GrodsCorp

The Two Ronnies

Tuesday 20 November 2007, 10:23 pm

Bridgit Gread

Categories: Australia Decides '07, Television

Tags: AnnaCoren, JohnHoward, PeterCostello, TodayTonight

tworonnies
Although I loathe Today Tonight, I was magically attracted by last night’s side-by-side interview with Howard and Costello. It showed three clear things:

Howard’s feeble attempt to convey an image of mateship and unity between him and Costello, by constantly looking at him for affirmation, calling him a “mate” and claiming that he would make “an excellent prime minister”. It was effusive, gushing and downright nauseating.
Costello’s barely-hidden contempt for Howard. In contrast to the Dessicated Coconut’s admiring gazes in his own direction, Costello barely looked at his offsider throughout the interview, and seemed to grate his teeth at a couple of Howard’s remarks. He praised the PM’s “work ethic” but didn’t take the mutual back-slapping contest much further than that.
Anna Coren’s vapid interviewing. No difficult questions (”Has the PM stayed on too long?” “Why won’t you invite Mr Costello to dinner?” etc.) and too many free hits that allowed party-political speeches. And the odd idiotic statement, like “Alan Greenspan, who ran the world economy…”. Norman Gunston could have conducted a more probing and revealing interview.

12 Comments

Krypto (Wednesday 21 November 2007, 12:33 am) #

Norman Gunston was a great journo, I’ll never forget he was right there at the announcement of the dismissal, right there…taking the piss.
Dave from Albury (Wednesday 21 November 2007, 6:49 am) #

The thing that struck Mrs Dave and myself about this interview was how incredibly unwell Costello looked,he’s carrying heaps of weight around his face an neck.

Costello’s greatest fear should be having a heart attack in the chamber because none of his colleagues are civic minded enough to have taken CPR training.
Mikey (Wednesday 21 November 2007, 12:00 pm) #

Yeah talk about a soft cock interview. And of course, nothing against guys, but those two fully came off as a long term gay couple in that interview.
Bridgit Gread (Wednesday 21 November 2007, 2:22 pm) #

Dave is right - Costello looked tired, pale and like he couldn’t be bothered. And his chin(s) did suggest a few too many five-course campaign lunches.
Jimmy Scullin (Thursday 22 November 2007, 7:31 pm) #

Thank the lord god for this:

…the Herald Sun will tomorrow recommend a vote for John Howard. Crucially, a vote for the Coalition will also be a vote for Peter Costello as Prime Minister.

After today’s bogus leaflet fiasco I was wondering who the hell to vote for. I’m still not sure though. Am I voting for John or Pete?
Krypto (Thursday 22 November 2007, 8:40 pm) #

the bloody Herald Sun, it’s a toilet paper not a news paper. I can only hope other Australians have as long a memory as I do for this kind of “we’ll straight out tell you how to vote” crap from the media. It’s a steaming turd on the lawn of democracy.
Jimmy Scullin (Thursday 22 November 2007, 9:41 pm) #

Funnily enough Krypto, iain; Hall is also offering advice on who to vote for:

So comrades that is reason one for not voting for the Ruddites between now and the election I will give you a new reason each morning so you can make sure that you are not duped by their smoke and mirrors

Phew, thank the lord god for that too.

Now I don’t wish to comment about my personal life except that I was privy to a “natural and relaxed” photo opportunity today.

I was standing at the bar in a a coffee shop in Malvern at about 13:20 today when a gent with two 35 digi cams around his neck came in, said he was from The Age and asked the waitress (who I was deep in conversation with) if he could take a “natural and relaxed” photo of Peter Costello in the shop drinking a coffee with his wife. She asked who Peter Costello was and he replied “the Treasurer”.

She rang her boss and he said ok. The photographer left and she said I still don’t know who he was. I (the only customer in the store) leant over the counter and flicked through a copy of The Age and found a shot of him on 774 with Julia Gillard. You could only see half his double chin so she still didn’t recognise him.

I walked outside to see what was going on (expecting a big media scrum) and the waitress said “don’t make it too obvious, it’s meant to look natural and relaxed”. I saw Costello and his wife crossing High st then walk past the gallery then he made a b-line straight for the cafe.

He came in and asked if he could sit at the window. The waitress asked if they wanted a coffee and only he ordered. What he ordered was interesting. His wife didn’t order anything. He gave the waitress a $5 note and asked “is this enough?”.

The only other people with him were two middle aged gents who stayed outside — well away. I think this was to help him look like he was just getting a coffee with his wife as normal in his electorate. Except I had never seen him in that cafe before and I am in there a lot.

This is where it gets interesting. When the waitress came back I asked what he ordered and she said “a cappuccino”. I said quietly “give the fucker a latte”. So she did.

Meanwhile the photographer took his life in his own hands and crouched in the middle of Glennferrie rd dodging trams and cars, snapping away at the Treasurer and his wife through the window. I could not hear what they were talking about but their lips looked like the were moving like they were extras in a movie. You know the scene in The Shining when Jack is at the bar and heaps of extras are in there talking (they are ghosts). Well I was watching the behind the scenes/making of it and the words coming out of the extras mouths were “rubarb, rubarb, rubarb”. Apparently, from a distance, when you mouth those words it looks like you are having a “normal” conversation.

I digress. After about five minutes they up and left. He didn’t say anything about the latte and left a tip of $1.20. The coffee was only $3.00 so I don’t know how that works.

The waitress asked me of the two gents who met him outside were “minders”. I said no, they were cops arresting him for wearing another yellow tie.

This story is true. Check the Age tomorrow. The photo may be in it. Why would I bother making a shit story like this up?
The Editor (Thursday 22 November 2007, 9:56 pm) #

“give the fucker a latte”

Brilliant!

Remember, readers: you heard it here at GrodsCorp first.
Jimmy Scullin (Thursday 22 November 2007, 10:11 pm) #

I was just joking when I said it. And she did!
Agent Starling (Friday 23 November 2007, 10:09 am) #

It seems The Age did not run the photo today Jimmy. That’s understandable though, who gives a toss about Costello having a latte? They may run it tomorrow.

Also, judging from your typos and grammatical errors it looks like you have been reading too much niceperson.
Agent Starling (Saturday 24 November 2007, 9:37 am) #

The photo is on page 13 of The Age Jimmy with the latte in full view. You can also see your shadow behind Costello and the waitresses hair!
Jimmy Scullin (Monday 26 November 2007, 4:40 pm) #

Costello is another example of the latte left. See my story was true all you naysayers out there. (no one)