Rudd Gives Howard A Flogging !!!

Could this be a the aproach of a golden age in Australian politics ?

Opposition leader Kevin Rudd has stepped up the intensity of attacks on PM John Howard after Howard attacked possible presidential candidate Barack Obama.

John Howard whos time as Prime Minister, has experienced very little in the way of Opposition from past Labor parties or leaders, being more or less politically bullet proof.

Rudds rise to leadership, has coincided with a massive swing politically away from John Howard as Kevin Rudd has put the PM under enormous pressure over a range of issues, constantly refering to Howard as a "Global Warming Skeptic" and hi-lighting his deficiencies in enviromental matters.

Kevin Rudd has turned the attack on Iraq policy back on John Howard, accusing the prime minister of being gutless and without a plan for the future of Australian troops in the troubled country.

Rudd, who has challenged Howard to a televised debate on the issue, today reiterated that his policy would be a withdrawal of Australian forces, in consultation with the Americans at the end of a six-month troop rotation.

I have to admit im getting a great deal of amusment watching Howard squirm and sweat who woulda thought a bloke who looks like Harry Potter could put up such a fight against the master minipulator.

Obama Snipered

Presidential candidate Brack Obama fell for a typical political ambush by engaging PM of Australia John Howard.

Obama senator of 2 years fancied himself able to contest a political view point with a 40 Year political veteran who has out lived the likes of Bob Hawk, Paul Keating, Kim Beazley (x2), Simon Crean and Mark Latham.

Barack Obama took his eye off the Presidential ball when he tried to engage the Australian prime Minister in foreign policy matters mainly pertaining to iraq and an expedient withdrawl.

Obama made the misstep of not only belittling Americas most steadfast ally, but also refered to the US soldiers who have died in Iraq as wasted.

Obama tried back peddling later but has he said too much already?

If nothing else it exposes a total lack of foreign policy experience as many people worry that Obama isnt able to handle more problematic countries if this is how he deals with friends of the USA.

I think Obamas main problem is he lost sight of the fact that John Howard isnt running for president, a wiser man would have just shruged it off as someone elses opinion but the fact that he got so defensive shows how insecure he is.

Also in this kind of fight John Howard really cant loose, many Australians will back him for no other reason than shits and giggles, and a deep seated need to tweak Americans collective noses especially after the uproar this issue has caused.

Howard V's Obama Round 3?

Was very interesting to wake up this morning and to my shock and amusement, i read John Howard has launched an unprecedented attack on a US presidential candidate, over his Iraq policy.

Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, says "victory for the US presidential contender, Barack Obama, could destroy Iraq and prospects for peace in the Middle East."

The Democrat Senator, 45, wants US troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008. He declared his candicacy for selection as the 2008 Democrat presidential candidate in Illinois on Saturday.

Mr Howard said in a Nine Network interview "that will encourage terrorists to keep fighting in the hope Senator Obama wins the presidency."

Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, hit back at Howard, describing his criticism as 'empty rhetoric.'

Obama was quoted as saying: 'I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops in Iraq, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1,400, so if he is ... to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq.'

although John howards office wasnt receiving calls earlier in the day the Oz FM Alexander Downer defended Howards comments saying "a commitment of 20,000 troops would be impossible for Australia.

'That would be half of our army,' Downer said. 'Australia is a much smaller country than the United States and so he might like to weigh that up.' Whether somebody is putting themselves up as a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination to be the President of the United States or whether it's the newsagent in your own community. It doesn't matter who it is.

I think we owe it to people to explain the gravity of the issue and our concerns about arguments for a precipitous, a very rapid withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, which will leave a horrific vacuum in Iraq, and you will find us arguing that case no matter ... against no matter who makes the contrary case.

And I think it's entirely appropriate the Australian Government expresses its view in the free world. You won't get anywhere trying to close down debate."

John Howard again fired another volley at Obama saying, Barack Obama has failed to address the substance of the war in Iraq." and that "Australia is making a "very significant and appropriate contribution" given its population.".

There has been some critisizm from both sides of US congress with Republican senator John Cornyn saying "I would prefer that Mr Howard stay out of our domestic politics and we will stay out of his domestic politics,"

i find it amusing that a country that has in the past so flagrantly interfered in Australian politics most recent example was last federal election when George Bush made much the same comment about Mark Latham the then opposition leader, should be so offended by a valid comment made by the leader of an allied country which has thrown its lot in with the US over Iraq.

Barak Obamas retorts showed a total lack of understanding or maturity when dealing on the international stage, it seems Australia hasnt shed enough blood to sate Obamas tastes and therefore has no opinion even though Mr Obamas policies dirctly effect us if he becomes the US president.