john howard idiosyncracies?
959577
All i know is he is a total tool.  What about the promises he made before becoming Prime Minister?  He said he would never introduce a GST and he said he would never sell off Telstra.  I personally despise his new Industrial Laws as well....\n\nYet again Kim Beazley is a twit too....How do u mistaken Rove McManus as Karl Rove?  I hope he never becomes PM either!
1151547
if you work it out only 1 in 5 voter for this pair last time. \nbut yes cos there is no one eles. camran is a twit and his party is divided. and the ming whats his name is to soft to be priminister. ukip are as bad as the bnp and the green party are kidding themselfs.\n\nwe stuck with labour. god help us.
654046
I can't think of any bigger liar whose been PM, there may have been some that have been as gutless, though. Most of them do whatever the dominant power of the day tells them. \n\nThe tragedy is that there are no obviously better alternatives arounf than honest John. That is one of the secrets of his success, along with his willingness to appeal to the dark side of the Australian character.
650669
He retired from public life in 1999. See his\nbiography on the ANC site (referenced below).
699122
It depends on how long voters memories are.  Also, much and all as we may not like John Howard, luckily for him, the other parties have no one to measure up to him. Under Howard  Australian govt is looking good to the rest of the world, but the majority of Australians are hurting.
403015
i don't like conservative governments..we already have 2 very stupid conservative governments that are about to start the 3rd world war ( US and Iran) .... i don't think he is going to be a good prime minister although i should admit he is very cute!...anyways,,,i think in case of war he will send our troops to the war zone...and this could cost us a lot! not only tax money,,,but this will improve the risk of terrorist attacks on Canada
392603
John Howard's nose is so brown I am surprised makeup is able to cover it :-P\n\nDon;t slag on Tony Blair.  He is hot and has half a brain, unlike Bush :-D\n\nSeriously though we voted for Howard, in a way it's the Australian people's fault.  I wish Labor here had a better leader though and Aussies weren't so stupid as to fall for the Liberal scare campaign tactics.\n\nAs far as Bush goes I used to live in the US and I can understand why people voted for him.  I am not sure as to his fitness to run a country but I think he is surrounded by advisers that have lost touch with reality.  Bush will end up like Lyndon Johnson and be accused of a war that isn't win-able.  \n\nOur prayers should be going to those who are serving over in Iraq and Afghanistan (and soon Iran I fear).  They are the ones we should be worried about.  God will judge Bush et al when their time comes.  I just hope that they get their karmic due sooner rather than later!
1056052
It,s Amazing How One Can Knock President Bush When John Howard And President Bush A Good Mates! John Howard Was Just In The States With President Bush. Right Or Wrong ,\nAll That Is In The War Are Sticking Together! \nLook in your own backyard before knocking others.\nIf you had a child SERVING  in the war,,,\nWOULD YOU BE SO NEGATIVE ?\n~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Peace.
739109
BEN IS WAY TOO INCONSISTANT\n\nGO WITH BRETT
289145
Realistically, Howard. Even if he loses in court they say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Maybe the whole thing is a stunt, it wouldn't shock me.
