Here’s one reason why the budget isn’t bouncing back into surplus as fast as it went into deficit…writes Nicholas Gruen.
John Howard
Oakes: Time for John Howard to eat humble pie
In the context of bin Laden’s death, John Howard’s comment in 2007 that suggested the election of Barack Obama would be a boon to Al-Qaeda should at least cause deep embarrassment for Howard, says Laurie Oakes.
Come in Spinner: royal wedding a traditional PR framing device
The recent royal wedding is instructive for many reasons, but probably mainly for illustrating the effectiveness of using tradition as a framing device.
Crikey Says: The holy trinity of Hawke/Keating/Howard
Did the holy trinity of Hawke/Keating/Howard do it differently?
Guy Rundle: Rundle: the multiculti waters run deep and warm
It is only when people want to build mosques, start community groups, etc, that the question of what a culture is becomes urgent.
How does Gillard the Oz day orator stack up with former PMs?
How did Julia Gillard’s Australia Day speech stack up with those of her predecessors? Crikey spoke with Joel Deane, a poet, novelist and former chief speechwriter for Premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby.
Ken Henry’s unfulfilled legacy
Ken Henry can leave Treasury knowing he was responsible for one of the greatest public policy successes since Federation, the response to the GFC. It’s a pity both sides of politics treated him poorly.
Victorians heed the NSW and Qld experience, reject a fourth-term govt
Rather than let the rot set in as it did in NSW and Queensland, Victorian voters have opted for a continuation of the same sort of government under new leadership.
The continuing culture war on marriage
If gay marriage can’t be allowed because of cultural and religious grounds, then why exactly did the Howard government legislate against it back in 2004? asks The Piping Shrike.
Howard’s ‘Iraq in six pars’ letter: Saddam was a very bad leader
In official correspondence to a Canberra primary school student named Christopher, sent on April 15 2003, John Howard lays out the case for the Iraq war in six succinct paragraphs
Why are journalists still calling John Howard “Prime Minister”?
At John Howard’s book launch yesterday some journalists addressed him as “Prime Minister.” Here’s a reality check, folks: he’s not Prime Minister any more, even if he does like to talk up his political achievements, writes Jacqueline Maley.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Irrigators don’t have the RSPT of the miners
Crikey readers have their say.
The band’s back together for Howard’s last lap
It was fabulous to see Peter Reith emerge yesterday from whatever dark cupboard he’s been hiding in since 2001 to come out and call for a new IR reform agenda. Indeed, the whole band was back together for John Howard’s book launch, says Margot Saville.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Illegal backdoor migration
Crikey readers have their say.
Does Andrew Bolt have a special interest in regional media?
Today Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt blogged about Peter Costello’s column damning John Howard. But instead of linking to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald Bolt chose to link to the Bendigo Advertiser. Why? Some sort of interest in regional media?
Grattan: Costello’s spray pulls no punches
Peter Costello has unleashed a vicious spray against his old boss in a Sydney Morning Herald opinion piece, effectively calling him a liar and a tyrant. It’s a rant littered with ridicule and sarcasm, writes Michelle Grattan.
The Howard and Costello reunion tour
Crikey Media Wrap: The launch of John Howard’s book Lazarus Rising has reignited the epic stoush between the former PM and his former deputy Peter Costello, including prompting a vitriolic spray from Pete in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Bravo John Howard, bravo
Crikey readers have their say.
Shoe throwing does not a popular show maketh
John Howard may have had two shoes hurled at him during ABC’s Q&A, but the program - described by The Australian as a “cult hit show” - only ranked 23rd in the ratings, writes Amanda Meade.
Wright: Howard dodges shoes and Hicks
On last night’s Q&A program former PM John Howard not only fielded some tricky questions - one from former Guantánamo Bay detainee David Hicks - but also dodged a volley of shoes, writes Tony Wright.
It’s the great Howard-Costello book tour
The latest yawn-worthy chapter in the John Howard/Peter Costello spat can still tell us something interesting about how political power works in Australia.
Lazarus has already risen – in outer space
The title of John Howard’s soon to be released memoirs Lazarus Rising isn’t original - it is also the name of a 2003 SCI-FI novel about adventurous deep-space marines who fight “super-sized skinks.” The co-author admits he’s never heard of Mr Howard.
Howard vs Costello: the war reignites
The epic stoush between John Howard and Peter Costello has been jump started back to life, with the former PM blasting his long-serving deputy as a greedy elitist in the lead-up to the release of his memoirs next week.
Did Turnbull stay on because Howard urged him to?
Since 2007 John Howard has largely disappeared from the media spotlight, but revelations that he urged Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider his decision to retire in April provides further evidence that the former PM continues to play a significant role in Liberal party politics.
Media briefs: Howard’s return … Man bites Bolt …
Prepare yourself, former PM John Howard has returned from the metaphorical dead to appear on a special Q&A. Plus, the former editor of most of Melbourne’s major newspapers, Bruce Guthrie, has embraced Twitter.
