Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, was dumped on Wednesday night for his deputy, Julia Gillard – or Jihad Julia as she’s affectionately known to millions. Gillard is Australia’s first female and our first unmarried PM.
For Kev, Kevin 07 was once his election slogan – now it’s his approval rating. Despite his pathetic poor performance, he was still performing satisfactorily in the election polls and was left with a good chance to carry the Labor Government into victory at the next election. It’s unlikey Gillard will have the same success.
Gillard’s a redhead who lives in a suburban Canberra ‘flat’. She lives unmarried with her boyfriend and regularly eats takeaway from the local shops – and she has no plans to change. For the rest of the world that’s reading this… yes, we’re embarrassed. Please refrain from making fun.
One can’t help but feel a little sorry for Krudd (as he genuinely likes to be called). He’s a family man, a fairly genuine guy, and it isn’t his fault in isolation that his Government is performing poorly. It’s unlikely a change in leadership will have a significant effect on party politics; this is something that can probably only be achieved by way of a change in Government. The poor guy was lied to in a deceitful and cowardly way in front of the entire nation by the people he considered to be closet to him.
Anyway, far be it from me to talk politics…
Advertisers made the most of Kev’s downfall, and it was Jetstar Airways that was the first to publish a print and online advertisement that took advantage of the virally motivated marketing opportunity. The advert stated that “sometimes things just get you down”, and they go on to offer inexpensive airfares for those that are “Taking a break”.
Many are arguing that the advertisements are tasteless. It’s politics and advertising… since when has either been tasteful?
It’s interesting to note the impact of Twitter on the rapid dissemination of information via the hastag #spill which was used to isolate relevant tweets. A week was once a long time in politics. Thanks to social media and the immediacy of information, this is no longer the case.
Krudd’s first tweet after his defeat was posted tonight.
Countless other advertisers and marketers followed with their own variation on Jetstar’s theme.
Related posts:
- Jetstar Inaugural Service into Fiji
- Fat Kevin Smith, Southwest and Twitter
- More on Kevin Smith and Virgin America
- Kevin Smith, Virgin America, his blog and Twitter
- Air New Zealand asks Twitter Followers for Marketing Advice
- John Mayer Tweets about Qantas and the A380
- The Day United Airlines Twitter was Hijacked
About Marty
Krudd was and is a puppet, as is Julia Tryhard. They’re playing personality politics. Time for a change.