I am a very happy woman today. I am blessed to live in a country that has a working political process. I've had to suck it up for the last twelve years but today I almost feel patriotic - I know - moi? I was watching John Howard concede last night and actually felt sorry for him for about a split-second but soon reminded myself that he was hoisted by his own petard - his megalomania got him in that situation - he really did have every chance to bow out gracefully but refused to. So hoist away!
And I really don't thank him for his 33 years of service, particularly the last twelve. I think he would have been terrific if he'd lived his political life in the 40s and 50s. He was perfectly suited in personality to a nation at war, a nation who clung to the White Australia policy, a nation living in fear. When I think of how he has been complicit in dividing this nation, it still angers me at all the time we've wasted shrinking in meanness instead of thriving with compassion.
Here's a little review of his 'finer' moments:
- Refusing to say 'sorry'
- The Children Overboard fiasco
- Sabotaging the referendum on the Republic
- Refusing to ratify Kyoto
- Getting us into Iraq and lying about WMDs
- Making people believe that the Federal Government controls interest rates
- WorkChoices
- Welfare to Work
- Backing the Gunns Pulp Mill (and yes, I do realise that Labor did also but I think things might change now that The Greens did so well for them - go, Bob Brown!)
- UPDATE - just remembered this one. The GST. And not just the GST but the GST on books. And not just the GST on books but the GST on educational texts. There is no justification for a tax on education. And the Democrats' karma bit them in the arse too.
Yep - back to not feeling sorry for him at all. Or his toadying sidekick, Smithers. What a pair - and we're rid of both of them - I haven't felt this happy since Karl Rove resigned. The next bit of good news would be that Malcolm Turnbull becomes Leader of the Opposition. We might actually get some bipartisan movement on climate change - and have a good chance of getting the Republic back on the agenda - shaking off the mantle of Mother England, once and for all.
O Happy Day, indeed!
3 comments:
john howard lose?am glad to heard that nice to meet you
Great blog. I don't always envy the US electoral system but at least they don't have to tolerate the John Howards of this world for more than eight years at a time. It's a nice to change to be looking forward (with certainty) to a post-Howard era. Have a wonderful birthday picky-bitch!
So glad to see you back at it and at the top of your game with this last one. Yes it is happy days here but what will happen abroad now that Oprah has promised to barrack for Obama??
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