Healthy economy not enough By Glenn Milne November 25, 2007 AUSTRALIAN voters last night fundamentally re-wrote national political history. From this day forth no government can rely on the successful management of the economy to guarantee its re-election. The message from election 2007 is that long-serving governments must demonstrate the will to renew both their ideas and their leadership to survive in the modern electoral era. In this context, this Coalition defeat is a terrible indictment of John Howard's judgment and a vindication of Labor's collective courage in backing Kevin Rudd. The verdict of the Australian people has been emphatic; John Howard should have gone last year and made way for Peter Costello. Work Choices was his fatal obsession and climate change his historic oversight. Kevin Rudd read the national mood better on both issues. In his hands Howard's Senate mugging of the Australian people on industrial relations became an assault on the nation's commitment to the ethos of a "fair go''. In those same hands climate change became a symbol of Rudd's commitment to the future. ... http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22817894-5007146,00.html
Healthy economy not enough
By Glenn Milne
November 25, 2007
AUSTRALIAN voters last night fundamentally re-wrote national political history.
From this day forth no government can rely on the successful management of the economy to guarantee its re-election.
The message from election 2007 is that long-serving governments must demonstrate the will to renew both their ideas and their leadership to survive in the modern electoral era.
In this context, this Coalition defeat is a terrible indictment of John Howard's judgment and a vindication of Labor's collective courage in backing Kevin Rudd.
The verdict of the Australian people has been emphatic; John Howard should have gone last year and made way for Peter Costello. Work Choices was his fatal obsession and climate change his historic oversight.
Kevin Rudd read the national mood better on both issues.
In his hands Howard's Senate mugging of the Australian people on industrial relations became an assault on the nation's commitment to the ethos of a "fair go''.
In those same hands climate change became a symbol of Rudd's commitment to the future. ... http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22817894-5007146,00.html
Australians are probably becoming most concerned nation about global warming - the ongoing drought must be convincing.
