John Howard may have expected to have the time of his life on his trip to Washington, but he probably didn’t plan for Bush describing him as a bald, not too pretty bloke (on whom you can bank), or on Rupert Murdoch doing his best Gretel Killeen impersonation – it’s time to go, John!
If past experience is anything to go by, Howard has probably told Costello nothing. But that hasn’t stopped pundits from trying to read the signs of the times in Cossie’s expressions:
Peter Costello has that look of the cat that’s seen the cream move closer to the saucer.
The metamorphosis of Peter Costello is happening before our eyes. His annoying smirk has been replaced by a smile, a tell tale sign that he will soon have the job he has coveted. The scene is being set for a smooth leadership transition and he looks more than a little relaxed and comfortable about the prospect of living in the Lodge soon.
John Spoehr, author of the second quote, has a more serious point though. If Howard were to take Rupert’s advice, and leave while the going’s good, and if the economy were to go south, Costello would be left holding the can. Howard, from whatever international vantage point he adopts, could easily argue that without his steady hand on the tiller, the Treasurer’s hand on the till laid the groundwork for economic eclipse.
What other comments would you expect from a man who used to blow up frogs with firecrackers? Not content with eavesdropping on US citizens and napalming kiddies in Fallujah, this excuse for a president now stoops to insulting his closest allies! The man has no morals, and Little John would do well to dissociate himself from him.
Glad someone can tell the difference…on Cossie it all looks the same to me, smarmy all the way.
I still can’t get over how forced the smile/smirk is – it struck me the other night when he was on Lateline talking about what a wonderful chappy Rupert is. It’s as though he’s thinking “smile now”, “look like a serious Treasurer now”, “laugh now”.
Napalm????? Since when?? What next – no WMD were found because the Marines used them all in Fallujah?
I don’t mind you having an opinion but at least get the facts straight.
Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre, a film documentary by Sigfrido Ranucci diffused on Italy’s RaiNews24 on November 8, 2005, claimed that the US military killed civilians in Fallujah using WP and MK-77 (modernized napalm) The documentary included numerous photographs of bodies claiming they showed fatal wounds caused by WP. It also quoted journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who had been in Fallujah, as a testimony.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_phosphorus_use_in_Iraq
So shut up.
I may be one of the only people outside his family who has seen a genuine smile from Mr Costello – it’s actually surprisingly nice, reaches his eyes and looks nothing like his customary smirk. I think he’d be much more popular if he smile properly on TV.
I always thought it was interesting it takes 3 muscles to smile but 28 to frown.
Is a smirk more like a frown though?
Not content to rely on the news coverage in HK I’ve been back in Australia for a week and I have to say I’m amazed at how little coverage there is of matters political here.
This is a big story especially with Murdoch throwing his opinions about . But so few people care – it is more like they are discussing which horse will the 4th race at Kyneton.
Sorry, this is not really to the point of the post, but I’m a hardarse and a fan of “Rio Bravo”, “The Professionals” and “The Magnificent 7″ – and I thought that what Bush said about Howard was about the most flattering thing one man could say about another. Maybe it’s just macho bullshit, but the gratitude of someone in a tight spot for a friend who’s with him I find very affecting. Think of Antony for Ceasar, Oates “I may be some time”, the Spartans at Thermopylae, Rolf Harris singing “Two Little Boys”…well, maybe not Rolf.
Bush respects Howard a lot.
The Texas reporter began to ask his question, “You talked about the need to maintain technological …”
But Bush, acting like an excited party guest who couldn’t keep a funny comment inside, interrupted the reporter to deliver the punch line. “A little short on hair, but a fine lad. Yeah,” Bush said, provoking a new round of laughter at the reporter’s expense.
The young reporter paused and acknowledged meekly, “I am losing some hair.”…
A Bush Pattern
The event of a president mocking someone for an appearance – in this case, thinning hair – might have seemed odd if it had come from any other national leader. Even during stressful times, other presidents have avoided such cheap shots in their public comments, apparently understanding how hurtful a personal insult from a president can be – and from a sense that such comments could diminish the office.
Going bald is not a matter of choice. It is caused by family genetics or illness and is a sensitive point to millions of men and women who have lost their hair for no fault of their own.
But Bush seemed oblivious to the possibility of hurt feelings, like some office jokester who pokes fun at co-workers when they return from vacation a little plumper than when they left. Indeed, over the past few years, Bush has found his loose tongue a political asset as many of his supporters view it as a sign that he’s a straight-talking guy of the Rush Limbaugh mold.
