Breaking: Australian PM John Howard Goes Down In Flames - Labor Party Wins!
By Logan Murphy Friday Nov 23, 2007 8:19am
AP Via Yahoo:
Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd swept to power in Australian elections Saturday, ending an 11-year conservative era and promising major changes to policies on global warming and his country's role in the Iraq war.
"Today Australia has looked to the future," Rudd said in a nationally televised victory speech, to wild cheers from supporters. "Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward ... to embrace the future, together to write a new page in our nation's history."
The win marked a humiliating end to the career of outgoing Prime Minister John Howard, who became Australia's second-longest serving leader — and who had appeared almost unassailable as little as a year ago. Read on...
President Bush just lost another lap dog. Rudd said he'd take Australian troops out of Iraq and sign the Kyoto treaty if elected, so here's his chance.
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While I don't pretend to know much about Australian politics, I do know former PM Howard was in lock step with the Bush Regime. So a mighty GOODDAY! to AUSTRALIA!
Peace.
woah.. first?
The Aussie's took out the trash good for them! It's our turn next.
fullmettlealchemist @ 2:
uh, No
Ooops.
Oh, yeah.. Cheney, then BUsh should be kicked out soon. Your turn, America...
But... But... Sarkozy!!!
Question:
How many lap dogs does Bush have left at this point?
Tony Blair, then John Howard? This is great news!
Yes, please, can America be next? Crap...America should have been first to sweep the right wing from power but not enough people felt comfortable with voting for Kerry so Bush was able to sneak in and steal the '04 election. We need to show up in force next time and make it clear...NO MORE REPUBLICAN CRIMINALS! Then hopefully we will hold War Crimes hearings for the whole lot of them!
Way cool!
Sweet Chunks @ 6:
France isn't even in Iraq, is it?
Have no concern for Murdoch...like most greedy people he will continue with attending to HIS "bottom line"...which is make more money and get more power...however that works for him. I'm certain any political principles he has are very "soft" and movable. Sadly our entire world is becoming more about the accruing of money and material items than it is about ideals/morals/principles...my mother-in-law would feel justified...that was always her BUMPER STICKER..."Make lots of Money"!!!!
Kudos to Rudd for kicking that old Reaganomicist bastard to the curb
Wonder what their immigration policy is...
Yeaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Down with fascism, up with communism!!!
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Everyone rejoice!
You talk like signing the Kyoto treaty is a good thing.
Sweet Chunks @ 6:
Good thing he was elected, now France wont leave Iraq until Bush tells them.....wait....someone's telling me France isn't part of the "Coalition of the Willing" LOL.
Howard ran the economy well. He was not a terrible leader, but he did have a hubris about him. Once the people well and truly moved on the Iraq occupation and Global Warming he was out of step and had to play catch up. It was this type of rhetoric that didn't help, though it was not majorly reported:
http://newsbusters.org/node/7543
According to AFP (emphasis mine), “Howard retorted that he did not take policy advice from films and said he would not meet Gore.”
Howard wasn’t the only Australian government official to diss Gore (emphasis mine):
“There are three places I do not go for advice on climate change," fumed Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane, dismissing the film in which Gore singles out Australia as trailing the rest of the world on climate change.
"One of them is to unsuccessful candidates for the US presidency who cannot even convince their own people that they are right. The second place is the movie," he said, adding that the third was the Australian opposition.
That's gotta smart! Obviously, there is little worse in life than a transcontinental dissing!
Rudd is more progressive than Howard. Which isn't saying much, as he's still against same-sex marriage, for internet censorship etc.
Another proto-fascist bites the dust. murd
eroch must be pissed. I'm sure his papers did their best to prop up that bastard FOB.We need all the focus her to be on the voting machines. the smarmy msm bastards are waiting to announce guiliani or billary as our next prez.
Does this land of ours have even a touch of luck, the sanity that just now struck the Aussies is contagious and will spread to our shores ASAP!
Well deserved humiliation, I would say.
This is good news for the United States. This is will further limit the allies of the neocons. As for Rupert Murdoch, he actually supported Rudd over Howard.
