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LONG TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION

He’s still trailing, but John Howard’s poll numbers are looking surprisingly good.

Posted by Tim B. on 02/13/2007 at 02:05 AM
  1. Guiliani is in the honeymoon phase. I expect his support to malt after the May budget. Howard has also called in a few favours with the New York Money People and a terrorist attack is due just prior to the election.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 02:14 AM • permalink

  2. I’m too lazy to look it up, but I wonder what the question was that drew Howard into the ‘Obamagate’ answer that currently has a perfect storm raging in the antipodean teacup.  Maybe it was one of those smartarse Laurie Oakes questions, designed to have no correct answer, only different kinds of wrong ones.  If Howard had diplomatically declined to comment on Obama’s policy, we would have been treated to “weasel”, lack of commitment, lack of backbone, etc. etc.

    Posted by cuckoo on 2007 02 13 at 02:14 AM • permalink

  3. Sure, we’d like John Howard to be our next president. But that’s only because Ronald Reagan is dead and Margaret Thatcher is 140 years old, so don’t let it go to your Vegemite-addled head.

    Posted by Shaky Barnes on 2007 02 13 at 02:14 AM • permalink

  4. As a transplanted Yank let me add:
    John Howard has earned the right to comment on any aspect of Iraq, Iran, Albania or any other corner of the planet because a) Australia is on the side of the angels and has made the sacrifices to prove it and b) he’s right.

    If you guys don’t want him anymore, the Republican party could use a good candidate.

    Posted by Max on 2007 02 13 at 02:20 AM • permalink

  5. The Australian Left has obsessed for the last seven years about George Bush. ‘George’ and ‘Bush’ are two of the left’s most-used words, along with ‘funding’ and ‘see you at the rally’.

    Now John Howard makes a quite pertinent comment about a candidate’s policy and it’s all ‘butt out’.

    Nuts.

    Posted by ilibcc on 2007 02 13 at 02:36 AM • permalink

  6. Does anyone here actually approve of John Howard?

    Posted by fankytomato on 2007 02 13 at 02:43 AM • permalink

  7. John Howard is not showing his usual political deft touch.  He looks like an idiot for his Obama rantings (as does Obama for getting sucked in).  Throw in his confused Enviro policy and its been a good day for Rudd (and Hillary.)

    Posted by pommygranate on 2007 02 13 at 02:53 AM • permalink

  8. Maybe it was one of those smartarse Laurie Oakes questions

    Auspundits links to the transcript, and points out what Howard actually said…

    Posted by petedenham on 2007 02 13 at 02:53 AM • permalink

  9. #6 - No, but he’s the first mainstream Australian I’ve seen who is polite, articulate, and clean.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 02:54 AM • permalink

  10. #6 - Yes. Are you kidding?

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2007 02 13 at 02:57 AM • permalink

  11. #6 - Does anyone here actually approve of a muslim presidential candidate John Howard ?

    Posted by Squiffy on 2007 02 13 at 03:00 AM • permalink

  12. From the website:

    LAURIE OAKES: On that subject, Senator Barack Obama’s announced overnight he’s running for the Democrat Presidential nomination, and he says if he gets it he has a plan to bring troops home by March, 2008 and his direct quote is “Letting the Iraqis know we’ll not be there forever is our last, best hope to pressure the Sunies and Shiah to come to the table and find peace”. So, basically he’s agreeing with the Labor Party.

    JOHN HOWARD: Yes, I think he’s wrong, I mean, he’s a long way from being President of the United States. I think he’s wrong. I think that would just encourage those who wanted completely to destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for Obama victory. If I was running Al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats.

    Posted by fidens on 2007 02 13 at 03:10 AM • permalink

  13. #6 Define approve Fanky.

    Gun laws - No
    Economy - Yes
    Foreign Policy - Yes
    Multiculturalism - Yes
    Comments about Obama prompted by a direct question asked by a journalist - Yes
    Liberal leadership succession planning - No

    So far the PM’s come out ahead.

    —Nora

    Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 02 13 at 03:18 AM • permalink

  14. I want to know when an Aussie PM is apparently allowed to say something?
    I also remember a lot of lefties running a line not so long ago that a good ally would counsel/tell the US it is making a mistake etc. I may be wrong but I think Rudd may have been among them
    Howard proceeds to do exactly that and what do we get? “You’ve endangered the Alliance”
    Seems to be a lot of Lefties who want to be the US’s “lapdog and poodles” all of a sudden and meekly trot along behind Obama?
    What’s wrong with these people are they to afraid to speak truth to power?

    One thing I’d like to see a US GOP pollie pick up on is Rudd’s raising of the criticising the “Party of Roosevelt” etc. I think the Democratic Party would do well to be asked if FDR led it right now if it would be advocating cut n’ run?
    Might be interesting to hear from Rudd why Joe Liebermann is wrong and he’s right too.

    Posted by the nailgun on 2007 02 13 at 03:21 AM • permalink

  15. Americans are so stupid. This pole by glen rennolds and his sock puppets is pointless Mr John Howard is autralias president and he can niot be your president because he is going to be impeeched for war crimes and for locking up david hicks. Grow up and let the world live in PEACE america.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 03:30 AM • permalink

  16. Sorry guys…. I thought the Japanese Whaling reference would have translated better :(

    Posted by fankytomato on 2007 02 13 at 03:31 AM • permalink

  17. It’s been a tough week, Fanky. Only Tuesday, too.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 03:36 AM • permalink

  18. #16 - Got me. You seemed so sincere too.

