Australian Leader Howard Concedes Defeat

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:53 AM EST

Article Source: Australian News Network

world-news, iraq, election, australia, democracy, george-bush, john-howard, prime-minister, kevin-rudd

Not only has Howard lost the election, he's the first prime minister in almost 8 decades to lose his seat in parliament.

Broad domestic condemnation of Howard's regressive social and foreign policies have been tempered in previous elections by strong support for his fiscal conservatism.

The moderation and humanism of incoming socialist Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has proved too much for Howard, however.

The first realistic Labour Party leader in a generation, Rudd has promised to immediately withdraw Australia from Iraq, to sign the Kyoto treaty, to modernize Australian schools and hospitals, and to reign in government spending.

Howard's Sydney seat was lost mainly due to perceived abuses of civil liberties in Sydney attending the grandstanding by Howard's supporter, American president George Bush, during the recent APEC conference.

Howard was magnanimous in defeat, wishing Rudd and the incoming government well and congratulating the Australian people on an orderly and enthusiastic exercise of their democracy.

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Peter Merel's Column, All of Newsvine
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Regions: Sydney

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{"commentId":1211272,"authorDomain":"PeterMerel"}

Peter Merel

Rudd's victory speech was a great start too. Congratulated Howard on his contribution to public service and rededicated himself, his party, and his country to the future. Well spoken, measured and warm - speaking as a longtime Liberal voter, I'm pretty happy with the look of this bloke.

{"commentId":1211272,"threadId":"180341","contentId":"1118628","authorDomain":"PeterMerel"}

2 votes

#1 - Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:30 AM EST

{"commentId":1211415,"authorDomain":"Rebecca-Yarowsky"}

Rebecca Yarowsky

Hallelujah! Let's hope this represents the beginning of a global trend . . .

{"commentId":1211415,"threadId":"180341","contentId":"1118628","authorDomain":"Rebecca-Yarowsky"}

1 vote

#2 - Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:26 AM EST

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Rudd romps to historic win as PM of Australia	The Age	Sat Nov 24	2
Howard faces toughest election yet in Australia	CNN	Fri Nov 23	2
John Howard, Bush's "deputy sheriff," tossed out in landslide.	Bloomberg.com	Sat Nov 24	12
Defeated Howard thanks Australia	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	Sat Nov 24	3
Labor's seat surge continues in NSW	Australian Broadcasting Corporation	Sat Nov 24	0

PETER MEREL

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Australian Leader Howard Concedes Defeat

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