Comments on: John Howard loses in Australia

By: The Australian election — some further thoughts « Ned Raggett Ponders It All

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:23:28 +0000

[...] in Iraq. It’s this type of thing which has led any number of right-wing bloggers (Malkin as ever being a classic example) who had been paying even less attention to Australia than I to [...]

By: Click

Click — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:00:40 +0000

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

By: DaveC

DaveC — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:07:03 +0000

Wow.. and I thought the earwax remark was a metaphor… I actually threw up in my mouth.. a little.

By: mattymatt10

mattymatt10 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 12:25:35 +0000

It’s disheartening to see that Rudd’s early focus is, like any good lefty’s, on fighting global f*&%ing warming.

sighhhhhh………

By: Stephen_Australia

Stephen_Australia — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:51:41 +0000

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.

By: Rick Moran

Rick Moran — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 03:21:45 +0000

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.

By: Mosques shooting up like mushrooms in Yemen » Winds Of Jihad

Mosques shooting up like mushrooms in Yemen » Winds Of Jihad — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:55:16 +0000

[...] * Michelle Malkin has more: [...]

By: Saturday Night Leftovers : NO QUARTER

Saturday Night Leftovers : NO QUARTER — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:28:53 +0000

[...] End: Michelle Malkin has (unwittingly) said it best: “All Americans should mark the end of his tenure with gratitude.” We are grateful, [...]

By: The Road to Surfdom » Blog Archive » An election heard around the world

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:47:22 +0000

[...] in comments at Michelle Malkin feels a sense of betrayal that is perhaps understandable: This is not just the [...]

By: secondsight

secondsight — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:04:57 +0000

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.)

By: behiker

behiker — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:57:51 +0000

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.

By: Alaskan

Alaskan — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:00:16 +0000

This morning it’s mentioned in the news that an Australian soldier was killed in Afghanistan. So now the pressure to withdraw may jump.

By: Old War Dogs

Old War Dogs — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:39:00 +0000

2007.11.24 Politics and National Defense Roundup …

Quick hits: …

By: Canadian Infidel

Canadian Infidel — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:41:47 +0000

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.

By: MrArchieBunker

MrArchieBunker — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:42:19 +0000

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.