Howard (au. PM) moves a toe into Iraq and moves against gays

[moku]

According to my critic newspaper (The Australian):

'We will see it through'
JOHN Howard has declared during a lightning trip to Iraq that Australian troops will be serving in the strife-torn country for atleast another 14 months, and probably longer Under a Coalition Government...

So much for handing it over to the Iraqis.
Seems the PM wants to improve the morale of our great soldiers.

...During a secret 'George Bush style' to Baghdad for the Anzac Day Service...
..Praising the original Anzac's determination, ingenuity, mateship and courage, Mr howard said those attributes were used for even higher aims.
"That without the freedom and individual liberty, little can in the long term be accomplished.
I want to say from the bottom of my heart to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who are serving here in Iraq, thank you for the wondeful work you are doing..."

What a load of bullshit - If my PM wants to start with "individual liberty" why the fuck doesn't he start with the poor homeless folks of Iraq? Maybe they don't want a ten thousand invaderss in their home country.
And what is our force called? the 'Australian Defence Force' Yup "Defence" not offensive. We are supposed to defend our country not invade others? Isn't that what the UN is supposed to give the green light for?

I really do not like this guy. Another thing which he wants to pass in parliament recently was this (same newspaper):

John Howard plans a radical overhaul of the marriage act to defend traditional families and stop Australian courts recognising foreign gay unions, mirroring moves by george W. Bush's election year campaign to ban same sex marriages in the US. It is understood the reforms approved by the federal cabinet, would entrench the Commonwealth's power to protect heterosexual from changes by the states and territories, and prevent gay couples from gaining recognition og their unions by marrying in countries such as Canada or Denmark.

This is just intolerance cubed! How can a PM or President put personal views infront and forget what perhaps a referendum and democracy is for?!? I mean, supposedly (in a "democracy) everyone is equal. How can they do this shit then? I can't say: "Lets boot Howard outta this country" can I? Nope

Anyone else got the same views (ohh, and the poll)

[moku]

My apologies - I put some mistakes into the gay newspaper takout:
Here it is again:

John Howard plans a radical overhaul of the marriage act to defend traditional families and stop Australian courts recognising foreign gay unions, mirroring moves by george W. Bush's election year campaign to ban same sex marriages in the US. It is understood the reforms approved by the federal cabinet, would entrench the Commonwealth's power to protect heterosexual marriages from changes by the states and territories, and prevent gay couples from gaining recognition of their unions by marrying in countries such as Canada or Denmark.

Thanks

[Crown]

The little garden gnome has survived worse before (children overboard anybody?), Mark just needs to lift his game a little and we wait for the polling, it will be close, but he's got a better chance than Creane or Beasely ever had.

[BoredShirtless]

For fucks sakes, does Howard have to mirror everything Bush does? What an inept braindead piece of shit.

[moku]

Hahaha. Mark Latham has got more morality and ethics in him than dear Johny could ever not want. Children Overboard was a nice example of Mr Howard infringing world wide UN law. A basic Humanright states that whoever you are, you have the right to approach any nation in the world and inquire for refugee status. Now our dear little Pm states our country no longer applies the human rights to our law. eh? What could we do? I say vote him out next election. the bugger has sat on the throne long enough, and has vandalised it too!

[Mr Flibble]

Howard has to go. His blatant US arse-licking is bad enough, and now he is attacking gay marrige, dammit I wish I had confidence that he was going to get voted out. Another four years of Howard is going to ruin this country, not economically but socially.

HOWARD AUSTRALIA IS NOT AMERICA!!!!!

His shit just makes me so angry

On a more positive note, hi `naeo its always good to see another Aussie on the board.

[moku]

Ahh, a little while back in the newspaper there was this bloody beautiful comic drawing.
There were the japs standing in Sydney harbour and they were watching the New Years' Celebration (and these in case you folks don't know) and they are very voluptuous and brilliant! Ahh, love our fireworks. Anyhow, this aussie dude in thongs holding this newspaper walk up to the japs and says: "You japs think that's good eh? Well wait till we celebrate 'Dependance Day'..."

If someone here wnats it, I have it scanned in on my local hard drive, so just email me! ahh, I love critic newspapers!

[Stark]

Howards goose-stepping to the tune of Bush (argh, mixed metaphors) is indeed quite bothersome. But honestly, I don't know WHO would vote for Howard as it is, but he wins anyway. Bleh.

The whole gay marriage issue is the sort of thing Howard will never let go to a referendum, without restating it like 'should gay couples be given a free corvette, or should it be illegal' like he did with the republic idea.

[BoredShirtless]

But honestly, I don't know WHO would vote for Howard as it is, but he wins anyway. Bleh.

The main reason why Howard would win would be identical to the reason why Bush will win; the country is at war. Changing government at a time of war would only make things messier is the mindset of the "people".

[Sharp-kun]

Is there a better alternative to Howard?

[moku]

Ahh, since Howard imitates Bush, Blair is not that far off either, and Bush is the fag that does it all in the first run. Screw all of 'em
How does the election go in the UK? I mean how much longer till that bugger is (hopefully) kicked out?

[Sharp-kun]

Ahh, since Howard imitates Bush, Blair is not that far off either, and Bush is the fag that does it all in the first run. Screw all of 'em
How does the election go in the UK? I mean how much longer till that bugger is (hopefully) kicked out?

I doubt Blair will be kicked out.

Despite his flaws, there really isn't a better alternative. Howard is still up in the air, and I'm not sure if people will vote the Tories back in. The Lib Dems, as always, are a joke. Blairs fucked some things up, but I don't see much real competition yet.

