Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

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Assuming that Philip Ruddock once had a soul, there are several questions worth asking. First, to whom did he sell it? Secondly, why? Thirdly, what happens next - not just to the Attorney-General, but also to the Liberal Party?

John Howard and Peter Costello have for the past ten years presented themselves as the undisputed masters of the Australian economy, delivering growth galore and wealth never dreamt of. Andrew Charlton argues that their constant trumpeting of this line has been so effective that everyone – media and electorate – take it for gospel truth.

‘I want to complete the transition of this nation from a welfare State to an opportunity society,’ Howard said. It should be unthinkable that a sophisticated modern politician, leading an increasingly prosperous nation, would boast of attacking the poor ... . But, effectively, that is what Howard did.

When I heard that Alexander Downer hadn't made a connection between the founder of an organisation and that organisation's most famous victim (the first Australian casualty in the Invasion of Iraq) I thought his memory had gone wonky again, like it had in the AWB hearings.  Then I checked his website and began to wonder.