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NATION RISING LIKE SOME SORT OF SUN

Kevin Rudd, April 2005, on emerging nations:

And our view is that if we have such strong economic relationships with the emerging economies of China and Japan, that frankly we should be in there as well. Remember, our whole future is going to be shaped by this region with the emerging economies of India, China, Japan and others.

He thinks Japan is an emerging economy? Does Rudd imagine all those adorable little Toyota Priuses are made by third-world artisans carving nickel metal hydride battery packs from driftwood? No wonder he believes it so easy for Australian manufacturers to build hybrids. Someone must have wised him up, because lately Kevin isn’t so hot for Japan:

Japanese officials are incensed that the Mandarin-speaking Mr Rudd appears to be favouring Beijing, but has virtually ignored Japan since taking office four months ago …

Oh, well. China probably makes cleaner cars anyway.

(Via Chris P.)

Posted by Tim B. on 03/31/2008 at 06:02 PM

  1. It is like juggling a boiled egg from one hand to the other because it is so hot. When he is here you wish him overseas so he can do less damage. Then you wish him back here so he can do less damage. Then you wish him overseas etc.

    Posted by Toiling Mass on 2008 03 31 at 06:17 PM • permalink

  2. It is amazing that Rudd is destroying our relationship with Japan simply because he wants to maximise the number of times he is seen on TV showing off his Chinese language skills. He is a seriously defective little man.

    Posted by Contrail on 2008 03 31 at 06:18 PM • permalink

  3. If KanTong Kev not careful, he end up as sushemi ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 03 31 at 06:42 PM • permalink

  4. Now Rudd is offering to “assist” Hillary.

    Now it’s definitely McCain or Obama.

    Posted by watty on 2008 03 31 at 07:25 PM • permalink

  5. Obama reminds me of Rudd’s campaign - all words.  No action.  No history of accomplishment.  Nothing but empty gestures.  He’d make a “wonderful” UN GS, but little else.

    So Kevin can help Clinton, but when Howard said he was worried about Obama, the screams of domestic politics interference from Labor and their media pack were long and loud.  They were similarly hypocritical when Bush said nice things about Howard but silent and gushing when Gore pumped up Rudd. *crickets*

    I suspect it will take a decade for the media and the sheep to wake up to this hypocrit.  If ever.

    Posted by peter m on 2008 03 31 at 07:59 PM • permalink

  6. #5 Now Obama describes Rudd as a “visionary” and would like to work with him on climate control.

    Perhaps either Hillary or Obama could put us out of our misery and offer him a job. 

    Of course nothing less than Vice President for Kyoto Kev.

    Posted by watty on 2008 03 31 at 08:40 PM • permalink

  7. Is he as cliched and wooden in Mandarin?

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 03 31 at 08:41 PM • permalink

  8. #6, Obama describing Rudd as visionary tells me all I need to know about him.  I sympathize with Australia.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2008 03 31 at 08:44 PM • permalink

  9. Watty (#4) now that Krudd is helping Hillary , standby for her recollections of living in a car and attending non-existant cricket matches.

    Posted by AlphaMikeFoxtrot on 2008 03 31 at 09:01 PM • permalink

  10. #7: Yes, he is; perhaps even more so - if you can imagine that! His Mandarin is excellent, but he must have majored in “officialese” because his wordiness is truly excruciating (even by Chinese standards).

    This gaffe about Japan is truly weird. I can’t fathom how somebody could say that.

    Posted by Hanyu on 2008 03 31 at 09:01 PM • permalink

  11. #7
    Speaking Mandarin prolly makes him wooden ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 03 31 at 09:07 PM • permalink

  12. Cancel the 1000 strong “Australian Visionary” gabfest in Canberra.

    Rudd will be too “busy and important” helping Hillary and Obama to win over American “working families”.

    Posted by watty on 2008 03 31 at 09:24 PM • permalink

  13. #5 true believers still see the light on the hill.

    Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 03 31 at 09:30 PM • permalink

  14. #13 - The light has been switched off to reduce emmissions.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 03 31 at 09:35 PM • permalink

  15. #10 Hanyu

    This gaffe about Japan is truly weird. I can’t fathom how somebody could say that.

