Costello's tragedy was that he was never able to take politics quite seriously enough: unlike the mad buggers such as Rudd and Abbott to whom it is life and death. Unfortunately it is usually the best and sanest party members who suffer from Costello's malady -- there are signs that Julia Gillard, for instance, realises that there is a world outside Parliament House -- and slip quietly away, leaving us with the deluded and deranged.

Peter Costello's biggest challenge is yet to arrive , when Rudd realizes that a severe Depression caused by Profligate Spending cannot be fixed or alleviated by more of the same eg; Profligate Spending then Costello will find himself employed within the Labor Caucus to whom the following instructions delivered by Rudd himself : " I don't care what you do fiscally as long as Peter likes it and if he doesn't you will not get to do anything ! "

Some of the previous posts are well out of tune , elixir for the Ignorant.....thats Politics exaggerated by Footy Team Mentality .

Just imagine their Impudence and Fury if the only way to assault the deficit is to increase the GST to 40% even then it will take 20 yrs to accomplish even a dent as we have from day one been paying ?% on 3000,000,000,000 , now that's awesome !

The arrogance: Politicians are no more talented than average middle managers in government and industry.

If Abbott thought Costello so great, he should have been more vocal against Howard.

This is an interesting political eulogy from Abbott as he would not have voted for Costello had he thrown his hat into the ring to be leader/PM. But he does (as is convention) admit that Costello was naturally positioned to take over from Howard. So maligned was Costello within his own party that Nelson and now Turnbull were able to gracefully ascend. Watch Abbott closely, he’s no mug.

"Tony Abbott is the federal opposition spokesman for families."
Hey Tony,did you write that also. I guess you think your a comic and a deft hand at satire, any chance of not doing it on my money, like the tax payer, and could you please stop err, ah, um, err and etc; when your trying out you act.. Ask George, probably annoys HIM too.

Peter Costello has not died, so it's a bit
early to eulogise the man. And, as another
poster pointed out - he was a treasurer during
a "boom," period. I wonder how well he would
be doing under the economic circumstances of
today's financial world. I guess that's something
we'll never know. But his resignation from
Parliament is a pretty good indication of how he
feels.

How could any good person, intelligent
person, who has extensive national and international
experience continue to stay and be held to ransom
in a Party that offers the Nation nothing but
criticisms and blockages of anything constructive that
the Government tries to do. A Party
where politics matter more than the Nation's interest.
No wonder the man decided he's had enough. That at
least shows some nouse.

As for writing Peter Costello off. It's too early to do
that. Our PM has stated that 'Australia needed to properly
harness its talent..." and Peter Costello has indicated that
he is prepared to consider a job that 'assists the
National interest.'

Wouldn't that be something. Our PM recognises the fact that
talent should be above politics - and just may offer Peter
Costello a Government position. That something that John
Howard wouldn't be capable of doing, were he in the PM's
position.

Says a great deal really. As for associating the words -
"Golden Age," with the Liberal Party. Sadly no! The
Liberal Party's place - like so many who put the Party
ahead of the nation and her people in
the past, will be swept on the ash heap of history.