"At first we stampede with Rudd being lead steer"That would be...

"At first we stampede with Rudd being lead steer"

That would be lead bull, assuming he is still fully equipped.

Today he is modestly taking up the cudgel on behalf of small counrtries.

"Australia sees its role as acting as a voice for small developing states in the world," he said. (modest indeed)
Mr Rudd said that, as a member of the G20 and other global institutions, it was Australia's responsibility to be their voice or risk losing the small states.
"They contribute practically nothing to the (CO2) problem themselves, that is in terms of their own emissions, but let me tell you, they feel the impact big time," he said.