Heeeeeeeeere’s Johnny

sophiek says:

07:30am | 09/11/09

I think Howard saw the front cover of the Weekend Oz - with portrait of chairman Rudd perched on black leather and the headline “Is Kevin Rudd the most powerful PM in Ausralian histtory?” and reached for the phone.
Redrum, Redrum

Solar says:

07:35am | 09/11/09

rudd just do something and do it right. blows my mind how australia puts up with this level of incompetence.

persephone says:

07:46am | 09/11/09

Oh, wacky. Howard was not a conviction politician. Any convictions he had were always subject to changes in the polls.
How much less clear can you be than to say one year that the GST is dead and introduce it as your main election policy the next?
He always wanted to bring in something like WorkChoices but never took it to an election campaign, waiting until he had control of the Senate to ram throught something he had never put to the people. (And even then, he modified it when the polls went against him).
In the lead up to the 2001 election, when Latham did his deal with Bob Brown, all the media commentators at the time expected Howard to match it. 
His sudden switch to climate change believer in the lead up to 2007 also caught the commentariat by surprise.
The only consistent attitude Howard took was on the cricket.

watto says:

08:00am | 09/11/09

Funny media beat up. I could of sworn Rudd was just Howard-lite.

Dave says:

08:02am | 09/11/09

Isn’t it great that John Howard continues to infuriate lefties and the PC brigade even while he’s out of office! Aaah, keep up the good work, John! We miss you…

Shane From Melbourne says:

08:16am | 09/11/09

Crap former Prime Minister commenting on a crap current Prime Minister. Liberal or Labor both the same.

john mc kay says:

08:28am | 09/11/09

ex pm’s continue to live off our largesse,it is about time we made them signan agreement to hold their tomgues.
howard is just bitter and twisted,he not only lost government but also his seat and he has never forgiven us .
ride off into the sunset john and leave us in peace

shabangabang says:

08:31am | 09/11/09

He hasn’t been speaking because he has been too busy looking for weapons of mass destruction.
Did Coward say he wasn’t happy with the lack of razorwire concering the asylum seekers?
Did he say that interest rates would still have been lower if Libs were in power?
Did he mention Turnbull at all, or is his name too dirty for even Howard to mention.
Ruddy should give Howard a consular position in Iraq or Afghanistan. That weasel led us into those wars, let him deal with them.

Old Clive says:

08:32am | 09/11/09

And the media band played on and on and on. To quote an old navy saying.
“Bull**** was all the band could play.” end of quote.

rod sexton says:

08:34am | 09/11/09

I miss John Howard whose every word I understood.

Harvey says:

08:38am | 09/11/09

More than 130 boats landed on our shores during John Howard’s time as PM, pre-Tampa. The asylumseekers picked up by the Tampa (at the request of his government) were later almost all found to be refugees and have resettled here. It just took them longer to get here and cost us taxpayers billions of dollars—all for a ‘solution’ that was aimed ar duping Australian voters into thinking he was ‘tough’. It worked, but the boats kept coming.  People are still buying the myth.

Joel B1 says:

08:42am | 09/11/09

If you have to resort to name-calling eg “Coward” that means you don’t have a rational argument.

So, as my Nan would’ve said “Shut your cake hole Sonny” (She was a “real” working class women, not some latte sipping trendy)

Tom says:

09:02am | 09/11/09

It was a breath of fresh air to hear JWH speaking as he see’s it openly and honestly without all the FAKEHOOD produced by Kevin Rudd. He makes Kevin look like the class clown!

Steve Smith says:

09:09am | 09/11/09

This topic is a beat up for gullable patriots and whoever is in opposition at the time.

Tim says:

09:23am | 09/11/09

Ex Prime Ministers should be forced to shut up for at least one term after they lose/retire.
If they fail to do this, they should lose all their taxpayer funded perks.

watty says:

09:36am | 09/11/09

Of course Penberthy and NewsLtd played their influential part in getting Rudd elected.I seem to remeber David explaining this was an “editorial” decision though others disagreed

“The biggest surprise is the strong support for Labor in the Murdoch press—a marked difference from 2004. The Australian, Daily Telegraph, Courier-Mail and The Mercury are all throwing their support behind Kevin Rudd. For the Tele and the Courier-Mail, it’s their proud boast that this is only the second time in their respective histories they have endorsed Labor at a Federal level. News Ltd stablemates the Herald-Sun and The Advertiser back the Coalition. Both acknowledge the significant mood for change, as well as Rudd’s steady hands and his softly softly approach, but ultimately conclude that the Coalition’s economic record and delivery of prosperity renders them deserving of a fifth term. ”

Wayne H says:

