Simon Crean was not a successful Labor leader, but he deserves more respect from the party than many whose record looks better on paper.
Category: Personalities
Two showmen depart
An adverse report to the House of Commons claims Boris Johnson, while death claims Silvio Berlusconi. Compare and contrast.
A lament for John Pesutto
Victoria's Liberal Party kneecaps its leader after he takes a stand against far-right influence in the party.
Turkey’s opposition makes its choice
A consensus candidate is chosen to take on Turkey's authoritarian president in the election scheduled for May.
Centre-left takes a gamble in Italy
Italy's main opposition party has a new leader, who promises to take it in a new direction.
Death of a Communist
The death of a veteran Communist reformer draws attention to the remarkable story of the fall of the East German dictatorship.
Death of a scoundrel
The death in exile of Pakistan's General Musharraf reminds us of the foolishness of a foreign policy based on disdain for democracy.
Another Republican steps up
A second candidate is ready to enter the race for next year's Republican nomination. By current Republican standards she could almost count as a moderate.
A Greek lesson for Australia Day
Australia Day reminds us that national unity cannot be manufactured artificially, a lesson also illustrated by the story of the last king of Greece.
Change on the way in New Zealand
New Zealand is in for change at the top - certainly in coming days, and quite probably again in October.
The World is Not Enough 