546528
He is an absolute goon. \n\nyes, he is really like that, and no most people in australia are not like him.\n\nI am Australian\n\n95% of Australians live in a city near the coast. \n\nnot our hunting crocs.\n\nbut we don't just party and laze around on the beach (if only!) \n\nI woke up this morning at 7:30 and put on my security pass and tie, walked out into the frost and drove to my office, here i sit in air conditioned comfort, eyeing off the vending machines and pretending to work. \n\nthis is pretty much the same as most people in Australia, and indeed the world\n\nI am a very adventurous person, but i have only ever "wrestled" one croc, and it was a baby in a zoo.\n\ni very rarely say "crickey", i do not flail my arms about. i would never be seen dead in such tiny shorts, let alone khaki.\n\nI have been out bush many many times, but most people don't. \n\ni have met an australian who had never seen a kangaroo.\n\ni grew up in Canberra, our capital city, kangaroo's would come off the mountains and down into the city streets, possums live in peoples rooves and you'll occasionally see a kookaburra on a telephone pole. but you hardly ever see platypi, wombats or echidna's.\n\nYes we have spiders and snakes, but snakes avoid cities, and when i found a red back in my shower this morning i hit it with a magazine. my house is very normal, my friendsa are very normal, yes we all have accents, but then, we think you have accents.\n\nmy Life looks just like an american sitcom, my office and home are no different. \n\nthere are factories and offices and building sites, just like anywhere.\n\nSteve Irwin is a c0ck
333792
That is a potential flaw of the New Zealand system. I remember when I was living there, that a similar situation happened in the early 1990's. Before you consider your system a failure, you must compare your expectations of a democracy with what is practical. Here in Australia, we have a similar system, but we have two houses. There is often a situation whereby one or two senators hold the balance of power, where they alone can block any legislation (this indeed lead to the late 1970's dismissal of the Whitlam Government, which was a failure of democracy). Is this fair? Perhaps.\n\nThe minority have the right to be represented, but do they have the right to force a compromise? These are all very complex philosophical discussions. At the end of the day, both Australia and New Zealand enjoy a very stable political environment and high standards of living. There are very few people that are not represented. Perhaps all not equally, but all to a degree.\n\nIf one of the numerous gold mining companies of the South Island started polluting one of the rivers, you can bet that both the opposition, minorities and majority will pass legislation or put an act in motion to protect you. You are a minority preventing a majority interest (the macroeconomic advantages from the profits of the company).\n\nYou must also consider what the "voice of the people" is. In Australia, we are quite multicultural. Earlier this week it was proposed to introduce a test on Australian values (which relates to the voice of the people) which migrants must pass to gain citizenship. But in such a multicultural society, what are the people's values? The best interpretation would be the laws of our country. They represent the underlying attitudes, values and beliefs of our society. And along with our societies changing values, the laws change. Now to apply this to your situation, any proposed changes in your laws will depend on you. Your elected representatives will consult the community on any major changes (see for Example "Andrew's Bill", an abortion bill introduced in the House of Representatives, Australia 1999). This is where the voice of the people will come out.\n\nDo not be upset because the government is not exactly a true representation of society, it will represent society's voice, in one way or another. If the government introduces a radical law which goes against your society's values, they will find themselves without jobs come next election.
436992
this would be interesting except for your last point.  Look at our system.  We already have one in place and its not working. The Executie Branch has gained a ton of power and the Leg and Jud brances have lost their power.  It's become about helping each other out instead of maintaining balance.  Otherwise your outline exists in Canada.
970395
Technically, his role is the same as any other former PM. His party and cabinet have allowed him to operate more like a president out of self interest. The party have the power to get rid of a sitting PM. The PM shouldn't make unilateral decisions, that is why we have a cabinet. The PM is meant to provide leadership and represent the government abroad, but he doesn't hold unfettered right to do as he pleases.
196900
Blair's first term has exhilirating after so many years of prison life under Thatcher and her Major Puppet, but the last couple of years/months he really lost control. He made a collossal mistake on Iraq (thanks GWB) and I believe his Home policies have reflected that mistake ever since. The recent election result also states that the alternative isn't much better.
718760
because john howard believes that homosexuals are robots that will eat him.
508735
Sadly, he has no one to challenge him. There are people within the Labour Party who are up to the challenge, however we don't get to choose them. Party's should realise that we, the voters have the right to say who leads our parties. But they squabble between their own factions and select who they want, often by who will benefit them personally. He wants to make an International name for himself and seems more concerned with how others of the world view him than his own. If the people say no to the sale of Telstra, he sells anyway. If we say no to the privatisation of our utility services, he says I know better. If we say no to overseas companies buying out our own he says it's money in the bank for Australia. The problem is Australia and Australians in general don't see theses benefits unless they are in the high end of town, or the top end of the economic platform. One needs to be confident in that job, granted, but confidence stops way short of pompousness and arrogance. And who do we have in the wings, Mr Peter I'm better than John Howard, ask me and I'll tell you Costello. I love my country passionately, I wish he would think more about the average Australian.