There was little sympathy on social media for Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib when he announced his resignation in Canberra this afternoon, with jibes about his role as one of the so-called faceless men behind the ousting of Kevin Rudd as prime minister.
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Senator Arbib said he was stepping down as minister and senator to give the party "a chance to heal" and so he could spend more than with his family.
#arbib ... no words other than karma.— Kimberley Ramplin (@Kimbo_Ramplin) February 27, 2012
A faceless man has been knife by an even more facelesser man!!! #arbib— Oat (@PattusM) February 27, 2012
He has to remain true to being a faceless man. RT @taletale: Not having a seat is all the more faceless. #respill #arbib— Frances Jones (@FrancieJones) February 27, 2012
@latikambourke Faceless scapegoat #Arbib #respill twitter.com/bazarazzi/stat…— bazarazzi (@bazarazzi) February 27, 2012
Commenters were not swayed by Mr Arbib's reason that he was leaving the Senate to spend more family with his family.
Family? Oh poppycock! #arbib #auspol— Kristen Gobbo (@pebbleangst) February 27, 2012
gesture to reunite???i thought it was because of family matters? #arbib #getoff— Brooke (@chooka81) February 27, 2012
There was also puzzlement over why Mr Arbib chose to resign today, just hours after the Labor leadership challenge by Mr Rudd against Prime Minister Julia Gillard, and speculation over who would replace him.
It COULD be argued that his actions in 2010 were vindicated today #Arbib #veryodd— kass (@sunnyhall) February 27, 2012
#Arbib timing seems odd if it's just for family reasons. Why not just go to the backbench?— Rob Stott (@Rob_Stott) February 27, 2012
NSW Senate casual vacancy created #Arbib -- my money's on Kristina Keneally to fill the spot #respill— (Lucky) Jim Collings (@caldron_baidu) February 27, 2012
Interesting, most saying Kristina. Entirely plausible, of course, just quietly hoping for Wedderburn. #arbib— Kimberley Ramplin (@Kimbo_Ramplin) February 27, 2012