Conservatism has been universally debunked as a political philosophy. The silence of the thugs.
Bush still has sarkozy, Brown and merkel in his pocket.
Greg @ 15:
France has been in Afghanistan since day one.
Gary @ 14:
You write like an imbecile.
Let's hope that this is a sign that the people of the world are getting sick of imperialistic, nation building neocons. Poland got the word, Canada could use a wake-up call.
Looks like Ruppert Murdock couldn't swift-boat Rudd. Maybe the truth is that Ruppert Murdock couldn't make a go of it in Australia so he came to the US. Murdock's conservatism is part of a dying breed.
Having spent 2 months travelling around Austrailia this year I saw the general mood of everyone there. "GOOD ON YA" Austrailia for giving "little Johnny" the boot to the curb with the rest of the rubbish
Another one bites the dust! Yeah!
Little by little, the world is coming to it's senses.....with the notable exception of US!
And Sarkosy, one of the remaining turds in the punch bowl.
You know, in Poland, the favorite ethnic jokes are about the stupid Americans. It didn't used to be that way.
Drak Pope @ 10:
Ah, but that didn't stop the onslaught of the right trying to paint his win as trend towards conservatism.
what will Rupert Murdoch do?
Faux Noise is showing a Jazz Quartet singing a hip version of 'Santa Clause is Conning to Town'.
Yeah, what's with Canada and France, anyway? They'll wake up after they lose their national health insurance.
As for Murdoch, he isn't leaving his empire to any individual offspring. His children will be fighting like cats and dogs over his wealth and power after he ceases to breath. That should be interesting. It's probably the only way his empire will dissolve.
Added: Saturday, 24 November, 2007, 13:41 GMT 13:41 UK
First Blair, now Howard. One more left to go and the world will finally be rid of the Axis of Fools...
Stefan, Strasbourg
Rud touched hearts of all Australians with a huge debate on climate change, educational revolution, working families and indeed The style of leadership with fresh ideas.
All the best,
Chuol Dojiok,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Chuol Dojiok
An example of what people around the world (especially Austrailia) are saying. A bit more insight than sarcasim. Find it on the BBC.co.uk news forums and then make your comments.
Me in a fantasy conversation with Rush Limbaugh:
Me: Hello Rush. You know how you said about 7 to 9 years back the the world was shaking off liberal =ism and truning conservative?
. . . .
You say you never said that?
. . .
Well yes you did. I used to listen to you everyday, and I full remember you saying that. Celebrating that fact actually.
. . .
I'm lying? I never listened to you?! Rush, I called into your show twice. But I wanted to ask you if you still feel that same way given everything the conservatives have pushed for are now being widely rejected. Do you think that the left is finally being able to answer the right effectively?
. . .
The left lies? The right hasn't been able to reach everyone because of the left wing media?
Rush, you righties have the majority of talk radio, you have Fox News, you have newspapers, and you righties once had a lock on AFRN. . . how are you not getting your message across?
. . .
Do you think that maybe your ideas, conservative, neo-conservative ideas/pruproses now that they are seen for what they are, selfish, damaging to the majority of people who live on the earth and down right fatal for the bottom teir, are being rejected outright?
Now that we know how the McCaw(sp) Center has operated in giving ready made free market policy papers to the world to help the "conservative" world take over, or the benefits of the shock doctorine to push in policies you know wouldn't make it any other way, or denying the vote to eligible citizens, or that many people before would have dimissed the power and purpose of dominionists or the eugenics crowd (that wants to reduce the world population from an est 6,602,224,175 by 84% to around 800,000,000 - which is about the combined population of the US and the EU) as paranoid fantasy. They would have dismissed them, but what they've seen throughout the world, in NOLA, etc. now allows them to take seriously or at the very least not out right dimiss it but to investgate.
. . .
We need to all be put in a looney bin or stop smoking whatever it is we are smoking? This from a guy who accused Hillary of killing Vince Foster, who championed all the fruitless White Water investigations and did not spend anytime in jail for his drug abuse as he demanded that others do?
Hello? Hello?
Good for Australia for showing a progressive streak. Now, how about this lumbering dinosaur we call the United States?
