If you read between the lines of Peter Costello’s in house columnist/propagandist at News Limited Glenn Milne’s column today, and add in Tony Abbott’s words of praise for The Great Pretender on Lateline on Friday, and the story that came from “nowhere” about Cossie knocking back a 2 million buck a year job, the Liberal leadership narrative is becoming pretty clear - signals are being sent that the party’s Right, and particularly Nick Minchin, want $weetie in the leadership.
But let’s be clear about two things:
(1) Costello is still doing his usual petulant thing - signalling that he’ll only take the leadership if asked. Whether or not a 10 month sulk while his party lies in smoking ruins is a mark of a clever politician or just a massive and self-centred ego is - as they say - a question for the party room.
(2) The Liberal Party right are turning to Costello in order to fend off Malcolm Turnbull. So any suggestion that the former Treasurer is some sort of moderate, or indeed that he might have his own agenda, can probably be put to bed. He’ll be the captive of the denialist hardliners just like Brendan Nelson is. And that - all his past feints to the moderates aside - would be entirely consistent with his history as a politician - a natural right winger, but a lazy one with few ideas of his own, and no eye for political strategy. Turnbull is unlikely to take any second coming lying down.
Costello is lazy, gutless and self centred - its hard to imagine him doing anything until Nelson thoroughly implodes - which may be sooner rather tha later.
Turnbull wants to be Prime Minister, not opposition leader. Its waay too early in the electoral cycle for him to make a move, and he may not even tilt for the 2010 election unless the opposition polling improves. Unfortunately for malcolm, I think the electorate smells a rat with him - and that rat is called ego.
Now politicians have to have ideas of their own. What planet are you living on, Kim? Anyway, you’re right that this is the old Costello petulance. But his student-politics antics won’t matter in the long run. What will matter is whether Turnbull is happy to do a deal with Costello and take a back seat in the 2010 election. I’d suggest he will be because, as PDL notes, he’ll be tempted to wait until after the election so that Howard, Nelson and Costello will have been rejected in turn. In the meantime, the ALP are jumping at shadows with their Costello battle plan. Rudd banging on about Costello’s baggage only reminds voters of the past, when things were arguably better, and gives Costello political credibility when he hasn’t worked for it (lately). Prepare for the same old rubbish about the ‘Costello/Turnbull Dream Team’ (a dream in two senses).
As an aside, I should remind Gaz (who I haven’t seen around here lately but who is hopefully reading) that we have a $10 wager that Nelson will still be leader in November. I backed Nelson, so it’s looking pretty grim for me at the moment!
BBB
BBB, I’ll stand by my characterisation of Costello as an empty vessel - every time he took the opportunity to articulate some sort of idea of his own (and he had quite a few) the results were distinctly underwhelming.
And I strongly suspect you’re wrong that there’s a wave of nostalgia for the Howard era that he’s well placed to surf.
Well, I wouldn’t call it a wave of nostalgia, Kim. It’s a little more subtle than that. The ALP ought to starve Costello et al of oxygen, so that media coverage accurately reflects the Liberals’ political status, which is somewhere between ‘irrelevant’ and ‘what’s a Liberal Party’ right now.
Cheers
BBB
In theory, yes, BBB - but the News Limited papers write of little else other than the Liberals and that flows through to other media.
I can’t believe that the Libs are considering trying to resurrect Costello.
It would be like Labor digging-up Arthur Caldwell, brushing-off the cobwebs, and plonking-him down in leadership.
Sorry fellas, but Costello’s political career is every bit as dead as poor Old Arthur’s.
The fact this sort of thing is being agitated at all at this point demonstrates to me one of two things: Either just how out-of touch and desperate the Libs have become; Or else the depth of Glen Milne’s delusional state.
One or the other of them is in serious need of therapy.
Costello is like Lazarus with a quadruple bypass. Is that what you’re saying Evan?