09:43am | 09/11/09

Why is it that if you support tough border policies you are looked at as an unjust and uncaring person? Why should I be made out as some kind of nut because I support policies that worked? I don’t want people coming in via the back door and I am unashamed of that opinion. Could someone please explain to me why I should? I don’t take too kindly to potential guest’s of this country holding our customs vessel to ransom and demanding passage! They are no longer refugees. They are now hijackers and should be treated as such. If they were sitting on a tarmac in a plane somewhere, demanding the pilot take them to Australia it would have all been over by now. What is the difference here. They are in a safe port! Their welfare and safety will be paramount as the worlds media are all over this. If a greeny chains himself to a tree do we bow down to his whim? No, we remove the offender.
Bleeding hearts in general do more harm than good. If you couldn’t gain entry to this country by way of boat then you wouldn’t try. The current policy has opened the door for people smugglers who put lives at risk for sake of profit. Only the blind (or the Labor party) can’t see this. You gotta be cruel to be kind…..

JH says:

09:44am | 09/11/09

John Howard is now doing the job the opposition should be, stating a position on the issue and getting media coverage for it. Turnbull should have come out with this stuff more assertively weeks ago.

Carl Palmer says:

09:55am | 09/11/09

JH only stated the obvious re the handling of the GFC and boarder protection. He went on to also say that much of what has been done in the last 2 years was symbolic – which in part is true - the apology to the Aboriginals and the signing Kyoto.

In any case, what did you expect JH to say, that he agreed with what the PM had done? I’m surprised it was only one exocet he used.

Interestingly, on the next page of that newspaper you then had a very big hitter from the very big end of town calling the PM delusional. Ouch!

watto says:

09:57am | 09/11/09

After Howard faces a war crimes tribunal I might listen to what he has to say. While he’s living high on taxpayer funded welfare. Commie.

Kerry says:

10:20am | 09/11/09

It was good to see Johny walking down the street still and still can answer questions while walking without any media advisors or meetings before hand to decide what to say. He did this while PM which showed you were listening to the real John Howard without script. Something the current PM seems totally incapable of doing. Everything from Rudd is scripted analysed and rinsed before it gets out to the public. A false persona in other words.

Bruce says:

10:23am | 09/11/09

At least John Howard tells it how it is without worrying about his popularity. For those that say previous Prime Ministers should not be allowed to comment, YOU ARE KIDDING ! Thats never stopped previous PMs and so it should not. Since when is any person not allowed to have an opinion. The only reason people object is that there maybe something in what is said, is the truth, or its hitting a raw nerve. As for our current PM, who seems like a nice guy on the surface, comes accross in comparison as weak. However, this is most probably what many Australians like !!

Steve of Cornubia says:

10:24am | 09/11/09

I reckon John Howard WANTED to slip into relative obscurity, but constant and continuing attacks on his performance and integrity by Rudd &Co;, gave him no choice but to fight back.

Rudd was elected with a huge majority and a strong mandate, yet he’s never been able to stop blaming everything on Howard and Costello.

A sour winner, if ever there was one.

Steve S. says:

10:28am | 09/11/09

With Rudd;
Economic conservative = Billion dollar spendathon
Infrastructure development = pink bat debacle + dodgy school halls (does NOT mean new roads, ports, trains)
Fair work = No Work and No Choice
Give me a straight talker any day, at least you know where the bloke stands.
You dont know what Rudd is talking about, let alone what he stands for, when he opens his mouth and the gibberish flows out.

Luke says:

10:31am | 09/11/09

At least with Howard you had the feeling you knew him, whether you liked him or not and he wasn’t afraid to say something even if he knew it may be unpopular. Very different from the leading soapy actor Rudd at the moment.

Tricia says:

10:40am | 09/11/09

I was one of those many people who voted against Howard at the last election. But after 2 tears of Rudd, if I could have my time over I certainly wouldn’t have given Rudd my vote. This guy is an arrogant, phoney and is as weak as piss, too scared to make a decision on anything in case it makes him unpopular. Give me Howard anyday!

DJG says:

10:44am | 09/11/09

It was good to see JWH bob his head up. It was great to see the little loser, whining for a change. I was upset when he lost his seat, i would have liked to see him squirm in opposition for a while, like Costello, Downer et al. We know he would still be there because he would never ‘cut and run’. I also notice the lazy little bludger has not got a job since we sacked him. It is a disgrace that this country has again descended into demonising the small amount of people who risk their lives to come here by boat. Journalists share the blame for this, how about printing the facts about immigration numbers for a change? Rudd needs to lift his game on this, and i suggest he starts by employing a few adults on his staff. A fine mess the little geniuses have got you into this time. Show some corleone’s Rudd and lead on this, not follow. A stinging repudiation of your predecessor would be a good start. We did after all vote him out, and for good reason.

Liz says:

10:56am | 09/11/09

Guess he couldn;t resist stepping in to bolster up a failing party of ineffectuals.