Hi folks,
Most of you haven't suffered Murdoch as long as we in Australia and Britain have. He supports whoever will work best for him. In America, that's obviously the Republican party. But political leaders who have benefitted from Murdoch's patronage can get too big for their boots. So he will change them every so often. There isn't a politician alive who doesn't want a good relationship with Murdoch. There's no ideology to what he does - it's all about his own personal interests. When it no longer benefits him to cheerlead for the Republicans, just watch for the turnaround at Fox.
I know that sounds far fetched now but like I say, we've been living with him for a lot longer than you have. This is how he operates - see if I'm wrong.
Why won't George Bush just hurry up and die?
ba-bye
the wheels on the bus go round and round...............congrats Australia
Does that mean we're going to invade Australia now?
RW @ 38:
He has free health care.
Um, guys, Rupert Murdoch publicly endorsed Kevin Rudd for PM...
I suspect that throwing an innocent man in jail based on faulty intelligence, and then remaining unapologetic about it has some consequences after all.
Coffins draped in flags @ 33:
Hate to disapoint you but losing healthcare won't happen. The goverment has tried things like that in the past here, the people rose up(seniors pensions) and went after the goverment. And what do you know they actually backed down
Did someone mention CANADA?
"How George Bush became the new Saddam. Its strategies shattered, a desperate Washington is reaching out to the late dictator's henchmen." And the picture on the cover is of Bush with a mustache dressed in Saddam Hussein's uniform. From a terrorist publication? Hardly, It's the Cover Story of the Mainstream and Most Popular News Magazine in Canada, Maclean's. Maybe Cheney is Going to Develop Plans to Bomb Ottawa Now.
Just running out of friends, the boosh fella.
BTW, France is only in it for the money. They want some of what goes to Haliburton. SarKKKozy just about drooled about it in his meetings with the shrub.
Preacher Boob @ 30:
Coffins draped in flags @ 33:
let's just hope it's not like the walton family.
adam @ 43:
which means rupert was hedging his bets, like he's doing with billary in the US of A.
CoIntelPro @ 49:
Exactly! And it's no accident that he picked the Democrat most sympathetic and malleable to his cause.
So suddenly, al the media is saying Hillary is the frontrunner. Coincidence? Yeah, right!
But anyway, this is Kevin07's day. Let him have it.
CoIntelPro @ 49:
Which explains why he paid for a Hillary fundraiser
Conservatism is synonymous with many things: authoritarianism, fascism, corruption, criminality, cronyism, religious zealotry, jingoism, and incompetence, to name just a few. But the one aspect of Conservatism that truly stands out is that its adherents are generally dishonest. They like to posture as intellectual/moral authorities, but as soon as their policies are adopted, their utter lack of intellect and honesty become apparent. "No one can out perform the American worker." Bullshit. "The dollar is the world's reserve currency." Bullshit. "We are locked in a battle of cultures." Bullshit. "The market runs things more efficiently." Bullshit. "We don't torture." Bullshit. I could keep going (obviously).
They have had their way in the world for the better part of the past 20 years, and have botched the job, but good. From economic policy, to international relations, to lawful governance, they have proven themselves to be feckless boobs, at best. Now we have to listen to them whine like little girls who have had their tea party interrupted while we try to clean up their mess.
Mark my words: When the coming economic collapse kicks America hard in the ass, it's the conservatives who will squeal the loudest. If it leads to wider war, they won't serve. If there are bread lines, they'll be the first in them. If they are wealthy enough t abandon their country for another, they will be the first to cast America aside (maybe go to Paraguay).
Conservatism is false.
Conservatism is UnAmerican.
"Just Say No" to Bush lapdogs.
adam @ 43:
rupert backs a winner...incase you hadnt noticed...rudd has been ahead in the polls for a year, rupert backs whats good for rupert, which is a winner.. howard was asked by his own party to step down only a few months back, but his arrogance wouldnt allow that.. he got spanked yesterday....even lost his own seat.....doesnt get much better really...
The Chasers also had a a special episode on the election as well (actually, 2 episodes, but the second isn't out yet, apparently)
Howard: "Gee *SOBS* All I did was glue my lips to Bush's rear. But how could I possibly lose?"
