Costello - Next PM of Australia?

[Julia]

Watching this interview with Costello tonight, for me, confirmed John Howard's decision not to pass the leadership to him. Even at this stage, he indulges in double talk, amongst painting himself as a victim.

He was essentially still refusing to absolutely rule out ever accepting the leadership, and the impression he gives is that he wants his colleagues to beg a bit more, and, lo, he just could be available some time in the distant future.

Anyone who has suggested that by his staying on the back bench he constitutes a destabilising influence is, imo, completely correct.

Certainly he was a witty and sarcastic performer in parliament, but I can't avoid the conclusion that a 'performer' is all he is.

 

[Calliope]

I see Costello occupying the backbench seat for quite a while yet. My scenario goes something like this;

He will wait until Turnbull becomes leader.

He will not put up his hand for a front bench job because he hates Turnbull and wouldn't work with him.

He will wait until Turnbull stuffs up. This may take a while. He will be assuming that the party will then beg him to take over, and will reluctantly accept.

He will try to delay all this as long as he can be because he is fearful of being the opposition leader as Rudd, Swan and Gillard especially would put a big dent in his ego, and make his life a misery.

And if he doesn't win the next election he will be off like a shot.

 

[Nashezz]

I dont know Julia, Costello actually distinguished himself as being a bit more socially responsible than Howard. He engages in no more double talk then did Howard (or most other pollies for that matter) imho.

 

[bluelabel]

costello put our economy on the map now the 'r' word is on the cards

didnt Costello also put the economy on the way to the 'r' word by adding to inflationary pressures by giving tax cuts when inflation was on the up and the economy needed to be slowed?

by saying that i also agree that pete is the greatest prime minister we never had...so far, and i am a big fan of the man.

 

[Speewha]

Hello,

Costello might get his chance Mr Nelson just resigned , Spill in the morning ABC News

Regards

 

[Julia]

Speewha, I don't think Dr Nelson has actually resigned. He is standing for the leadership tomorrow, as is Malcolm Turnbull. There may yet be others, but I don't imagine they could be serious contenders.

Cuttlefish, your scenario makes much sense.

 

[2020hindsight]

...
Far be it for me to promote a book on crikey.com ($10.95 or whatever) ..

but here are some reviews , lol ...

"This is one of the hardest reviews I will write. John Howard has been the finest Prime Minister Australia has ever had…but this is a brilliant, lucid and powerful historical portrait…a compelling and accurate insight into the man who should have been PM." Janet Albrechtsen

"Uninspiring ... perhaps the subject matter betrayed the author, for this is a vapid, dull affair…It lacks the big picture and vision ... A squandered opportunity, full of promise that never delivers..." Malcolm Turnbull

"Fact is stranger than fiction here…Imagine a deputy PM aspiring to the top job? Hilarious and witty ... I laughed so much my hair turned red." Julia Gillard

"Arguably the finest and most honest memoir that I’ve ever had read to me." Pauline Hanson

"This is the way history should be re-written ... An important addition to revisionist autobiography ... a first rate piece of denialism." Keith Windschuttle

"I’ll be buggered if I’m going to dignify this adolescent puerile filth ... This type of low level back-door jiggery pokery will smear the good name of the Howard Government..." Alan Jones

"What makes this so book so important is the breadth and depth of this memoir ... sprightly written, often insightful in its judgments, and studded with nuggets that enhance the Costello saga." Bindi Irwin

"Sweetie ... it’s just gorgeous. I read it in my PJs and just giggled like a little girlie." Caroline Overington

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

My contacts in Melbourne tell me that following a meeting last night the march of Peter Costello towards the lodge has started.

At last some hope of a change from Rudd's interigeum.

First stop Liberal Leader, then a gruelling campaign and on to PM.

My Labor contacts say that Rudd is spooked and is considering an early election to head PC off.

gg

 

[Calliope]

Oops. I think Turnbull has played the wrong card.

SMH today

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has sacked right-wing South Australian Liberal senator Cory Bernardi from his junior shadow ministry for attacking frontbencher Christopher Pyne.

Senator Bernardi, shadow parliamentary secretary for disabilities, carers and the voluntary sector, has been thrown off the Coalition front bench for releasing a newsletter in which he claimed an unnamed colleague once told him he would have happily become a Labor MP but chose the Liberal Party because of where he lived.

That colleague has since been identified as Mr Pyne, a moderate whom Senator Bernardi despises.

Mr Pyne flatly rejected Senator Bernardi's assertions. Senator Bernardi has refused to retract his claim so Mr Turnbull has sacked him.

An announcement is imminent.

 

[brianwh]

My contacts in Melbourne tell me that following a meeting last night the march of Peter Costello towards the lodge has started.

