2007 Federal Election: John Howard [vs] Kevin Rudd

[LaFace]

For the record, I personally am a Labor supporter through and through so I have voted in favour of Kevin Rudd, but I do consider what the opposition parties have to say, as we live in a Democratic society. Today was the first time I was able to vote at a federal level in an election, and I would like to say I am grateful for having the democratic right to express my opinion in the form of voting. This is a right we often take for granted, and many people around the world would love this right yet simply do not have such freedom.

The 2007 Australian Federal Election is being held today.

The leaders of the two major parties, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberals (aka Coalition), are Kevin Rudd and John Howard respectively.

John Howard has been prime minister since 1996, having won four elections in a row, after defeating the Labor Government which had ruled for well over the past decade. Howard has defeated Paul Keating, Kim Beazley (x2) and Mark Latham during his time as leader.

This time around according to the major polls, Kevin Rudd is tipped to defeat John Howard, and become prime minister as leader of the ALP. However, as the electorate has proved in the past, many seats can be unpredictable and the Liberal party in past elections has overcome adversity, contrary to what sources believed would be their fate. Point being, nothing is certain with the impending result this time around, despite such polls.

-----------------------------------------------

John Howard:


25th Prime Minister of Australia
Elections: 1987, 1996-2007
Incumbent
Assumed office: 11 March 1996
Preceded by Paul Keating
Constituency: Bennelong

Born: 26 July 1939 (1939-07-26) (age 68)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party: Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse: Janette Howard
Residence Official: The Lodge, Kirribilli House
Profession: Solicitor

-----------------------------------------------

Kevin Rudd:


Leader of the Australian Labor Party/ Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent
Assumed office: 4 December 2006
Preceded by: Kim Beazley
Constituency: Griffith

Born: 21 September 1957 (1957-09-21) (age 50)
Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Political party: Australian Labor Party
Spouse: Thérèse Rein
Residence: Norman Park, Queensland
Profession: Diplomat, civil servant

---------------------------------------------

This thread is to express your opinion on anything related to the election, in a civil and respectful manner.

[halfbreed]

Kevin '07.
Renewable energy. Woo!

[shugi]

And alas our tax dollars for the time being are not funding s***ty political television ads.

[thekrez]

Well holy crap the old bastard finally got voted out.

Freezing my nuts off here in London I have to say I only saw the election from afar, but I do appreciate what Howard has done for our country over the past 11 years. One could argue he only continued what KEating and Hawke started, but at least you have to give him credit for that.

I never really felt that strongly about the other issues people deride him for i.e. Iraq, immigration etc, and I think he was right to take a stand on many of the issues.

Having said that I come from a blue ribbon Liberal seat and consider the rest of Sydney to be immigrant Labour scum ;D

It will be interesting to see how Rudd is different as he is very much younger and speaks fluent Chinese.

Anyway ave Howard, I wish you well.

[miaim]

Blair.....gone!

Howard..........gone!

the shrub............f***ed!










sorry, i couldn't resist!


peace

[chad]

Thanks for everything John.

[tbw]

It will definitely be interesting with Rudd, but not my preference of leader though he does seem like a decent person. Seems John was really gambling on winning this election and going out a big hero of the liberal party. Anybody else think Costello retiring straight after liberals losing the election shows that he wanted to be PM only if the reigns were handed to him?

[elle]

congrats to rudd..not that he had to do much...i like his quick decisions to join the kyoto protocol and say sorry...after a while people are going to bitch mercilessly about the state of the economy...but you cant please everybody right...and australia is in the doldrums weather wise...as a country they have a duty and responsibility to rectify those matters before the almighty state of the economy which can't go upwards endlessly anyhow.

[juancarlos]

One down ... one more to go. It's time to have a Democrat in the U.S. White Haus in 2008.

[jericho]

I'm still waiting for petrol prices to drop. And now I am paying more for bread.

Do somethng Mr. Rudd!

I am very interesting in Rudd's plans and hopefully the devil we don't know will prove to be the right choice most Australians made. The next few years will be interesting to watch, I want to see what he changes and what he chooses to remain the same.

Anyone else worried our new Prime Minister can be referred to as Krudd?