Ask Tony Blair you asshat. Way to go Australia!
PS: I love The Chasers :-D
Gotta live on them until Jon and Stephen come back.
This is a portent of things to come for the U.S. in the 2008 elections.
The Republicans are going to be swept out of office in every level of government, especially the federal level.
We are going to have a Democratic President and both houses of Congress will overwhelmingly Democratic as well.
Mark my words, the reign of the Republicunts is over & done. The vast majority of people in this country are feed up with their wars, their lies, their economic policies, and all the rest of their inane bullshit.
Australia comes to their senses; our turn.
Congratulations to the Australians. Now if we can elect regime change here.
Dear NeoCONS (intentional emphasis in caps):
Consider your syncophantic "friend" John's defeat a prelude to what you will experience less than a year from now.
Get ready you war lovers and paranoid control freaks. Water has been thrown on your evil wicked witch party and your world is melting away.
Good Riddens Howard. Now take Bush, Cheney, Sarkozy, Merkel, Blair, and Brown with you!
As an Aussie, I say...
Waaaahooooooooooooooooo!!!! Yeah!!! happy, Happy... HAPPPPYYYYY>... Do the Happy dance with me!!
About bloody time sanity returned to Aus! We are sick to death with the insane Americanization of our Country! Howard was a fool and a tool! He sold us out, literally. And he got his ass totally REAMED tonight! That's gotta HURT baby! LMAO
And this is a big reason why Howard the Duck lost (apart from the fact that he was a lying SOB!)
Times Online
For anyone interested... Good coverage here:
ABC Election 2007
I am sooooo happy!!! :D :D :D
Hell! I'd even kiss an American! LMAO
Cheers!
Kryten42 @ 62:
Beauty mate! Enjoy!
It's getting awful lonely for stooge-boy down in the sewer.
It's about time those who have been hanging on to Bush's coat tails are having to learn to swim in sh*t.
It's the "Labour" party. It is a proper name. Spell it correctly.
On the other hand, the fact that there is one less supporter of our Iraq debacle is good news.
Nothing will change in the USA relations with Australia.When USA starts bombing Iran,the same pack of wolves will be attacking the weak. Australia has always been used by USA in all it's East invasions. They gave us Rupert Murdick and we owe them something in return--ongoing military bases down under Astralia's skirt !
Does Baby Caligula have any "allies" left. The Poles and the Aussies are leaving, soon to followed by the Brits. Even Karl Rove and Richard Perle have bailed out. What's a poor, depraved, degenerate chimp to do?
The entire world...including virtually all of the US...will have come to their senses about bush/co and the State of Georgia will still be praying for Republican victories. We're so full of dumb-ass peckerwoods we'd even vote for a 'damn-Yankee' like the former mayor of New York City.
HulksHeroes @ 64:
Scary too. Might have to hide in Paraguay after all following the next elections, since there are no friends left that will put him up.
Ken Mitchell @ 66:
actually ken, in this case, its the labor party. that is the correct spelling..
Marcus Aurelius @ 25:
I am glad that a Bush backer has failed, that is always good news.
However I agree with Gary, Kyoto is a bad treaty. Calling someone names won't change that fact. Anyone who thinks Kyoto will do ANYTHING about global warming is mis-informed.
Before he leaves office John Howard will need some time to get his nose out of Bush's bum.
Good going Aussies! Now it's our turn.
Hopefully the tide is turning, Howard was a catastrophe to progressive ideology.
jarjar @ 21:
ckerst @ 3:
Rupert would support Karl Marx if he thought he was going to win. The old soul-less bastard is always looking for a way to have access to the powers that be. Murdoch's support extends only as far as his own greedy interests are concerned!
The winger blogs are beside themselves with this news. Captain Steno at Captain's Quarters has this to bemoan,
"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."
I wonder if Eddie's just been out to sea so long he's forgotten that we attacked a country that had nothing to do with 9/11?
Well, well Michelle. She whines,
"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."
Uhm, yeah Micaela, project much?