[Patrick Degan]

My apologies - I put some mistakes into the gay newspaper takout:
Here it is again:

John Howard plans a radical overhaul of the marriage act to defend traditional families and stop Australian courts recognising foreign gay unions, mirroring moves by george W. Bush's election year campaign to ban same sex marriages in the US. It is understood the reforms approved by the federal cabinet, would entrench the Commonwealth's power to protect heterosexual marriages from changes by the states and territories, and prevent gay couples from gaining recognition of their unions by marrying in countries such as Canada or Denmark.

Thanks

Parliament would have nothing to say about this?

[Vympel]

Parliament would have nothing to say about this?

This is the first I've heard of it. I'm a bit behind in local politics- I've forgotten what the mix in Parliament and the Senate is exactly. With any luck, the Democrats (the designated "third party" whoose motto was "keep the bastards honest) can stop it. It might be hard for Labor to intervene though, might make Mark Latham look 'bad' (in the same predicament as John Kerry, perhaps ... though I don't know his gay marriage stance).

[Spyder]

I think just about every Western country has someone in their government that wants to see how far up Bush's asshole he can stick his toungue. Bill English was giving Howard a good rim job during his last visit to NZ. Luckily for us Bill English is in the opposition party, as such only succeeded in making himself look more like a tool then ever.

[Xon]

Is there a better alternative to Howard?

No, not really.

Parliament would have nothing to say about this?

Howard controls the House of Representitives which drafts the bills(Aus politics are typically very party oriented) and the Senate which actually makes them into law(Has to be signed by the Govern General, but its normally just a rubber stamp) is normally pro-Howard.

Also our Democrats, whose motto was "keep the bastards honest" but it really should be "which side is the bread buttered on", is pathetically limp wristed. Also they are largely recognised as responcible for the cluster fuck that all the various exeptions and such on the GST are.


`naeo, The american armed forces is controlled by the deparment of Defense, just like in Australia.

[Xon]

This is just intolerance cubed! How can a PM or President put personal views infront and forget what perhaps a referendum and democracy is for?!?

The only time a referendum is required is went there is a proposed consitutional change, and then it must be an explicit question.

Since the Australian consitution is a structural one(in the original version, it explictly denied aboriginals the privilage to drink), Australian citizens only have 2 explict rights: The right to vote for state & federal elections, and the right to vote on consitution referendums.

Marriage laws arent even touched by the consitution, at any of the states or federal level.

Also marriage is a legal status explicitly granted by the state/federal government, and the recognition of a marriage not preformed by representatives invested in the ability by the state/federal government are not guarantied to be acknowledged for citizens of Australia.

[Xon]

Also marriage is a legal status explicitly granted by the state/federal government, and the recognition of a marriage not preformed by representatives invested in the ability by the state/federal government are not guarantied to be acknowledged for citizens of Australia.

Oops. Marriage is a legal status granted by the federal government. Not the states.

[Darth Wong]

I think just about every Western country has someone in their government that wants to see how far up Bush's asshole he can stick his toungue.

Yes, in Canada we have an asshole who goes by the name of Stephen Harper, and he won the Conservative Party nomination after a shitload of western rednecks and religious fanatics bought up all the party memberships and block-voted for him. Every single comment he's made on every single issue that's come before our government has been a mirror of whatever George Bush is saying at the time. I say without a trace of sarcasm or levity that Canada would be better off if the weaselly little theocratic shitstain was run over by a bus.

On the other side, the Liberals know how many people find the new right-wing Intolerance Party to be repellent, so they take advantage of this and you can tell they don't take the opposition seriously by looking at how arrogant they are. So we kind of get screwed both ways; we either go with the devil we know or the fanatical asshole we don't.

[Patrick Degan]

Also our Democrats, whose motto was "keep the bastards honest" but it really should be "which side is the bread buttered on", is pathetically limp wristed.

Hmm... They sort of sound like our Democrats here in America.

[Stark]

Well I have no faith in democracy. So many nations, ruled by idiots, because all other candidates are no better, or worse. Maybe we should pick candidates at random from the street or something; I'd be hard pressed to find someone with as little self-respect as Howard.

However, because he just CAN'T be that lame, maybe he's got an Evil Plan(tm) and it's all an act?

[moku]

Concerning the candidates...
I reckon (more au. concerning) that Latham has a pretty good chance. His campaign about parenting sessions was pretty good, and caught Howard out in the cold. And Howard was, however fast to get dressed, though still spat bullshit everywhere. I reckon we should rest more on Latham, after all, he has more brains...

[Stuart Mackey]

I have observed the politics of Blair, Howard and Bush and have concluded that the three of them are homosexual lovers.
That is all.

[Stuart Mackey]

I think just about every Western country has someone in their government that wants to see how far up Bush's asshole he can stick his toungue. Bill English was giving Howard a good rim job during his last visit to NZ. Luckily for us Bill English is in the opposition party, as such only succeeded in making himself look more like a tool then ever.

Heh..and he got rolled by a first term MP

[White Cat]

Yes, in Canada we have an asshole who goes by the name of Stephen Harper, and he won the Conservative Party nomination after a shitload of western rednecks and religious fanatics bought up all the party memberships and block-voted for him.

1) The party's leadership election method (each riding got the same weight, no matter how many members it had) was deliberately set up to make it impossible for the larger western membership to decide the outcome. Harper won not just because of his western base, but because he was supported by one-third of Quebec and Atlantic members and fully 57% of Ontario.

2) I followed the Conservative leadership race very closely, and I never saw anyone even claim that religious groups were "buying up all the party memberships and block-voting for him". Source, please.

(Perhaps you're thinking of Stockwell Day? There were stories about him doing that in both the 2000 and 2002 Canadian Alliance races.)