    Posted by Squiffy on 2007 02 13 at 03:40 AM • permalink

  19. The next election will hinge on the Globular Warmening (non)issue, although IR may yet cause embarassing problems for Labour.

    I’d say the odds are good Garret will go over the top on coal exports or similar and force the Labour Party to disown him. Until then I’d say Labour in front with an increased Green vote and preferences flowing to Labour.

    Posted by phil_b on 2007 02 13 at 03:41 AM • permalink

  20. one of the first things a President Howard would do is balance the US Fedral Budget. I am not sure if mainstream USA is sufficiently literate in economics to cope with that.

    Posted by Astonished on 2007 02 13 at 03:49 AM • permalink

  21. #16 fankytomato

    Well, I’m glad to hear that it was satirical. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Maybe you should’ve added a “smirk”:

    ;^)

    Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 02 13 at 03:52 AM • permalink

  22. Could congress deal with the cricket analogies? Would the State of the Union speech have subtitles?

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 03:57 AM • permalink

  23. Even if Obama wins the next election (November 2008) he wont be inaugurated until January 2009.  So this March 2008 withdrawal date is plain wrong, no?  have others picked this up?

    Posted by IanMc on 2007 02 13 at 04:08 AM • permalink

  24. #23 IanMc

    But he’s so educated… and articulate and ... clean!

    March, 2008. Heh. Curious, ain’t it?

    What is he actually telling us? Is that what he and his fellow Senate Democrats have in mind for this year? Usurping the CinC powers?

    Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 02 13 at 04:20 AM • permalink

  25. is infidel tiger unwell today, or is that sarcasm?

    Posted by KK on 2007 02 13 at 04:47 AM • permalink

  26. The stupid Left in Australia have spent the last 10 years telling us Howard is America’s"lap dog”.

    Now they criticise him for stating the bleeding obvious - and that is, if the US unilaterally pull out of Iraq in March 08, the place will just implode.

    What’s so fucking hard about that for the Left to understand?

    And the hypocrisy! Today’s Daily Tele had a neat front page in black type it said, CONGA LINE OF HYPOCRITES - where it blasted Labor for extreme ant-Americanism in some quarters, while accusing Howard of damaging the American Alliance. Real cute. This is the core of the problem for the Left - they have so many competing ideologies and every now and then they trip over them.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2007 02 13 at 04:48 AM • permalink

  27. #22 Infidel
    You don’t need subtitles with Howard. Everything he says is crystal clear, like:-
    We will decide who comes here and the circumstances in which they come.
    This was in reply to the bleeding hearts who advocate an open border policy on refugees.
    When he says stuff like that, his popularity goes right off the scale.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2007 02 13 at 04:56 AM • permalink

  28. Well I for one love John Winston Howard. I don’t necessarily agree with everything (well, I do except for the gun laws bit), but he’s pretty much got his eye on the big picture.

    Sorry for the dodgy metaphor.

    I just saw him on Red Kerry and he just keeps going up in my estimation. Makes Kerry look like an imbecile, although I don’t think that would be too difficult.

    Now hanging out for the transcript to share it with our overseas friends.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 02 13 at 04:57 AM • permalink

  29. Until then I’d say Labour in front with an increased Green vote and preferences flowing to Labour.
    sure phil, but you probably had Latham a shoe-in, right up until he was flattened by the Howard road train.
    I suggest you wait until about 3 days before the election and see how your prognostications are travelling then. Rudd has zero experience of government and Australia’s economy is currently travelling the best it has in decades. Do you really think the Australian electorate is going to throw that away? Do you seriously expect the greens to increase their vote by promising to shut down the country’s coal industry?

    Posted by hooligan on 2007 02 13 at 05:03 AM • permalink

  30. Wikipedia on those who convert from Islam to Christianity.

    All five major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree that a sane male apostate must be executed.

      (That’s how the Afghan fellow got off.  His family testified that he was insane.)

    This Obama guy was a Muslim and has converted to Christianity ... well, at least enough to be a member of the United Church of Christ.  So every dogmatic Muslim in the world should have him on their list of people who must be killed. 

    If he was ever elected President of the United States how big would the Secret Service have to be to protect him against the multiplied threat?  Would any leader of a Muslim nation ever agree to meet with him?  How could it ever work with him running the show?

    Posted by Janice on 2007 02 13 at 05:11 AM • permalink

  31. #26 quite right. besides bagging the Democrats is hardly anti-American. supporting the Democrats, now thats anti-American.

    Posted by hooligan on 2007 02 13 at 05:12 AM • permalink

  32. O/T

    “HONDA Motor has recalled 45,335 Civic hybrid cars globally to fix a faulty voltage converter that could cause a short circuit and stop the engine.”

    Here.

    Glad I didn’t buy one! ‘Short circuit’ seems like code for ‘an electrical fault caused the vehicle to burst into flames’.

    Posted by walterplinge on 2007 02 13 at 05:24 AM • permalink

  33. #32 - “Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts.
    Whoa, Canyonero, Whoa!”