Mark T says:

10:58am | 09/11/09

After all the slandering and insults thrown by Rudd at Howard I’m surprised he didn’t come out early to defend some of the false accusations and put downs that have dribbled out of little Kevs mouth. 2 years in and he still can’t help having swipes at the previous Government. Time Kevin shut up and showed some substance, but then again it’s been 2 years and we’re all still waiting. Is he going to hold the reign (no pun intended) of the most popular PM in Australian history? This is the important issue for Kevin Rudd.

Jack Gilbert says:

11:03am | 09/11/09

jack says
this paper at least allows johnnys followers to come out in force and protect there man, also trying to forget he went down at the last election because of his stubborn policies on the boat people, Iraq, and work choices, he had his time and at the end failed badley, why should we listen to his views now.
Would you expect to hear him say nice things about the goverment ??????
                                                                  JACK

BT says:

11:04am | 09/11/09

We can sit back and throw stones at our politicians - but very few of us ever really have the courage to take them on in the political arena. Australians are so complacent politically that it’s become the easiest thing in the world for us to be bullied and weakened by the private sector. What is required are more representatives of the people with real conviction and fight - unlike the ones we have now (from both the major parties) that are mere puppets of enterprise. It’s frightening the level of power market forces have been able to achieve since Howard took office and I see little resistance from anyone.

BenZ says:

11:11am | 09/11/09

John Howard always stayed true to himself….he told you where he stood on the issues and did it in a way that resonated with millions of Australians. As David Penberthy points out, those millions of people voted for him in 2007 but were swept aside by a Whitlamesque marketing machine that stood for nothing. Now we are faced with a PM who has given so many apologies, handouts, cheesy sound bites and mixed messages (or nonsensical dribble), that the result is obvious….the Chinese don’t like him, the bludgers love him, the boat people are coming in their thousands and the punters with brains are finally waking up to him.

Don’t agree that he is fake? Any guy that says “fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate” and then defends it by saying he grew up on a farm, needs to look long and hard at themselves and start being real. Us country folk can spot a fake a mile off.

Bree says:

11:12am | 09/11/09

When I saw John Howards face on TV the other day I turned the volume up to hear what he had to say. When I see Kevin Rudds face on TV these days I switch the TV off!

Kiara says:

11:39am | 09/11/09

After almost two years of Rudd all he has achieved is making Howard look like the stand out performer as PM. Well done Kev.

Sir Humphrey Appleby says:

11:50am | 09/11/09

Penberthy hits the nail on the head when he says Howard never left any doubt about what he stood for. And he wasn’t afraid to take the tough - and unpopular - decisions. Kevin Rudd confuses populist polcies with good government. The Australian people are starting to wake up to Rudd’s obsession with being popular. It would have happened a lot sooner had the majority of the Canberra press gallery been more objective rather than being caught up in the Kevin 07 fanfare.

Garry Greene says:

11:53am | 09/11/09

Howard was tough, that helps make a good Leader. Thats why Howard was the second longest serving Prime Minister in Australian history. Rudd will never reach those heights!

H says:

11:52am | 09/11/09

The 2007 election was about a lot more than just Howard’s personality. It’s a complicated mixture of ingredients in the cocktail of major change but the number 1 ingredient is workchoices.

I don’t doubt Howard regrets to this day pushing through major legislation which he didn’t tell people about at the previous election. It’s a warning for any future PM about what the electorate will do to you if you act without asking their permission. Without work choices, Howard would be PM today.
The Howard haters had always been there - he had alienated the intelligensia of Australia over the years with anti-intellectualism and appeal to jingoistic Australia. Essentially he snubbed the academics to appeal to the bloke at the big day out with the Southern Cross tatoo and the cashed up suburban bloke who was a bit too busy in his work to care much about politics as long as interest rates kept low. But by bringing in workchoice he broke the deal with his “battlers”, he brought in something that threatened their aspirations of a bigger plasma screen than their neighbours - and worse still, he did it without telling them he was going to do it. He suddenly traded his pragmatism for an ideal. He tried to take power from the Howard battlers and put it back in the hands of the millionaires who attended his fundraising dinners. And it was over for him.

Add to that a number of other factors - a growing sense of corruption in the Government was another big turn off for voters. There was the wheat board scandal but even more so the amount of money spent on Government Advertising which was essentially political - I think it disgusted even many Liberal die hards. By spending public money on pro work choices advertising the coalition got on the nose with the electorate. The argument that it was ok to defend the legislation in the face of a trade union campaign didn’t wash - the trade unions were campaigning with their money - Howard was campaigning with our money. The Liberals should have just sat back and let their Union of support (Business Council of Australia) fight it out with the ACTU. Use public money for politics, expect a public backlash.

