Kerry's man tells PM: mind your manners

[Judi Lynn]

Kerry's man tells PM: mind your manners
By Peter Hartcher in Washington
November 1, 2004

An adviser to the Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry has criticised John Howard for publicly wishing for victory for George Bush in this week's election.

The Prime Minister last week said of the US President: "I hope he wins."

A senior defence official in the Clinton administration and prospective senior official in a Kerry administration, Kurt Campbell, said this was "a little inappropriate". Dr Campbell told the Herald: "I remember when Australians thought there was too much playing of politics here, when the Bush Administration was talking about Australian politics.

"I would remind Australians that the same applies at home. Such comments about our politics are a little inappropriate."

In June, Mr Bush criticised the Labor leader, Mark Latham, for promising to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq by Christmas.
(snip/...)

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/31/1099219993094.html?from=storylhs

[NeoConsSuck]

1. Howard is a neocon scumbag

It's no coincidence he's supporting another neocon scumbag.

[saigon68]

2. Scumbag is too kind a word

Child Rapist and Murderer is more appropriate.

[goforit]

3. There goes half of Australia's tourism!!!

[autorank]

4. Australians and the British need to learn a lesson, not just the leaders

The vile Labour Party (supposedly our kin in England)has been maintained in power throughout the Iraq fiasco. The British system allows the removal of leaders in a real-time scenario. Blair could have been shoved out at any time. The Australian people re-elected this jackass Howard just days ago. When Kerry gets in the first calls should go in this order: Canada/Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, Japan, Korea. He shouldn't even contact Blair or Howard for a few days. They are pigs and will not be affected. The people in Great Britain and Australia need to get the memo -- stop maintaining and electing assholes.

[Lucky Luciano]

6. I have been in Britain the last few weeks...

The Brits dislike Tony Blair and the Iraq mess, but they HATE HATE HATE the Tories even more. There is the liberal democrat party in the UK that is gaining strength due to Blair and Labour being into Mess-O-Potamia.

[captainjack]

13. which is the liberal party?

tories or the labour?

[AussieDave]

16. Here in Oz the Liberals are conservative - like the Tories..

[Straight Shooter]

7. Kerry will contact all world leaders ASAP

He doesn't hold a grudge, because it's politically inappropriate to do so. Kerry is going to forge an alliance with as many as he can, let bygones be bygones, and try to create at least the impression that world leaders can be adults.

Kerry of course is an adult. He acts like an adult and he speaks like an adult. As for Howard, he's playing the same childish game as bush.

[MADem]

11. Howard is afraid

The cash-money that has been flowing his way as a result of the war on terra will dry up. Australia has been getting way more $$$ than they are worth; they've been able to upgrade their military on our taxpayer dime. I say screw them--all talk, no walk.

[JoFerret]

9. The Labour party is NOT vile

....only a true rethug could think that.

furthermore - if it were up to the Brits it would be Kerry in a landslide and no question about it.

[autorank]

14. Respectfully disagree on Labour. They are vile.

Their leader, Blair, is the author of British involvement with the illegal, immoral, criminal war in Iraq. Any civilian death is appalling, 100,000 deaths makes this a true war crime. How did this happen? Tony Blair jumped on board and was never challenged for the leadership of the party prior to the war; nor has there been a challenge at any point after it became apparent that this was a crime built on a series of fraudulent "intelligence findings."

Any party that would continue to allow it's leader to stay in power when that leader was engaged in a criminal enterprise killing 100,000 civilians and injuring several hundred thousand more is vile. There are supposedly 100 "back bencher's" who are very unhappy and a number of Labour cabinet ministers resigned from the Blair government. Why don't they resign from the party and go over to the Liberal Party? Why don't they threaten to do this unless Blair steps down?

The Democrats Party was torn up to my great regret because many, many Democrats would not allow Johnson's crimes to stand despite the fact he was even better than Blair on domestic leadership.

Labour is not only vile, it is decadent and corrupt!

[Matilda]

19. It's about winning elections.

As long as the Labour Party believes that Blair is the most likely
leader to win the next election, they'll stick with him no matter
what they feel about his policies.

Similarly, I have it from Liberal Party insiders here that most of
the Liberal MPs detest John Howard, but they like the fact that he
wins elections. When he finally loses, he'll be out the door so
fast there'll be no time to say goodbye.

Politics is about pragmatism above all.

[LivingInTheBubble]

15. They are vile IMO.

Not only blair but everyone of the MPs who supported him in his poor decisions not only on iraq but at home too.

[autorank]

20. Here, here. Spoken in the spirit of William Pitt, The Elder

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. I love the way the Kerry campaign people are so pro-active.

Very promising.

[DemExpat]

10. I agree....looks good.

DemEx

[DiverDave]

8. Yo, howard

shut your trap, you aussie asshole.

[loudsue]

12. Yep...and Howard supports Aussie Ruppert Murdoch...FAUX NEWS

owner. If that doesn't say everything you need to know, I don't know what does.

As soon as we win this election, we need to send Murdoch back to Australia.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Kemet]

18. easy now

I dislike Howard and his comments as much as the next DUer but i don't think we're in a position to give a lesson on how to elect an asshole (At least just for one more day). Not every election in the world needs to have its focus point on foreign policies.
This is just to say that there is no need to add "aussie" to the namecalling, i'm sure he can just be a plain asshole.

Can you believe it, a french defending australians? ;)(Maybe because i've seen my own nationality has an adjective to an insult already)

Cheers

[AussieDave]

17. That's fine, and not unexpected from an idiot like Howard.

All John Kerry has to do is just not receive him at the White House - all dealings through lower-level officials. Howard will still do what he is asked because he's staked too much on the U.S.-Australian alliance.

Shot himself in the foot this time, but he won't care - he's just won his precious election.