Iraq fallout may sink PM ( Barak Obama / Australia )

[Swagman]

Iraq fallout may sink PM
By Clinton Porteous
February 12, 2007 11:00pm


PRIME Minister John Howard's historic re-election bid is under increasing pressure after a resurgent Opposition and US politicians yesterday attacked his comments about Iraq.

Kevin Rudd, buoyed by a new poll showing he was the most popular Opposition Leader in 35 years, accused Mr Howard of endangering Australia's long-standing alliance with the US.
As American TV talk shows broadcast footage of Mr Howard saying that withdrawing troops from Iraq would be cheered by terrorists, both Democrat and Republican politicians told him to butt out of US politics.

The Prime Minister -- who only last week was left fumbling after initially denying a link between climate change and human activities -- came under a sustained barrage yet again yesterday as Mr Rudd tried to outmanoeuvre him on what will be a key election issue.

Mr Howard sparked the controversy on Sunday when he attacked Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama's policy of pulling out of Iraq.

Mr Obama hit back yesterday, accusing the Prime Minister of "empty rhetoric" and saying Australia should commit another 20,000 troops if it was serious about the campaign.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21216055-952,00.html

[LiberalFighter]

1. I didn't hear about Barack's comeback ie 20,000 troops

That hit Howard strong!!

Would that be a body slam?

[Felinity]

2. When is the election? n/t

[Swagman]

3. the general election must be within 9 months and yes..Barak hit

him fair square between the eyes !!!..the US media has been re-miss by not showing that bit ( but what's new !)

[LiberalFighter]

4. It doesn't look like PM's are elected directly by the people

The position is apparently determined by whichever party gains control after their elections.

It appears that the Labor Party may win by 10 points. That is now who knows what the results will be when they have their election.

Howard is the leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. His party apparently formed a coalition with the National Party as the Liberal-National Coalition.


From About:

Whichever political party in the House of Representatives has majority support forms the Government of the day and chooses the country's Prime Minister who needs to be appointed by the Governor General under the current Constitution.

[Bear down under]

5. You are basically correct.

The Prime Misister is not directly elected, though he must be an elected member of the House of Representatives. (Howard is Member for Benelong in the northern suburbs of Sydney; 82,220 registered voters.) He gains office by being the Parliamentary leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Representatives. He is chosen as leader by the party members -- who can remove him at any time by electing someone else as leader. Challenges for party leadership happen fairly often in all the parties, though none has succeded against Howard.

The Liberal Party/National(formerly Country) Party coalition has been in existence since the Liberal party of Australia was founded in 1944, so it's nothing new. The Libs wouldn't be able to win government without it. the Libs have always been the senior member in the coalition: by tradition the Deputy Prime Ministership goes to the leader of the Nationals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_%28Australia%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Australia

[Bear down under]

6. The election must be held before January 18 next year

though it is expected the PM will call it late this year, probably around October.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_legislative_election%2C_2007

[Matilda]

7. I'm betting on August.

The longer he puts it off, the more popular Kevin Rudd gets.

He can't go before August 4th, but I think it will be that month.