Oh my God, teenagers brighten up PM's day
Tom Allard and Belinda Kontominas
July 11, 2006
TO BREATHLESS teenage squeals of "oh my God" and "he's sooo coool", John Howard began the defence of his leadership yesterday by unveiling his most potent weapon, his political popularity.
Engulfed by the biggest political crisis of his 10 years in power, the setting for Mr Howard's first public foray into the saga was near-perfect.
A glittering Sydney day, the Opera House and his palatial home of the past decade, Kirribilli House, resplendent just across the harbour.
The news conference in the western courtyard of the building was vintage Howard. Terse, tightly scripted denials and relentlessly "on message".
There had been no leadership deal, he said. Just like he and Peter Costello had been saying for years.
The meeting witnessed by former defence minister Ian McLachlan occurred but "there were many discussions about the future leadership of the party at that time that went on for weeks after that particular meeting".
Ipso facto, "nothing could have been concluded at that meeting".
Calling the news conference abruptly over, Mr Howard turned on his heel for a rare prime ministerial promenade down the Opera House concourse.
Stunned families waved back as Mr Howard loudly declared the weather to be fine. The students of Perth's Penrhos College went gaga, mobbing the Prime Minister.
"You're our favourite politician," they screamed as Mr Howard, and the trailing media, joined them for some hearty glad-handing and pictures. "It's pretty cool to meet John Howard in person," said 16-year-old Olivia Loxley. "We'd all vote for him if we were 18."
"He's pretty short in person. Oh my God, I'm taller than John Howard," said another student, Brittany Lynch.
[...]
Impromptu it may have seemed, but Mr Howard's harbourside meet-and-greet was clearly calculated.
While many of the men and women of the parliamentary Liberal Party may scoff at his insistence there was no leadership deal struck with Mr Costello, few could deny his enduring appeal to the electorate.
The Prime Minister is banking that, ultimately, this is what will determine the outcome of the leadership tussle.
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Clearly, Johnny Cool is an accomplished hypnotist/magician.
WARNING: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT HIM
(NOT THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO)
9 comments:
"You're our favourite politician," they screamed as Mr Howard, and the trailing media, joined them for some hearty glad-handing and pictures. "It's pretty cool to meet John Howard in person," said 16-year-old Olivia Loxley. "We'd all vote for him if we were 18."
What the hell is wrong with teenagers these days??? That's the most pathetic thing i've read since Costello's speech about you know what.
I know. Maybe Howard should consider a career as the next Justin Timberlake with swooning teenage girls and what not.
You'd be swarming, i take it. You have crappy taste in music anyway, and Howard does look like a boy(-bandish) type. :p
Swarming? You make no sense. But then what's new...
OMGG this is such a funny running commentary. HELLO JOEY WOMAN.
You obviously haven't heard Joey and i argue. :p
No, she hasn't. But the WOMAN and I have screaming matches too, so this shouldn't be very surprising...
HELLO WOMAN.
My oh my, this blog is honoured by the visit of the Queen...
You're such a dork! :p
Whatever, lehuuu sehurrrr. :P
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