BBB
Abbott today is going on about a “Rudd recession,” this is a big tactical error, as if no recession eventuates it just helps Rudd paint the Libs as a bunch of “naysayers”
In a time of CHANGE…on the eve of a potential Obama win in America…where countries like Australia are looking to be at the forefront of new ideas, innovation, clean energy jobs & technology, so we can leave the nostalgic-ridden & Luddite facade of the CON years, I mean the Howard/Costello years…headed by a Labor team that is made up essentially of new lights…the Liberal Party decides they want to bring back the old guard & the architect of the FACADE/CON.
Seriously?
Peter(Fawlty)Costello come to save the day…I imagine the previous Liberal donors & prosperity gospel singing evangelicals across Australia are singing HALLE FREAKING LUJAH, HERE COMES THE GRAVY TRAIN!
Based on horrific reports coming in from some workers on the 457 visas under the Howard/Costello regime…& considering our ex-treasurer was very keen on broadening WORKCHOICES…I reckon the following vid will provide a glimpse into how Aussie workers will be treated under a Peter Costello Prime Ministership, particularly if Unions are carved up and workchoices spreads like a cancer:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jSfyWbg0JV4&feature=related
N’
I think one thing we can all agree on is the type of coverage Costello can expect from News Ltd. should he ‘assume’ the Lib leadership. If anyone out there thought the coverage of the Popes visit was over the top well hang on to your hats. In fact I suspect that if it had been Jesus Christ himself and not the pope that visited Sydney last month even he would have struggled to get the adulatory coverage Costello can expect. In fact I predict it could get so bad it will necessitate the calling into service of a Petemobile in order to protect him from the excited bodily fluids of some press gallery members. One can picture the Petemobile being towed effortlessly past the canberra press gallery on a thick layer of drool and various members, Poisendwarf et.al, jostling to see who can be at the front. It might even include some ABC news and current affairs staff.
A lot depends on the timing. The publication of Costello’s book is now said to have been brought forward from October to September. It would certainly be helpful for sales if the book could add Leader of the Opposition as well as Federal Treasurer for a record term. The problem with his scenario is Brendan Nelson’s belligerence in indicating for the record that he won’t go without a fight and it could be significant that he has Howard’s public support (Costello isn’t his own worst enemy while Howard is alive). So unless other Liberal party brokers can organise for Nelson to step down in favour of Costello, then Costello will have to challenge within the next fortnight or so. If Costello has not made a move by then, particularly after all the recent publicity, it will confirm the widespread view that he is weak and indecisive. A pointer to this view can even be seen in the Sunday Telegraph editorial.
Yeah, some good points there, JohnL. I’d forgotten about Howard’s pointed endorsement of Nelson.
Yep ,it looks like Nelson is about to be put out of his and our misery.
Costello is jogging…a sure sign that the fat bastard has a plan.
He is showing the public that he doesn’t shuffle, like John, even if his bum is a danger to various forms of wildlife.
That footage of Costello
shufflingjogging was particularly grisly. Like a scary scene from “The Return of the Zombies”.I bet Stud Nelson has buried his face in his jumbo packet of popcorn.
Kim posted: “Turnbull is unlikely to take any second coming lying down.”
Well, I’m not sure exactly how Viscount Turnbull would take anything from the bloke with no balls, but your statement seems based on the premise that there was a FIRST COMING.
Was there? I recall the was a GOING, on 25th November 2007. There were several TOINGS and FROINGS with the former PM, blessed be his name in sacred memory.
But I don’t recall an actual COMING.
Just sort of hard for me to think of a party leader crying for not getting his way .
The man is yesterday, the next true leader of the opposition will be young and in touch with those younger than most of us. I have a feeling it will be Greg Hunt.
Strange, but the annointing of cry baby by Lord Minchin was lead item om ABC 7.00 o’clock news, but dropped altogether for the 8.30 update.
Too may complaints along the lines that this isn’t exactly the most important news of the day?
If it be now, ’tis not to come;
if it be not to come, it will be now;
if it be not now, yet it will come:
the readiness is all.
…Horatio? Horatio? Bugger’s gone to sleep!
This whole Resurrect Gutless Pete scenario is straight out of a comedy script-writer’s workshop …
…. or TheOz in desperate Kingmaker mode!