Ribbing the young Texas reporter for his thinning hair fits with a long pattern of Bush making others the butt of his jokes. Sometimes the comments seem playful, such as giving reporters slightly demeaning nicknames. Other times, they have a touch of malice.
Bottom line: Bush is an asshole. But even Bush holds Howard in contempt, just like the rest of us.
What we need is a national competition to see who can come up with the best insult to Little John, something that will really wipe the smile off his face.
Silkworm and SJ:
Americans love winners …. and they despise crawlers. Bad and all that he is, G W Bush is still an American …. that was contempt you saw on his face.
I’ve seen Costello in the flesh a few times. He’s impressive and warm. He’s unfortunate in that television makes him like he’s smirking when the same look close up is ok.
“Americans love winners …
Well, who doesn’t? That could be the reason why 70% of Americans don’t love Bush.
So we have this public spectacle where little Johnnie licks the testicles of an American who’s just slightly more popular than Nixon.
If history is anything to go by, Costello won’t be held responsible for the economic collapse. The ALP will win government just in time for things to go seriously pear-shaped, will spend the next decade or so getting things sorted out and building a strong economy so that the Libs can take over again and claim credit for the results.
Not that I necessarily oppose junkets, you understand, but what exactly is the point of Howard’s visit?
Backslapping, pretending it all hasnt been all gone pear shaped. I saw an interview with three new Iraqi police, and they were matter-of-factly saying “sure, of course the resistance is justified – what kind of idiot accepts armed occupation?” etc.
These are the coppers!
I actually think Costellos got a lot of potential warmth and likeabilty within him. The double whammy of being treasurer as well as Howard’s yes-man makes him look worse than he is. It has gotten worse lately though. Maybe he’s lost the spark.
News bulletin for Silkworm: “Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre” is about as credible as the Lancet study is on civilian casualties.
The rantings of a wingnut wog do NOT amount to proof of George Bush & Henchmen deliberately using napalm on Iraqi civilians, in the manner of schoolboys inserting grasshoppers into an electric socket.
“Wingnut wog”?
Typical comment from a racist scumbag Bush supporter.
LeftyElitest,
were you against the elections in Iraq and if so, how do you justify that?
Yes, I’m against it all, Civvie. I’ll be justifying my stance it in a groundbreaking interpretative dance routine at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Will it involve mime, LE?
at least you’re honest about it
“News bulletin for Silkworm: “Fallujah, the Hidden Massacreâ€? is about as credible as the Lancet study is on civilian casualties.”
careful steve, you’ll bring professor quiggin down on us…the Lancet study is gospel to him
SJ: ==“Americans love winners …==Well, who doesn’t?
Australians, New Zealanders, English and Irish are very fond of someone who tries hard even if they don’t win.
Nixon might have been a G-d m-f crook but he knew what he was doing (most of the time) and he had bal\s (licked or unlicked). Pity the Americans that they now have a G-d m-f born-loser who isn’t a patch on Nixon …. but even he is scornful of Howard despite all the sugary words. Remember Bush contemptously calling Howard a “Man Of Steel” during his Royal Visit to Australia?
Oh dear the smell of burning bodies in places like Fallujah. Pity some keep holding their noses over other cities and towns like Alice http://www.nysun.com/article/32787
Yes we just had a doctor on the front line call upon the govt to send in the troops to protect aboriginals from the results of self determination and the products of our universities for decades. Who’d have thunk it? Labor to bring the troops home from the ME in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our homeland from the threat of the leftists.
“Will it involve mime, LE?”
I like to call it ‘contemporary mime’, Anna, as my ten-minute ullullation solo tends to displease the purists.
The competition to wipe the smug smile off Howard’s face is a great idea!
The problem is that if he doesn’t even know when he is being insulted and doesn’t realise when Australia is being tastelessly paraded as one of imperial America’s few allies, then what could you say to him that would get through?
Lovable as a bucket of snot comes to mind!
Does the Adelaide Fringe Festival have all the necessary accoutrements for mime artists, LE?
Like scorpion pits?
I se that when it comes to Aboriginal issues, obby at least has first-hand experience of the damage caused by petrol sniffing.
“Does the Adelaide Fringe Festival have all the necessary accoutrements for mime artists, LE?
Like scorpion pits?”
Oh yes. Can’t you hear them screaming? No?
Nabs, the lazy mime buggers couldn’t be arsed to learn the words.