By any account, these are desperate times for Julia Gillard & her Government. All the main policy agendas that Gillard specifically targeted as her priorities after toppling Kevin Rudd are in absolute tatters, and with them goes the last shred of the PM's credibility.
As a result, the usual murmurs of a potential change in the leadership have become the hot topic of the day & all sides of media are speculating about potential challengers or suitable replacements if Gillard's political fortune continues its downward spiral. Just about every man & his dog has been mentioned as speculation continues about Gillard's future, from the obvious candidates such as Bill Shorten, to Stephen Smith, Chris Bowen, Simon Crean, Greg Combet, Peter Beatie & Kevin Rudd etc etc.
But in the middle of all the confusion & mayhem, let's stop & reflect, and spare a thought for poor Wayne Swan! No one is even mentioning poor Wayne Swan's name in any of this. After all, as the Deputy PM & Treasurer he is the second highest ranking Government member after the PM & under normal circumstances an obvious choice to replace her!
But not in case of Wayne Swan! No one cares & no one, even in Labor Party seems to take him & his chances seriously.
It's frustrating enough for Swan that he believes he has never received an ounce of due credit for what any other treasurer would have undoubtedly got massive accolades for, ie stirring Australia through the GFC without a recession, because most observers attribute the result to luck, China & the mining boom than Swan's skills.
And now, once again at a time of leadership crisis, he's been dealt with like an obscure junior backbencher no one has ever heard of!
Wayne Swan must be puzzled, confused & spitting chips! No matter what he does he can't get any traction! The media & most voters do not seem to be interested in him & his political fortune, or even lack of it!
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