Rudd gone because he failed to heed his own advice

Addressing the first national conference as Labor leader Kevin Rudd introduced himself to the faithful: "My name is Kevin, I'm from Queensland and I'm here to help.'' Thus our soon-to-be Prime Minister echoed the "most terrifying words in the English language... 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" It goes without saying that government can best "help" most Australians by staying the hell out of their lives.

The sometimes prescient Rudd continued:

One thing we know for certain is that the history of nations is made up of those who understand, anticipate and act on the challenges of the future. And those who do not. Those who instead bury their heads in the sand. Those who hope it will all just go away.

Rudd bit the dust precisely because he failed to "understand, anticipate and act on the" failings of his government and did not grasp the extent of dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Australian blogger Harry Clarke could read the handwriting on the wall, however, predicting on 14 June that "the inept Rudd has no future as Prime Minister of Australia" and would "fairly soon" be replaced by Julia Gillard. Good call Harry.