Australian Elections: John Howard concedes Defeat
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at least he has to balls to admit to something which even singaporeans immigrants are refusing to admit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4289987a12.html -
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4289987a12.htmlOriginally posted by Gazelle:at least he has to balls to admit to something which even singaporeans immigrants are refusing to admit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4289987a12.html -
it takes a female immigrant (with no balls) from Singapore to say that Rudd has balls, John Howard and his government must have been walking around in decade with no ballsOriginally posted by Gazelle:at least he has to balls to admit to something which even singaporeans immigrants are refusing to admit.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4289987a12.html
; I wonder how could they even ignored the problem that "Australia to have three times the level of infant mortality amongst Aboriginal children under five than there is with non-Aboriginal children". 
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Rudd has substance. He is prepared to deal with the aboriginal problems who probably for years have been too suppressed. By pledging that he would apologize for what has been done to the aborigins he has shown his greatness to tackle problems at the root and not resort to hypocrisy to excuse his government of inactions.Originally posted by de_middle: -
Don't be so quick to laud Rudd before he even completes his 100 days.
I'd like to see how he tackles the racism problem that is slowly becoming endemic among Australians.
The general consensus among my Singaporean friends who have taken up Australian citizenship is that Howard was a racist. And they're glad he's gone.
11 years is too long... -
I think Maxine McKew deserves some respect for daring to stand for elections in Howard's constituency considering the heavy odds stacked against her.
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wait long longOriginally posted by de_middle:
so when will our's happen -
It also takes a Singaporean, who has no idea of who the indigenous people of Singapore are under the Singapore Constitution, to play judge and jury of the Australian politics, when he does not even know Singapore well.Originally posted by sgdiehard:it takes a female immigrant (with no balls) from Singapore to say that Rudd has balls, John Howard and his government must have been walking around in decade with no balls ; I wonder how could they even ignored the problem that "Australia to have three times the level of infant mortality amongst Aboriginal children under five than there is with non-Aboriginal children".
100 days, baby. Don't be too hasty in declaring Rudd will be a great PM.
I would be cautious. Politicians like to twist words alot. -
Rudd is not dumb. I wonder why the Tasmanians voted for him since he supported the pulp mill there.Originally posted by Gedanken:By and large, there's little difference between Rudd and Howard's stance. The key things that worked against Howard were Iraq, Work Choices and climate change. The Libs' campaign was not helped by the fact that Howard was running in the full knowledge that he would not complete the term.
I'm pretty ambivalent about Labor taking power. Given their track record, the economy could take a dip and the pesky unions could rear their ugly heads again. That said, Rudd doesn't seem to be a rabid Labor man, and hopefully he can keep his pets under control so that we don't have too much of a headache. If Rudd keeps his word about Iraq and climate change (but not necessarily Kyoto which is a load of BS anyway) it'll be good, but he'd be a damn fool to dismantle Work Choices because the alternative would bring us back to the sheep-shearing days.
Ultimately, the one thing that worked in Howard's favour was continuity - he was in office long enough for his policies to take effect. Love him or hate him, it's true that the country's in better shape than when he took office, and hopefully Rudd's not stupid enough to go trying to fix things that aren't broken.
He isn't going to pull Australian Troops out .
He is going to keep "elements" of the Workchoices legislation ( which are actually the backbone of the Workchoice legislation) and add some criteria for dismissals.
He is keeping the illegal immigrant policies.
He is going to sign the Kyoto protocol ONLY IF AND IF the developing countries are bounded to it as equally as Australia is. Which means that Kyoto protocol might not be signed if developing countries are given an unequal quota to Australia. I think if I am not wrong , he will sign only if India and China signs it. So for him to renegotiate the Kyoto protocol and ratify it.
He is going to fund alot of things but I don't see how the money is coming when he is going to cut down the taxes of foreign investors.
So basically if he does not deliver in 3 years some of his promises , he is in deep trouble.
The only thing he got going for him is that he is new and he has to prove himself. -
I think Kyoto pact and all the other policies is nothing if he doesnt stop inflation , put the strong economy to good use and make sure the average citizens are able to afford a house.
WorkChoices industrial laws needs to be reformed.
Too much money floating around.
I think he should tackle these issues first then the withdrawal of troops. -
An original editorial written by me:
Finally, the curtain on John HowardÂ’s political career has been called. After more than 11 years as Prime Minister and 33 years as a parliamentarian, Mr Howard looks finished as the votes have shown in last weekÂ’s exit polls.
Kudos to Maxine McKew for daring to stand against the outgoing Prime Minister in his Bennelong constituency, which he has held since 1974 and a traditional Liberal seat.
Of course, the Chinese community in Bennelong appeared to have matured, if it is true that they deserted Mr Howard in droves. Not forgetting the resentment the Indians in his electorate feel about the Haneef case worked against the Coalition.
Overall, Mr Howard got done in by his focus on the past. It seems likely that the Coalition got a little bit cocky this time round, thinking old tactics could still work. It did not. Save for WA, the swing to the Labor Party elsewhere was significant. So significant that nothing could save Bennelong from falling into Ms McKewÂ’s hands, if the figures are anything to go by.
There were analysts who felt that single mothers felt most alienated by the Howard governmentÂ’s policies. I am sure the East Fremantle single mother pursuing an education degree could not agree more. She might have to put her studies on hold due to the lack of childcare grants available. Ironically, the nation faces a shortage of teachers, particularly in the West. This brings to mind Kevin RuddÂ’s so-called educational revolution. Hopefully, he can work more closely with Alan Carpenter to fix the problems in WA schools.