There was also the mud slinging in place of a campaign that captured our immagination. I remember Labor going to the polls with a promise of the high speed broadband network - I actually can’t remember what the Liberals had said they would do with the next years of power except the Murray - but of course we expected Labor to be more environmentally responsible.

So it wasn’t just Howard vs Rudd. The Aussie champion, great communicator and defender of the economy against the Mandarin speaking internationalist intellectual. Myths of personality battles appeal to the media because its a simple way of telling the story - but they are simplified for the common denominator and miss the point. It wasn’t about two men. It was a party that had betrayed the electorate against anything else.

Yep, opossitions definately don’t win elections. Governments lose them.

Nick says:

12:00pm | 09/11/09

Is anyone else bored to tears with this now?

The Liberal party cheerleaders running The Australian have been beating the asylum seeker drum relentlessly for a month now. Are the punters still listening?

Chase Stevens says:

12:05pm | 09/11/09

The only difference between Howard and Rudd is that Rudd talks a little fancier.

NCG says:

12:25pm | 09/11/09

Some people have what it takes to be a leader, other don’t. Mr Rudd is a prime example of the latter. With leadership comes responsibility and tough decisions, often unpopular ones. If you don’t have the backbone to make the tough decisions, get out. Looking to appease everyone is an irresponsible way to run a country. At least Mr Howard could make unpopular decisions (implementation of a GST for example) and stand by them.

Michael says:

12:26pm | 09/11/09

Howard tried to destroy workers rights just before the GFC, I think he was a corrupt pawn of big business and don’t give a poo what he has to say, remember he didn’t just get voted out of the top job, he lost his seat.

Brad Coward says:

12:51pm | 09/11/09

I note that nobody has rushed to sue Howard for his suggestion that Rudd has achieved very little in two years.  I find it more interesting that no senior Labor Party figure has rushed forward to refute Howard’s suggestion !

Matt says:

01:02pm | 09/11/09

Well said Wayne H. I’m so sick of being told by pompous asses like David Marr that our objection to unauthorised boats entering Australia is based on fear and inhumanity. Fear and a lack of humanity have nothing to do with it. Howard simply stated the fact that his policy worked. Kevin Rudd should face the fact that his policy is not working and change it.

Lance says:

01:13pm | 09/11/09

Kevin Rudd has just proved he is motivated by polls and his popularity only. He has a dip in the polls and he freaks out, 14 interviews in a row, followed up by gorgeous spread in the weekend Australian. Anyone who tries to say he isn’t motivated only by his popularity and polls instead of substance, has their head in the sand. WAKE UP AUSTRALIA! We have an egomaniac as a Prime Minister!

Michael says:

01:26pm | 09/11/09

When a politician’s own electorate ‘removes’ him, all questions of “revenge” after that event become of scant relevance. Not only did the nation decide about the value of ‘everything’ John Howard did for the country, those he directly represented did so. Can’t find clearer judgement on a politician’s real achievements than that in a democracy.

Victoria says:

01:32pm | 09/11/09

John Howards comments are of no intrest to me at all. He not only was booted out as PM, his arrogance cost him his electorate. Poor man has not got the sense to realise he’s yesterdays news. Nor am I intrested in Rupert Murdochs comments, hes a man who gave up his Australian citizenship, he needs to concentrate on the country he lives in.
This boat thing is a dilema, I sincerly hope they will sort out soon, but it has not altered my faith in the Government and Howard , Murdoch and Abbot can scream till they are blue in the face. If it has not been for us electing this PM Kevin Rudd we would still have workchoices, and no apology to our First Australians and no action on Global warming to name a few issues.
I don’t know who they poll but I know people from my location in Australia have not lost faith

M Cooke says:

01:32pm | 09/11/09

Bring back JOHNNY,bring back JOHNNY, bring back JOHNNY, bring back JOHNNY, bring back JOHNNY. Common sense, common sense, PLEASE BRING BACK JOHN WINSTON HOWARD. RUDD, YOU BAD DUD.

Baldrick says:

01:34pm | 09/11/09

At least John called it a bloody shovel (or words to that effect), not the inane “krudditis” his successor is espousing.

Andrew Goff says:

01:35pm | 09/11/09

Rudd spin. Nelbull (or is it Turnson?) useless. Bring on Gillard or Hockey.

Leticia says:

01:37pm | 09/11/09

Victoria - do you and all the people from your location all attend the same church as Rudd, it sounds like it to me.

H says:

01:39pm | 09/11/09

@M Cooke. I suppose for Johhny to be brought back he will first have to win a seat in Parliament, unless the Liberals would consider having a leader who is not an MP? Maybe they want to put him into one of the by-elections. Mr. Howard running in Costello’s old seat would make for an interesting news week.

watty says:

01:41pm | 09/11/09

For all the Comrades who attack Howard on refugees just a little reminder

The fact is that mandatory detention was introduced during Paul Keating’s prime ministership, in 1991 .