    Was he trying to pander to his Chinese hosts?

    Posted by Spiny Norman on 2008 03 31 at 09:52 PM • permalink

  16. I would have thought the Chinese wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about being classified as ‘emerging’ either.  Don’t they consider themselves the middle kingdom, and everyone not from China as gaijin (barbarians?)?  Do I have the right country?

    Posted by entropy on 2008 03 31 at 10:55 PM • permalink

  17. Spiny Norman #16: If it was pandering, then it was really, really dumb. To pander completely he should have included the US and Australia in that list. But even the Chinese know and accept that Japan is light years ahead, so why would he do that?

    I think he’s got a neurological deficiency that causes him to say the wrong thing. It’s known as stupidity in medical circles.

    Posted by Hanyu on 2008 03 31 at 11:39 PM • permalink

  18. #16, gaijin is the slightly derogatory Japanese term for a foreigner.  The more derogatory Chinese term is ‘gweilo’.

    Posted by craigo on 2008 04 01 at 12:03 AM • permalink

  19. Kevin Rudd measures the success of his trip so far:
    “Here’s a picture of me with George Bush. Here’s a picture of me with Ban Ki-Moon. Here’s a picture of me with Hillary Clinton. Didn’t get a picture with Barak Obama, he was busy but I spoke to him on the phone and he is going to send me an autographed photo. Here’s a picture of me with Dick Cheney. Here’s a ....”

    Posted by Contrail on 2008 04 01 at 01:54 AM • permalink

  20. #15 Spiny, shouldn’t we be “panda-ing” to the Chinese?

    Posted by mr creosote on 2008 04 01 at 01:56 AM • permalink

  21. #10 Hanyu, is his Chinese really good? Are the tones clear and correct? Can he sustain a serious conversation/negotiations in it?

    We only have the media’s uncritical acceptance that he is “fluent” - not that any of them would know, of course.

    Posted by Big Arnie on 2008 04 01 at 04:20 AM • permalink

  22. Hey, I’ve found the new title for Kevvie’s press gallery syncophants.

    Canberra Rudd Advancement Press Gallery.

    Posted by kae on 2008 04 01 at 05:38 AM • permalink

  23. #20
    Hehe, was waiting for that one ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 04 01 at 05:54 AM • permalink

  24. If Kruddles is heading to Japan expect him to clear his wax with chopsticks.

    Soo desu ne Rudd san.

    Posted by mehaul on 2008 04 01 at 06:02 AM • permalink

  25. #22

    Coterie of CRAP.

    Posted by kae on 2008 04 01 at 06:06 AM • permalink

  26. #21
    Premier Hu: Plemier Ludd, what are your orders?
    Krudder: No. 4 with extra Peking sauce, ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2008 04 01 at 06:46 AM • permalink

  27. Why is Rudd over there anyway? Isn’y he supposed to wait until there’s an actual President elected and then make with the politics?

    Could someone please let me know if I am out of touch with diplomatic niceties, because I got the impression that Rudd was bustling about to all the candidates to maximaise his travel fun and be more important than he is. After all, only one candidate will be elected, no?. If he’s actually doing the right thing let me know…

    Posted by carpefraise on 2008 04 01 at 09:44 AM • permalink

  28. #27 I am referring to Rudd’s visit to presidential candidates in the US. Forgive me if I’m in the wrong thread…

    Posted by carpefraise on 2008 04 01 at 09:45 AM • permalink

  29. #27 His whole intent, Carpefraise, is to be photographed so he doesn’t have to return to the big, nasty USA after the election, because he already has the happy snaps to prove he’s met them.

    Or maybe I’m just cynical.

    Posted by Ash_ on 2008 04 01 at 10:32 AM • permalink

  30. Co-Prosperity Sphere, anyone?

    Posted by mojo on 2008 04 01 at 01:01 PM • permalink

  31. So, is Rudd going to China and kiss their butts in Mandarin, while those in Tibet suffer?  Isn’t Tibet the cause celebe’ for the Left?  How can Rudd kiss up to China?

    Posted by rbj1 on 2008 04 01 at 09:31 PM • permalink

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