NationStates Jolt Archive

In case you're not from Oz, here is the story in short.

We have a conservative government, the party is called the "Liberal Party". The head of that government is John Howard, who's your typical conservative - against Gay Marriage, Abortion (although it is legal here, usually), supporter of "Australian Values", persecutor of terrorists, heathens and everyone else he doesn't like.
Unfortunately Mr. Howard has also had an excellent record on the economy. This was due to his partnership with Peter Costello, his treasurer and second man in the Liberal Party. This guy really knows what he's doing, but Howard tends to get the credit for it. The two have been a unit for ages now.
Costello has for many years been traded as the surefire successor to Howard in office, and jokes have been made for the long time he's been waiting. I believe Howard is in office now for 12 years or so.

Howard has always said that he'll stay on for as long as the party wants him and the people elect him. Or has he?

The scandal is basically that Costello has confirmed that a long time ago, when Howard was working to get to the top, they made a deal. Howard said he'd step aside after two terms in office and let Costello take over. This obviously hasn't happened, so Howard is a liar. Howard on the other side says that such a deal has never happened, so Costello is a liar.

My take is that Howard has always been a guy who'll do anything to get his way. I mean, he's lied to the Australian public on so many things, never appologised for anything. So a deal like that and then going back on it certainly fits the profile.
Secondly, Costello is a much more liberal character socially. He isn't a libertarian, but he certainly understands the concept of letting people do as they like a lot better than Howard does.

So Howard has in the past been promoting another guy - Wannabe-Pope Tony Abbott. The Australian Mullah Omar. My theory is that Howard noticed the sort of guy Costello was and tried to get Tony Abbott into a position where he could make policy and cancel out Costello's liberal tendencies.

So who's lying? What do you think really happened? And do you think Costello can ever be PM?

From what little I know and what little you've told me, I'd say that Howard is lying. But that's just your bias.

Do you guys really call it "Oz"?

Do you guys really call it "Oz"?
I do.

But yeah, sometimes. Shorter than "Australia".

Yep, we really call our country Oz. We're funny that way.

The poll is titled "Who's lying" but the poll isn't about that. Anyway.

My take: Howard is lying. He has form, and it doesn't seem to hurt his popularity. Anyone remember when he was Fraser's Treasurer, and people called him "Honest John?"

I'd like to see Costello in the job, for a while at least. I'm a labor supporter, of course, but I think it would be fantastic to have a leadership team called "Abbot and Costello." Foreign folks have been taking us much too seriously these last few years. Remember when the leader of the opposition was Peacock? And the PM was Hawke? We were a laughing stock. [Chokes back tear]

The poll is titled "Who's lying" but the poll isn't about that. Anyway.
That's because I would've had to add an option "Both are lying", which everyone would've chosen and renderred the poll meaningless.

Wait...so the prime minister has lied for a number of years over his running of the country, he's probably only in power on the back of the strength of the economy, which is down to a man whom he promised years ago would get the chance to run the country...

Blair/Brown, anyone?

Yeah, I don't like Howard. Slimy aggressive little fucker.

Without doubt, John Howard is the one who is lying. As you say, he has the form. He has blatantly lied about a number of issues in the past, without regret. I agree also, that he's the type of politician will do or say just about anything to gain & hold power. To seal it, there was witness to the meeting, Ian McLachlan. Not only does McLachlan have a reputation for being a man of integrity, but he actually documented the meeting in his diary at the time. McLachlan's version fits exactly what Costello has said.

Not that I think it will make the slightest difference. Howard has the numbers to stare down Costello, and Costello won't launch a challenge that is sure to fail. I think we'll have business as usual until at least after the next election.

You're dead right about Howard wanting Abbot to take over from him. I for one dread an Australia led by the Mad Monk. Welcome to the sort of bigotry, religous zealotry & oppression that will make Howard look like a drug-taking hippie.



Edit: Yes we do call it Aus, or Oz. It's shorter than saying Australia.

Yep, we really call our country Oz. We're funny that way.

The poll is titled "Who's lying" but the poll isn't about that. Anyway.

My take: Howard is lying. He has form, and it doesn't seem to hurt his popularity. Anyone remember when he was Fraser's Treasurer, and people called him "Honest John?"

I'd like to see Costello in the job, for a while at least. I'm a labor supporter, of course, but I think it would be fantastic to have a leadership team called "Abbot and Costello." Foreign folks have been taking us much too seriously these last few years. Remember when the leader of the opposition was Peacock? And the PM was Hawke? We were a laughing stock. [Chokes back tear]

Amen to that. :)

I would love to see Oz run by Abbot and Costello.

Howard is lieing.

Oz

So, does anyone make munchkin or jail jokes? Because everytime you say "Oz" I can't help but grin.

Amen to that. :)

I would love to see Oz run by Abbot and Costello.

They were involved in a defamation case a few years ago. Can't remember the details of it, but it was something like one of them shagged the other's (then) girlfriend back when they were at uni.

Anyway, the media had a field day with all the Abbot & Costello jokes. It's a pity they're both such joyless men in real life.

So, does anyone make munchkin or jail jokes? Because everytime you say "Oz" I can't help but grin.

Harldy ever really. Maybe it's because we think of it more as "Aus", rather than "Oz". Maybe it's because we don't really notice what's staring us directly in the face. Maybe we've heard it too many times & don't find it funny any more. Or maybe because it's we're all just humourless bastards.

And maybe I'm just over-analysing the whole situtation?