Costello - Next PM of Australia?

[Garpal Gumnut]

I have it on good information that Peter Costello has decided to take leadership of the Liberal Party.

Next stop Prime Minister.

The interrigium of Kev07-10 is close to an end.

Let all fair minded people hope that the ALP don't try to embed their 1960's ideology on our democracy before Peter is re-elected to continue monitoring the prosperity we enjoyed when he was Treasurer.

gg

 

[Julia]

Re: Costello. Next PM of Aostralia

Care to enlighten us as to the source of your info, GG?
(not that I expect anyone will be surprised if it does happen.)

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Re: Costello. Next PM of Aostralia

Care to enlighten us as to the source of your info, GG?
(not that I expect anyone will be surprised if it does happen.)

An old mate of mine who lives in Toorak, a knockabout bloke made good. He's got more connections than Telsa.

gg

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Once Costello gets back in as leader of the Libs, Kev07 will be history. Roll on 2010.

gg

 

[agro]

howard should have handed it to costello in the first place

libs would have had a better shot at the election

but fingers crossed you are right - costello put our economy on the map now the 'r' word is on the cards

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

howard should have handed it to costello in the first place

libs would have had a better shot at the election

but fingers crossed you are right - costello put our economy on the map now the 'r' word is on the cards

Agree, but its not a bad idea every now and then to have the other mob in, to make people realise how lucky they were and to let the left have a go at putting their ideas into the marketplace. Seeing Keating this week promenading brought back all the bad memories.

gg

 

[agro]

Agree, but its not a bad idea every now and then to have the other mob in, to make people realise how lucky they were and to let the left have a go at putting their ideas into the marketplace. Seeing Keating this week promenading brought back all the bad memories.

gg

keating calling costello a dope was a low blow i thought

 

[nunthewiser]

Um didnt costello as a treasurer already send our economy into a tailspin with his lapsadaical financial management and irresponsible ecomomic planning ? . do ya really want him as your leader ? ps mark my words labour will be in for at least 2 terms

 

[golfmos123]

GG,

Couldn't agree with you more. Keating is just making an ass of himself with his whining. He used to have a rapier wit and had the stare of death, but his interview with Kerry O'Brien on the 7.30 report during the week showed he is but a pale shadow of the former self. He was avoiding eye contact and was fidgeting with his hands. His criticisms of the Libs and his pathetic name calling was really sad.

As for Kevin07, how much power can he really wield?? He can't even get his multimillionaire wife to stop shopping at St Vinnies and at least wear a nice frock in public, let alone when meeting diplomats!!

Interesting to see that Labor are already sinking the boot into Costello before he even gets the opp leaders job.

Roll on the Costello bandwagon.......

 

[bluecheese101]

Interesting ideas by all. Does anyone know how many Governments have gone from Opposition to Government and back to Opposition within one term?
Kevin Rudd is the most conservative leader the ALP has ever had - and he does not fit the usual mold of former Labor Leaders. This could play a huge part if people think the future is unclear, they may stick with him simply because he is the incumbent and won't risk a change.

As for the Coalition, their biggest problem is unity. If they can hold themselves together and unite they may be able to get back into Government quickly. However the loss of another election - with either Costello or Turnbull as leader - will start to cause in fighting within the party and the factions, simply extending their time in Opposition.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

keating calling costello a dope was a low blow i thought

Agree, although Keating is an expert on dopes.

Um didnt costello as a treasurer already send our economy into a tailspin with his lapsadaical financial management and irresponsible ecomomic planning ? . do ya really want him as your leader ? ps mark my words labour will be in for at least 2 terms

I guess those on the left think he was a bad treasurer and those on the right a good one, those who change governments though would probably say he was a good one.

GG,

Couldn't agree with you more. Keating is just making an ass of himself with his whining. He used to have a rapier wit and had the stare of death, but his interview with Kerry O'Brien on the 7.30 report during the week showed he is but a pale shadow of the former self. He was avoiding eye contact and was fidgeting with his hands. His criticisms of the Libs and his pathetic name calling was really sad.

Interesting to see that Labor are already sinking the boot into Costello before he even gets the opp leaders job.

Roll on the Costello bandwagon.......

Keating looks very miserable these days alright. Perhaps he sees the writing on the wall.

Interesting ideas by all. Does anyone know how many Governments have gone from Opposition to Government and back to Opposition within one term?
Kevin Rudd is the most conservative leader the ALP has ever had - and he does not fit the usual mold of former Labor Leaders. This could play a huge part if people think the future is unclear, they may stick with him simply because he is the incumbent and won't risk a change.

As for the Coalition, their biggest problem is unity. If they can hold themselves together and unite they may be able to get back into Government quickly. However the loss of another election - with either Costello or Turnbull as leader - will start to cause in fighting within the party and the factions, simply extending their time in Opposition.

Agree, when I get a chance I'll do a search on wiki, certainly not since Menzies has a government been chucked out after one term. I'd be happy to be corrected on that.

Lets hope Costello keeps the Liberals together once he becomes leader.

gg

 

[Julia]

Agree, although Keating is an expert on dopes.

There something particularly pathetic about ex-leaders still seeking the limelight. John Howard is one of the few who hasn't done this.
Malcolm Fraser is especially notable for his constant carping about both sides of government.

