Kevin Rudd’s respect for his predecessor was manifest in a poised victory speech. It was all very Tony Blair. Déjà vu recalls similar tributes to Margaret Thatcher’s role in Britain when Blair won office, writes Ian Smith.
Mr costello
Waiting for Godot: rates up and no Lucky
The Howard/Costello message until recent days has been one of self congratulation. The about turn in rhetoric from good times to hard times is most unlikely to work, writes Richard Farmer.
Hardy: Costello should watch out for the stooges
If Peter Costello is going to make it through the next few weeks unscathed, he’d better keep an eye out. The poor bastard’s got a target painted on his back, and stooges nation-wide will be taking no prisoners, writes Marieke Hardy.
Sparrow: Put some kids on the debate panel
Costello will today debate Wayne Swan at the National Press Club, presumably before the usual crew of sanctimonious journalists. If Channel 9 had any sense, they’d add a couple of five year olds to the panel, writes Jeff Sparrow.
Tsunamis, red spot specials: a tale of two treasurers
People lament that only their mothers can tell Me Tooists John Howard and Kevin Rudd apart. No-one could make the same accusation of Treasurer Peter Costello and his opposing number Wayne Swan, writes Jane Nethercote
“Red” Pete Costello to nationalise banks
In an extraordinary and surprisingly under-reported part of his 7.30 Report performance last night, the federal treasurer was making the sort of noises more expected of Rex Connor or Ben Chifley as he bluntly told Australia’s banks to toe his interest rate line – or else, writes Michael Pascoe.
Farmer: Does the debate result really matter?
The Liberal campaign team will surely be disappointed with the performance of their man but in the total scheme of campaign things the debate probably will not amount for much, writes Richard Farmer.
God (or at least Danny Nalliah) isn’t on Kevin Rudd’s side
Kevin Rudd might be ahead in the opinion polls, but he certainly isn’t getting God’s vote. Presuming, of course, that God acts in accordance with the dictates of wacky groups like the Salt Shakers and Danny Nalliah’s Catch The Fire Ministries, writes Irfan Yusuf.
Governments of all persuasions jumping on the Geelong bandwagon
It is footy finals week in Victoria and for once a local team is in with a chance so there was no surprise that the Victorian State Government announced yesterday that it would be making a contribution for construction at the Geelong Football Club’s Kardinia Park home ground, writes Richard Farmer.
Rove calls it for the kids: John Howard is like herpes
Horrifying as it might be to the serious minded, it is the comics like Rove McManus on Channel 10 and The Chaser team on the ABC that are a primary source of political information for the young and that should be a very worrying thing for John Howard and his Government.
It’s the team, stupid
Treasurer Peter Costello has read and understood the Mark Textor research. In his public appearances Mr Costello religiously stresses that he is campaigning as part of a team. That is exactly what the CrosbyTextor Nationwide Strategy Overview of June recommended.
Time to say goodbye to Howard… after his week of glory
Let the man say goodbye to his international friends this week and bid him farewell as Prime Minister the week after. That surely would be the thought of sensible Liberal and National Party members this morning as they contemplate another disastrous set of opinion poll numbers.
Serving the PM’s pork will require timing
Treasurer Peter Costello has now given Australians a little taste of the gravy to be dispensed by the Government between now and election day, writes Richard Farmer.
Costello speaks: an ethics lesson from a liar
A low key Peter Costello fronted a doorstop outside the Ministerial Entrance at 8:40 this morning with a very important message: you can’t trust journalists.
How John Howard lost the plot (or the plot went awry)
Red Kez went the Treasurer on The 7:30 Report last night over that biography. Cossie blustered – naturally – but there’s actually a very simple answer.
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Costello — man of principle? … car industry subsidies … iCar — coming soon? … solar hot water heating … housing affordability … The Nation and funny women …
…and you, sir, are no Paul Keating
We did not need Peter Costello to tell us that he’s not like Paul Keating. If he was he would be Prime Minister today.
If not Howard, then … who?
Not me but we is what John Howard must have concluded from the reaction of his colleagues to his call for some free and frank discussion within Cabinet on the low standing in the opinion polls of the Government.
