Australia: Costello to Recontest Higgins, Leadership Speculation

[Smid]

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=28&ContentID=129544

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25175761-5013871,00.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25175184-5013871,00.html

[Platypus]

S-german name will be pissed off

[Robespierre's Jaw]

If Costello didn't have the balls to challenge Howard, he won't have them to challenge Turnbull, despite him being a completely incompetent leader. Anyway, isn't this not the sixth or seventh time such speculation has occured? It certainly seems that way.

[Smid]

I think he's waiting for his time. In 1995, Howard was the only choice the Liberals had when Downer failed. I think he's waiting for the time to be right. Throughout the Howard Government years, it was the numbers he lacked, not the balls. This was the first time I have heard anyone say that Costello has the numbers in the party room to take the leadership if he wants it.

[CCA]

Didn't Costello have the numbers just after the election when Howard fell on his sword?

[Smid]

Didn't Costello have the numbers just after the election when Howard fell on his sword?

The numbers, yes, but the time wasn't right. What happened to Nelson would have happened to Costello if he'd taken Leadership (or Turnbull if he'd won that leadership ballot). It's what happened to Latham as well.

Costello knew that if he took on the mantle of leadership, he'd have been a failed Opposition Leader and would end up retiring from politics - which he didn't want to do. Instead, he retreated to the backbench to wait. If he didn't have any intention of ever taking leader, he wouldn't have turned down the plethora of job offers he received.

Not challenging for leadership against Howard was because he didn't have the numbers. Not challenging for leadership post-Howard was because the time's not right.

[Smid]

No surprises here:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25330462-5006922,00.html?referrer=email