John Howard loses in Australia
Australian PM John Howard, staunch US ally and outspoken critic of jihad and the global spread, lost his re-election bid. He was Australia’s second-longest serving prime minister behind Liberal Party founder Sir Robert Menzies. All Americans should mark the end of his tenure with gratitude. Aussie bloggers Andrew Bolt and Tim Blair liveblogged the results. PJM has a round-up.
A last-minute, idiotic stunt by Liberal Party operatives killed any chances Howard and the incumbents had of retaining power:
As the weeks dragged on the Liberal core message – that Labor could not be trusted on the economy and were ministerial L-platers – lost its impact, the opinion polls found. And then came last week’s shocker when a band of political dimwits in the crucial western Sydney seat of Lindsay distributed fake, nasty anti-Muslim pamphlets aimed at hurting Labor.
Mr Howard’s final address to the nation through a televised National Press Club speech on Thursday was marred by question after question about the tasteless affair.
Who is the new PM, Kevin Rudd?
“Today Australia has looked to the future,” said the country’s newly elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, claiming victory for his Labor Party for the first time since 1996. Poll after opinion poll had predicted a Labor triumph in national elections, but few had forecast its scale. Labor captured at least 22 seats from the ruling Liberal-National coalition — including, it appears, the northwestern Sydney seat held for the past 33 years by Prime Minister John Howard. With 77% of votes counted in Sydney’s Bennelong district, Howard trailed by several hundred votes. In an emotional speech Nov. 24 Howard took full responsibility for the conservatives’ defeat. Then one of Australia’s most successful leaders — and one of President George W. Bush’s staunchest western allies — walked off the stage and into retirement.
A year ago, few even in his own party believed Rudd, a 50-year-old former diplomat and bureaucrat who has been in Parliament for only nine years, had a hope of overturning the P.M. Indeed, Howard had seen off four Labor opponents in a row. A prissy, bookish multimillionaire, Rudd was far from the stereotypical Aussie bloke. But with the help of focus groups, public-relations advisers and expressions like “mate” and “fair dinkum,” he made himself over as a cooler, younger version of 68-year-old Howard: not a revolutionary, just a renovator. His slick, buzzword-driven campaign — “New leadership,” “fresh ideas,” “plans,” “the future” — took Labor’s popularity rating into the high 50s, and kept it there.
Pundits have spent much of the past year debating what the trend to Labor said about Australia. In a country where voting is compulsory, elections turn on a dozen or so marginal seats, where small shifts in voter sentiment can make or break governments. There was reason to think swinging voters would applaud Howard: Australia is in its 16th successive year of economic growth, and unemployment and interest rates are the lowest since the ’70s. “This is the first defeat of a government in decades where there was no evident anger or public rage,” said Liberal Senator Michael Baume. Instead there was ennui. Many voters were tired of Howard, and unexcited by Treasurer (now Opposition leader) Peter Costello, 50, who was due to take over from Howard in 2009. There were also concerns about small interest-rate rises, new industrial relations laws, health care and education, and — in a period of drought — water and climate change.
Australian elections have become increasingly presidential, and Labor cast this one as a two-man race: Kevin vs John, youth vs age, the future vs the past. A vote for Rudd was a vote for someone new. But not too different. Cartoonists drew Rudd as a mini-Howard. A satirical video on YouTube cast the Chinese-speaking Labor leader as Chairman Mao, with subtitles reading: “Rudd unnerve decrepit Howard with clever strategy of ’similar difference.’” Rather than attacking Howard’s strengths, Rudd appropriated them. “I am not a socialist,” Rudd insisted. “I am an economic conservative.” On issue after issue, from federal intervention in dysfunctional Aboriginal communities, to national security, to the expansion of coal and uranium mining, Rudd adopted the government’s line.
The new P.M. is likely to go Howard’s way on foreign policy, too. What he described as “fundamental differences” with Howard — his vows to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and pull troops from Iraq — are largely symbolic.
That’s a relief, if true. It won’t stop the Bush Derangement crowd from crowing that the loss is a proxy referendum on America and the war. But they see everything as a referendum on America and the war.
Here’s that Mao/Rudd video:
And FWIW, here’s a more famous video of Rudd’s earwax-eating moment last month:
***
Ed Morrissey notes that the Aussie-American bond predates Howard and will likely remain strong:
The important point to remember is that Australian-American friendship goes back much further than any one administration in either nation. It is a friendship of the peoples, not the leaders, and that relationship and our mutual interests in freedom and liberty will remain long past any one election. Just as our alliance with Britain did not rely on Tony Blair alone, our ties to Australia will continue with Kevin Rudd — and perhaps even grow stronger.
