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Kerr: Costello, bastardry and brilliance
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Bastardry or brilliance? How about a bit of both? Peter Costello is mightily miffed that his colleagues didn’t turn to his talents earlier, so he has decided to deny them their benefits opportunity in opposition. It’s an almighty piece of petulance from Dollar Sweetie, but it’s not without its logic. Costello has given the ALP another scalp, but has also denied them a target. Costello played a prominent part in the government defeated on Saturday. He was the anointed successor of a prime minister who has managed to lose his own seat. He banged on endlessly about the Beazley black hole. It’s easy to imagine the lines Labor would have used to target against opposition leader Costello when they repealed “the extreme, unfair industrial relations legislation you wanted for 20 years”. Costello simply doesn’t have the nerve to be leader. He feinted back in July last, but didn’t challenge. Take it from someone who was there. Peter Costello could have been leader in the mid nineties. He had the numbers. He didn’t take the job. If you’re leadership material, you don’t turn down something like that – even if you don’t feel ready. Peter Costello isn’t, so he is going, but he has one vital task to complete. There will be a by-election in Higgins sometime before the end of next year. Costello has to ensure the Liberal candidate is his old friend and mentor, Michael Kroger. |
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16 Comments
Peter, Peter pumpkin eater, had the vote but not the meter. A show pony through, through and through. He lacked the guts to tackle you know who; poor Peter, Peter pumpkin eater.
Fortunately resignation is as close to suicide as it gets in our system. Hubris is a danger, and the labour party is better served by a good opposition than the crippled rememenants of the old guard. Really, the smirk was never electable.
I thought that perhaps he might let the duffers fight it out for 12 - 18 months, and then step up as leader prior to the next election when the King of Wentworth inevitably trips up over his own ego.
…..and a fall on his cutlass rendered him nutless……
These loony bitter letters I read here can’t be real. The writers obviously have computors and can afford a Crikey subscription as well, so they can’t have suffered under the previous government. No wonder our domestic violence stats are so bad. GET HELP!
I can comment as he is not my minister any more. Why should he stick around and carry the can. time for someone else to lead the party. Costello’s time would have been 12 to 18 months ago.
Peter Costello proves what so many of us have long suspected: he’s a loudmouthed, arrogant, gutless, lazy bully.
Good thing he never got to be Prime Minister eh?
I really think any mention of suicide is extremely distasteful. This man has given up a lot for public life and I think anyone who serves on the front bench for 11 years has a lot of courage. Good luck for the future Mr Costello.
I for one would have stuck with the Libs had Costello taken over earlier this year. Keating was Mr 19% when he took over in 91. He still beat Hewson in 93. Costello simply didn’t want to be a destabilising element in an already sinking ship.
Christian, if your predictions about a by-election in Higgins are correct, the taxpayers ought not to have to pay.
Tthere are several other well-superannuated ex-ministers likely to exit . Any parliamentarian who leaves for personal gain should pay.
Oh how much more pleasant the airwaves will be without lurking smirking Pete - and of course his nemesis “the rat”. Pity “fishnet” and “the boxer” won’t go as well….well not yet anyway!
I dance on their political graves, even more so because the stupid fools don’t even understand why they lost
Yes, Peter Costello has done a Latham - big dummmy spit to demonstrate to all why Libs did not make him leader. Much easier to have the prize put on a platter than to fight for it like Howard did. Costello was one of Howard’s cowards that let Libs down.
Costello has shown that his collegues were right in not elevating him to the leadership. No ticker, no guts, no glory.
As a former soldier, I deeply resent the cowardice shown by the Libs this weekend. It is as if the hench-men don’t want to face the Australian public now that they have no power to shape their lies. At least real Nazis commit suicide when defeated.
The next “Liberal” prime monster is not yet in the parliament. They are banished into the far right ‘Flinty’ caves of doom until they can regain a human face. Costello is a gutless wonder, the treasurer with no balls.