John Howard seeks re-election in 2007

I heard today off a mate from the Gold Coast that the slimy fucker faces re-election next year. Opinion?

You're right, I don't like him either, the problem is that the economy is going good in Australia and that's all they care about. Unemployment is low, taxes are lower than before and probably most importantly, people feel rich cause their house price has tripled in the last 10 years. Of course, it doesn't help them, cause if they ever want to get a new, nicer house it'll cost them a fortune, so they're even worse off, but they just love to say "I bought this for 80 grand 5 years ago and now it's worth 200k!".

You wanna shave that throat mate.

He is a slimy, lying little fuck who kisses so much ass it's not funny...

Now that i think of it that description actually sounds like a typical politician.

But if he sorts out the current horse flu problem, he'll probably get re-elected. Aussies without the TAB? Doesn't bear thinking about. Nation has quite literally gone to the dogs...

He may well be a slimy little prick, but he's a good politician (not a good bloke), and he hasn't had any serious competition since he's been in charge.

He's Australia's answer to Dubya. Unfortunately I've now lost my right to vote in Australia - been away too long.

OK, he may not be the most charismatic guy and of course as a politician he is going to tell a few porkies and do a few things that you don't like, but I think he has done a very good job as Prime Minister. The Aussie economy has been stable the whole time, unlike the Hawke/Keating days. Unfortunate for him the Bush/Iraq thing has happened, but he has managed to keep the Americans happy (which is important for Australia's trade & defence strategy) whilst giving them pretty much a token commitment. I think Australia is in a much better position with Howard then it would be if Kim Beasley had won.

You state some fair points, but when I have a choice between 2 lying, thieving slugs, it is in effect no choice at all...

Every reason to be re-elected.

I don't know about that. The main reason that Australia is doing so well is because the Asian economy (particularly China) has picked up and grown a shitload since Labour were last in Government and Australia's economic welfare is very closely linked to Asia. So anyone even reasonably competent should have been able to lead a prosperous Australia in the last 10 years.

I will be happy when Howard goes though. He is a racist and has not dealt with ethnic tensions within Australia well at all. Unfortunately, Kevin Rudd (Labour leader) is also quite a religious man (which may interfere in his policies) and would not be my candidate of choice. My greatest fear is of a British style 'New Labour' appearing in Australia under Rudd.

Before I left Australia last July, the media were saying Australians are wanting a change. The Aust. public were saying Howard and his band of brothers, and sisters have done a great job since his inception in i think 1996. I even heard him acknowledge that fact on the Johns laws show.

He needs to go, he went against his peoples wishes and went to war. That isn't democracy.

I think Howard is a good PM. Just watch Oz if they have labour again.

He is for Austrailia and in my opinion( as I have a world vision) has a wider view than most narrow minded locals.

I can assure if he goes they will miss him.

I find your statement a little contradictory and at no point should the John Laws show be used as a gauge for public opinion. I would have it as a guess that you were being sarcastic with the above comment.


The political party makes no real difference whatsoever. The differences are only perceived. The agenda is implemented regardless of political party. They make the same moves time and time again whilst pretending to have differences.

Any political leader worth his weight in cow shit would have stopped us going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq based on solid evidence to the contrary...

When any idiot with a computer and 5 spare hours can clearly see the motives behind these actions why do these fuckwits continue to act in opposition to our best interests.

Pleb - I was only stating what was on the TV when I was home, Johnny him self told JL's that the Australian Public are ready for a change.

Little Johnny has made some hard decisions in the past, not all were the right decision on reflection, to go to war with the yanks in Iraq for example. The fact is that Australians are better with Johnny Howard as PM then Rudd. The Labor party only seem to please public opinion. Their Uranium policy for example.

EVERY politician looks to please public opinion. John Howard is no different - in fact in a lot of respects, he's one of the worst culprits. And whilst I'm not a big fan of Rudd, I would like to know how you can say that Australia will be worse off with Rudd as PM than Howard - we've never seen him as PM, so we don't know, do we? It sounds like a "Better the Devil you know" attitude. I don't think there'd be much difference between the two, to be honest...

I think the fact that Howard has been PM for so long really illustrates how the labour party have weakened in the last 20 years. Howard was opposition leader a couple of times when Hawke was PM and Howard never even got close to Hawke in those days.

Howard was lucky to be the one who was recycled just as everyone got sick of the Labour party. Had Peacock still been around, then it could just as easily have been him. Hewson should probably have won the election before, but was unable to sell the GST properly. Had Hewson hidden the GST as a policy as Howard subsequently did, then he would have won that election. John Howard would have been no more than a political footnote - much like Andrew Peacock is.