    Posted by blogstrop on 2007 02 13 at 05:41 AM • permalink

  34. #30 Janice, what I’ve read about Obama is that he claims to be a follower in the Christian tradition. Not exactly a definitive proclamation of faith. For that matter, you could categorize Satan as a follower in the Christian tradition.

    Posted by Texas Bob on 2007 02 13 at 05:49 AM • permalink

  35. #32 - do you know that Honda has sold over a million of those things? That’s a big pile of batteries to dispose of.

    Posted by Jack Lacton on 2007 02 13 at 05:53 AM • permalink

  36. #16 - I thought it worked well as a gag, but perhaps that’s because I was fresh from laughing at the posts following the whaling comment.

    Posted by Behemoth on 2007 02 13 at 06:24 AM • permalink

  37. Unless John Howard was born in the United States he won’t be able to run for president here. However, he can run for governor of one of the states.

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 02 13 at 06:25 AM • permalink

  38. For all the op-ed analysis of how stupid Howard looked with the Obama thing, I found these numbers in
    The Australian fascinating:

    A National Nine News poll last night:

    Should Prime Minister John Howard have criticised Barack Obama?

    YES: 130,037
    NO: 20,803

    Perhaps this is another one like the Tampa where elite opinion and average opinion don’t go together

    Posted by Behemoth on 2007 02 13 at 06:30 AM • permalink

  39. #37 Mr Howard would fit right in the Texas governor’s seat. Once Rick Perry’s term is up, maybe we can offer him the job?

    Posted by Texas Bob on 2007 02 13 at 06:35 AM • permalink

  40. I was born in the USA. Can I run for presidency?

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 02 13 at 06:40 AM • permalink

  41. Could JoHo be the US Vice-President?

    I mean, we could stick up a dummy candidate (no, not Edwards) to take care of the citizenship problem and let him run the show from behind the scenes.

    Posted by Ian Deans on 2007 02 13 at 06:56 AM • permalink

  42. o/t

    If only Howard had the mettle of Vaclav Havel to make an honest and forthright call on GW and the politics driving it.

    Howard’s problem now is that he can’t back away from his “admission” that GW is occurring.  Fool.

    The electorate admired Howard because he doesn’t watch opinion polls.

    IMHO he’s shat in his own nest.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 13 at 07:08 AM • permalink

  43. #42 - I think you mean Vaclav Klaus. Vaclav Havel - Left Wing Czech leader, former politial prisoner, romanticised by the left. Vaclav Klaus - Right Wing Czech leader, professional hardass, guy who privatised all of the Czech economy and made it into a powerhouse after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

    I saw him speak last year. He spent a good part of the speech ripping on how the EU was a lumbering beaurocracy that exists only to subsidise farmers. He instantly became my favoyrite European leader.

    Posted by Behemoth on 2007 02 13 at 07:16 AM • permalink

  44. Like it or not AGW will dominate the next election. The media mem machine has done its job and people are really worried about it.

    Sure it’s bollocks, but it will come down to who can peddle bollocks better while still keeping a straight face and not tipping over into Greenie lunancy.

    This is a gift from heaven for the ALP, as long as they keep their heads and keep the true believers like Garret under control.

    Posted by phil_b on 2007 02 13 at 07:21 AM • permalink

  45. #43 Yep.  Sorry.  My mistake.

    Posted by murph on 2007 02 13 at 07:23 AM • permalink

  46. #45 - Although to be honest, until he came to speak, I thought they were the same person too. :)

    The guy who must be most pissed off about that state of affairs is Klaus. It sure would irk me to have done lots of kick ass economic policy only to get confused with some socialist all the time.

    Posted by Behemoth on 2007 02 13 at 07:26 AM • permalink

  47. #20 Janice.  The story has moved on, and it appears that Obama was never a Muslim.  He is remarkably vacuous though, so no shame in the assumption.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 13 at 07:32 AM • permalink

  48. Nyeh?

    What happen? Tim Lambert’s blog is down?

    On John Howard, I guess that would solve the republicanism vs. monarchy debate—an annexed Australia (how else can Howard run?) have no space for a British queen. Bar a constitutional amendment and stuff.

    Posted by Rajan R on 2007 02 13 at 07:36 AM • permalink

  49. #42 Murph.  I don’t think it would be much of an effort for Howard to reverse any position on AGW if the anti-AGW arguments gain traction (which they seem to be doing - judging by the increasing hysteria of the doomsters).  It would be much more difficult for the Labor party to dump their AGW religion though.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 13 at 07:36 AM • permalink

  50. #38 Rajan R.  Early Australia was very keen to emulate the American model of development.  No doubt there were proposals to actually become a state of the US.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 13 at 07:40 AM • permalink

  51. #37 Sorry Andrea, it’s your loss.
    We might have let you borrow him for a few years as president, but we’re not going to fritter him away in some pissant governorship.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 07:48 AM • permalink

  52. What’s “AGW”?

    I assume it is something to do with the Gaia worship bullshit, but when I Googled it I got “Australian Gastroenterology Week”
    I don’t think the electorate really gives a rat’s arse about bowel problems, except maybe on the Queensland Gold Coast where the median age is 94 years old, and the entitlement mentality is a pre-requisite to residency.