Storyline components:
Post Election07, things are not looking good
1. Costello refuses the “throne” of Liberal leadership as Opposition Leader; Turnbull (hope of more liberal Liberals) is beaten by dry-right-backed Nelson in the Lib leadership ballot
2. Nelson is a disaster
3. The Liberal far-right wing does not want the natural alternative - liberal republican Turnbull - and voters do not prefer any of the other wannabes
4. TheOz & NewsLtd tabloids, having taken a blatantly dry-right Howard-hugger/ pro-Costello stance, can no longer lay claim to their favourite “Kingmaker Role” now Rudd and the ALP are government, and the more radical “leftie” Greens are again part of the Senate balance-of-power
5. Rudd, the ALP & Greens, and their supporters prefer public addresses and the new media - FM radio, the blogsphere - and, far from courting the former Howard-Hugger journos and begging to be on TV political programmes (esp Lateline & Insiders) are very choosy about who appears when & where … and Rudd himself usually chooses Kerry O’Brien’s 7.30 Report
6. Sundry Oz/NewsLtd tabloid anti-Rudd beat-ups & dog-whistles have hardly dimmed his gloss and he’s still enjoying his post-election honeymoon, now well into its 9th month
7. Efforts to beat-up a “Rudd as a One-term PM line” prove futile as Nelson’s disastrous blunders, esp on Climate Change, enhance both Rudd and the prospects of the leader Lib Right-wing powerbrokers don’t want - Turnbull
Deliverance?
1. Suddenly a book appears claiming that ALPers have claimed that secret ALP polling in mid-2006 (around the time Costello went public about Howard’s broken promised to hand him the PMinistership} show that Costello was more of a threat to the ALP’s election chances than Howard
2. Ignore (a) that this claim is unsubstantiated (b) it occurs before Rudd is elected ALP Leader of the Opposition (c) all subsequent polls show that Rudd will win the ALP the election and (d) Costello’s failure to challenge Howard is seen by voters as “gutless” (e) thereafter, polls show declining voter support for Costello.
3. Ignore also that, in September 07 when polls continue to indicate that nothing dims the Rudd gloss and Howard refuses to step down in his party’s interests, Costello again refuses to challenge - reinforcing the “Gutless” “Lack of ‘ticker’ tag which sank Beazley
4.Get every NewsLtd senior Journo, esp what remains of the Prætorian Guard, to beat-up “Costello as Saviour” in multiple same-day columns in TheOz
5. Ignore also that Gutless Pete, instead of attending a critical Liberal policy & strategy meeting, is on a Pacific Isle, proving how accurate a character judge Keating was with his “lazy treasurer, asloop in the hammock … rock …rock”
6. Ignore also just how effectively Hewson’s “hasn’t got the balls” gives the ALP the “No Balls Pete” tag for nationally televised Question Time
7. Bring on every persuasive trick in Machiavelli/Goebell’s primmer - especially “facts” not in evidence like;
(the emphasis is mine) http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24123260-601,00.html
Meanwhile, back in this universe, this planet and this reality …
An Abbott and Costello slapstick revue to replace the Nelson gymnastic spectacular. Can’t wait.
Since John Howard has been appointed a life member of the Libs, (as was Hyacynth, but who cares about her) there is no doubt the evil lives on within and without the party. And I would bet, somehow, JWH will be petty enough to try and block Costello’s leadership bid.
Meanwhile, Nelson does a late 30′e early 40s Menzies, flys off on an overseas trip, all the while moaning about those bastards he left behind getting ready tro knife him in the back. His diary will be interesting.
You are right on track there DeeCee.
I notice that Paul Kelly is pulling back from his professorial “three things to remember here” lectures, and is now treading lightly in the direction of the Government, perhaps even slipping his moorings from the mad rabble that is the Opposition, but the rest of the News Ltd pack, the likes of Milne Bolt and Shanahan et al, are fast-tracking their mastheads into outa space - somewhere around Planet Janet, where there is no “unelected” High Court and anyone darker than a dane is not allowed to enter.