But now, after 10 years, a lot of people are sick of the Liberal party - and what is hurting Howard too is the constant speculation that he will retire during the next term and hand over power to Costello...and nobody wants that. That's probably what will cost John Howard the election.

the reason unemployment is low is because of work choices. if you're on the dole and are offered a job, even if the pay wouldn't support you, you have to take it... or you lose your centrelink payments. might sound good for getting people off the dole, but when they're not earning enough money to survive...

work choices is what annoys me the most about Johnny. I put a claim in against an old employer for not paying me enough. They said it would take three months to get results. It's been five, and they've only just started my claim.

I agree that Australia shouldn't have been involved in the invasion of Iraq.

But I also have to observe that Schroeder went with the people's wishes and didn't go to war. Wasn't enough to save him come election-time, though.

It won him the previous election, though...

Oh yeah, you're right. I'd forgotten how long ago 2003 was (does that make sense?)!

I think you missed my point when I said that both parties offer up the same bullshit...

They just wrap it up in different paper.

Howard, Rudd, Beaslie... it makes no difference, they are not holding our interests in mind...

It should have nothing to do with winning elections, it's about democracy. He is supposed to represent Australia, yet he decided to go against the wishes of the majority, this is unforgivable when it's stakes as high as war IMO.

Agreed. The Union was going on about Schroeder's "election stunts" back then, which I found really out-of-line, considering he was doing what the majority of Germans wanted.

john howard stepped down! i only found out last night!!

er... i was misinformed. sorry

Na, Roy & HG says he'll do the deed today: Listen
Their take on the election is right at the start, then there's 10mins on Home & Away particularly about Alf, the state of the shop and what has happened to the caravan park.
Glad to see the priorities are correct.

Times Online


The linked article on that piece regarding Howard's change towards indigenous peoples is obviously nothing to do with an election, oh no.

If I were you I wood keep Howard. we have ended up with Brown
"he has done some real positives : Sure Start, tax credits, the smoking ban, right to roam. Others too which I've forgotten right now."

Surestart, what in the hell has the state got to do with raising children. that is the responsibility of the family. Tax credits ludacrously over complicated and open to fraud and incompetence. also used as a small bribe to people who have no need of government support. the smoking ban, should be illegal as applied to private clubs just one of a long line of draconian assaults on civil liberties. the right to roam show scant regard for other people's security and property rights.

What were your others you forgot? an illegal war, intrusive surveilence,id cards,computerised medical records, gold sold at low prices,(and we accused thatcher of selling the "family silver"), pfi to defraud the public,selling out to the eu, an immigration system that only encourages illegals, curbs on the right to demonstrate,curbs on freedom of speech, curbs on the right of free association,speed cameras for revenue not public safety, and untold billions sqaundered on public services for nothing.

Stay with Howard

I really don't want to incite all kinds of vile responses to my opinion, but feel I need to respond to this topic.

"the smoking ban, should be illegal as applied to private clubs just one of a long line of draconian assaults on civil liberties"

It is hard to believe that in a country like Germany that is in many ways forward thinking, that I can't enjoy breakfast somewhere without the possibility of the foul stench of someones death stick making my stomach turn.
Happily, it's only a matter of time before that will all be in the past.

As for Australia and that Bush puppet, Australia finally has a chance to move forward in a positive direction. Any good that has been done by howard is easily counter weighed by an endless list of stupid decisions handed down.

However I feel the reality is Australia doesn't have anyone that is likely to come in and do what is really needed. And if we're being honest, the system isn't really set up for that sort of thing anyway even if there was someone.

My passport says Australian, but Australia is no more important than any other country and what the world needs is some major shifts in thinking.

Here's a crazy idea, how about shifting the environment up on the list of priorities a little. But hey, as long as the unemployment is low, taxes are low blah blah blah...

Fact is, change is made by the individuals and the decisions they make, belief in the government is an easy way out of responsibility.

Patriotism, flawed political systems, imposed religious beliefs and prejudice. In my opinion it's time for a change.

I kinda like the guy.

Rudd is kicking Howard's arse when it comes to 'virgin' and young voters. Wonder if that has anything to do with myspace? Have a look at the comments on his official page from 18-20 year olds

They are all sleazy sold out c.nts.

They make me literally sick to my stomach...

When I hear them talk, I can't understand how they can spout such bullshit and yet it is in general, lapped up like a thirsty dog by the larger portion of the populace.

Howard has sold Australia to the corporations, the next will not be any better...

For me personally the whole f..king system should torn down...

I am willing to give up my comforts for a new start.