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 02 13 at 07:55 AM • permalink

  53. As an American, I can only say that I wish John Howard were running. Maybe those same guys who did the 911 thing for BushCo could backdate a birth certificate for Howard?

    Posted by moptop on 2007 02 13 at 08:08 AM • permalink

  54. #42 & 49. Pay close attention to what Howard has actually said about global warming. His acceptances that it may be happening have always been qualified with a promise not to sacrifice Australia’s prosperity or jobs in any plans for carbon reduction.
    He is being just as politically astute with this as he was with his handling of Kyoto.
    The warmerers are becoming increasingly hysterical and making mistakes. They could be in complete disarray before the election.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 08:10 AM • permalink

  55. #52 AGW:  Anthropogenic Global Warming.  ie made-made climate change.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 13 at 08:13 AM • permalink

  56. #54.  Skeeter, you are right!

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 13 at 08:16 AM • permalink

  57. Thanks Brett. (#55)
    No wonder I’m called “the Ignorant”.

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 02 13 at 08:22 AM • permalink

  58. Hey, Nick and Nora, do you think perhaps that Pedro at #52 is spoiling for a punch up?
    We Gold Coasters might have to sort him out.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 08:23 AM • permalink

  59. Hello Gold Coasters

    I’m heading to Surfers Paradise on Saturday to visit my son who lives there - he’s doing his bit to bring down the median age of people up there - most of his Sydney friends have also moved there

    Posted by aussiemagpie on 2007 02 13 at 08:36 AM • permalink

  60. Hi aussiemagpie, have fun while you’re here.
    It looks like Nick and Nora have gone to bed early tonight so that leaves me on my own to deal with Pedro.
    I have decided the fight will have to wait. Although I am 22 years younger than the median age, I’m a bit too old for punch ups.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 08:44 AM • permalink

  61. Wildly O/T (sorry Mistress A, keep the killer bees locked in for a bit)
    Seeing as the glove has been hurled to the footpath by the banana benders, herewith I cheerfully join the punchup. :-)

    Corporate Senility

    I rest my case, M’Lud.

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 02 13 at 08:54 AM • permalink

  62. #60 skeeter

    Yes thanks I’ll have fun - always do there and it’s good to see my son so happy and healthy - the lifestyle - for him it’s finish work at 3pm and hit the surf

    He’s met a lovely GG girl too so he won’‘t be back here in Sydney anytime soon!

    Posted by aussiemagpie on 2007 02 13 at 09:05 AM • permalink

  63. I see what you mean Pedro. Guy Sebastian, Marcia Hines and Richard Clapton on at Twin Towns. Rampant senility! Especially Richard. He must be in his fifties.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 09:15 AM • permalink

  64. does anyone seriously believe that Barking Obama will be prez of the US?

    how can Howard be meddling n the US elections when the primaries haven’t even started yet?

    according to the age   american bloggers are seething but the only bloggers they quote are kosmonoughts

    Why is it alright for democrats to send Kerry’s sister here to actively campaign in our elections and not alright for Howard to comment on a prospective candidates stated position when that position affects our foreign policy?

    it’s all so confusing :(

    Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 02 13 at 09:22 AM • permalink

  65. #62 Aussiemagpie, we have just had 24 hours of beautiful rain. The grass will be green for you by Saturday.
    We lived here in the 1960s but had to spend 20 years in Sydney making enough money to come back. Our kids followed us up here and are loving it. They are taking surfing lessons in their forties.
    If you are planning to migrate, I would do it now because we are going to have to close the border soon. Too many people.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 09:23 AM • permalink

  66. Just don’t go there at 5.00PM for the early dinner, Skeeter.
    You will be smashed to one side by the daily Charge of the Walking Frames.

    Frankie J Holden and Ol’ 55 was a smash hit there last year. The clacking of dentures was deafening.

    Back to you. :-)

    Posted by Pedro the Ignorant on 2007 02 13 at 09:23 AM • permalink

  67. #65 skeeter

    Actually I’ll be looking around the place - I’m thinking of moving there - join the oldies migration I reckon to God’s Waiting Room

    The rain was wonderful wasn’t it?

    Posted by aussiemagpie on 2007 02 13 at 09:35 AM • permalink

  68. You’re right, of course, Pedro. I was 60 something when I went to see James Morrison at TT. We gave up on dinner after trying about 5 queues for a table. But the music was great and nary a click of dentures in the auditorium.
    My advice to you, lad, is to not knock old age until you’ve tried it. :-)

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 09:52 AM • permalink

  69. 40 Nilknarf Arbed

    I was born in the USA. Can I run for presidency?

    If you didn’t renounce your American citizenship*, YES. Come on over…:).

    * Correct me if I err, a renouncement wasn’t a requirement of you becoming an Australian.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 02 13 at 10:00 AM • permalink

  70. Can we amend the Constitution so that John Howard could be our president, at the same time as being PM of Australia?  I like a leader who’s willing to fight.

    Posted by rbj1 on 2007 02 13 at 10:09 AM • permalink

  71. #64 eeniemeenie, not everyone agrees with the Age. Have you checked the latest poll in Tim B’s link at the top of this page?