An in, i 1994 - the midpoint of the Keating Government - about 350 children were in detention.
It was Howard who abandoned the policy of detaining children with their families - in response to considerable criticism from Coalition supporters and opponents alike.

Matt says:

01:47pm | 09/11/09

Victoria, you are proof there are some people you can fool all of the time!

watty says:

01:51pm | 09/11/09

Victoria….“no action on Global Warming?  Politically incorrect.

Rudd and Gore and the United Nations changed it to “Climate Change” many months ago
. Just exactly what “ACTION” has Rudd taken ? Lot ofspite and venom at the Lowy.Lots and lots of meetings with no outcome.
Wanting to a so called"Treaty’ in Copenhagen which hands over the management of the farm to the United Nations and we pay then $7 billion per annum for this honour?

That kind of “ACTION” Australian taxpayers can do without.

KM says:

01:52pm | 09/11/09

M Cooke I’m with you - bring back a leader of cred, who could make the tough decisions!! This country is certainly going to the dogs under the pathetic leadership of Rudd, who is more interested in the opinion polls. I feel for Howard after doing his utmost for the better of this country and watching it unravel before his eyes. Before we know it we will be over-run with foreigners and taxed to the eyeballs, to pay off the handouts that the shortsightedness of the Labour party handed out. Mark my words people, this country is changing for the worse under Rudds leadership!!

Hendo says:

01:56pm | 09/11/09

Hasn’t Howard got some cricket to drool over, or some travel expenses to charge back to the taxpayer? Unless he’s considering running for Parliament again, perhaps he should leave the businesss of Opposition to Mal mega millions ...

Zeta says:

01:58pm | 09/11/09

Penbo hits the nail on the head:

“But one thing that came through most clearly… is how clear and direct and comprehensible Howard’s positions on big issues always were, whether you liked them or not.”

That’s actually why he lost. Workchoices was why Labor won, they ran a good campaign based on it. Those ideological touchstones that rile up the Left, well, those people never voted for him in the first place.

Ultimately, I think a feeling permeated the community that the Howard Government had run its course and had nothing new to offer. It was because of Howard’s strength of conviction, his record, that people felt there were no more suprises coming. If there was a terrorist attack, we knew what Howard would do, if there were more boat people, we knew what Howard would do, if his Government were somehow rocked by some crisis, we knew what he would do.

That kind of certainty, that practical expression of conservatism, that faith in old institutions only carries you so far in Australian politics. Howard was lucky enough to be installed as Prime Minister at a time when our fortunes were flagging, a time when conservative financial dogma could still hope to pull us out of it. He was lucky enough to see neo-liberalism rise in the United States, and was able to repair our fractured bureaucracies using the lessons learned overseas. Then, in so many ways, he was lucky to have 9/11, because it made people less likely to take a punt on an untrusted other. Howard in 2001 and 2004 might not have been perfect, but we knew him at a time when uncertainty was everywhere. His legacy is that he carried us through it, and we carried him.

By 2007 we were comfortable, but worse, Howard was comfortable. I have no doubt that he and Costello could have handled the fall out from the GFC better than Rudd. But I think on a sub-conscious level, the people of Australian didn’t want that.

The stark difference between Howard and Keating, was that Keating wanted to put Australia in the middle of world affairs, he wanted to rattle the cages middle Australia builds for itself and ask big questions. Howard insulated us. It’s like he built a bubble over us and hid us from the nightmare outside our window. He kept us safe from terror, he kept us fat and happy.

After 12 years, I think people wanted their cages rattled again. Wanted to get to know someone else. Felt safe enough to think outside their political squares.

Howard could have saved his leadership by doing something brave and unpredictable, but that wasn’t in his character. Had he have been that kind of man, he might not have lasted as long as he did.

That will be Rudd’s undoing. Australia wanted something new and exciting. We got Howard Lite.

As an aside:

@ Michael - Howard was ‘removed’ because of a redistribution that made his safe north shore seat extremely marginal. Maxine McKew’s victory reflected the nationwide swing, which is kind of embarrasing for Labor considering the amount of cash they spent on her ($1 million plus by accounts in The Battle for Bennelong) . Local elections are won through two things: the judicious application of cash, and the judicious exposure of the candidate. Howard was unable to do the later (he couldn’t exactly spend every day door knocking) and he was too proud to divert funds away from other Sydney marginal seats to save his own skin. As I understand it, the thinking of senior Lib strategists was that Bennelong was a bell weather seat anyway, and if they lost, Howard would walk regardless. Hence why well publicised attempts to parachute him into the safe Liberal seat of Mitchell failed.

