Guy Rundle reviews Paul Kelly’s new book, The March of Patriots: the literary equivalent of cleaning out the garage on a grey Saturday afternoon.
Paul Kelly
Guy Rundle: The long, plodding March of Patriots
Political power? The writing’s on the wall
It’s been a political writing bonanza, with Liberals finally joining the political book club normally run by Labor. Plus, books generate more kudos than a thousand poll-tested soundbites, writes George Megalogenis.
Timor history gets a Howard washing: spin and deny
Ex PM John Howard rewrote history with the claims of his and Downer’s secret support of East Timor’s independence, says Bruce Haigh. What about public opinion and the actions of the US?
Howard govt: mad taxers or lazy and rich?
It’s standard fare for governments to come into power and deride their predecessors. Except PM Kevin Rudd seems to be unsure of exactly which Howard government history he’s pushing.
Mungo MacCallum: We deserve better than legacy wars
Here we are, nearly two years out of the Howard years and happily consigning them to well-deserved oblivion. Then Paul Kelly released his book, and they all came lurching out of the political cemetery.
What if it’s not the economy, stupid?
Kevin Rudd claimed that neo-liberalism was no longer the dominant paradigm for governments and he was right. But can he extend his critique to those left-over policies that have not been appropriately looked at?
Crikey Says: Rudd can’t claim reform credit yet
There are three men truly entitled to reflect on responsibility for Australia’s economic reforms of the 1980s and 1990s: Hawke, Keating and Howard.
Canberra Calling: The Steve Fielding podcast, spelt P.O.D.K.A.S.T
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and editor Jonathan Green look back at the week’s events in the nation’s capital, their sights firmly set on Senator Steve Fielding and his learning disability.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Paul Kelly, John Howard and East Timor
Crikey readers weigh in on John Howard’s involvement in East Timor’s independence, the lobbyist to MP ratio and Senator Steve Fielding’s spelling.
Guy Rundle: Turnbull is failing his party on every front
Malcolm Turnbull has the least aptitude for frontline politics of anyone in recent memory.
Crikey Says: Rudd takes Turnbull for a spin
If Malcolm Turnbull wants to make an impact on PM Kevin Rudd’s popularity ratings, then he should learn to counteract Rudd’s clever communication strategies.
Howard and Kelly rewrite history on East Timor
Damien Kingsbury wonders why former PM John Howard finds it necessary to create a palpable fiction over his commitment to East Timor’s independence.
Is that all you’ve got Paul Kelly?
Howard didn’t like Costello? They lied about kids overboard? Noel Pearson helping the conservatives? They neglected to check whether the attack on Iraq was legal? Paul Kelly’s new book isn’t exactly shocking.
Downer’s historical imaginings of East Timor
The Australian’s editor-at-large Paul Kelly is claiming in his new book that the Howard government made covert plans to work for East Timor’s independence in 1999. But this ignores some key historical facts, writes Peter Brent.
Paul Kelly: a video preview of Budget 09
Why the Budget will be so politically challenging for the Rudd government.
How the pundits got it oh so wrong on Afghanistan
Crikey / Jeff Sparrow / Monday, 7 September 2009
Given the almost universal recognition that the Afghanistan campaign has become a bloody mess, it’s worth revisiting some of the pundits who initially sold us the war.