    Nilk, now that Andrea had put John out of the running, I’ll vote for you if you decide to stand. I’m not a US national, but my multiple-entry visa should get me close enough to a voting machine to give it a pull.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 02 13 at 10:13 AM • permalink

  72. Nilknarf Arbed

    Bring John Howard with you.

    With good health, after a period of years, 7 years of American citizenship, Howard could run for the U.S. Congress of whatever State he resided. After 9 years of citizenship, Howard could run for a U.S. Senate seat.

    Tom Lantos, (D) California, was born in Budapest, Hungary. In addition to that and more importantly Lantos was a holocaust survivor. If that wasn’t enough Lantos was a member of both the anti-Nazi and anti-Communist movements.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 02 13 at 10:24 AM • permalink

  73. does anyone seriously believe that Barking Obama will be prez of the US?

    Well, the problem is that some people do believe, very seriously, that Obama shoulde be the president.  Look at John Kerry—all blow and no go, yet he managed to collect 251 electoral votes, and nearly 49% of the popular vote.  John Effing Kerry, mind you.

    Obama has much less of a background to build on, but that may be a benefit, since there’s are fewer skeletons to hide than in Kerry’s closet. 

    The Spin Machine™ would have a harder time building on his inexperience, though.  So, I don’t think he’ll be president.  He’ll get mauled by his “fellow” Democrats in the primaries.

    But there will be a substantial portion of America who will listen to Obama, simply because he is saying what they want to hear.

    And, BTW, I have no problem with what Howard said.  Obama is a US Senator, and is making pronouncements that can only aid the enemy; recall what Kerry was saying in his election run.  Or what Ted “Jabba The Hutt” Kennedy says all the time. 

    Aiding the enemy is hurting the Coalition.  Since Australia ia a member of the Coalition, and has troops on the ground in Iraq, the Prime Minister of Australia is perfectly justified in slapping Obama down.  Obama deserved it.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 13 at 10:52 AM • permalink

  74. #16, I got it and I laughed.

    I think John Howard should remain in Australia and continue running the country.  America needs you guys, and we need you to stay sane and sensible.

    Barack Obama won’t be president.  He plays too much to the KosKids audience and not enough to the mainstream.  And because his father was Kenyan, the mainstream won’t trust him not to kiss up to the Third World.  And lastly, Hillary Clinton is going to flatten him in the primaries (not that she’ll win the nomination either, with Albatross Bill around her neck).

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 02 13 at 12:15 PM • permalink

  75. Instapundit’s link shows what Americans yearn for and would vote for: strong political leadership. 

    Bush is a great CEO type but his big mistake, IMO, was discounting the passion of ordinary Americans for spreading democracy - he’s trying to fight the WOT without any sacrifice or involvement from us.  You can’t please everybody: if you try, you end up sidelined and discredited, like the GOP today.

    Posted by Patricia on 2007 02 13 at 12:32 PM • permalink

  76. Obama reminds me of Kerry.  His thinking goes as deep as wondering what people want to hear.

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 02 13 at 03:23 PM • permalink

  77. Please.

    Mr. White Horse Candidate has a grand total of 2 years as a congresscritter to brag about. Not exactly a track record that makes one rush to hand him the reins of power.

    I think he’s a stalking-horse for Hilly. He provides a nice triangulation target, don’t he?

    Posted by mojo on 2007 02 13 at 03:27 PM • permalink

  78. Don’t worry about Obama. He won’t be the first black president. Why? Because he’s not really black:

    Which brings me to the main reason I delayed writing about Obama. For me, it was a trick question in a game I refused to play. Since the issue was always framed as a battle between gender and race (read: non-whiteness—the question is moot when all the players are white), I didn’t have the heart (or the stomach) to point out the obvious: Obama isn’t black.

    snip

    Whites, on the other hand, are engaged in a paroxysm of self-congratulation; he’s the equivalent of Stephen Colbert’s “black friend.” Swooning over nice, safe Obama means you aren’t a racist. I honestly can’t look without feeling pity, and indeed mercy, at whites’ need for absolution. For all our sakes, it seemed (again) best not to point out the obvious: You’re not embracing a black man, a descendant of slaves. You’re replacing the black man with an immigrant of recent African descent of whom you can approve without feeling either guilty or frightened. If he were Ronald Washington from Detroit, even with the same résumé, he wouldn’t be getting this kind of love. Washington would have to earn it, not just show promise of it, and even then whites would remain wary. Link

    It’s comforting to know that whites are still white (ie racist). Hard to argue with Dickerson’s closing sentence, though.

    Go Rudy!

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 02 13 at 03:40 PM • permalink

  79. “I was for Islam before I was not really against it.”

    Posted by blogstrop on 2007 02 13 at 04:24 PM • permalink

  80. #6 Not if he eats krill

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 02 13 at 04:38 PM • permalink

  81. El Cid and Skeeter, I’ve still got my US citizenship, so no problems there.

    I’m happy to bring JH with me, but his wife might object. Not to mention all the voters here who are a part of his fan club.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 02 13 at 04:39 PM • permalink

  82. “what I’ve read about Obama is that he claims to be a follower in the Christian tradition.”

