I didn’t either, but I can’t help wondering whether he was planning it all along. I would “Huzzah!” unreservedly, except that Costello was possibly the worst thing that could happen to the Liberal Party, and anything bad for the Liberal Party is ultimately a good thing for the world, so my feelings are all mixed up. But then there’s the fact that I’m just glad I won’t have to look at him on my TV screen any more.
His point about it being time for generational change in the Liberal Party is, I suspect, a solid one.
That’s a good point, Lauredhel. That’s about the only reason I can think to hope that Abbott gets it– because he’ll be bloody awful, and everyone will hate him.
Bad news: he was a liberal Liberal. He was a strong supporter of the republican movement and walked for reconciliation, and in my view, the fact that he never challenged for the leadership is a plus, since a challenge would have been divisive and caused an instable government.
TimT, I’m willing to concede that he was not as socially conservative or authoritarian as some of the more neo-con elements of the Liberal party, and that he has some pretty prominent decent streaks.
He’s just not a leader, and I think Keating got it exactly right with the “all tip no iceberg” characterisation. Costello is wise to step aside and avoid being knifed in the back by the NSW right and their mates.
The party does need generational change to throw off the stranglehold of the neocon right, to get back to more moderate liberal Liberal roots and be a more representative and effective Opposition. I don’t think they’re ready for Turnbull yet (and he needs to understand Parliament better before he’s ready as well).
The Libs are going to be a mess for the next few years, and whoever is leader will be judged harshly (for matters beyond their control) because they’re not pulling them together faster. If Costello had some iceberg, he’d be willing to shoulder the opprobrium and do it for the sake of the party. But he doesn’t so he won’t.
“The party does need generational change to throw off the stranglehold of the neocon right, to get back to more moderate liberal Liberal roots and be a more representative and effective Opposition.”
They could do worse than promoting some of the liberal Liberals like Petro Geourgiou who have both principles and a spine. But I guess that will only happen in my dreams. If the Liberals moved back toward the centre it might pull the Labor party the same way and that would be a good thing.
I suspect Costello not standing for the leadership was also a sly dig at JH, saying ‘I don’t want this sullied wreck of a crown thank you. Someone else can fight over it while I stand back and watch’. It could get bloody. If it was Tony Abbot’s blood, I’d be okay with that. I actually wouldn’t mind Joe Hockey as Opposition Leader, he and Kev had a nice thing going on Sunrise. But I suspect Turnbull will be next. Hockey would be better off coming back as the saviour of the Libs in two terms time.
OMGWTFBBQ? Glenn Milne, tergiversator! He’s not only turned his coat inside out, he’s taken his tongue out its usual dark, warm location and is using it to give Howard a vicious tonguelashing.
Howard is no doubt well pleased with his work. As the Liberal Party tastes the bitter dregs of defeat and digests the effective departure of Costello we now realise why the outgoing prime minister constantly lectured his party room against hubris. Because all along it was the dark whisper that fluttered at the core of his own being.
And on Saturday night he finally succumbed to that spirit by playing out the last act in a succession of acts of wilful pride that eventually took his party down with him. Having ignored the repeated urgings of his colleagues to go both in his own interests and those of his party, Howard’s hubris saw him finally dare the voters to dispatch him. They obliged, ultimately convinced it was the only way to get rid of him.
Min, nice point about Costello – I wouldn’t want to clean up a train wreck, would you? Mind – I wouldn’t put it past him to wait until it was time to sink his claws into whoever gets the leadership this time round…
I keep forgetting Costello was once a Labor man. Wasn’t he? As was Abbott… as was Brendan Nelson (who still seems okayish).
Fabulous fabulous fabulous stuff coming from Keating’s lips at the moment – http://au.news.yahoo.com/071025/2/14rgh.html
I heart Keating 😉
Elections #AusPol 2019 Thread 
Vale John Clarke #PutOutYourGumboots 
QOTD for IWD: Aung San Suu Kyi 
Hoyden About Town 
Oh, my. This weekend just keeps getting better and better!
Hee! Snap!
yes!
yesyesyes!
only… except that… maybe… this means MalcolmbloodyTurnbull…
btw Tigs, sorry for having been slack lately 🙂
I admit, I really did NOT see this coming. Maybe he doesn’t want to become the Lib’s version of Kim Beazley?
I didn’t either, but I can’t help wondering whether he was planning it all along. I would “Huzzah!” unreservedly, except that Costello was possibly the worst thing that could happen to the Liberal Party, and anything bad for the Liberal Party is ultimately a good thing for the world, so my feelings are all mixed up. But then there’s the fact that I’m just glad I won’t have to look at him on my TV screen any more.
His point about it being time for generational change in the Liberal Party is, I suspect, a solid one.
That’s a good point, Lauredhel. That’s about the only reason I can think to hope that Abbott gets it– because he’ll be bloody awful, and everyone will hate him.
Bad news: he was a liberal Liberal. He was a strong supporter of the republican movement and walked for reconciliation, and in my view, the fact that he never challenged for the leadership is a plus, since a challenge would have been divisive and caused an instable government.
TimT, I’m willing to concede that he was not as socially conservative or authoritarian as some of the more neo-con elements of the Liberal party, and that he has some pretty prominent decent streaks.
He’s just not a leader, and I think Keating got it exactly right with the “all tip no iceberg” characterisation. Costello is wise to step aside and avoid being knifed in the back by the NSW right and their mates.
The party does need generational change to throw off the stranglehold of the neocon right, to get back to more moderate liberal Liberal roots and be a more representative and effective Opposition. I don’t think they’re ready for Turnbull yet (and he needs to understand Parliament better before he’s ready as well).
The Libs are going to be a mess for the next few years, and whoever is leader will be judged harshly (for matters beyond their control) because they’re not pulling them together faster. If Costello had some iceberg, he’d be willing to shoulder the opprobrium and do it for the sake of the party. But he doesn’t so he won’t.
Speedy – hi! Good to see you back commenting again.
“The party does need generational change to throw off the stranglehold of the neocon right, to get back to more moderate liberal Liberal roots and be a more representative and effective Opposition.”
They could do worse than promoting some of the liberal Liberals like Petro Geourgiou who have both principles and a spine. But I guess that will only happen in my dreams. If the Liberals moved back toward the centre it might pull the Labor party the same way and that would be a good thing.
I suspect Costello not standing for the leadership was also a sly dig at JH, saying ‘I don’t want this sullied wreck of a crown thank you. Someone else can fight over it while I stand back and watch’. It could get bloody. If it was Tony Abbot’s blood, I’d be okay with that. I actually wouldn’t mind Joe Hockey as Opposition Leader, he and Kev had a nice thing going on Sunrise. But I suspect Turnbull will be next. Hockey would be better off coming back as the saviour of the Libs in two terms time.
OMGWTFBBQ?
Glenn Milne, tergiversator! He’s not only turned his coat inside out, he’s taken his tongue out its usual dark, warm location and is using it to give Howard a vicious tonguelashing.
The Poison Dwarf has outdone himself.
The worm turns!
Min, nice point about Costello – I wouldn’t want to clean up a train wreck, would you? Mind – I wouldn’t put it past him to wait until it was time to sink his claws into whoever gets the leadership this time round…
I keep forgetting Costello was once a Labor man. Wasn’t he? As was Abbott… as was Brendan Nelson (who still seems okayish).
Fabulous fabulous fabulous stuff coming from Keating’s lips at the moment – http://au.news.yahoo.com/071025/2/14rgh.html
I heart Keating 😉