Kevin07 is a reality - The Australian Federal Election
This was only the second election that I have been eligible to vote in, and sadly the first election I have been overseas during the course of. As there was no ballot box in Bahrain and sending a postal vote appeared to be too complicated, my vote was not cast. However, waking up today and viewing the headlines on The Age was exhilirating.
"Rudd Romps to Victory: Howard humiliated as Liberals are mauled"
"Historic win for Labor"
"Howard likely to lose in Bennelong"
"A Rumble, then a Ruddslide"
"Payback time as battlers take their revenge"
"Team Julia delivers a win for history"
Yes indeed, even though voting is not yet complete, it does appear that the Australian Labor Party is going to form government, with a 25 seat majority, with Mr. Kevin Rudd at its helm as Prime Minister.
I have to say bravo to the ALP campaign team for running a very tight and clever campaign, that managed to sidestep all of the Liberals' usual fear-mongering and dirty tricks, and bravo to the voters of Australia for making the right decision. Although I am not proud to say that I live in an electoral area that, due to the economic prosperity of its residents, is remaining a safe Liberal seat, I am still proud to be part of a country where I no longer have to be embarassed of our leader. Now I am just waiting to see what Mr. Rudd is going to do with the confidence I, and many fellow Australians, have in him, let's hope we are not disappointed.
Mr. Rudd campaigned largely on an agenda of reform in key areas of health, education, environment and industrial relations. He intends to rollback the very unpopular Work Choices policies of the previous Government (which contributed to its downfall), push for an immediate ratification of the Kyoto agreement (finally!) and negotiate a withdrawal of our troops from Iraq (finally an end to our part in the occupation). Good signs indeed.
The undoings of Mr. Howard were very clear and simple. The massive majority that was formed in the wake of the 2004 election gave the Government unprecendent power, power that eventually went to its head. The papers called it a "victory of humility over hubris" and I couldn't agree more. One thing that Aussies hate is arrogance and hubris. Work Choices was never popular with the people, no matter how much the Government sold it, and the people were not fooled. Similarly, Howard's close ties to Mr. George W. Bush were not appreciated by the electorate, nor was his ridiculous promise to keep interest rates low, something entirely out of his control. Six interest rate rises later, he can kiss office goodbye.
Not only that, but Mr. Howard is actually going to lose his seat in Bennelong, a seat which he has won in every single election since being elected to it as a Member of Parliament in 1974. He is losing to a political rookie and former news anchor, Maxine McKew. Such is the dissatisfaction around the country with him, his policies and his personality. This only the second time in history that the PM has lost his seat during an election, the last time being in 1929, also over an unpopular right-wing industrial relations agenda.
So now that Mr. Howard has been duly humiliated for having the arrogance to push for such a ridiculous agenda, for having the arrogance not to step down and hand over to Costello when it was clear to everyone, even his own party, that he was getting too old and too arrogant, for having the arrogance to try to hoodwink the Australian people so many times, with his promises on interest rates, with his lies about the Tampa incident, with his lies about WMDs in Iraq and with his generally abrasive, evasive and grating demeanor, he is getting his just desserts. Instead of going out a winner, he is well and truly going out a loser.
And as much as I dislike Costello and believe his economic rationalist policies may even be worse for Australia, I can't help but feel sorry for the man who must have believed at one time that he would easily become Prime Minister. Now Costello has to fight for the leadership of an unpopular party, and battle a worthy opponent in Malcom Turnbull, who was the only Liberal to buck the swinging trend and hold his seat strongly. Good Luck, Pete!
Myself personally, I am just happy that I no longer have to look at Howard on television any more and cringe at how dull, ugly, uninspiring, arrogant and evasive he is. God Bless Australia.
Labels: politics, world happenings
posted by LX @ 3:53 AM
Comments: 3
