The Daily Background

A few months ago, we bid farewell to Tony Blair when he resigned. And that was satisfying. Blair though was a moderate. What’s perhaps even more satisfying however is watching Australian Prime Minister John Howard get the boot at the hands of his own constituents:

Australian Prime Minister John Howard suffered a humiliating defeat in national elections Saturday, according to preliminary results, most likely ending the political career of one Asia’s most enduring conservative leaders and a key ally of U.S. President George W. Bush in the region.

Voters were ready to hand control of the government to Australia’s opposition Labor party, headed by former diplomat Kevin Rudd, who has promised to boost relations with China, pull some troops from Iraq, and re-make Australia as a leader in the global effort to stop global warming. The defeat appears so complete that the 68-year-old Mr. Howard, Australia’s second-longest-serving prime minister, appeared likely to lose his own parliamentary seat, which he has held for 33 years.

Howard may have even lost his own seat although it is not yet clear since not all the votes have been counted.

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