Paul Burns: “And I would bet, somehow, JWH will be petty enough to try and block Costello’s leadership bid.”
Yes Paul: he’s already had a go in public by strongly endorsing Lord Nelson at the weekend. Who knows how many phone calls he’s been making.
I trust the taxpayer has made a generous allowance for his phone bill. And he should jolly well hurry up with his memoirs, so we can watch the ‘duelling memoirs’ light opera unfold.
The photo of the Blessed Howard and The Man With No Balls avoiding eye contact when sat 20cm apart at Lindsay Thjompson’s memorial service, was well worth the price of admission. I reckon we’re getting very good value, even up here in the cheap seats.
What is it with News hacks. They want judges elected and Ministers appointed, which just goes to show Grace, you don’t need to be colored to be dark.
Planet Janet’s recent probe into the unknown judicial proclivities of the new Chief Justice, Robert French, is a work to behold and ponder. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24113567-5013450,00.html
She suspects much. She has no evidence, it seems.
So she says that the SMH opined when he was appointed Chief Justice that Anthony Mason would be a calming influence. She says he was a shocker - a Judicial Activist, quelle horreur!
So there.
The syllogism runs like this (I think):
1. SMH was wrong about Justice Mason
2. People are saying Justice French will be OK
ergo
3. Justice French is a danger
It’s quite brilliant, really.
**************
I have two urgent questions for NASA: Is there water on Planet Janet? Is there life?
Good stuff DeeCee.
I’ve always been suspect of the Howard VS Costello dance. Was a great attention seeking act. Methinks they’re two sides of the same coin. Look at what Britain got when they dumped Blair. Brown & he not as different policy & focus-wise as many thought.
I reckon Costello is as much to blame for THE CON & facade regarding this economy as Howard. It was open slather for allied/donating corporate energy, transport, oil-related products, credit card companies, sports-related companies, electrical goods, retail, fast food, soft drink/juice, pulp, pharma, armaments and military mates.
And some pollies in the States are as much to blame.
Privatise, de-regulate full-bore…and allow monopolisation based on FAVOURS & SUPPORT and it ain’t that hard to create lots of jobs & revenue in the short-term (look at America)…particularly when you’re providing benefits/welfare, tax cuts and rebates to families to BUY BUY BUY…CONSUME at frantic pace (including private health & education)…& subsidies, tax benefits to companies to HIRE at middle income & public services expense…but the cost to the environment & worker protection & the health of individuals is horrendous in the long-term.
Attempting to create and perpetuate a perception of exaggerated GAP between the two, Howard & Costello, helps if Howard, Ruddock, Downer etc. are hit badly over Iraq War, detention centres (private contractors), AWB, connection to certain religious groups, energy-related backdoor deals & corrupt horseracing/sports connections…and possible smuggling & intelligence FRONT companies…if Obama gets in & the American senate & other bodies start looking into war crimes and so on.
Costello’s connections to financial institutions & present, past & nominee for Reserve Bank characters is worth intense scrutiny. And discussions in Fiji. Why Fiji?
Costello was one of only a few members of a Howard govt. policy formation & funding decision group. Forgot the name at present. Someone else might remember.
And:
Since 2003 the Government has escalated its attacks on the NGO sector through a range of strategies designed to restrict the advocacy capacity of the sector as a whole. In 2003, the Treasurer, Peter Costello, undertook to introduce a Charities Definition Bill that would disqualify charities that engaged in advocacy work, other than that which is ancillary and incidental to their main purpose. The threat was that lobbying or advocacy could result in the loss of an organisation’s charitable tax status or status as a deductible gift recipient (DGR). As many foundations can only donate to organisations that have DGR status (which makes the tax-deductibility of donations possible), this could result in the indirect defunding of many such organisations. Although the Government subsequently abandoned most of the draft bill and retained the common law definition of charity, many NGOs remain concerned that there will be a crackdown on their charitable status.
( The repression of the bleeding hearts
Sydney Morning Herald
January 27, 2007
Many welfare organisations have discovered that criticising policy is unacceptable to this Government, write Sarah Maddison and Clive Hamilton.)
