Labor's Rudd conundrum

Despite several protocol breaches by Rudd, the CCP continued to present a strong media focus on trade and the friendship and trust between the two governments and their respective leaders as key to this "close" relationship.

The abrupt dismissal and political execution of Rudd with claims of apparent incompetence of such a close "friend" could translate as the CCP leadership clearly misjudging Rudd's credibility and that of the Australian government.

The future for Rudd

Even if the Gillard government was elected, they face a major conundrum, what to do with Kevin Rudd and foreign policy

Having been so effectively discredited and with such major loss of face, a diplomatic post that would require face-to-face meetings with the Chinese government and especially the leadership is out of the question. This would also apply to most Asian governments. It would be demeaning to expect such leaders to talk as an equal to such a discredited person.

Not only has Labor demonstrated incompetence when responding to "problems" that threatens its hold on power, it also panics and tries to redirect blame rather than spending time to develop measured strategies.

How would Labor respond to a possible economic downturn with rocketing debt and no 2008 surplus in 2011?

Labor has not only discredited Kevin Rudd, but the diplomatic credibility of the Australian government.

Even if returned to power, Labor will face a major task in recovering credibility, especially in a situation that it will be a lame government reliant on minor party support for decision and policymaking.