Still, we will miss John Howard. It’s impossible not to regret the retirement of a man who stood tall and firm against the murderous onslaught and told the world exactly what was at stake in the conflict. Thank you, Mr. Howard, and the best of luck to you in the future.
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- Rudd win in Australia | BitsBlog
- Macsmind - Conservative Commentary and Common Sense
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » Australian Prime Minister John Howard Lost His Re-election Bid
- Old War Dogs
- The Road to Surfdom » Blog Archive » An election heard around the world
- Saturday Night Leftovers : NO QUARTER
- Mosques shooting up like mushrooms in Yemen » Winds Of Jihad
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Voting is compulsory in Australia? Well, well. Wonder what happens if you don’t vote.
Uh oh.
I wonder if this foreshadows what will happen here?!?
No surprise. People of the West(some places anyways) want no War, just good socialist care, money and no personnal responsability. 2007 and 1940 have alot in common. So long as a Wall is built, or no provocation is lauched the War will not come to us.
This time There will be No mass of Soviet and American troops to correct that manner of thinking. Sure the Jihadist are little threat on the convential field, for now. But people of the Western world need to learn Money is not all there is in life, our Eastern breathern seem to have that down pat. For instance the would be bombers in England were for the most Highly paid and respected Doctors.
This is not just the End of a US Ally, this is the people of an Ally telling us NO. Let me also point out the Aussies once told Secutary Rice when she asked about the law requering all citizens to vote they said such kept people like Bush from being elected. They may be Friends but all nations have there own ideas. After all our “friends” are selling Uranium to the Peoples Republic of China.
Mark my Words with in a matter of Days or weeks AU Troops will be taken from Iraq, and in Afghanistan they will do like the Germans, French, and ever increasingly the British and take up missions away from combat area’s. Never mind if the Canadians and Americans fail in the South the whole country falls.
Allies like that we can do without. But Never the less, the bill being thrown on us, if we fail, the Military Falls. The Withdrawl, our “leaders” scream for will do the same, not a defeat in name, but the troops may see it other wise. Really if we fight a war and leave with nothing to show for it what will pay to replace America’s Military edge? What will soldiers with no benafits and retirement, due to money needed for replacement and repair of weapons do?
Such is the nature of democracy. Let’s not jump to conclusions that Australia will become the new Chirac-France. With new leadership there is bound to be some noticeable differences than past history. It is a good sign that Iraq was not a factor. The Aussies are still friends.
Well, it seems Australia has gone the way of Spain.
The ear-wax eating moment is priceless.
John Howard was noteworthy for his willingness to draw a line in the sand with respect to radical Muslims in Australia or wanting to enter Australia. We can only hope that Rudd is as concerned about protecting Australian society.
So, the USA is not the only country that watches dancing with the stars.
Time will tell if Mr. Rudd is a defender of Western Civilization or a Dimmi in disguise. I have learned that slick slogans and focus groups give you leadership driven by opinion polls. Who does that remind you of?
Depressing news to wake up to. I appreciated Mr. Howard’s strong words in taking on the resistance to assimilating into Aussie society that some Muslims feel, as they do no matter which Western democracy they move into.
While I may be overstating the case, as I am not a regular follower of Australian politics, it seems to me to be a reminder that people don’t want to have to deal with anything that interrupts their good time, anything that reminds them there might actually be danger in this world. I’m not sure what else I can gather from the ouster of someone who spoke strongly and brought significant attention to a problem that may have significicant implications for Australians.
The jihadis watch what we do with our democracy. They make note of every sign of weakness that we show. They’ve told us this. Thugs and bullies are only put off by strength, not negotiation or concession.
Dang, that’s unfortunate. Hopefully they’ll stick with us despite this unfortunate turn in events!
I think I just heard it on the news. Rudd has promised to withdraw the troops from Iraq. Waste no time.
Loser.
I’m predicting nationwide strikes in 3,2,1…
Poltical parties (especially the republican party) suffer what I call “napoleon’s syndrome”. The belief that what got them into power is always good enough to keep them in power.
Napoleon was a great military innovator when he first rose to power. He defined tacticsto win wars.
But his enemies adapted to his tactics and turned them against him. Napoleon was so egotistical that he believed he was too good to lose.
And this is another prime example here. Howard was a great leader but he didnt learn how to adapt to changed in the political atmosphere.
