 at 9:10 am

  71. @Andrew I agree it’s not over yet… I’ve actually noticed the bettings odds pretty slow to move in Liberals favour. A minor story against libs, and the odds go up, but it seems to take a bigger story to move in the opposite direction.

    I guess there’s various ways to interpret that.

    Fleeced

    8 Aug 10 at 9:54 am

  72. Won’t feed the chooks: Gillard goes full Bjelke-Petersen bonkers.

    Responding to journalists’ criticism of the secretive meeting, Ms Gillard said: “I don’t think you should overestimate your role.

    “Reality exists whether you are there or not.”

    My goodness gracious me.

    C.L.

    8 Aug 10 at 10:33 am

  73. Andrew and Fleeced

    Don’t fret. I think you will find that in the individual seat betting the Libs are favoured in majority of seats.

    The overall winning odds are skewed by the fact that the book has been running since the last election. Since this election was called, the vast majority of bets have been placed on the Coalition hence why their odds have shortened so much.

    Rococo Liberal

    8 Aug 10 at 10:42 am

  74. “Don’t cry Kevin, you know you’ll just make yourself look pathetic and weak again. I’m the Prime Minister now”.

    I backed the Coalition at 4.5 to 1 about a month ago, it’s looking like free money now. The Press Gallery are retarded, virtually none of them saw any of this coming with the exception of Van Onselen.

    Blake Van Buren

    8 Aug 10 at 10:59 am

  75. Boris – in a private capacity he can be as rude and as disrespectful as he likes. However if he is doing it whilst on the Channel Nine payroll then he is bringing the Channel Nine brand into disrepute. If I was the CEO of Channel Nine I would have booted his sorry arse. It wasn’t a mature manner for a journalist to behave in.

    TerjeP

    8 Aug 10 at 11:21 am

  76. Kev, darl, you can keep the cocker spaniel.

    dover_beach

    8 Aug 10 at 11:34 am

  77. It’s disappointing that Insiders couldn’t have found a fifth far left whack job to appear on the panel today. Maybe next week.

    Infidel Tiger

    8 Aug 10 at 11:42 am

  78. Infidel Tiger, I find Barry Cassidy to be even-handed. The three panelists today came across as unleashed Labor supporters, wearing their hearts on their sleeves. For example:
    * George asserted that Channel Nine’s criticism of Gillard was, in a nutshell, sexist. He claimed it amounted to a bunch of guys “monstering” a woman. The word “monster” was used 3 times in as many minutes. He wondered out loud if the same treatment would be dished out to a man. This parallels criticisms of Obama’s critics as racist. The Americans seem to have now moved on from that and you don’t hear the racism charge as much.
    * general dispair that policy debates weren’t happening because of the disruptions in the Gillard campaign (read: Jules can’t get her wonderful messages out and take on that terrible Tony Abbott).
    * George calling Abbott a “coward”. he later compared him to Joh Bjelke-Peterson, with the implication that “storming” the country revealed a militaristic mindset.
    * George explaining to us that Abbott’s budgetary figures are dodgy, even though they havent’ been analysed by Treasury yet.
    * hard policies on asylum seekers is “dog whistling” (they actually used that phrase) and appeals to “certain sections of the community.” (ie those sections that live west of Parramatta)

    daddy dave

    8 Aug 10 at 12:10 pm

  79. …he is bringing the Channel Nine brand into disrepute.

    Is it even possible to do that?

    Who’s George, Dave? George who?

    The meme that Labor’s circus should be ignored by the media and that Abbott is gettin a free ride on “policy” is hilarious. On policy, these bozos are even worse.

    C.L.

    8 Aug 10 at 12:28 pm

  80. Oh yeah – Labor spokesman George Megalopadopolis.

    Gotcha. No surprise there.

    C.L.

    8 Aug 10 at 12:44 pm

  81. George Mongolism is a clown. His pieces are nothing more that ALP propaganda and his appearance on that program is offensive.

    JC

    8 Aug 10 at 12:48 pm

  82. His appearance is offensive full stop.

    Infidel Tiger

    8 Aug 10 at 12:50 pm

  83. Yesterday was the most bizarre day in Federal politics since Dr Evatt cited Molotov in the House. I just went over the LP for further critical analysis. I was shocked to see not one single post on the subject. Shocked.

    C.L.

    8 Aug 10 at 1:09 pm

  84. Terje, Gillard backed Latham to be Australia’s PM. Are you saying he is fit to be PM but not TV reporter?

    Boris

    8 Aug 10 at 1:59 pm

  85. Terje, put aside the way Latham went about it. What about the substance of Lathams complaint, is it OK for Gillard (or her minions) to complain that he is reporting on the campaign?

    DavidJ

    8 Aug 10 at 2:07 pm

  86. Latham made himself the story, which isn’t a good look for a journalist. On the other hand, if his accusation is correct and the ALP tried to stop him becoming a journalist, then that is very interesting in its own right.

    daddy dave

    8 Aug 10 at 2:12 pm

  87. Look at the timing of what happened. He turned up unannounced at the old folks home which surprised everyone, yet he kept well out of Gillard’s presser. Then at her next event he confronts her. This suggests that something happened in between, say a phone call from Gillard’s camp to channel nine to demand WTF.

    DavidJ

    8 Aug 10 at 2:22 pm

  88. FIRST PHOTO

    Gillard Speech Bubble: Now that we’ve moved forward past the recent stormy waters I fell confident that you can reintigrate professionally in a support role.

    SECOND PHOTO

    Kevvie Thought Bubble: Oh how I wish you could see me out of these clothes just once. Darling.

    Adrien

    8 Aug 10 at 3:25 pm

  89. Pic 1

    Gillard consoles Rudd. There, there, Kevin. If the job’s not in the UN or foreign affairs, it’ll be in treasury.

    Pic 2

    Rudd thought bubble. Fkn c##t.

    Shelley

    8 Aug 10 at 3:46 pm

  90. Second photo, Rudd thought bubble: “I remember that plane.”

    Jacques Chester

    8 Aug 10 at 7:17 pm

  91. Pic 1

    “Now remember Kevin – no sudden moves – MY national security advisor packs heat and is listened to kill…..”

    Myrddin Seren

    8 Aug 10 at 8:13 pm

  92. Can you please, please, please help me defeat that unelectable Tony Abbott monster? PLEASE?

    John Comnenus

    9 Aug 10 at 12:25 am

  93. Lucky we’ve still got Tony Abbott as the opposition leader. I wouldn’t be able to answer any questions if I couldn’t spin lies about Tony.

    John Comnenus

    9 Aug 10 at 12:27 am

  94. Rudd’s thought bubble: “Mmmmmmm-mm-m-m. Ea-a-ar waaa-a-a-a-a-a-x….”

    Ev630

    9 Aug 10 at 1:21 am

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