Vince says:

02:02pm | 09/11/09

If Rudd wins the next Fed Election which he no doubt will at this stage, after another term he is going to go down the gurglar well and truely and it will not matter who is in Opposition then, Turnbull or not, they will win in a landslide never seen before.

Mr Subramanian says:

02:04pm | 09/11/09

John Howard thinks Kevin’s Rudd’s border protection policies are too soft: in my book, that’s a big tick in Kevin Rudd’s favour. I just wish he really did laugh like he does on Rove…

RM52 says:

02:19pm | 09/11/09

To give Howard his just credit on border protection, he did what he said he would do,they stopped coming. It seems to me that Rudd & the gang simply have no idea how to turn off the bullshit,someone has pounded into them that to survive they only have to repeat a mantra over & over ,& somehow , we of little intelect wll accept whatever rubbish they are dealing out as gospel.I for one, have news for Kev,it ain’t working brother.

Victoria says:

02:26pm | 09/11/09

In answer to Leticia, my dear, even though I am over 50 years old, I believe in Charles Darwin and science, I have the greatest respect for everyoneS religeous views. But those views do not reflect my comments at all. I am speaking as an Australian whos family came here in convict ships.  Unless you are first Australian we all came from somewhere else and I have no objection at all to an increase in immigration and I wish this issue would get sorted out quickly. I genuinly applaude the rise for pensioners (no I am not one) I genuinlly respect the other changes the Governent has done and belonging to church, even though it gives comfort to some is not at all of my perogative nor does it preclude me from my views

Diamantina Dick says:

02:28pm | 09/11/09

Zeta,

That is some of the wisest commentary I have seen for some time, well done. I too think it was the “it’s time factor”; we wanted something different, unfortunately for us it was Rudd.

To those commenting on deceit in the Howard legacy (changing his mind on the GST as an example, which BTW was a policy he got an electoral mandate for in spite of ALP opposition, who had earlier proposed one) should take a good close look at what non-core promises Rudd took to the last election, including a commitment to “turn the boats around”, here is our Coast Guard!!!

And those still congratulating themselves on his defeat in Bennelong should consider that he polled more primary votes that McKew who was elected on green preferences, like a bunch of other oxygen thieves.

Cricketor says:

02:57pm | 09/11/09

Howards a has been, he needs to play golf or fish. His opinion only matters to Liberals. Those who marched shouting ” Howards a coward” voted them out. The next election will tell who Australians believe in and John Howard is not even in the race.

JH says:

03:00pm | 09/11/09

@ Zeta ‘Workchoices was why Labor won, they ran a good campaign based on it’ - Labor didn’t run a good campaign based on it, the unions did…

Mike says:

03:22pm | 09/11/09

John Howard reminds us of everything we don’t have in the current Prime Minister, or Opposition Leader for that matter. Clarity, resolve and purpose. Welcome back.

DJG says:

03:24pm | 09/11/09

Zeta in politics all that matters is who is elected, not how. You are right it was an ABC Journalist who beat the then PM. JWH should reflect on this , get a job or retire quietly.

Zeta says:

03:28pm | 09/11/09

@ JH - Labor are the Unions, and the Unions are Labor, both with the U, and without.

Your Rights At Work was orchestrated and carried out by Union operatives who would go on to be Labor operatives and vice versa. There is no difference. Your Rights At Work was created in co-operation with Labor’s parliamentary party for the express purpose of ousting Howard from Government, and just as importantly, holding onto those State Governments that held elections between ‘04 and ‘07.

No matter which way you slice it, Labor’s campaign was note perfect. The Liberal’s was not. As former NSW Liberal hatchet man Michael Darby once famously said on the Four Corners report that had him ousted from the party: ‘THAT’S POLITICS!’.

stephen says:

04:11pm | 09/11/09

Isn’t he supposed to be writing his Memoirs ? (Sitting on the front porch in a wooden rocker with a straw hat and a cocker spaniel ..“I should have been born in Glebe”.

Johnsy says:

04:15pm | 09/11/09

Ah excellent, Howard is popping his head up to participate in the “border protection” debate. It will give people another opportunity to re-examine the Tampa affair, and the kind of man Howard is.

As was determined later, in an attempt to appeal to the ignorant, fearful, and racist, Howard told outright lies about the Tampa incident to gain political capital.

The Australian Senate Select Committee (“A certain maritime incident”)  found 1) no children had been thrown overboard and,  2) the government had known this prior to the election.

Despite knowing the strain of being towed caused the Tampa to sink, Howard said the asylum seekers “irresponsibly sank the damn boat, which put their children in the water”.

Lest the rabble start bleating this was a left-wing conspiracy against Howard let us remember Michael Scrafton, former senior advisor to Peter Reith, revealed Howard was told before he said this that there was a strong possibility the “children overboard” claim might be untrue.

