Academics and church worthies – what a strange combination. That’s like mentioning 'customer service' and 'banks' in the same sentence.

SHONGA, that’s pure gold. A legal eagle calling someone a liar. I read that with rheumy eyes. Are you suggesting that liars have infiltrated into Australian politics? Surely we must be approaching the time when the lion shall lay down with the lamb.

Doctor Tomlison, I think you need to get about a bit more.

Howard's progressive gun laws are yet another example of his smoke and mirror PR spin. Several studies have now shown the buy-back of 1996 did not make Australia safer or reduce firearm homicide. Just recently the media has made much of the illegal use of firearms in crime and the success of good police investigations (for example: the recent NSW 'sting' over two years). Not only did John Howard waste $500 Australian dollars by marginalising licenced sporting shooters in 1996 he diverted the focus and the funding from two critical areas that would have made a big difference to the wellbeing of Australians and safe communities.

THese areas are mMental health and good policing.

Dream on John, dream on. You will wake up to reality later on in the year.

I wouldn't write Howard off just yet, he might succeed in convincing the voters that his government is better than Labor at dealing with climate change.Austalia is in debt to foreign lenders in excess of $500 billion,until the debt bubble bursts and causes a recession the Liberals will trade on the illusion of superior economic management.

russell

Seems eons ago when Johnny Howard was that rather meek second lieutenant type who was reasonably good as treasurer, but would never make top grade.

But give him his due it could be said that the giving of top responsibility to him has made him a man - or seemingly, because he has played wedge politics and come in on the grouter, wheeler-dealer style, more like an American than an Australian.

Openly stealing the global warming agenda is his latest
lurk. Since the war had a soldier settler atealing ideas in our country town. Got that way he began to lose friends especially in the local pub. Finished having to booze in the saloon with the local business Johnnies, rather than in the main bar.

Johnny is safe, though, as he doesn't seem the type who would frequent the main bar.

The point is, why do some people in high places have to spoil themselves by jumping in with all the answers, and using 'I' at every opportunity, when in a Parliamentary democracy it should most always be 'we' or 'us'.

Of course, the biggest shock was a former ordinary Aussie like little Johnny chumming up to Georgie Boy Bush and still backing the horrible schemozzle that Iraq has now become, with Bush determined to see it out, naturally not forgetting the enormous martial power that he knows he can still bring to bear. Could wonder if it is this power potential that really keeps Howard loyal to Bush?

Yes, could really wonder how history will treat Howard in the long run, especially as most university trained historians don't appear to think much of him?

My dream team, Kevin Rudd - social democrat pragmatist, at the head of a coalition government cut free from all the drag of the extreme left and union extremist rubbish. Switch parties Kevin and cut yourself free of all the lead sinkers that will dray you down in the next poll.

Fencepost