Kevin Rudd spent three years sabotaging and destabilising Ms Gillard's Government.
He destabilised his own party by incessant innuendo; by actively campaigning against its leadership; by promoting himself in the media; and by refusing to dampen speculation of his plans. He told a few lies along the way.
After three failed attempts he finally limped back into power this week by a handful of votes from frightened MPs. Yet, already over a third of the previous cabinet (8 out of 20) have resigned because they cannot work with him. Some, like Garrett, they won't miss. Others, like Smith, Swan and Gillard herself, are a big loss to them.
Rudd's supporters think he's the bleedin' Messiah. He's not. He is the poisonous snake who wrecked the Labour Party. He is responsible for the awful position they are in now - so that he could get his revenge on Gillard.
Three years earlier he was the Big Failure who had lost his way. His colleagues simply couldn't work with him. They tipped him out of office then because he was leading them to electoral disaster.
Now Rudd is back as PM with the unfair advantage that Gillard never had - not having himself white-anting the government.
He was personally responsible for sending his own party to the edge of oblivion - and as a fine reward for his disloyal actions, his party have handed him back the leadership.
High principles count for nought in the Australian Labor Party.