The politics here is a bit more complicated than in the US because of the more European still of democracy. But it is good that, at the least, John Howard's strong endorsement of the US invasion of Iraq was clearly not endorsed by the electorate. Though it was not an issue mentioned in the news or by individuals I have spoken to since I have been here.

Also not mentioned much is Howard's mild slam of Barack Obama as being a disaster for US foreign policy if elected. That was probably more of an embarassment for most Aussies than a reason to toss him out of office.

What was an issue though hardly mentioned in US media, even on the internet, was a program called WorkChoices implemented by Howard's administration that apparently effectively made it easier for employers to choose who they keep (not the other way around as the name implies - a naming tactic oft employed in politics around the world, including in the US).

Even one person I spoke to who was an employer admitted adamantly that Howard would lose because of the unpopularity of the program. Which highlights a trend around the world - beyond opposition to the Iraq War - toward progressive oriented governments that protect those who work for money against those who allow money to work for them. It is interesting to note that there is also a large investor class in Aus as well.

Howard's WorkChoices program is an Orwellian-named form of a failed ideology called "neo-lilberalism." While it is still ramping up here in the US, its experimentation in developing and underveloping countries in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia turned out to be a massive failure, which is why most of the developing countries south and east of Mexico, for example, have voted for anti-neoliberal, progressive to left-wing governments (cf. Michelle Bachelet in Chile and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentina to Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua).

The larger issue, it seems, is that Howard's rightist program had finally lost favor to the extent that Rudd and Labor defeated the fear-mongering both on the domestic and international front. In fact, Howard even lost his seat, becoming the first sitting Prime Minister to do so since 1929. The pressure will be on Rudd to maintain Australia's growth and economic policies and the successful policies of the Liberals while jettisoning crap like WorkChoices and also undertaking policies Labor has publicly espoused, like pulling Australia's troops from Iraq, signing the Kyoto Treaty, and permitting a referendum on Republicanism.

I'm excited that he's won. I hope it's a sign we'll be throwing out the Republican trashpile wholesale in 2008!

Like you Fan, I think it bodes well for the Dems. in 2008.

Another bit of interesting news about new Aussie Labour PM Kevin Rudd's new cabinet:

He's named the first Asian-born person and the first lesbian, Penny Wong Ying Yin, to be a cabinet minister, in Australia's history.

Wonderful news!

Not so surprising considering he was very game about being teased about his sexuality because of his nerdyness by host on a talk show - who I think was gay

And he was I think embassador to China and speaks Chinese.

Confirmed that.

Also having been an embassador to Europe makes him a bit more world-oriented than the average world leader. Aussies love to travel and have Euro-style vacation periods. They considered my two-week vacation a joke and asked pityingly about the average in the USA.

I just winced and rushed off to the next site.

What does Rudd being HRC "in drag" mean? He's a spineless "centrist" with no principles?

Put undelicately, yes. I prefer to say that both have spine and principles but are too tied to special interests to carry out policy to implement those principles.

Case in point: Aus is the largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases but Rudd like Howard will not stop or alter the construction of a major coal-fired plant which will boost that rate even higher.

Aus has sustainable alternatives. Solar technolgy being pioneered by Germany could be used even more efficiently under the sun that is now turning Australia into a dessicator.

Rudd is making a big push to encourage hi-tech in education. That could be combined with, and geared toward taking the lead in developing solar energy. Right now solar and other sustainable non-fossil sources can not compete with coal without government intervention.

To take that risk will require serious leadership. If the West, and especially Aus and the USA do not take the lead, China - the worlds future biggest polluter - and our and their biggest trading partner - certainly will not.

Not so liberal, is he?

(Sydney, Australia) Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his government will look at introducing a bill to create a national domestic partner registry but has no intention of legalizing same-sex marriage or allowing civil unions.

Rudd was reacting to press reports on the weekend that claimed some cabinet ministers had told LGBT leaders that a civil union bill was being written.

Whole story:

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/12/121707oreg.htm