There are many reasons not to take Antony Lowenstein seriously, and his “...extreme conservative elements of Liberal government ideology” in the very first paragraph of his article is just one of them.

Anybody who thinks that the Liberals (even the name denies conservatism) are in the least conservative, let alone extremely conservative, has to be off his rocker; particularly after the embarrassing vote buying efforts and appeals to no hopers during the election they just lost.

I wonder if his second paragraph is supposed to ‘prove’ the conservatism of the Liberals. If it is, Lowenstein is totally ignoring the fact that British Labour and some of the wet left Europeans supported the same actions, in their own ways – mainly, except for Britain and scanty few, by allowing the US and Australia to do the dirty work for them.

Moving on to his “…74 per cent saw Australia as more of a terrorist target because of its decision to join the “war on terror”, Lowenstein doesn’t appear at all interested in the fact that the 74% were dead wrong in the beliefs. How many years is it now, and no terror attacks? Just a few juvenile ratbags locked up who might or might not have had the intelligence and ability to stage terrorist acts here.

But this article, like all his others, is a chance to bash Israel. Kevin Rudd will continue the pro-Israel stance of the dreadful ‘conservative’ John Howard. (Does that make Rudd an extreme conservative, also?)

With Jews (hard to call this bloke a friend to fit in with the old saying) like Antony Lowenstein, Israel doesn’t need enemies

Leigh,

It is considered quite evident by political commentators across the board that the Liberal Party has included "extreme conservative elements", just as the Labor Party does have radicals. The liberals in the Liberal Party are beginning to rise again after several years of being sidelined.

If you doubt the inclusion of extreme conservatives in the Liberal Party, I suggest you look at the influence of Urbanchich in yesteryear, the fact that Pauline Hanson was originally an endorsed Liberal Party candidate, and the recent anti-Islamic leaflet. From their partners, surely you remember the National's candidate in the 2004 State election, Dan Van Blarcom?

The fact that Loewenstein is a Jewish critic of Israel is simply an example that some honourable people are prepared to put aside their sectional loyalties in favour of universal human rights. People with a Jewish heritage, such as Loewenstein, Finkelstein, Chomsky, Shlaim etc are great examples of those who reject the proposition that one must always support "my country right or wrong". Good on 'em for having that degree of moral integrity.

'Rudd is a devoted Christian'
Can we honestly take the author seriously? Do devoted Christians get drunk and visit strip clubs? Mr Rudd might well be a decent citizen but to call him a devoted Christian is the same as calling Bob Brown devoted to marriage being between man and woman. What Mr Rudd has shown to this point is that he will do anything to be elected. If most Aussies are pro Israel he will be also.

Runner, Rudd is a devout Christian. Yes sometimes they do get drunk and visit strip clubs. Some are apologetic about the incident, some are not. Some of them have even been alcoholics and strippers themselves. Some even still are.

Do not forget that the first saint, Saint Dismas, ordained by Jesus himself (the only one, iirc), was a thief by trade.

You may not approve of Rudd's version of Christianity, but the core principles (there's only two, remember) are there.

If you want to read up on Rudd's "Christian socialism" here it is, straight from the horses mouth.

http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/300

Leigh, runner... what you both don't take into account, are that your views are on the conservative fringe.
So compared to you Leigh, yes, the Howard regime wasn't all that conservative. Compared to that elusive grey zone defined as the political centre, the Liberal party was certainly to the right.

I find it interesting that you don't consider them to be conservative, as in a world where all things are relative, I can't see many nations that are more conservative, except perhaps for the schizophrenic attitudes in the US, exemplified by the FOX network style dubbed by some as 'conservatism + boobies.'

As far as Rudd's christian credentials go, I'm afraid he is very much a committed christian, runner.
More's the pity, I'd quite like to see a leader with the guts to proclaim his agnosticism.

Again, your views aren't in sync with most of the populace, who very clearly signalled an emphatic "who the hell cares?" after Rudd's stripper revelations. Surely there are more important considerations.

AAaah...the Leftoid, retarded BLAME/SHAME game... and Lowenstien is so miserable as to try it with our new PM.

"A visit by Rudd to the occupied Palestinian territories would be a welcome indication that he is keen to understand the daily realities of Israel’s occupation."

ERR...no.... what it will show is that he is so gullible as to be manipulated by a leftoid no nothing moron (sorry.. moron IS a valid descriptor there) who cannot see a black wall 2 inches in front of him in a snow covered landscape.

MORON
1. a person who is notably stupid or lacking in good judgment.
2. Psychology. a person of borderline intelligence in a former classification of mental retardation, having an intelligence quotient of 50 to 69.

Let the evidence speak for itself.

Lowestien will probably next be defending the rights of Indonesian fishermen to rape and pillage our shark stocks (which are the primary target of those fishermen) so he can goto the nearest Chinese resturant and order 'sharkfin soup'...

All he would see is 'traditional rights'.. would he see 'overfished/underegulated Indonesian fishing grounds' ?

Would he see the historic connection between the Bajo fishermen of Papela in Roti and the Islamist extremism as recently as 1954, and the fact that they are in Papela BECAUSE they were chased there by the Indonesian army for trying to set up an Islamic State in Makassa?
Would he be mentioning the tens of thousands of Christians hunted from their homes by the "Jihadis" supported by these people ?

Nah.. he would be saying poor underprivileged Indonesians.. just like he is saying "Poor oppressed Palestinians"

Does he mention the 'Charter of Hamas'?
Does he mention the regular hurling of rockets at Sderot, Israel?
Does he mention the homicide bombings of Israelis?
Does he mention the violence and hatred of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others who want Israel destroyed?

Of course not, that would be too much like 'sound judgement'..in which he is clearly lacking.. making him.. a 'moron'. If not that.. at least an enemy of Australia and our allies.