From what I recall, Peter Costello also posited the idea of using the law/legislation(?) against those who promoted boycott’s and overt criticism against corporations. I think we know why the Libs & certain business & religious (same thing?) interests are so keen to put him into the leadership position.
Imo, the Libs & some Nat mates (Joyce?) are playing the role of real TRICKY DICKS of late…w/ the help of media ENABLERS.
And certain influential ex-pollies in the Lib Party are part of the campaign. It’s all about gaining PUBLIC ATTENTION for the LIBS (like in the past) and using others to SNIPE at Rudd & Labor…& paint picture of economic mismanagement…whilst their corporate/investor mates ’short sell’ & try to damage companies like Fortescue Metals & others (now aligning themselves w/ Labor & trying to assist Aborigines etc.).
TRAITORS to the Australian people everywhere.
N’
A Costello leadership could do the Liberals good in the long run. One particular national conversation sure to be had, and otherwise very vague, with Costello leader is “Where does the past meet the future, in the Liberal Party”.
Turnbull or others can’t by sheer presence bring that conversation on: it has to be instigated by them. With Costello, it’s a given, and to at least some degree, defining.
One could rightly guess the Costello ride would be bumpy, and in the process of that conversation it’s possible the Party could more quickly arrive at what it is, as matters are forced to crystalise by weight of public askance. That weight isn’t really there with any other contender: though the questions about what the Libs stand for would be asked, it would be airy fairy stuff as it is now.
A flushed out/through LNP may then arrive at the “unelectable Costello” conclusion once and for all, say, anywhere from two to eight months out from the poll, giving a new leader the chance to establish a clearer presentation of the Libs future.
That is, it may not be an altogether backward move, in the end.
You also have to love Howard coming out and backing Nelson in. He’s not even the leader of the Howard Party anymore but thinks he’s still calling the shots. The question gets asked every so often but how low can News Ltd go?
I don’t know JohnL and Jacques.
Has Howard come out and backed Nelson over Costello? Or did he just give him his general support at the NSW Libs meeting (it’s a tough job etc) more or less as expected and as he’s been doing for months.
Weekend Sunrise on Sunday pretty much devoted their entire episode to the issue. They repeatedly ran the statement ‘Howard backs Nelson over Costello’.
I just wonder if this is tactical spin. The public voted out Howard, the public won’t vote for Nelson, let’s string them together and it’s Costello who looks fresh and new again.
Doesn’t matter what Howard thinks of Costello, or even if Howard was so explicit at that meeting, which I doubt, Costello supporters have seen no harm in running it through the media machine. We’re even told Howard doesn’t give any credit whatsoever to Costello for the strong economy of the last 12 years.
Sunrise also made the huge claim (coming up on the show…no actual article follows) Labor will be immediately launching a scare campaign if Costello becomes leader. An extension of the unsourced news claims of flurried dossier preparing on Costello’s history by Labor…because of course they don’t have one prepared one already. I’m sure his history hasn’t changed too much in the last year.
I love this one the best.
Labor working itself up over Costello
‘They’re working themselves into an incredible lather,’ Senator Fifield told Sky News.
‘They’re so easily spooked. The Labor government have such a lack of confidence in themselves.
‘It’s quite bizarre that they’re reacting in this way … they’re getting so excited and so hysterical.’
Cossie wants to spend less time with his family.
hmmmm I wonder whether his family has similar feelings? They must have been seeing quite a bit more of him since Nov 24th.
In breaking news, Ted Baillieu reminds his MPs that $weetie said he would be leaving Parl’t. And in WA Troy Buswell resigns, further damaging the prospects of chair sniffers everywhere.
the little rat!!
Ahh, now that the “no balls” jibe has finally been aired, I feel I can now ignore good blogging etiquette by reposting a bit of tomfoolery I put on PB before the election.
It’s my Howard Cabinet Triptych (Part 2):
A man steering the accounts of the nation,
Said, “I’m ignoring the return of inflation,
By resting on my laurels,
And indulging petty quarrels,
It’s how I cope with metaphorical castration.”