    Not to get into a theological discussion, but Obama is, I believe, a Unitarian Universalist. I don’t know if you have them there, but they’re the “we worship the great universal goddess of peace and justice and crystals” folks. Nothing you can really identify as Christian (though that can be said for most mainstream Protestant churches these days).

    “I was born in the USA. Can I run for presidency?”

    That depends. Do you fit the constitutional requirements?

    US Constitution, Article II, Section 1:

    No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

    “The story has moved on, and it appears that Obama was never a Muslim.  He is remarkably vacuous though, so no shame in the assumption.”

    But he may be an elf, a hobbit, or a trekkie playing a vulcan (not sure which).

    And it’s snowing here. Lots. And it’s going to snow through Sunday. And did I mention that the wind chill right now (4 pm here) is -10 F.? Where do we apply for more global warming?

    Posted by rightwingprof on 2007 02 13 at 05:10 PM • permalink

  83. #35
    Current hybrid cars’ lead-acid battery technology is not eco-friendly; proposed future fuel cells may be - but current technology is a heavy metals issue, especially in a few years time.

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 13 at 06:06 PM • permalink

  84. rightwingprof

    And it’s snowing here. Lots. And it’s going to snow through Sunday. And did I mention that the wind chill right now (4 pm here) is -10 F.?

    Cripes, that’s cold as hell. Oh, all should think good wishes and thoughts of the Americans, that are in the bullseye of Al Gores Global Warming….. blizzard

    Where do we apply for more global warming?

    Print this page, set it ablaze and hold it close to a pile of wood, in your fireplace. Ummmm, you do have a fireplace, don’t you?

    If you don’t have a fireplace, see my good wishes and thoughts, above.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 02 13 at 06:07 PM • permalink

  85. Obama belongs to the United Trinity Church of Christ, a congregation Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian…

    I read somewhere that he’s never actually been baptised, but I have no idea if that’s true. Baptism is pretty important in the Christian faith.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 02 13 at 06:10 PM • permalink

  86. #26
    Seems the Left is wary of any (external) source of (greater) power.
    The Oz Republic Debate: advocating breaking away from mother England.
    The view that the US is a heavy-handed, interfering superpower; however, more tolerable under Clinton than Bush.
    The Rudder wouldn’t alter ANZUS, unlike David Lange, coz u never know when you might need a superpower ‘friend’, in case a bully comes ‘round the corner ... especially ol’ yeller Rudd ...
    Hawke backflipped on the Left’s anti-nuke (military) stance in the Pacific, unlike Lange, which I’m sure Kevni remembers ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 13 at 06:47 PM • permalink

  87. What exactly did John Howard say that was incorrect?

    He said that if the US left Iraq precipitously, then the towel-heads would portray it as a ‘victory’ for radical Islam and a justification for further violence as an effective tool against the West - exactly as they did after Lebanon and Somalia!

    He said that, given the choice between a strong-military, US-centred, internationalist party like the GOP and a weak-military, UN-centred, America Firster party like the Democrats, then Osama and et al would choose the latter.  And they would.

    Is Iraq a failure?  Judge by this standard: how many terrorist attacks have taken place on the continental USA since the US and its allies went in to Iraq? 

    Is there a civil war? Yes, but if they are killing each other then they’re not finding ways to kill us.  Better to fight the Islamofascists in their backyard, rather than ours.

    Are Americans dying?  Yes, but this is an all-volunteer force.  And 99% of the people who have fought in Iraq consider it a job worth doing.  This ain’t Vietnam, folks, which its hooch-torching lieutenant-fraggers like Oliver Stone.

    So is Obama wrong?  Yes.

    Is a precipitous withdrawal a disaster?  Yes.

    Would Osama support Obama, Pelosi, Dodd, et all over Rudi, Condi, Frist et al?  You bet he would!

    John Howard - speaking power to truth!

    Posted by Apparatchik on 2007 02 13 at 07:00 PM • permalink

  88. #86
    Therefore, KRuddy’s chief wedges to bash the Govt are the ol’ ‘troops out of Iraq’ and AGW ... with no solutions ... hopefully, the public will see this hollow rhetoric for what it is before the election ...

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 13 at 07:07 PM • permalink

  89. “Barack Obama won’t be president.”

    Rebecca, I wish I could agree with you. But I think the guy has a serious shot. He plays well on television; he’s saying stuff that the Kostards love; and the MSM is promoting him to the skies. Here in Chicago (where it is damned cold right now, and they promised me global warming, so where the hell is it, anyway?) the papers’ coverage of Obama’s candidacy has brought new meaning to the word “sycophancy”. Just read how the Chicago Tribune ran interference for Obama in his run for the US Senate, digging up dirt on his opponents, and you’ll see what I mean: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/02/the_chicago_tribunes_preemptiv.html

    Maybe it’s just because I’ve been watching these “journalists” behaving like they want have Obama’s baby (and that’s just the guys!), but this whole thing gives me a really bad feeling.

    Posted by Urbs in Horto on 2007 02 13 at 07:26 PM • permalink

  90. OZ, LGF agrees with John Howard on Obama

    Some are sending emails voicing support, directly to Mr. Howard. Many would like to share their comments on Tim’s Blog. But as I mentioned to them, Tim, is much like Charles, registration is opened, sparingly…and for good reasons, I might add.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 02 13 at 07:47 PM • permalink

  91. Here in Australia we are entering our own election phase.  It must be held prior to March 2008.  It can be called at any time by the PM that suits him.  It is not a fixed timetable as in the US.  In theory this gives the PM a big advantage over the opposition as he can presumably wait until the opposition make a blunder then call the election.

