Costello Mounts Leadership Challenge

[Matilda]

"Sorry — wrong headline, but this one's been ready for years and now it'll never get used otherwise. Like Ben Pobjie, we're all dealing with Costello's passing in our own way ...

"So this is what it's like when Caesar dies.

"Well, not Caesar. The guy just below Caesar. Brutus, or Pompey, or Asterix. Someone like that. This is what it's like when the guy who really really wanted to be Caesar but wasn't quite good enough dies. Or rather, this is what it's like when the guy who really wanted to be Caesar leaves Rome and lives out the rest of his life on a $176,000 pension writing snarky newspaper articles."


There hasn't been much to laugh at in politics since George W. Bush left the world stage, but this wonderful
valediction for Peter Costello fills the gap very well. Read and enjoy:

http://newmatilda.com/2009/06/19/costello-mounts-leadership-challenge


"Ah yes, the career of Costello serves to illustrate how true it is that some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some become Australia's longest-serving treasurer while waiting for someone else to thrust greatness upon them."

[Esra Star]

1. I think I'll wait a bit before I believe it.

Peter made a point about "service to the country" in an interview I heard the other day.
Now that Turdbull is possibly mortally wounded, Costello may just decide to stay on.
I don't think so. But, then again, I don't understand politics.
I'm listening to PNN today.
Cheers

[Matilda]

2. I wonder if he's wishing he'd waited another week?

Turnbull has been hurt by the ute affair; his judgment and tactics have been called into question, and it's not
over yet. If it was Grech who concocted the email, why did he do it? Was there anyone else behind it, and what
were that person's connections?

[gemini_liberal]

3. As a South Australian

I find this quite amusing because the leader of our state Liberal Party has completely collapsed in credibility due to a recent blunder of the exact same nature. (I kid you not! Fooled by a fake email alleging corrpution on the Government's behalf!) One would think that Turnbull would've learned from his SA counterpart and verified things before leading a charge...

This is the problem with the Liberal Party - they're hopeless at opposition. All they can do is attack and try to dig any dirt they can on the Labor government, rather than criticise policy. In fact, that's what they're like when they're in government too.

As for Costello, opposition leadership means he has to actually put some work into becoming Prime Minister by appealing to the people and winning elections, not just win a (unanimous) party room ballot! His retirement is no surprise and if he waited a week, month, year, he still wouldn't have challenged. Even after the election he wouldn't have. My belief is the next Liberal leader will be Joe Hockey. Whether that happens soon or not until after the next election is anyone's guess...

[Matilda]

4. I agree about Joe Hockey,

if for no other reason than there's nobody else left. Not Abbott, he's too closely connected to the outdated
Howard regime. Julie Bishop has been demoted already, and has gone as far as she can. There isn't anybody but
Hockey that I can see.

[Esra Star]

5. Joe Hockey was four square behind Malcolm early in the week.

I haven't seen him in the last day or two. This could be a sign that Turnbull may be cut soon.
I'm still enjoying watching Malcolm squirm.
I particularly liked, "the case against Rudd can't be sustained", what a dickwit, does he think he's a judge now.

:popcorn: :rofl:

[Matilda]

6. You know what they say about "so-and-so has my complete confidence";

It's like the kiss of the Mafia.

I think the only thing saving Malcolm right now is the lack of talent on the Libs' front bench. That and his own
hubris.

[gemini_liberal]

7. I have to say I'm of two minds of the ALP labelling Turnbull the second coming of Mark Latham

On one hand, it's an effective label to stick to him and doom him.

On the other hand, despite all the the things Latham done against Labor, it still feels a bit cheap and turning on someone who they once endorsed. I know it sounds weird.

[Matilda]

8. I know what you mean ...

It was weird to see Albanese up there demonising one of their own, however dysfunctional he may be.