I sincerely hope Howard gets all the media oxygen he can over this issue so we can once again dissect exactly what it is that makes this man tick.

John Mills says:

04:16pm | 09/11/09

Has anyone heard how much the doubling of the size of Christmas Island detention Centre is to cost? (the one that Rudd proudly jumped on his soap box about during his campaign, tand said that Howard wasted tax payers money building). Or is this just another go and do it and we will worry about the financial plan later like his National Broadband debacle?

IMMI Insider says:

04:39pm | 09/11/09

John Mills: Good question mate. The current detention centre on Christmas Island is reported to have cost approx $400 Million in 2005. So considering the rising costs of everything, I don’t think you’ll get much change from $500 million this time around. Much like the NBN, I think it’ll be a blank cheque job.

Russ says:

04:52pm | 09/11/09

Can we take it from what you (David Penberthy that is) sat here that when next month’s Newspoll reveals that this result was an outlier, you will declare that Howard (the News Ltd choice for next PM, it would seem) is no longer seen by the people of Australia as the greatest person who ever lived?  Just a tired old racist, it would seem.

Juan says:

05:44pm | 09/11/09

The longer Kevin Rudd is Prime Minister the better John Howards legacy is going to look.

JESUS! says:

05:58pm | 09/11/09

May my father have mercy on his soul!

Daniel says:

06:04pm | 09/11/09

Interesting that the war criminal is staying out of politics. If he doesnt it might reaffirm in peoples minds holding this guy to account for some of his vile policies. We might remember that thousands of woman and children have died at this mans hands and also George Bush.

Tim says:

06:18pm | 09/11/09

Go back to your hippy comune Daniel…LOL

Sam Granleese says:

07:28pm | 09/11/09

Kevin Rudd is the most selfish politician I can recall, more interested in his polling popularity, his number of mentions in Media Monitors or his number of Twitter followers (tip: check how many are from Australia).

It was good to see JWH back rightly defending his record. I hope he contributes to political debate more often.

Paul Howell says:

07:54pm | 09/11/09

love him or loathe him at least you knew where you stood with Mr Howard.
At the moment Mr Rudd has used so much soin he appears to be trying to fight both sides of the illegal boat people argument.As far as Rudd’s climate change rant, there is no way Howard would have demeened himself in such a manner.Rudd’s inability to even accept that there are differing opinions to his ,is possibly his biggest weaknee, whenever under pressure he spits the dummy stamps his foot and threatens to take his ball home.Its about time he listened to the public and not his one sighted advisers.He is becoming a Tony Blair clone,even copying most of Blairs policies

dude says:

07:55pm | 09/11/09

What an embarrassment to the human race you poor fearful conservatives are! You seem to think that being tough on a small minority is a sign of strength; in fact, it shows the world that you truly are the weak. To see that weasel of man that you think as a decisive tough leader goes to the heart of your weakness and ignorance. If it wasn’t for the rags of News your voices wouldn’t even be heard as with your US rat brothers at Fox News you’re just being used to make Murdock a buck, the sad thing is you’re too dumb to now.

Matt says:

09:24pm | 09/11/09

Dude, if you are going to call other people dumb, I suggest you use the spelling and grammar functions before you submit your contribution. How embarrassment!!!

Michael says:

09:32pm | 09/11/09

Zeta, you might like to visit here to get some figures on how comprehensively Howard was trounced in Bennelong.  http://www.crikey.com.au/2007/11/29/mackerras-howards-bennelong-defeat-was-thoroughly-ignominious/

As to your general thesis that the Australian electorate voted Labor in because they weren’t going to get anything surprising out of Howard if he was returned in 2007, ple-e-ease. Are you saying voters are adrenaline junkies? Or that we are so callow we toss over someone who your words characterize as one of the finest leaders to lead any country, anywhere, ever, out of boredom with his predictability? Howard wore out his welcome, certainly, but he would still have been welcome if he hadn’t decided that WorkChoices was the nation’s salvation. It never could be statesmanlike, inspired leadership, or any other variation on your obvious perception of the man, to tell the workers of the country he led that they could like it or leave when it came to making a living at the hands of those who’d strip them of any rights to dignity at the workplace beyond turning up and clocking in.

The man who you say everyone who favoured him did so because they knew how he would guide the nation in times of duress made the desperate mistake of trying to force this country to a place where it could never go ‘naturally’. He put Australia under duress, and sowed his own undoing.

Robert Hart says:

10:30pm | 09/11/09

Someone said refugees and up he pops. Mr White Australia himself. We’ll decide what I’m told to do, he said.

Having ridiculed Keating and Fraser for their commentaries he can’t help himself. Even has to do the interview on his “walk”.

Is this his move to take over from Turbull? Will he find a TARDUS to take him back to the 50’s again?