And John Hewson failed miserably as Leader but now appears to regard himself as an expert on everything.

Lets hope Costello keeps the Liberals together once he becomes leader.

gg

John Howard excelled at keeping unity. I'm not so sure that Costello has the same ability.
Has anyone noticed how - since there has been this recent push for the return of Costello - Malcolm Turnbull has been pushing himself forward at every opportunity? And making quite a good fist of it, too. I guess he figures that if Costello takes the leadership now then his own chances slip mightily into the background.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

There something particularly pathetic about ex-leaders still seeking the limelight. John Howard is one of the few who hasn't done this.
Malcolm Fraser is especially notable for his constant carping about both sides of government.

And John Hewson failed miserably as Leader but now appears to regard himself as an expert on everything.

John Howard excelled at keeping unity. I'm not so sure that Costello has the same ability.
Has anyone noticed how - since there has been this recent push for the return of Costello - Malcolm Turnbull has been pushing himself forward at every opportunity? And making quite a good fist of it, too. I guess he figures that if Costello takes the leadership now then his own chances slip mightily into the background.

Yes Hewson, Fraser and Keating should form a band, I believe Keating started off as a band manager.

Turnbull has enough mongrel in him to make a good PM, lets hope Costello gets a bit more if he takes over.

BTW its a shame there aren't any women with the necessary drive and ambition about at present, poor Julia has probably been promised a run by Kev, and we know what those promises amount to down the track.

gg

gg

 

[wayneL]

Interesting ideas by all. Does anyone know how many Governments have gone from Opposition to Government and back to Opposition within one term?
Kevin Rudd is the most conservative leader the ALP has ever had - and he does not fit the usual mold of former Labor Leaders. This could play a huge part if people think the future is unclear, they may stick with him simply because he is the incumbent and won't risk a change.

As for the Coalition, their biggest problem is unity. If they can hold themselves together and unite they may be able to get back into Government quickly. However the loss of another election - with either Costello or Turnbull as leader - will start to cause in fighting within the party and the factions, simply extending their time in Opposition.

Oh thou of short memory!

"The Great Man" (spat out with all the mocking sarcasm I can muster) only lasted a term before the Sir John Kerr - Australian electorate tag team gave him a whopping at the polls.

Note: Though he did call an early election in 1974 and won, total time in office was only 3 years, the equivalent of one term.

 

[wayneL]

As I've always maintained, Labor winning is the best thing for the conservatives.

It will mean the economy tanks on Labor's watch, meanwhile the Libs can have the necessary and cleansing catharsis of ratbags, wasters, dunderheads and scoundrels from the front bench.

Even if it takes two terms, the party will be all the better for it.

And I still think Pete would make a fine PM.

 

[IFocus]

Lets hope Costello keeps the Liberals together once he becomes leader.

gg

Costello hasn't the craft to achieve this they (liberal party)will shred him until they find some one who has. Like Wayne I think he would have made a fine PM but his time has past.

 

[2020hindsight]

Regarding Peter C, I feel I don't really know the man - or rather I don;t really know his policies wet dry etc.
I mean, he was such a faithful Lieutenant - he was obeying Johnnies wishes half the time.
The fact that they can't talk each now other speaks for itself (maybe)

 

[2020hindsight]

I mean, we know where Costello (and his brother Tim) stand on the sorry statment - Peter marched for instance - almost in defiance of Johnny's opinion.

But one big unknown (to my mind anyway) is, what does he truly think about GW and carbon trading? Is it critically important to get on board now, so that Aus can benefit from being , at least in the pack (if not in the vanguard) - rather than being last off the rank? Expressed another way, if he feels half as strongly as his brother does about the climate trends being experienced in the world, then he will stll be 200% in favour of early action to do our bit to counter GW.


:topic Wow, spreaking of dry politics etc , this looks like a rivetting read

 

[Sean K]

Costello is politically very smart, except for being a bit smug, even if he doesn't think that way.

Show some teeth man!

He might have the top few percent of the vote, a few more than Turnbull, but not the lower masses.

He needs to be more approachable, go to the footy more often, and cuddle a few more babies etc etc. His brother is a handicap in modern secular Australia.

Abbott needs to lose God.
Turnbull needs to lose more money.

The current man is actually a good bloke learning the trade.
He's just a bit short.

 

[2020hindsight]

1. Costello is politically very smart, except for being a bit smug, ..

2. Abbott needs to lose God.
Turnbull needs to lose more money.

3. The current man is actually a good bloke learning the trade.
He's just a bit short.

1. no question Costello is bludy brilliant partliamentary performer - but we've never really seen him as AUS Commander in Chief ( to use the current term in vogue in USA)

Personally I have never had a problem with his alleged smirk. He's a wit, smart, funny, and sure, the fact that he's usually thinking humourous thoughts, well it just shows up on his dial. (imho)

Hell his student days were mainly on the Left side of politics.

2. Lol, geat summary re Abbott & Turnbull - though to be fair, Turnbull is fairly generous as it is - an annual (I think) scholarship at his old school for instance - which happens to be means tested lol

3. learning the trade? - what trade would that be - trying to win the next election from where he is ? - lol , yuo're joking mate.

Maybe he should take up a "dual trade" - take up carpentry for instance - the last miracle maker was a carpener as I recall