I thought Crean did a useful job with the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle. Gilllard and Roxon are definite assets and – pragmatically – the across-his-brief Kevin Rudd is still in place, despite less then total support for Simon. Craig Emerson, well.. let’s wait and see and Mark Latham is kind of interesting. I was a bit stunned at the shadow Treasurer call. Latham’s ability is unquestioned but his stickability, particularly in relation to the arcane detail of Treasury, is less obvious. Crean has also given him a pretty clear leg-up in the succession stakes over a certain Queenslander who just might fit Latham’s derogatory take on politicians, “who say the correct thing rather than what they believe;” and delivered a no doubt very satisfying two fingers to the former NSW Right powerhouse in so doing.
Then came last night’s Lateline. Latham was in full, thumbs-in-waistband, “look how well-hung I am,” swagger. Where does he get this faux, working-class hero persona from? The novels of D.H. Lawrence?
We got the usual rugged, plain-speaking bloke from Werriwa bullshit and then, despite his earlier assurances about not making policy announcements on day one, he made one. Negative gearing in the property market “hadn’t delivered” he said. It was on the policy rethink agenda.
I wasn’t the only person watching this bravura performance and some of them were quick to contact Crean. By mid-morning today, Crean was telling the media that the ALP had been there and done that with negative gearing policy variation “some years ago.” The decision then had been that the potentially negative impact on the building industry ruled out any changes. And that’s that.
By lunchtime Costello was purring like a mildly intimidatory tabby. “This,” he smirked, “is the problem with Labor. They can’t maintain a policy approach from Lateline to Lunchtime.”
Free kick to the Coalition. Latham needs to get a grip quick smart – and not where he usually does.
Latham was interviewed by Neal Mitchell this morning and his bluff and bravado was unconvincing and I suspect offputting to women. He really sounds like a bad actor delivering even worse lines. Gillard is better material, but she too overdoes the “identify with the salt of the earth” persona. She wears $500 outfits and talks like she is in the queue at Kmart. Fools no-one, particularly the savvy aspiring classes they are pitching at. Ken, what’s your take on these big food companies modifying their product in the face of threat from obesity suits? Can the legal profession self-regulate on these matters, or is it necessary to legislate to keep irresponsponsible lardarses and opportunistic shylocks from making outrageous civil claims?
“shylocks”
Ugh, that term’s something of a “nigger in the woodpile”, wouldn’t you say? Well past its use-by date.
Ohmigod, busted by the PC police!! My intention was to shit can money-grubbing lawyers, no-one else. It’s the Left these days who cuddle up to anti-semitism and by jeez I don’t want to be lumped in with that lot. But I must admit it was a bit Irish of me to use that expression.
Signed Bernard John Patrick Michael Slattery.
Shylock was a relatively honourable (if extremely greedy) man badly mistreated by self-righteous arseholes. *I* don’t mind if his name gets more publicity; at least it’s better than calling lawyers “Jews” (well, in cases where they aren’t, anyway).
And slatts, go fuck yourself.
Mate, have a word to Tim Blair and the Bunyip if you think that’s “PC”…
Geoff,
I don’t think detail is something a shadow treasurer needs. He merely needs to get the message right which means he needs a big picture.
Given the man gained a honours degree in economics he should be able to do both if he wants to.
Mind you Costello isn’t to good on detail and it hasn’t hurt him.