I'll fight Beazley for a fifth term: PM (1 Viewer)

[Scanorama]

I'll fight Beazley for a fifth term: PM
By Mark Metherell and AAP
April 30, 2005 - 1:05AM

John Howard has declared he is "not planning on going anywhere" and predicts he can beat Kim Beazley at the next election.

In comments that will anger his Treasurer and heir apparent, Peter Costello, Mr Howard said he was "not planning my post-prime ministerial life".

Asked in an interview with News Limited newspapers if he could beat Mr Beazley a third time, Mr Howard said: "Yes, I'd hope so. Try."

Mr Costello is said by supporters to be already agitated by Mr Howard's refusal to signal a handover of the leadership, and could be expected to reconsider his position as Liberal Party deputy.

The Prime Minister's comments come amid signs of deep divisions in the cabinet over the proposed budget cuts to fertility treatment.

The leaking to the Herald of a cabinet in-confidence letter this week signalled a dramatic deterioration in the solidarity of Mr Howard's ministry. In the letter to Mr Howard, frontbencher Helen Coonan opposed the IVF cuts.

In the interview, Mr Howard reportedly said he still expected Mr Costello to eventually replace him as leader. "I think the public believe Peter Costello has done an excellent job as Treasurer and give him a lot of credit for the state of the economy," Mr Howard said.

But when asked if he might be thinking of a career with an international organisation, Mr Howard said: "No, no. You only think about those things when you are about to find another job. I am not planning on going anywhere."

Mr Costello has been prepared to bide his time until now but the remarks will test the patience of the Treasurer as he prepares to deliver his 10th budget.
© Sydney Morning Herald

Doesn't he just love to be PM? I hope he will get vote out in the next election and Labor wins in flying colours.

 

[withoutaface]

Doesn't he just love to be PM? I hope he will get vote out in the next election and Labor wins in flying colours.

That all depends on whether the economy crashes and burns between now and the next election.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

um u hope that anyway.

 

[Trogie]

Doesn't he just love to be PM?

Huge house on the harbour, personal chaueffer, primo seats at every sporting event you can think of...no wonder he wants a fifth term

 

[walrusbear]

oh dear
fuck i despise that man

 

[Rafy]

Better than beazley.

All the arguments agains howard could easily be applied to beaxley if he was in office. You seriously think Beaxzley wont break a few promises? Its the nature of politics.

 

[Trogie]

As long as Howard lies to the working class and sucks up to the rich he'll get his fifth term...it's worked for the previous four hasn't it?

 

[walrusbear]

Better than beazley.

All the arguments agains howard could easily be applied to beaxley if he was in office. You seriously think Beaxzley wont break a few promises? Its the nature of politics.

kind of immaterial really
i'm not a fan of beazley but his greatest asset is that he ISN'T howard

more than breaking promises it's the contempt for intellectualism and social values howard has that really make him an awful person imo

 

[walrusbear]

As long as Howard lies to the working class and sucks up to the rich he'll get his fifth term...it's worked for the previous four hasn't it?

yeah he's perfected it
a canny politician who will be remembered for regressive social attitudes and his penchant for lying on a grand scale without public reprimand

 

[Trogie]

yeah he's perfected it
a canny politician who will be remembered for regressive social attitudes and his penchant for lying on a grand scale without public reprimand

Further exacerbated by the inertia and general complacency of our society. It seems as if everything is right economically, then there is no reason to change things, no matter how right-wing, socially inept or devious our leader happens to be.

 

[walrusbear]

Further exacerbated by the inertia and general complacency of our society. It seems as if everything is right economically, then there is no reason to change things, no matter how right-wing, socially inept or devious our leader happens to be.

wtf happened to the country btw?
did everyone stop thinking during the 90s or what?
i swear people were smarter 20 yrs ago

 

[Trogie]

wtf happened to the country btw?
did everyone stop thinking during the 90s or what?
i swear people were smarter 20 yrs ago

I guess as interest rates fell, so did people's interest in social policy and in political governance in general. These sorta things (interest rates, tax cuts) are supposedly more important than mere character faults, even though the current economic boom will almost definitely be losing its impact soon (with interest rates set to rise again).
You can't deny howard will win another term, helped by more lies which will be concocted to keep the masses happy, laying the groundwork nicely for future liberal leaders to capitalise further on his work

 

[walrusbear]

I guess as interest rates fell, so did people's interest in social policy and in political governance in general. These sorta things are supposedly more important than mere character faults, even though the current economic boom will almost definitely be losing its impact soon (with interest rates set to rise again).
You can't deny howard will win another term, helped by more lies which will be concocted to keep the masses happy, laying the groundwork nicely for future liberal leaders to capitalise further on his work

probably
it's going to take a lot to bring the country back from the brink of gloom
i'm not sure there's much cultural or international value left at the moment

 

[line_backer]

5 terms = 14 years
6 terms= 17 year= Menzies

Howard is in it for the record.

 

[Korn]

5 terms = 14 years
6 terms= 17 year= Menzies

Howard is in it for the record.

Yeah, i agree with that, why wouldnt you try if u can beat it, but when do u think he will finally step down? 17yrs,18,19...

 

[Slidey]

God is it humourous to watch bitter lefties discussing Howard.

 

[Korn]

God is it humourous to watch bitter lefties discussing Howard.

So ur a right-winger?

 

[Iron]

Beazley will at least win back the senate. But I predict Howard will loose his marbles before then: Howard=Hawke, Costello=Keating, Beazley=Howard.

 

[waddle_828]

i'd rather howard then beazley...

 

[Generator]

God is it humourous to watch bitter lefties discussing Howard.

Why is it that such pointless comments always seem to sprout forth from the board's 'righties'?


The following few months should be interesting, as it seems as though there will be a showdown of sorts between the conservative Liberals and the liberal Liberals sooner or later. So much for unity within the Coalition (perhaps).

My only true hope for the next half-Senate election is that the Coalition's majority is lost and that the Family First party doesn't hold the balance of power (the Family First 'threat' does tend to be overstated, I know). It would be good to see the Democrats return another Senator or two to the chamber, too.