The most pertinent queation is in two parts. Why doesn’t he shut up and fade away like a good boy. And whtever happened to that lucrative speaking career? Seems to me the only ones who have hired him are the Liberal Party and George Busg (for a speech whilst shooting ducks).

Go away Johnny, you’re a fish and chips wrapper.

kp says:

06:45am | 10/11/09

There is no doubt that John Howard was the best Prime Minister this country has ever had. We are extremely lucky people. It is just such a shame that there are so many ungrateful people out there that can’t see the forest for the trees !!!

Jan says:

09:58am | 10/11/09

Howard the coward is a war criminal, criminal to Australian Native people, criminal to East Timor people and to any person who is normal humam being.

Hi distroyed what is beautiful and what is fair.
He hates people.
He brought fear and paranoia.
He trives on people who are uneducated that is why He distroyed education in Australia.
He is loyal as He appointed his friends to secure jobs payed by our taxes.

He has short man complex that is why hi acts as orther short criminals,eg Hitler and Gingis Khun.

Let him hide under the rock and stop ever to mantion his name, it is a waste of time as he polute the air with his CO2 and uses Oxigen.

Any fair dinkum Australian should try to forget about him and be what we are.
Fair, Free and Just.

dude says:

10:08am | 10/11/09

Thanks for that Matt. My english is not so good and so what, it’s not a great indicator of intelligence. On the other hand your morals aren’t so good which is an excellent pointer to one’s lack of intelligence.
And kp, you too should lift your standards, but I suppose starting at such a low point there’s only one way to go from there and that’s up.

Megan says:

10:10am | 11/11/09

Every day Rudd is PM the more i wish Howard was still PM.

Adam says:

11:16am | 13/11/09

@ Jan -  You’re wasting your talents commenting here. You should be a staffer on Rudd the Duds propoganda machine. Your prose is divine.

A tip, ask any returned Defense force personnel next ANZAC day, how they can live with themselves, being the criminals they are. Are you really that goose Sheik Haron in disguise?

Poor misguided lefty, like a rabid dog with a bone. Frothing at the mouth, and cant let it go.

You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re ‘fair dinkum’ - a fair dinkum disgrace is closer to the mark.

SteveO says:

08:27pm | 13/11/09

I found it odd that Howard did not mention GST. I also found it odd that his list of what he sees as achievements were pretty light on the ground after almost 12 years in government.
He cited gun reform, workchoices & border control, then went onto say.
He was working towards a review of the waterfront. He was working on a review to overhaul the tax system.  Gee, and the ALP’s debt was such that he states in the interview that it took them 2 years to pay it off. Must have been a scary load of debt.
Ahh…The foreign debt truck of 96billion. Hockey was silenced when he reinvigorated the foreign debt issue. Under Howard it ballooned to over 600billion, snowballing at 50 billion per year.
Mmmm…..........................
How long was he in power?????? How long has Rudd been in power??????

Olga says:

07:30pm | 14/11/09

Too bloody long SteveO !

Kevin07 says:

08:00am | 15/11/09

What Howard thinks about Kevin is pure crap. Howard claims that Rudd is a “do-nothing” PM and a lousy economic manager, yet the economy in Australia is way better than that of the other 1st world countries. And John Howard ruined the economy before Kevin got in so he must be great with the economy.
P.S. Howard is also an impolite git who gives rude hand signs in Parliament.

Denise says:

02:12pm | 15/11/09

Howard ruined the economy before Kevin got in????????? What rock are you living under????????

Kevin07 says:

08:02am | 16/11/09

Hey Denise, are you a Liberal Supporter?! It sounds like you want to kiss Howards Feet.

Phil says:

06:12pm | 16/11/09

I must laugh at all you union hacks and lefties commenting here. You rabble on about work choices, yet many Australians are currently having a system of work choices work well in their workplaces. Workchoices whilst abused by some employers allowed flexability. The same flexability that currently says work only 4 days a week so everyones jobs are safe.

But now with the unfair dismissal laws back in place, bosses are more reluctant to employ those who may take advantage of this.  I know who I would get rid of when slow down comes. All those idiots that voted for change. Just walk through the car park and anyone with a KEVIN 07 sticker is a marked man or woman. if their performance is in any way questionable.
If they are good workers then they have nothing to fear.

I am just amazed that Kevin has not passed in the towel and handed the reigns over to Julia yet. WHilst her voice sounds like rasp blades at least she talks straight and you know what she stands for even if you disagree with her. Kevin is just a big girl.

As many said John Howard was a man of conviction. Whether you agreed with him or not, he was the first PM in some time to not set himself up for life outside politics with somewhat dubious business deals. He didnt care what people thought, unlike Mr Popular.

As for the ETS can someone explain how taxing/charging us will lead to a slowdown in polution ?

Now Rove is cancelled, how will anyone ask Kev who he would turn for.