Stage set for David and Goliath battle

[struggle4progress]

OK, it's Howard and Bush v Latham at the federal election. Howard's 2004 replica of his fear-and-anxiety 2001 Tampa victory is "Vote for me or the Yanks will abandon us".
<snip>

At the same time, the Bush dump on Latham beside a smugly smiling Howard in Washington was shown to be the launch of brutally explicit threats by the Bush administration to abandon the American alliance if we elect Latham. That is, Bush and Howard have agreed to do whatever it takes to get each other re-elected this year, whatever the cost.

Howard is confident he can scare us into voting for him again out of deliberately, cynically engineered fear. Then again, the transparency of the fear politics and its disregard for the national interest of either Australia or America might make some voters think a vote for Howard is a vote for Bush. Some might even think that a vote for Latham would encourage the American people to chuck Bush out and elect a sane, competent and decent administration that would increase the odds of peace and promote enduring Western values throughout the world.
<snip>

Get the picture? This election will be wild, maybe the wildest since 1975. It's the most important election in my lifetime. Are we prepared to insist on our independence and demand to be treated by America as a friend, not a slave? Does always saying yes to the United States mean that we can never say no?
<snip>

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/12/1086749939943.html?oneclick=true


Holy smokies, Boy George's foreign policy is really gathering attention abroad!

[LittleApple81]

1. When is the election? They want to start registering people to be

able to use their site. I guess I will have to get another e-mail account for this type of stuff.

[struggle4progress]

2. If I click through, I get the article without any registration request.

Re: election date


Political commentators have tipped a federal election as early as August 7, although Prime Minister John Howard added to the confusion on Friday by saying he could wait until early next year.
Mr Latham went for a date somewhere in between: "I have always thought October was a possibility. We are ready whenever the Government wants to call the election.
http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,9825961%5E903,00.html

[LittleApple81]

3. Howard can have elections WHENEVER he wants? I do not understand

their system... sounds like it is lopsided in Howard's favor if it is left up to him?
Don't they have scheduled elections? Pardon my ignorance, but in this case I am like the repugs in power: I know nutting.

[struggle4progress]

4. Well, my understanding is that they have a parliamentary system

and elections must occur within certain deadlines, but the government has some flexibility in deciding exactly when.