The Costello Memoirs: A Reader's Lament

I purchased a copy of 'The Costello Memoirs' last week - a couple of days after the book was launched by Peter Costello and the book's co-author, Peter Coleman.

Almost as soon as the book hit the stores it was discounted dramatically from its RRP of $55.00. In fact, the day I bought mine, I checked out Borders, Big W and Angus & Robertson, and all of those chains had it on discount. Big W, where I got mine, being the cheapest at $32.00.

Peter Costello was the longest serving Australian federal treasurer in this country's history.

He was deputy leader of the Liberal (Conservative) Party from 1996 to 2007 and treasurer for the same period.

Costello was one of only three politicians to serve in the same position for the entire eleven-year reign of the Howard government - the other two being John Howard as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, and Alexander Downer as Foreign Affairs minister.

Not many politicians write their memoirs whilst still in parliament, even fewer can do so with the experience of eleven years in the same position in the second-most important role in government.

So it was with anticipation that I started reading 'The Costello Memoirs.'

The book is full of interesting anecdotes and enlightening behind-the-scenes machinations, but it is let down by errors of chronology and rushed editing. The book jumps around all over the shop in places, and at times left me wondering if someone had moved my bookmark.

Mike Steketee in his review in 'The Australian', rather kindly referred to the editing as 'inadequate'.

Considering Costello's humour and gift for entertaining speeches, I found the book disappointingly dry, and a bit of a tedious read (not exactly what I would call a 'page-turner'.)

A work such as this by one of the most prominent Conservative politicians of the last 20 years should have been deserving of much tighter - and less rushed - editing. Editing that allowed for the author's wit and engaging personality to shine through, whilst ensuring the integrity of the chronology of events.

I hope these things are addressed in Volume 2!

I give the book 6/10 - for political afficionados and aspiring treasurers only.

What caused the subprime crisis

A fascinating look at the financial crisis in the US and the real reasons behind it. Great video! I hope my American friends watch!

Corny but amazing

If I'd not seen this I wouldn't have believed it - the things you can do with a GPS and a John Deere tractor...!

Rudd sends UN to sleep

Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister and minister for bewildering neology, made his debut speech to the United Nations yesterday.

Here is a sample of why most of the UN's members will be hoping Rudd doesn't deliver an encore:

The global financial crisis of today presents us
afresh with a critical opportunity to act comprehensively and collectively for
the long term - rather than selectively and separately for the short.

I'm serious - he actually said that. (I don't know what being vertically challenged has to do with international finance, though!)

It gets better (I mean worse):

What we have seen in financial markets should
bring home to us all that the central organising principle of this 21st century
is interdependence.

For the century just past, interdependence may
have been one option among many.

For the century that is to come, there is no
longer an alternative.

Interdependence is not the expression of
sentimental idealism.

Instead it is a recognition of the new realism of
our current time.

snip

For what all these things tell us is this: that
interdependence is the new realism of this 21st century.

What this buffoon means is anyone's guess.

Kevin Rudd has once again embarrassed himself and Australia on the world stage by his highfalutin gobbledygook.

It is time someone in DFAT took away this jetsetting fool's diplomatic passport, once and for all!

The Palin Effect

I found this article by Noemie Emery whilst trawling the net earlier this week. I saved the link, but the link didn't work, so the story took a bit of finding as I couldn't remember its original source or author.

It is long, but well worth reading. A shrewd analysis focusing on the effect of Palin's nomination on the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.

TIME story on David Cameron, UK Conservative leader

I was browsing through the magazines in my dentist's waiting room today (refreshing to visit a waiting room to find current magazines, let me tell you!) and I came across an article on David Cameron in TIME, entitled: "David Cameron: UK's Next Leader?"

Personally, I don't think the question mark was necessary!

It was a good article. On the' general interest' scale, I'd give it 8 out of ten. For 'balance', I'd give it a 6 - but for the MSM (mainstream media) that's not bad going.

Kevin Rudd: Doing his bit for greenhouse gasses

The globe-trotting penchant of Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is starting to test the patience of the media, the voters and his own backbench.

His trip to the USA this week means that he has been out of the country for 50 days since becoming Prime Minister last November. In other words, he has spent one in six days overseas since the Australian people made the mistake of electing him.

Naturally the PM needs to travel overseas. But either Rudd doesn't trust his Ministers or senior bureaucrats to do some of this travel on his behalf, or Rudd just wants to get in as much travel as he can, knowing that at the back of his mind there is a possibility he could be a 'oncer' (one-term PM).

If, god spare us, Rudd and his cronies get re-elected in 2010, I predict a dramatic reduction in the amount of overseas travel he does, for he will have done it all during his first term!

I don't mind Rudd spending time out of the country. The problem is he keeps returning to Australia.