Howard breaks silence on election loss, defends legacy

[Swagman]

Source: smh.com.au

March 6, 2008 - 6:59PM

John Howard has launched a spirited defence of his legacy, breaking his silence following last year's election loss.

While his coalition colleagues have been junking his policies since being tipped out of office last November, the former prime minister used a speech to a conservative US think tank to attack the Rudd government over industrial relations and Iraq.

He condemned the new government's decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq and its rollback of his workplace relations laws.

"That will be a mistake," Mr Howard told the American Enterprise Institute's annual dinner in Washington.
Mr Howard was guest of honour at the dinner, where he was presented with the Irving Kristol award, named after the father of neoconservatism.

He entered the room to a standing ovation from the 1,400-strong audience, including former United Nations ambassador John Bolton, Vice President Dick Cheney's wife Lynne, and former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz.

Despite their close friendship, US President George W Bush did not attend the dinner, nor did any member of the Bush administration.

Mr Howard was introduced by institute trustee James Wilson as "John Winston Howard, stalwart all-rounder of politics and policy, who made good government a popular cause and advanced Australia fair and free".

Since the election loss, the Liberal-National coalition has battled to regroup, declaring Work Choices dead, reversing its opposition to ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change and agreeing with the troop withdrawal from Iraq.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/howard-breaks-silence-on-election-loss/2008/03/06/1204779959812.html

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pass the sickbag

[RFKHumphreyObama]

1. "Advanced Australia Fair and Free"???

:wtf:


Oh, I get it, it's supposed to be a pun on our national anthem "Advance Australia Fair". That was LAME Mr Wilson. Then again I wouldn't expect anything better from a right wing hack

Enjoy your retirement Johnny Boy. I hope you are enjoying watching our new government destroy every bloated right wing ideal that you cherish. You are becoming more and more irrelevant for the day and soon your legacy will be confined to the well-deserved dustbins of history

[Lasher]

2. Irving Kristol award? Good Lord, I never dreamed there was such a thing!

Might as well as hung The Golden Swastika or something like that around his neck. This AEI is some kinda evil outfit, that's for sure. Lynne Cheney, Bolton, Wolfowitz all there. What a cesspool! Wonder if Benedict Lieberman was there?

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the AEI lovefest for Howard. Show of hands: How many of you have a member of your immediate family serving in the military in Iraq right now?



Anyway, it's kinda funny seeing Howard so badly in denial like this. Good on the Aussies for having dethroned him!

[depakid]

3. Seeing as how his successor, Brendan Nelson is sitting at 7%

I guess he and the "Enterprise Institution" figure they don't have much to lose....

[bemildred]

4. Howard breaks wind for his true masters at AEI. nt

[hatrack]

5. John Howard - on the six-figure rubber chicken hamster wheel for LIFE!!!

:eyes: