Thank You, John Howard

Posted By Blackfive

A friend when we needed one, John Howard, loses the election in Australia.  Jules Crittenden gets the nod here:

...My take on what it all means?  Nothing good. Howard’s decision to stand with his nation’s allies against undeniable evil ultimately cost him, as Blair’s similar decision cost him. Howard apparently was further hurt by his refusal to set his nation’s interest aside in furtherance of half-baked scientific speculation and worse politics. Then, there was a credit crunch, and the simple fact of being around for 11 years.

All three men, Howard, Blair and Bush, made me proud of my American, Australian and British heritage and relieved that in time of war, we can still produce unselfish, clear-minded leaders of this caliber...

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Comments

[Some Soldier's Mom]

All three men, Howard, Blair and Bush, made me proud of my American, Australian and British heritage and relieved that in time of war, we can still produce unselfish, clear-minded leaders of this caliber...

Hooah. and Amen.

[mindy1]

I'm going to miss him, he was a great friend.

[JE]

The threat has not diminished, but the Triumvirate that placed national interest ahead of personal ambition have shrunk now to but one and soon he too will be gone. The loss of PM John Howard is a greater burden of grief, really, because it was not a far left party that turned him out or term limits, but the collective will of the Australian people.

Living as they do in the shadow of the place where the Bali bombing killed so many youthful Aussies, I am amazed that this threat is not the over-riding issue.

In caves and other dark places there is cheering while in my household and my heart, it is very dark, indeed.

John Howard. Thank-you good friend. You will ever be "brought to mind" when great and courageous men are discussed and saluted.

[Deebow]

It will truly be a dark time for the world if the leaders of the future don't "get" how the evil of Islamofascism (the newest form of it) really does want to line us up on a wall or take us to a soccer stadium.

It truly is a shame to see him go. I wish the Australian electorate would have seen the need for him. I hope they have not chosen poorly.

[Rich Casebolt]

It appears that those who have had the most experience with rights-respecting governance -- in the UK, in Oz, and even here -- are putting themselves in a position where they will once again be taught the true value in establishing and defending such governance, for themselves and others ...

... and once again, they are choosing to learn that the hard way.

God bless John Howard, for like his fellow Leonidai Tony Blair and George W. Bush, he understands the value of such defense ... and while he had the authority to do so, acted to ensure it, even if doing so offended the conventional wisdom of their day.

May We the People prevent those who would ... out of ignorance, arrogance, or disdain for said governance ... return this nation to a policy of INACTION in the face of tyranny, from doing so.

[GI]

Howard could have pulled the troops out of Iraq and he still would have lost with the Australian electorate.

Howard's loss in the election had little to do with Iraq and more to do with domestic things like his Work Choices labor program that was widely unpopular with labor unions and rising interest rates that has put financial pressure on home owners. Plus he has been around a long time and people naturally want a new face after a while.

Nevertheless he was a great leader and a true friend to America. He will be missed.

[The Sanity Inspector]

This is like Clement Attlee beating Winston Churchill in the election of 1945. Yeah, it's too bad--but Howard was there when the civilized world needed him, and nothing will change that.

[L.Drummond]

I have commented here in the past under another handle, but this is my typekey one.

GI, John Howard's loss was more to do, in my opinion, with the media interfering in the electoral process.

His rival, and successor, Kevin Rudd was never asked any seriously hard questions, and he avoided the political television shows such as Insiders.

He won by playing as John Howard-lite, with the WorkChoices platform for the unions, who pretty much control the Labor PArty.

These would be the same unions who blocked supplies for the troops (US and AUS) during the Vietnam war on the docks, and even during WW2.

Considering that the unions only have members in about 15% of the workforce, and small businesses expanded willingly with the new laws it will be interesting to see how long he can hold the unions off for.

While there are indeed dark days ahead for us aussie conservatives, there are some in the Liberal Party (Alexander Downer, Tony Abbott, and new kid on the block Malcolm Turnbull) who appear to have their heads screwed on.

With respect to Iraq and Afghanistan, Rudd talks a lot, but he won't make any over moves for at least 6 months, I believe.

He'll be too busy keeping his back away from the knives of the unions and his deputy, Julia Gillard, who has spent many years with the socialists, and is yet to disavow any allegiance to that ideology.

I didn't cry when John Howard conceded, but I came close.

I hope the tags work so you can see what we losing here in Australia.

God Bless John Howard, and I hope our friends in the USofA don't think too harshly of us if the Lefties make some seriously stupid decisions.

His speech.

Basically, people just thought he'd been in the job too long, so we'll have to see if Rudd can keep the ball rolling.

I doubt it.

Oh, and I hope your Thanksgivings weekend was wonderful.

cheers,

nilk.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

Dust off your concealed carry permit or go and get one. You probably have a few years, so no need to hyperventilate, but Pelosi and Crew don't have a clue let alone those who would put them in power.

Like watching a train wreck in slow motion.