Australian Prime Minister John Howard, A Staunch Ally Of Bush, Loses Election

Ken McCracken • November 25, 2007

The American spin on this from the media will, of course, be “Bush further isolated in his policies,” but the reality is that in democracies sometimes people just get tired of a particular leader. Howard and his party had ruled for 11 years, and I’m thinking that perhaps Australians were just a little fatigued by him and wanted a fresh face.
The new Prime Minister, one Kevin Rudd (seen here eating his own ear wax) is promising a new direction in the Iraq war, which is obviously the most important issue concerning Americans. But the reality per this article Australia’s policy on Iraq is unlikely to change much:

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.

It’s sad to see someone who has been such a friend to America lose power, but it seems like there’s plenty of room for Bush to work with this new guy as well.

Tags: International Scene, Politics

http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/ T-Rex

And some more symbolism: after 11 years of keeping the brakes on, Australians released the brakes and is rolling once more towards socialism.

2Hotel9: You got my interest, about this Muslim undercurrent and difficulties with the Solomon Islands, can you point me to anywhere I can get some further informaition?
http://crypto-corinthian.blogspot.com/ T-Rex

Thanks 2Hotel9, that first one is exactly what I was looking for. One should be good enough, I can only absorb just so much
gavin brown

wanted a fresh face

that and his anti-union industrial relations laws but not much will change even IR laws
2Hotel9

What I have read so far indicates that Aussies were pissed that Howard not pushing harder on domestic issues, and an undercurrent involving Muslims and other foreign influences interfering with local issues. Problems between Australia and the Solomon Islands and Malaysia stand out in this election, also.
robert108

What I have read about this so far is that it was about domestic policy, not foreign policy. Of course, the MSM will spin it otherwise.
Tuna

The primary cause of Howard’s demise was rising mortage interest rates. Like elsewhere, Oz has a “war is not the answer” contigent, but that was never Howard’s problem. Kyoto was and is a non-issue, despite the fact that Rudd and his bunch made every effort to tie so-called climate change to Australia’s prolonged draught.

The fact that Australia is headed in the opposite direction from France and Germany would seem to confirm that Howard’s problem is domestic.

I believe most Amerians,other than Harry Reid and Nancy Palosi would view this development as rather sad. John Howard was a good, reliable friend; Rudd is neither.
2Hotel9

T, I read several news sources from the Pacific Rim. This is a good all around source. Yomuiriis also good, though you may have to hit the English Trans button each time you go there. And The Aussie is the paper of record, though a bit left as far as I am concerned.

Tuna hit a couple of the major points. And Aboriginal Affairs is a major sticking point for all parties in Aussie politics.

Hope that helps, and I can work you up a more general news source list if you need it.

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Australian Prime Minister John Howard, A Staunch Ally Of Bush, Loses Election

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