The battle in WA seemed to be fought more on local issues on the whole. The CoalitionÂ’s Luke Simpkins managed to snare Cowan following Labor member Graham EdwardsÂ’ retirement, but it is just a hollow victory if the big picture is examined. The booming economy in WA meant voters over here were more likely to support incumbent parties, but there are also a significant number of disadvantaged families in the West, like it is nationwide. These people may have played their part in bringing back Sharryn Jackson in Hasluck.
However, I believe in giving credit when it is due. John Howard has presided over some difficult times. He steered Australia out of recession in the late 1990s, only for 9/11 to rock the world economy again in 2001. He has endured the pain of seeing his compatriots die in two terrorist strikes in Bali, as well as the 2004 attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta. Mr Howard has seen tough times and shared the ups and downs with the rest of the nation. Yet, as the Nelly Furtado song goes, all good things must come to an end. The Coalition has shown to be past its time. Now it is time for Labor to step in and apply some new and better ideas.
I hope for a bright future under Labor and Kevin Rudd. But it is hard not to feel sorry for Mr Howard at times, though. In addition, the Liberals seem to be a fractured lot following their crushing defeat. Hopefully they can get their act together and elect a credible leader for the next election. -
Frankly , I would say otherwise . Howard is not racist imo. I don't see how he is racist. During his rule ,he allowed alot of asians to come in, including my parents.Originally posted by BillyBong:I'd like to see how he tackles the racism problem that is slowly becoming endemic among Australians.
The general consensus among my Singaporean friends who have taken up Australian citizenship is that Howard was a racist. And they're glad he's gone.
11 years is too long...
He is money minded yes but racist I think not. -
Originally posted by fymk:It also takes a Singaporean, who has no idea of who the indigenous people of Singapore are under the Singapore Constitution, to play judge and jury of the Australian politics, when he does not even know Singapore well.
100 days, baby. Don't be too hasty in declaring Rudd will be a great PM.
I would be cautious. Politicians like to twist words alot. you are the one who got excited by your new prime minister. why got excited if you din't think he would be great? -
Seriously, politics is bullshit and i suppose the rational person will know that. For myself i do not take a personal stand unless i seriously have to. A politician can say so much but realities are such. The Labour Party can say so much about workchoices but i'm sure they appreciate its merits. As much as they would like to do more about super contribution, they would do well to appreciate the impact on businesses...that is the reality..they can promise so much and they can only do so much...Originally posted by sgdiehard: you are the one who got excited by your new prime minister. why got excited if you din't think he would be great? -
Originally posted by MyParentsDunWanMe:If only he ran...I would vote for him
i would vote for her
she certainly has the brains but is too rich to be politically motovated -
The good thing about a new leader and a new party in power is that they have to work damn hard to hold on to theirnew power by proving to the people that they can do it.Originally posted by kramnave:Seriously, politics is bullshit and i suppose the rational person will know that. For myself i do not take a personal stand unless i seriously have to. A politician can say so much but realities are such. The Labour Party can say so much about workchoices but i'm sure they appreciate its merits. As much as they would like to do more about super contribution, they would do well to appreciate the impact on businesses...that is the reality..they can promise so much and they can only do so much...
That's the only good thing going so far. So it is wait and see if Kevin can deliver. -
your life must be so boring to be so easily excited.Originally posted by fymk:The good thing about a new leader and a new party in power is that they have to work damn hard to hold on to theirnew power by proving to the people that they can do it.
That's the only good thing going so far. So it is wait and see if Kevin can deliver. -
John Howard lost probably because he did not pull out of iraq soon enough. I really don't know much about oz politics. But what Rudd said he would do to improve the infant mortality rate for the aboriginals would take years if not decades to see results. For the time being, everybody is just watching what the new government would do.Originally posted by kramnave:Seriously, politics is bullshit and i suppose the rational person will know that. For myself i do not take a personal stand unless i seriously have to. A politician can say so much but realities are such. The Labour Party can say so much about workchoices but i'm sure they appreciate its merits. As much as they would like to do more about super contribution, they would do well to appreciate the impact on businesses...that is the reality..they can promise so much and they can only do so much...
After opposition party took over the KMT in Taiwan, nothing of what they said would do could be done. Can Rudd do what Howard could not do? can Singapore oppositions do what the PAP could not do? Singaporeans are also watching.
Politics are the same everywhere. To be excited over a new government is simply naive.
To those who are interested in migrating, Rudd said that “his compassion did not stretch to an overhaul of Australia's migration system which includes turning away illegal asylum seekers.” I guess his message is that anyone who feel persecuted politically by the PAP has no ground to migrate, at least not to australia. -
imo, not that much of a diff between John Howard and Kevin Rudd.
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PM Kevin Rudd has appointed a Malaysian born woman as minister.
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Ah yes, Penny Wong. Anyway, she is said to be openly bisexual as well.Originally posted by will4:PM Kevin Rudd has appointed a Malaysian born woman as minister. 
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How about this RuudOriginally posted by MyParentsDunWanMe:If only he ran...I would vote for him 
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Penny Wong seems ok.Originally posted by iveco:Ah yes, Penny Wong. Anyway, she is said to be openly bisexual as well. -
11 years continuous economy growth in australia but he failed this round...
Originally posted by fymk:Australia has a new prime minister, Kevin Rudd.
So that was exciting. -
Howard wasn't racist when it suited him, but throughout his term as prime minister he refused to apologise to the Aborigines for the atrocities committed against them. Even his last policy regarding Aborigines was rubbish because it gives law enforcement as much power over the Aborigines as they had during the 50s and 60s.Originally posted by fymk:Frankly , I would say otherwise . Howard is not racist imo. I don't see how he is racist. During his rule ,he allowed alot of asians to come in, including my parents.
He is money minded yes but racist I think not.