GrodsCorp

Drinks with a Liberal

Friday 22 September 2006, 10:04 am

Categories: Politics

Tags: AmandaVanstone, ChristopherSkase, CorneliaRau, euthanasia, immigration, JohnHoward, KevinAndrews, Liberal, PeterCostello, PhilipRuddock, republic, TonyAbbott

If somebody put a gun to my head and forced me to choose one Liberal politician with which to have a boozy session at the pub I would choose Amanda Vanstone.

Let me explain.

Like many Liberal politicians I strongly dislike much of her personal politics and the policies she supports, but there’s something about her personality that I respect.

Let’s look at it this way: even if Philip Ruddock, Kevin Andrews, Tony Abbott, John Howard and Peter Costello had identical political opinions to my own I wouldn’t go out of my way to have a beer with them because I think they’re soulless, slimy bastards. I’ve never fallen asleep in a pub before (well, maybe just once but it was 4.30am — long story) but I reckon John Howard would have me snoring before I finished my first pot of draught.

However, the glimpses of Amanda’s non-political persona over the years have revealed that she’s got a wicked sense of humour, doesn’t mind a good session over a few bottles of wine (eg. one extraordinarily boozy lunch/ dinner with a Bulletin journalist, if memory serves me correctly), and she’s not afraid to speak her mind, often coming out with some absolutely brilliant one-liners. Who can forget the “sandwich and a milkshake” jibe at her own government’s tax cuts, or the “let me put my dancing shoes on” remarks after Christopher Skase’s death.

I get upset at how callous and heartless she is when defending current Australian immigration policy, and think she showed a frightening lack of remorse over cases such as Cornelia Rau, but on the flip side she continues to support an Australian republic and this week has been arguing that Australia should legalise voluntary euthanasia. You gotta respect that.

Which Liberal politician would you have a piss-up with and why?

9 Comments

J,The (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:01 pm) #

I can’t believe you have picked AV. As someone who may or may not have had to work for her at one time in my life, my opinion of her is far less forgiving than yours. If there was karmic payback for being a politically driven animal above all other considerations, AV would be coming back for the next half a dozen lives as the guy who has to script edit Bold and the Beautiful.
The Editor (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:03 pm) #

Fair enough, J,The. You have a much more intimate personal experience than me. But you didn’t answer the question: who would you pick? In the absence of your answer I will assume Tony Abbott.
J,The (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:09 pm) #

F— off. I don’t think I would want to have a drink with any of them and probably very few of the ALP politicians either. Something happens to politicians when they get a whiff of power and intrigue, even in this democratic backwater of ours.

If it was a “have a drink with a Liberal politician or face a painful death” situation I would pick….
J,The (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:09 pm) #

Ummmmm…..
J,The (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:12 pm) #

I’ve got it. Petro Giorgiou. Maybe Bruce Baird. Or that lady who opposed the recent migration stuff.

Or Phillip Ruddock, but mainly so I could see the phenomenon of a soul replaced by the manic glint of party fanaticism up close.
The Editor (Friday 22 September 2006, 2:18 pm) #

Or Phillip Ruddock, but mainly so I could see the phenomenon of a soul replaced by the manic glint of party fanaticism up close.

That could be the funniest thing you’ve ever said.
Juan Moment (Saturday 23 September 2006, 1:47 am) #

I’d have a few cans with Bob Brown and Dick Adams, no worries. Why? Hmm, Bob because in my books he is one of the few with a spine and integrity, a public servant in the real sense of the word, and Dick, well, I guess because he looks as if he knows where to get good beer.

The Senators:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/contacts/senators.asp

The Reps:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member_photo_party.asp
Kevin From Bathurst (Saturday 23 September 2006, 11:58 am) #

Wilson Tuckey
I reckon old ironbar could spin a good yarn or two.

Thought maybe more of you would pick Andrew Downer.
Alan Gilbert (Saturday 30 September 2006, 7:09 pm) #

I’d want to have a beer with Stewart “The General” McCarthur. He’d have a couple of tall stories about his time in politics no doubt.