He is a generally good bloke with a good work ethic. Unfortunately, he was led astray by the company he kept, especially a rodent who held him spellbound.

If he ends up defending the FF against attacks from the Right, it will be music to Rudd’s ears.

But there is more effect too. Now Costello and Nelson won’t speak out against Rudd at Copenhagen or on climate within the Coalition party room. Not while commenced on govt payroll. They could theoretically but why bother. That was yesterday. He’s effectivley promoted them out of the fight on climate policy which is the main game.

However, the notion of excess cleverness, and indeed playing with your rival’s mind (meaning the official coalition leadership) is also very sound. Here’s a real life experience of similar from little people land:

Bondi local councillor. Local objectors want to scale down a neighbouring development. They organise, militate, vocally press their cause. Councillor with natural platform to help oppose knows they are in for a hiding. They don’t have the rules in their favour (within height restriction, surrounding density comparable etc) and the planning staff have already drawn the development back and positioned the developer into a compromise. 1/2 of something is better than all of nothing thinks too clever councillor. Democracy loving objectors wanted to fight all the way, including lose if necessary. They want the challenge. And who is to say they are wrong? They deserved their chance at a famous victory against the odds in a real democracy, and they had their share of leadership.

That’s what Rudd is doing - he’s short circuiting democracy and grassroots leadership beyond himself and methinks democracy won’t stand for it. Not in the medium term. Notice symptoms like Howes and Keating lately.

In the end most people like to see excessive success/cleverness cut down, especially when it is genuinely excessive/patronising.