The real test of leadership is the ability to adapt and keep your core values. Clinton won not because he was right on issues but because he was able to convince others that he could change his stripes for the changing political winds.
Republicans to win next year need to not only show they are better than democrats but also need to show that they can keep their core beliefs and adapt them to fit America’s mood.
Its hard but not impossible. The question is do we have that kind of leader in our party ?
Well, the Liberals will say what they want, and claim that it has to do with bush and Iraq and such, but come on, a fifth term was pretty far fetched and even the Aussies knew it and so did Howard. The Aussies have absolutely had it with what the Muslims have been doing and been trying to do in that country, and for anyone to say that this has to do with Bush and the War on Terror means they have no idea what has been going on politically in Australia or what has been going on with their Muslim immigration for the last few years at all. this election, and the election of someone knew reallyhas to do with gettting new blood in there, sort of like how Clinton got in in 92 when people wanted something other than Republicans in after 12 years of Reagan and Bush, even though they knew they were getting a lying, philandering used car salesman. They were willing to give him a chance for the sake of something new.
RetFire man makes a good point: The impulse to give the “other guy” a chance is a powerful sentiment, and most likely accounted for the Clinton victory in ‘92. Having said that, John Howard is a real stand up guy who was able to articulate why we fight. I read somewhere that Reagan was one of his role models, in terms of both substance and delivery. I’ll never forget that press conference in London after the bus bombings, where Howard seemed like a cool-headed adult as Tony Blair looked like he was ready to pee his pants. Four terms was a great run however. We should all be grateful a man of his stature and moral clarity walked on the world stage.
I wouldn’t say this is necessarity a defeat of Howard or a repudiation of his policies. No matter how well a party may be running a country, eventually voter fatigue sets in with that party and people become ready for a change.
Perhaps people feel that the government has become complacent or non-responsive. The ’spouse’ has put on twenty pounds or so and makes no effort to court you anymore. The other side begins to look good.
This morning it’s mentioned in the news that an Australian soldier was killed in Afghanistan. So now the pressure to withdraw may jump.
John Howard was a great leader and was generally well liked in Australia; I tend to believe that most Australian were looking for a change rather than to make a statement against the Bush and Iraq. I visited Australia two years ago and found many people to be supportive of the US; in fact, I only heard a few negative comments, but they weren’t anything more than liberal talking points against the US rather than their own government. The MSM paints a picture that all countries hate us, but I didn’t find it to be that way at all down under. Upon my return, a BDS liberal who I work with gleefully asked me “so did they give you grief about our idiot president?”. You should have seen her smirk disappear when I told her that most all of the people I talked to told me that they fully support what the US is doing.
I hate to see John Howard go, but I’m not too terribly worried because I think the Aussies recognize the threat. Remember, they had their version of 9/11 with the Bali bombing in 2002 in which 88 Australians were killed. Sure, it wasn’t as on the same scale, but it seemed to hit them just as hard.
This can be a good thing only if bad things happen before our own Presidential election. Like their economy goes completely belly up — signing Kyoto will help there — or some jihadists blow up a grade school or two.
The problem there as here is that you can’t restrict the bad things to the liberals. Alas. (Though subprime loans with no equity after five years may be just exactly that.)
Howard was more of a cheerleader than anything. Not to denigrate or lessen his role (maybe cheerleader isnt the best word) but he and Tony Blair outdid Bush in explaining and advocating for the War on Terror.
The 2500 Aussie troops that Rudd will withdraw (probably within the year) are not as important as they were last year when the Iraqi army wasn’t quite as able as it is today.
He was a great ally and a good man. Sorry to see him go.
Well, now we get to see what Labor does with their term (and a large majority in the House). Last word from Senate counting seems to say Labor will need to negotiate with 1-3 independents/third parties to pass bills, not having an absolute Senate majority.
To answer Alaskan, not voting in Australian elections gets you a fairly nominal fine (~$100). You don’t actually have to vote per se, just turn up at the polling place. Once there you can lodge an ‘informal vote’ (blank, disfigured, write an essay if you choose) and these are just discarded.
It’s disheartening to see that Rudd’s early focus is, like any good lefty’s, on fighting global f*&%ing warming.
sighhhhhh………
Wow.. and I thought the earwax remark was a metaphor… I actually threw up in my mouth.. a little.
Michelle,
Is it possible to get a spell-checker incorporated in the commenting facility? Perhaps it could be part of the preview function. I think it would be helpful for both the posters and the readers.
Thanks