Did Peter Costello do the right thing?

Costello cops criticism from replacement

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Costello-cops-criticism-from-replacement/2007/11/26/1195975915566.html

The decision by Peter Costello to walk away from the Liberal Party leadership has been criticised by the man who will replace him as federal treasurer.

Anointed treasurer Wayne Swan said he thought Mr Costello would have grabbed with enthusiasm the opportunity to be leader.

"Over the last 11 years Peter has taken the opportunity to lecture a lot of people in parliament on courage and strength," Mr Swan told ABC radio.

"Given the force of things he's had to say in parliament particularly about a couple of people on the Labor side over a long period, I was surprised.

So it is reasonable to expect politicians to run from the chance to try to correct the mistakes made by their opposition? They should only try to get into power if they are handed a smoothly running country?

I can see why Swan is surprised.

Liebor did.  They got a beauty.

When? I've never heard of an entire political party resigning voluntarily from a position of authority.

Why would Peter Costello hang about to repair the damage after Liebor wreck it?

For the same reason he got into politics. Do you think he never realised that that's exactly what politics is about? Do you think he is just stupid and naive?

How do you reckon he will feel when Liebor squander the wealth on a fibre optic cable

Like he has no courage and strength in the face of a half decent challenge? Like he realised he was only in it for the easy hand-me-down jobs? Like a child in the playground who doesn't always get his way?

Costello would have 'boosted' Labor win

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/costello-would-have-boosted-labor-win/2007/12/04/1196530668209.html

A late Liberal leadership change to Peter Costello probably would have delivered an even bigger federal election win to Kevin Rudd, Labor's campaign director says.

Giving the traditional post-campaign wrap-up at the National Press Club, Tim Gartrell said Labor's November 24 win had exploded the argument that oppositions did not win elections, governments lost them.

And he said while Labor had contingency plans in case the Liberals switched leaders from John Howard to Peter Costello, in the end Mr Costello was even less popular than the long-serving prime minister.

Senior Liberals urged Mr Howard to step aside for Mr Costello six weeks before the election was called, but the then prime minister refused.

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Costello refuses to commit to full term

http://news.smh.com.au/costello-refuses-to-commit-to-full-term/20071214-1h2g.html

Former federal treasurer Peter Costello has refused to commit to serving a full term as the member for Higgins in Victoria.

Speaking after the poll declaration in Melbourne Mr Costello would only say that he would "continue to serve" as the Higgins MP when asked if he would serve a full term.

He dismissed speculation that he planned a return to the coalition's leadership after a stint on the back bench, saying there were "all sorts of wild theories floating around".