Australia's "Man of Steel" demolished. ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!!

Howard has called Rudd to concede defeat.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/federal-e...753366680.html

I feel like an 11 year nightmare is OVER, baby OVER!!!!!

And now it looks almost certain that Howard has lost HIS OWN SEAT. 2ND TIME IN AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, bring on the 21st Century. We're only 7 and a bit years late. Bring on the FUTURE!!!!!!!

Costello's out:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/federa...947541130.html

He's staying on as a backbencher (presumeably). So - Turnbull or Abbott? Abbott's such a colossal dickhead methinks Turnbull's pulling out the win in Wentworth gives him the golden glow.

@Paul McCartney - that's certainly one version of the defeat: the "It's time" factor, but for my part the abysmal relationship Howard has had with any sense of integrity, ethics, responsibility, the truth, reality....over the last 11 years is certainly a factor to consider. Indeed whether in fact he has done a "good job" has more to do with global commodities demand and economic fluctuation than his own peculiar economic prowess has also been argued by some.

All I know is that there is a chance I may not feel ashamed to be a part of this electorate much longer. Of course - it's been argued that the poetic justice of Howard being hoist upon his own interest-rate pertard does not speak highly of the notoriously short-sighted, self-interested homo-economicus Aussie voter. Given that the rates are set independently by the Reserve Bank, us "punishing" Howard for failing to keep them from rising (as erroneous and baseless as that promise was) could be seen either as mass, vindictive stupidity, or the rightful retort he had coming to him for the decade or so of hubris.

Yeah, I just had a quick glance through the Cabinet profile (as it was). It's gotta be Turnbull or Minchin I think. Everybody else is either reviled or simply hasn't got the chops to make it. I'm revealing my lack of civics knowledge here though, can Senators be PM given the different term durations from the House of Reps? I should really know this....
Although, I don't know shit about cricket either, so I don't qualify for citizenship either way

Oh, don't forget making an ass of himself over Barack Obama's plans to end the Iraq war. Glenn Greenwald over at Salon certainly hasn't forgotten that little episode - has quite the little screed about Honest Johnny. And there's another one up at The Australian basically giving a blow by blow history of Johnny's career lowlights.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...013491,00.html

And let's not forget being BFF with W. Crowning achievment, that.





Oh, you meant "good things"?
Yeah, you got it covered.

The problem with Howard's approach to US policy that had been really pissing people off was that it was so blatantly partisan, as well as being viewed as distastefully obsequious in terms of privately cheering Bush on towards invasion yet telling the Australian public he hadn't yet decided to commit Australian troops should the invasion go ahead - when in fact - (and he has since admitted this) - he *had*.

Now of course, our presence in that invasion couldn't be more minimal than if we weren't there at all (ie: it's around 500 troops - some of whom have been pulled out of Afganistan, no less), so it's a purely symbolic gesture to keep cosy with W. But somehow, that's to me more offensive than if you threw a full complement of troops in and made a genuine effort. The way it has been conducted, it's patently cynical and morally repulsive, as well as ethically deficient.

Well now we are led by Pumpkinhead, I'm sure we can rake in some Halloween dosh come next October.

And blow me down, Nelson snatches the Liberal leadership from Turnbull. I guess the opposition's new primary objective will be the raising an army of mechanically deficient and technically redundant war machines with which to steal back the beloved White Picket Fences of Australia. Looking forward to it!