    Over the last few elections the opposition have tried to prevent blunders by not having a position on anything to attack. John Howard and his team have then to make a “crisis” situation where the opposition is called upon to take a position.  JH has been very successful doing this in the past.  His comments on Obama and defeat may not have been premeditated but he has at least quickly seen that he can paint the opposition into a corner.  They need to accept defeat in Iraq or disavow a leftie hero in Obama. 

    As with all ideologically driven parties this is the weakest point of the Australian Labor Party.  They cannot abandon their hero even when he is an embarrassment.  And Obama is an embarrassment.  There is no logic, only ideology to pulling troops out of Iraq to a timetable of a year, and there is no doubt at all that he will have to climb down from his statements as the campaign proceeds. He has completely marginalised himself and done no harm at all to JH. I don’t even see Obama winning a primary.

    Meanwhile there is our loyal Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd, left looking like a loser to John Howard’s battlers.  This is a real barbeque stopper.

    Posted by allan on 2007 02 13 at 07:48 PM • permalink

  92. 81 Nilknarf Arbed

    I’m happy to bring JH with me, but his wife might object. Not to mention all the voters here who are a part of his fan club.

    Ahh, well yes, I see what you mean…:).

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 02 13 at 07:50 PM • permalink

  93. #85, Kyda

    That link was quite a surprising read for me.  Normally on a church “About Us” page I’d expect to find some form of statement of faith in the saving work of Jesus.  But this is what’s there (slightly altered for the sake of making a point).

    We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These BlackWhite Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever BlacksWhites are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

    1. Commitment to God
    2. Commitment to the BlackWhite Community
    3. Commitment to the BlackWhite Family
    4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
    5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
    6. Adherence to the BlackWhite Work Ethic
    7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
    8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
    9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the BlackWhite Community
    10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting BlackWhite Institutions
    11. Pledge allegiance to all BlackWhite leadership who espouse and embrace the BlackWhite Value System
    12. Personal commitment to embracement of the BlackWhite Value System.

    It is a remarkably racist document and bears no resemblance to any of the usual Christian confessions of faith.

    Posted by Janice on 2007 02 13 at 08:01 PM • permalink

  94. Are you volking, Janice?
    ;^)

    Posted by andycanuck on 2007 02 13 at 08:16 PM • permalink

  95. #22 & #25

    Root my little brown dog, has this thread had a humourectomy. Yes it was sarcasm. Don’t tell me we’re all going to have to start using emoticons and signing everything off LOL, ROFL.

    For future reference take everything I say as being sarcastic, unless it’s not.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 08:22 PM • permalink

  96. The Prime Wedger’s wedge has spectacularly backfired. The diversion from last week’s hearing loss farce over climate change has turned into a backbench whispering campaign, never a good sign. The parliamentary Liberal Party will revert to form and pull Howard down quick smart if it gets any more whiff of a bludgeoning at the coming polls. But just who will they turn to? Costello? Abbott? Turnbull? Fishnets? All of them unelectable. 11 years is long enough. Time for a change.

    Posted by Miranda Divide on 2007 02 13 at 08:28 PM • permalink

  97. #94, No.  But sometime today I’ll have to get down to vorking.

    Posted by Janice on 2007 02 13 at 08:29 PM • permalink

  98. I’m not the best predictor of events (please, don’t mention the cricket!) but for what it’s worth, I believe Howard has an excellent chance of scooping up the next election. The furore over IR legislation is dying down, the Greens will continue to make ever more extravagant claims regarding climate change and the disastrous economic sacrifices “necessary” to combat it (on this point, I’m sure most Australians are waking up to the fact that nothing Australia does will make one jot of difference, even if the whole Kyoto thing were true), Costello will deliver another bumper budget with early X-mas goodies all round, the question of troop withdrawal in Iraq will - if it hasn’t already - be revealed as a spurious ideological mistake, and Rudd will end up sounding more and more like the pusillanimous nerd he really is.

    I’ve asked myself if all this is wishful thinking, but if Johnny’s true to form, Labour’s going to have to pull something big out of the bag to oust him.

    Posted by Dminor on 2007 02 13 at 08:32 PM • permalink

  99. #47, Brett_McS

    it appears that Obama was never a Muslim

    That reflects a Western view of religious affiliation.

    Muslims don’t think that way on the matter.

    III.
    ...
    ¶ 17 A child born to a Muslim parent (mother or father) is, under Shari’a, a Muslim.

    So according to the Muslim faithful, Obama (because his father was a Muslim) was a Muslim on the day he was born.  If he, being sane, has since converted to some other religion then, to them, he is an apostate and merits death.

    Posted by Janice on 2007 02 13 at 09:01 PM • permalink

  100. God bless Global Warming! I haven’t had to put up with snow like this in years.

    Left, work before 4:30.  An hour later I stopped at the brewery, < 2 miles up the road from work.  A stop at the grocery. And I’m home just before 8:00. 

    Normally it’s a 35 min trip in traffic.