And then there's Jules "All War All The Time" Crittenden,
"Another one of the original three who stood up, Bush, Blair and Howard, is gone. Australia votes Labor. Good luck with that."
It's not like they're clueless that Bush supporters are dropping like flies. It's more like their mind numbing ideological idiocy knows no bounds.
I have a feeling lots of Fosters is being consumed in mass quantities down under.
some dude named steevo @ 71:
Kyoto is a first step where by signing it, a nation declares that global warming is a problem and contributing to global warming in some ways is against the law. Of course Kyoto isn't the most kickass anti-carbon emissions treaty ever, but all laws are built on previous laws and rulings, and without a first step like Kyoto is, there will have to be some future first step, and waiting for some future first step succeeds only in wasting more time. Kyoto is a good treaty, and the world's first step, and the remaining 2 nations that haven't signed it should do so immediately.
The clock is ticking and whining and complaining prolongs inaction, which is the biggest ally every attempt to limit carbon emissions has.
Everyone who thinks Kyoto will do ANYTHING about global warming is informed.
Now if we could just get rid of that fat @!@$%*&! Harper.
Well I'll miss the Chasers constant harassment of John Howard on his daily walks. Funny how a despised politician in Australia doesn't need nearly as much security, and can talk with the public compared to Bush when he actually had decent approval ratings.
#75 their just ignoring reality...hoping it won't come.If they say it enough times...they believe it.But that doesn't mean that their right.....I sometimes go to a repug site...it's amazing to see what they post for comments.They're so into bullshitting their participants....out right lies....and the sheeple believe it....but I have noticed their numbers have gotten considerably smaller...Last week my fave was....Republicans on a roll...We have them on the run!.....LOL!
Tony Blair's out, Howard's now out, the only ones in the Bush club left in power are Canada's Harper and France's Sarkozy. Here's to the French people realizing their Bush loving president is only going to cause damage to their country than do any good. I hear Canada is already on the right track and Harper is most likely to be shown the door in the next elections.
The fewer fascist leaders, the better off we all are. America, here's looking at you, kid.
Kyoto is a step towards stopping global warming.. just like the U.N originally was a step towards preventing wars.
What a fantastic job they've done so far.
Eat shit Murdoch.
God bless Australia!
Gary @ 82:
So ......we're not supposed to even try?Gotta walk before you can run...no?
Well, I guess this means Bill O'Reilly will now call for a boycott of all things Australian. And if Australian beer sales in the US dip by just one bottle, he'll proclaim victory. Lots of laughs ahead on Fox this month!!
konchster @ 26:
Canadians, it seems, have fallen into a near fatal slumber, with a weak, confused opposition party and a governing party that loves to kiss bushbutt.
I'm so ashamed. We once had a reputation for being as nice as pie but now we're nothing but greedy blue eyed sheiks and international drug pushers.
Another Bush Goose Stepper gone!
www.pafundi.com
====================================
Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4323
From an ecstatic Aussie, highlights of John Howard in office:
Australia becomes only Western government to be accused of racism by UN for treatment of Aboriginals:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/690213.stm
Howard lies about Iraq:
http://www.greenleft.org.au/2003/541/30129
Howard sends Australian soldiers sent to Iraq, fortunately few are killed:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Mother_of_first_Australian_soldier_killed_in...
Howard alarms region by threatening to invade South-East Asia, Pacific
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3675012.stm
Howard refuses to sign Kyoto Protocol on CO2 emissions:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/26/1085461819091.html
Howard in racist falsehood - claims refugees throw their babies in the sea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_overboard_affair
Howard deploys navy against refugees, Australia's treatment of refugees cruellest of any developed country:
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/12/09/aust.refugees/in...
Howard encourages racism:
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=1945
Racist morons go on rampage against Lebanese in Sydney, even Howard embarrassed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Cronulla_riots
Howard blocks human rights investigators entering the country:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/901157.stm
Howard denies global warming, Australia dries up in massive drought:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21585348-5001021,00....
Howard smacks down working class voters that once supported him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workchoices
Howard's friends produce fake leaflet by Islamist group praising Labor, get caught out:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article3187096.ece
Any I left out?