John Howard Concedes Defeat - Update

I suspect my friend Magic Bellybutton has been out celebrating with the news of former Prime Minister Howard's concession (see her e-mail to me set out below). I cannot say that I blame her. Howard has consistently struck me as a Chimperator, Jr., and he most certainly has Christianist tendencies and is not gay friendly either. Here are a few highlights from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage (http://www.smh.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/kevin-rudd-claims-victory-in-federal-election/2007/11/24/1195753362801.html):

Prime Minister John Howard has rung Labor leader Kevin Rudd to concede defeat after voters deserted his 11-year government in tonight's federal election. Mr Howard then appeared at Sydney's Wentworth Hotel to address Liberal Party faithful. "My fellow Australians, a few moments ago I telephoned Mr Kevin Rudd and I congratulated him and the Australian Labor Party on an emphatic victory,'' Mr Howard told the crowd. Mr Howard said he harboured no ill will to Mr Rudd. "I wish him well in the task that he will undertake,'' Mr Howard said.

The prime minister also faces a possible loss of his Bennelong seat in Sydney with Labor's celebrity candidate Maxine McKew achieving a 6 per cent swing against him with more than a third of the vote counted. Ms McKew arrived to a rapturous welcome to her election function in Bennelong, with supporters screaming and cheering as she fought her way through the crowd to the stage. But despite a strong swing to Labor, she declined to claim victory over Mr Howard, who has held the seat since 1974.

From The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/24/1195753382042.html), I especially like these remarks by Rudd (would that the Chimperator had ever attempted to be a president for all Americans instead of ruling only for the Christianists who seek to trample the Constitution and divide the country):

"I say to all of those who have voted for us today, to each and every one of them that I will be a Prime Minister for all Australians. "A Prime Minister for indigenous Australians. "Australians who have been born here and Australians who have come here from afar and have contributed to the great diversity in Australia. "A Prime Minister for our cities and our towns, a Prime Minister for rural Australia, which right now is experiencing the worst drought our country has had. "For our men and women serving in uniform in difficult environments around the world. "For all our states and territories in this great Commonwealth of ours, I will be a Prime Minister for all Australians."

Here's the comments of one happy Labor voter: Howard is no more!!!!!!! Watch his concession speech at the restaurant!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope this bodes well for you guys next year!