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 02 13 at 09:02 PM • permalink

  101. I hate the ROFL, LOL, emoticon things as well. I got all the humour, irony and sarcasm just as they were, without the didja-geddit dig in the ribs.

    But then Australia does have a stronger sarcastic streak. To balance that we’re more laid back. You have to be in this weather.

    Posted by ilibcc on 2007 02 13 at 09:10 PM • permalink

  102. 2 years as a congress critter is more than enough for me.  Even running for congress should disqualify a person from candidacy.

    Posted by aaron_ on 2007 02 13 at 09:20 PM • permalink

  103. #95

    finished rooting your little brown dog yet IT?

    Well, I guess it is Valentine’s Day…

    Posted by JonathanH on 2007 02 13 at 09:46 PM • permalink

  104. #103 - The dogs done and dusted. Now I’m going to ask someone to suck… aah, gotta stop doing that.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 09:56 PM • permalink

  105. #91
    All Howard has to do is clout the Rudder with 2 issues simultaneously, the Rudder can only handle one bridge-too-far/fork-in-the-road at a time, he is far too slow to repsond to any issue (without having to refer to his think tank); presumably, the Libs are well aware of this weakness: keep KRuddy on the ropes for a while (“Rope a Dope”) & he’ll look like the weak leader he is to the electorate.

    #96
    Got a wedge in your Divide?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 13 at 10:26 PM • permalink

  106. @ 89 ...watching these “journalists” behaving like they want have Obama’s baby (and that’s just the guys!), but this whole thing gives me a really bad feeling.

    Indeed, Urbs. Unseemly is the word that comes to my mind. At Teh Chicago Sun-Times, political reporter/columnist Lynn Sweet’s head is so far up Obama’s @rse I can’t tell where she ends and he begins.

    Adding insult to injury, Teh Times has snatched Jennifer Hunter off the infotainment page and awarded her a new column, Obama: Notes On A Campaign. Her first (I think) column was headlined: LINKING TO LINCOLN—Campaign dares to make the most of compelling parallels.

    So at least we’ve a cat-fight to look forward to. Or maybe there’s room for the two of them up there. At any rate, I’m covered on the racist angle because I voted for Keyes.

    Posted by guinsPen on 2007 02 13 at 10:27 PM • permalink

  107. #52
    So AGW isn’t Al Gore Weather, the localised cooling effect when Al pays a visit to your neck-o-the-woods?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 13 at 10:38 PM • permalink

  108. #82. Bummer. Not being resident for 14 our of my first 35 years means I’m disqualified.

    I still reckon I’d make a better prez than the Hildebeest or Obama.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 02 13 at 11:13 PM • permalink

  109. #89, Urbs, I take your point about Obama.  On the other hand, don’t discount the dirty dealing and backstabbing treachery that the Clintons are capable of, and Billary wants to be president very, very much.

    As for me, Rudy in 08.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 02 13 at 11:29 PM • permalink

  110. Re #106, guinsPen…...sounds like the Chicago Democratic Machine is behind Obama, which I did not know (haven’t lived there for years, praise be).

    And it’s bad news as well….for the country, I mean.  Even Hillary! has to bow and scrape to the Great State of Chicago, Democratic bastion that it is.  Obama has more backing than I realized, and thus a better shot to get the nomination as the DNC candidate.  Oy!

    Still, as you say, it will be a catfight, and probably a nasty one….somehow, I can’t see Hillary! taking the VP nomination.  At least not gracefully.  So maybe the 2008 primaries will be even nastier than the 2004 Democratic primaries.  I’m not so sure that I look forward to that spectacle again.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 13 at 11:37 PM • permalink

  111. And, oh yeah!  Obama, as per Kyda in #78, isn’t the right kind of black.  You know, there’s black, and then there’s black.

    If you’re confused, just ask the Reverend Sharpton.  He’ll square you away in a heartbeat.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 13 at 11:39 PM • permalink

  112. Obama is the new black. You know, the clean type.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 13 at 11:49 PM • permalink

  113. Stop it IT. Wit is the lowest form of humour.

    Posted by Penguin on 2007 02 14 at 12:46 AM • permalink

  114. How hard is it to drop a “S” and inserting a “B” and change name by “Deed Poll” in the USofA. 

    Unwinding the towel wouldn’t be a problem, I think.

    Posted by deadparrot on 2007 02 14 at 01:56 AM • permalink

  115. #111
    Obama ... isn’t the right kind of black

    I thought he was (also) made of the white stuff; isn’t this (minority) a good foil against HillBilly?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 14 at 02:35 AM • permalink

  116. #99 Janice.  I see.  The Islamic Ratchet Effect.  I wonder if Hawaii not being under sharia would convince the true believers?

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 02 14 at 07:33 AM • permalink

  117. With those initials, no wonder Mr B.O. is on the nose !

    Posted by Ubique on 2007 02 14 at 08:58 AM • permalink

  118. Results this morning:

    Rudy42%
    Howard34%
    Romney13%

    Posted by rightwingprof on 2007 02 14 at 05:37 PM • permalink

  119. #115
    The new kid on the block has (enough of) the white stuff?

    Posted by egg_ on 2007 02 15 at 05:16 AM • permalink

  120. Page 1 of 1 pages

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