I can't find any articles yet, but apparently John Howard has reshuffled his cabinet again and dumped Ian Campbell as environment minister. And good riddance (if it is true). This was long overdue after that parrot and wind farm affair.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/23/asia/AS-POL-Australia-Cabinet-Reshuffle.php

Howard used to come across as a very clever politician. He always appeared thoughtful, deliberate and humble. But lately he has been making a lot of uncharacteristic outbursts. He and other top liberals have started launching attacks against senior opposition figures that sound more personal than political. Then Howard came out with the attack against Barack Obama, the US presidential candidate for the Democrats. Howard has always been careful to nurture our close relationship with the US, but is now willing to throw it out the window for partisan politics. How strong would the US-Australia relationship be if Obama wins and has to deal with Howard diplomatically? Is this a sign of desperation from the coalition? Maybe they know they are going down in the next election and don't have the patience to wait for Labor to do something stupid - or they know they won't. Can we expect George Bush to return the favour and try to prop up Howard in our next federal election?

Rather than responding in kind, Obama challenged Howard to send more troops to Iraq and gained a lot of mileage from the criticism. This is the sort of clever response I would have expected from the old Howard.

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/PM-Howard-bizarre-say-US-Democrats/2007/02/12/1171128843898.html

Prime Minister John Howard has been described as bizarre and irrelevant by US Democrats after he launched an attack on Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Mr Howard said al-Qaeda would be praying for an Obama-led White House because Mr Obama has promised to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.

A string of Democrats have reacted angrily to Mr Howard's comments which have received widespread media coverage in the US.

Democrat senator Ron Wyden said it was hard to be polite about Mr Howard.

"The most charitable thing you can say about Mr Howard's comment is bizarre," Senator Wyden said.

Even Republicans have criticised Mr Howard for interfering in US domestic affairs.

"I would prefer that Mr Howard stay out of our domestic politics and we will stay out of his domestic politics," Texas Republican senator John Cornyn said.

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/obama-dismisses-howards-iraq-criticism/2007/02/11/1171128806932.html

Prime Minister John Howard has set off a firestorm between Australia and the US Democratic Party after he criticised the Iraq policy of Barack Obama, a wildly popular Democrat who is potentially the next president of the US.

Democrats have reacted with disdain, with Mr Obama saying if Mr Howard is so strongly supportive of the war in Iraq then he should send another 20,000 Australian troops into battle.

If Mr Howard did not take up the invitation, Mr Obama said the comments became nothing more than "empty rhetoric".

"I think it's flattering that one of George Bush's allies on the other side of the world started attacking me the day after I announced (I would run for the 2008 Democrat presidential nomination)."

Mr Howard is under pressure over Australia's involvement in the war, with opinion polls consistently showing the conflict is unpopular with Australian voters.

The latest ACNielsen poll in Fairfax newspapers has the opposition Labor party 16 percentage points in front of the governing coalition on a two-party preferred vote while Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd also leads Mr Howard in the preferred prime minister stakes.

Labor has pledged to bring Australian troops home, through negotiation with the US, if it wins office later this year.

"Mr Howard must not allow his personal relationship with President Bush to impact on Australia's long-term alliance relationship with the United States," Mr Rudd said.

"I disagreed with the coalition's decision to invade Iraq ... But I have seen it as my role to discuss the future of Australian foreign policy on Iraq, not lecture United States citizens on how they should vote in the upcoming presidential election."

Is John Howard losing his touch..?


Well is the Pope a Catholic?..I think that would be a gutsy  yes ! Freediver.

I kind of think and for no apparent reason than gut feeling, that he thinks his time might be up. Rudd is streaking away in the polls..he IS AT the end of his 3rd term..kind of puts the mockers on any self confidence he might be able to muster at this late stage.

We also have to factor in male menopause dont we and the fact his eyebrows ARE GETTING THINNER? Maybe all the bravado is just getting a bit wearing at his age.

The preoccupation and what I see as desperate measures re Hicks is also a bit uncharacteristic, whereas previously he stood by the courage of his convictions when pitted against the likes of 'no ticker Beasley' he is now pandering to public pressure.

Bush is almost at the end of his reign too..so politically he is at a crossroads perhaps.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21312145-601,00.html

DAVID Hicks' father Terry today challenged John Howard during a radio talkback session.

Mr Howard agreed to take the call, saying: "I never refuse to take a call from anybody."

Call to action on David Hicks http://ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1170817283

Isn't it an American law, not an Australian one?

Quote:


It's an international law - that has most likely been dug up from the depths of ambiguity - which could apply to everything, but equally to nothing - so it suits the Coalition's purposes.

And Enviro - Howard is a political genius only - but also a self serving megalomaniac.  I've gone off Rudd as well.  There's only one politician with integrity and a genuine desire to preserve humanity and that's my favourite Senator - Bob Brown.

The Greens appear fairly quiet - mainly because the media doesn't give them the time of day.

They have someone to represent them in most electorates in NSW and many of these people are professionals in their employment and genuinely concerned about the environment and justice. 

This year they seem to be totally alienated by the media.  Occasionally someone will criticise and misinterpret one of Bob Brown's comments - but the general feeling by members of the major parties is to deride the Greens to ensure they don't threaten the safety of their seats.