At last some hope of a change from Rudd's interigeum.

First stop Liberal Leader, then a gruelling campaign and on to PM.

My Labor contacts say that Rudd is spooked and is considering an early election to head PC off.

gg

Is this the same informant you quoted on 6th of August 2008 GG?

 

[Julia]

My contacts in Melbourne tell me that following a meeting last night the march of Peter Costello towards the lodge has started.

At last some hope of a change from Rudd's interigeum.

First stop Liberal Leader, then a gruelling campaign and on to PM.

My Labor contacts say that Rudd is spooked and is considering an early election to head PC off.

gg

Not too sure about that, gg. I think Costello is staying where he is simply because he is thoroughly enjoying all the conjecture. Doubt that he really has the necessary fire in the belly to be Leader.

 

[Glen48]

Costello is tainted from Howard and IMO a dead man walking. Turnbull should be able to fire a bit better with all his knowledge ...but is not. The voters will be happy as long as they are being paid and support Krudd.
Lot more recession to come before a show of direction.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Is this the same informant you quoted on 6th of August 2008 GG?

Not too sure about that, gg. I think Costello is staying where he is simply because he is thoroughly enjoying all the conjecture. Doubt that he really has the necessary fire in the belly to be Leader.

Costello is tainted from Howard and IMO a dead man walking. Turnbull should be able to fire a bit better with all his knowledge ...but is not. The voters will be happy as long as they are being paid and support Krudd.
Lot more recession to come before a show of direction.

Believe me its on

The next election will see Costello going against Rudd.

gg

 

[Wysiwyg]

Believe me its on

The next election will see Costello going against Rudd.

gg

That cunning koala will time his run to challenge as the economies start to recover.Rudd played a masterful hand by doing helicoptor drops to the people.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Believe me its on

The next election will see Costello going against Rudd.

gg

The Weekend Australian seems to be on to the Costello for PM song sheet today.

Its a done deal really.

Hockey will need to decide whether he dumps Turnbull or lets The Mad Monk, Abbot slip into the Treasury Portfolio.

gg

 

[kincella]

I am praying for Costello to take over as the leader....

for the ones who think he is not up to it....
professionally ..he is out in front of the whole mob..all sides...none of them are comparable
as a man...he is a gentleman...that type are not likely to kick you when you are down..or put a knife in your back...or thuggery in any way...(they might wish they could be like a thug...but more subtle ways of achieving the same thing)
not like turnbull....or the kids...rudd, swan, tanner gilliard...etc
they grew up like street kids...they only know how to play dirty...
like mark latham...
abbott should go..he is useless and embarrasing
hockey has a long way to go to learn the ropes....again he is a bit too nice, and too young...bit like downer..another nice guy
nelson again was too nice....but turnbull got 45 votes and nelson 41...so its not like a massive vote in his favour...and I bet there was a lot of 'standover tactics' from turnbull...they do not call him 'volcano' for nothing...goes off his face apparently
I think Costello's sitting there watching them all self implode....Turnbull seems to spend his time making jokes with the other side...instead of serious business....

*** there were articles this week, suggesting we go to the polls again by Sep 09, before the outcome of the latest waste of 42 billion is known... and while all the.......(insert whatever name you like) are fresh from their 900 bonus
first Qld going to the polls,,,,see all the members opting out....in aug 09...
then the feds to the polls......trying to cash in on their 'supposedly' popularity....
so if all that pans out...we should not have long to sort out the libs....and thats another reason labor's looking to move fast...while the libs are in disarray
maybe its all just wishful thinking by some of us.....

 

[shaunQ]

bit like downer..another nice guy

Not sure about that one. If you'd ever worked with him, you'd know he is the most dirty mouth, rude, arrogant @#$#. Nothing like what you see on TV.

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

The next election will see Costello going against Rudd.gg

I hope so because DEFICIT is not a nice situation.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Costello feels he was done over by the superior political nous of Howard.

He realises that being leader of the opposition is a poisoned chalice until an election is imminent.

He will raise his profile from time to time, and then punce to take Turnbull first and then Rudd out.

Rudd also has a problem in that many of his MPs don't like him because he is a control freak and not really a strong leader.

When Costello takes over as leader this dynamic will play out, as the roosters vie for position should Rudd lose at the next election.

gg

 

[Julia]

Well Malcolm Turnbull's political instincts are pretty shaky imo so he doesn't represent anything like the threat he should to Rudd in the circumstances.

To start mouthing off about Rudd's wife being so rich when he himself is apparently worth around $160M, is just stupid, along with being distastefully personal.

I can see Costello smirking to himself as his plan falls into place without him doing anything much at all.