Scoop! John Howard takes his ‘insight’ to the world
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Former Prime Minister John Howard has signed with powerhouse public speaking agency Washington Speakers Bureau. The agency represents a who’s who of the political, media and military establishment. Other recent high profile Washington Speakers Bureau recruits include Tony Blair, former US Senate leader Trent Lott and Arianna Huffington. Former world leaders such as Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Jose Maria Aznar and Brian Mulroney are on their books, along with international political figures like Colin Powell, Joschka Fischer, James Baker and Chris Pattern. Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, James Carville, Barbara Walters, Bob Woodward, Donald Trump and the Duchess of York are also on the Bureau’s roster. The Washington Speakers Bureau publicity material describes the former PM as “one of the most thought-provoking world leaders in modern history”. John Howard is the “ideal choice to bring high-level international insight to your next event,” it says. The Bureau also provides a full – and fulsome – biography of the former Liberal leader:
Howard is offering two speech topics. In Leadership in the New Century , he discusses “the role of world leaders in a new century, detailing steps for handling the growing concerns of globalization and global economics, the environment, and threats to international security”. The Global Economic Future canvasses the future for the world economy and the ways and degrees “China, India and the Pacific Rim will participate”. Despite all the information on the former prime minister, The Washington Speakers Bureau is coy on his fee. Their site simple says “Contact WSB”. |
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23 Comments
With the level of expertise that seems required, he will no doubt soon be joined by that other brains trust, George Bush. But better they bore the conservative circuit than impose their perverted logic on the world. Before them water, behind them wind.
Yes, I am hostile to John Howard, but I fail to see how 11 years of mumbling negativity could ever have a positive outcome. I know I should be able to laugh about the antics of the Liberal Party and their 11 years of c*ck ups. But I can’t; its too sad.
Howard’s only insight was to know how to appeal to the oldies. Then he gave them fear. As for speaking, who will understand him? He sounds like a badly constipated duck on a losing streak with a square chainsaw. Feed him to the vultures!
Under the dead hand of Howardism the meretricious and the mediocre became the norm and the arts, which are vital to a countries health, were dismissed. That a man with such a limited vision should seek to speak to aspiring leaders is a tragedy.
a cure for insomnia!
I’m no John Howard fan, but I’m always puzzled at the hostility former prime ministers incur when commenting in the media (or around the world). Isn’t it conceivable all their expeirience gives them something relevant to say, even if you don’t agree?
He might need to watch questions from the floor, including from the GOP loyalists, about Exclusive Brethren doctrines as it would apply to his own lawyer daughter. No tertiary education, no computer, no musical instruments.
Where is the news in this item? The inane loony left commentary in response is amusing though.
How else are the Americans expected to pay him his backhander for supporting the Iraq war? Direct payments are too obvious. Should be made law that no prominent former polly should be able to profit from these foreign excursions. That would stop it.
Excuse my right wing ignorance of left’s delusions, but how did Howard trash the nation, the arts or anything else? On the contrary, Howard’s ministers didn’t end public funding for political garbage dressed as arts, multiculturism, feminism etc.
He could talk quite naturally about “being comfortable”. Maybe a nice slide presentation with his favorite “middle of the road” muzak. No camber allowed thank you very much.
Rudd, like Howard was voted into government by a politically uneducated electorate. Since gaining office, Rudd seems to already be saying ‘SORRY’ to the Aboriginals, for NOT being able to come up with the EXACT wording of the word SORRY. Whales ahoy Boys.
He is is a profound expert - on machine politics. A grim, brutal, wet work, skill. He and Bob Carr could make a routine. How to sell Telstra to destroy unionised labour force, reactors to de unionise coal energy sector, stack ABC, annexe Pauline’s mob etc
Gawd, what on earth would he talk about? His treatment of refugees?
My wife is disappointed with my comment and wishes John to rattle on and show the world how easy it is for a despot to trash a nation and create a neo-con so0ciety that is dysfunctional for the real people living in it. Good on you, Jules!
If Howard had been a man of vision, or a person to encourage ability, or had sought to make Australia a thinking nation. I, for one, would have been delighted at his new job. But I find the thought of him speaking to aspiring world leaders nauseating.
May he stay away for many a year and hopefully also unemployed
As long as he goes somewhere far away, BON Voyage. You beauty !!
During his tenure the creative arts became a subject of derision. TV programs criticizing the status quo
were banned and people interested in these topics was deemed to be ‘odd’. Yet without the arts no country will ever succeed. Did Howard care? No!
I have to temper my comments for the protection of the site moderator’s feelings, The speakers circle is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Every time he opens his mouth he will bring further shame on our country.
Who would pay good money to hear Howard speak about “the role of world leaders in a new century”? Howard is from the wrong century.
If this was a joke - it wouldn’t be funny. Just illustrates the fact that those paying the bucks to hear this collection of international incompetents do not live in the real world; unfortunately, we are the ones living in the mess they make.
I said to you on a previous occasion. Howard and his thugs reduced everything Australian to it’s lowest common denominator. ergo they tossed Australia into the nearest gutter. Where it will remain, so long as fools like you mourn their timely passing.