Latest polls have Howard trailing badly

[Lori Price CLG]

Latest polls have Howard trailing badly

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

CANBERRA Australian Prime Minister John Howard's government has fallen significantly behind the opposition Labor party in opinion polls released on Tuesday as questions over Howard's honesty look likely to dominate a looming election.

Support for the Howard government had been slowly rising before what is expected to be a knife-edge election in which he will seek a fourth term.

But opinion polls showed a reversal of fortune for Howard after a week in which he secured a free trade deal with the United States to continue access to cheap drugs and to restrict American content on local television screens.

In face of sliding support, the prime minister hinted that he could delay calling the election, expected in coming months, until early 2005.

(either that, or import some Diebold machines)

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[0007]

1. I want this ugly talking lying asshole to go down nearly as bad

as junior.

When is the election down under? Couldn't find article, what does he mean he could delay calling the election?

[daleo]

5. In the parliamentary system, elections don't have a set date

It is up to the discretion of the prime minister as to when the election is held, as long as he doesn't go past a set upper limit (five years in Canada, I don't know if Australia is the same). There may be some other complications - for example, the limitation may be expressed in terms like "a Parliament may run no longer than X months before a new Parliament has to be called" (which means an election).

Generally, though, when a P.M. goes much over the conventional 4 year period, he/she is looking for trouble, as it is seen as a sign of desperation. Conversely, if he/she calls an election too soon (less than four years, assuming a majority government), it will often backfire, as it is seen as a sign of opportunism.

The U.S. system has the virtue of predictability. On the other hand, sometimes it seems like a constant election campaign for that very reason.

[gbarford]

9. The maximum length of a House of Representatives in Australia is 3 years..

..which would mean an election must be held sometime by early 2005. In Britain, Parliament has a maximum length of 5 years, which would take Blair to a maximum of June 2006, although he is expected to call the election for Thursday May 5 2005, as their are Local Government Elections on that day, and a General Election is usally combined with a local poll.

[daleo]

10. Thanks for the info

I didn't realize that there was that much difference between Australia and U.K. or Canada.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi gbarford!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Tarheelhombre]

11. When is the latest he can call an election?

[fujiyama]

2. Howard Blair and Bush

I want all of them gone...but in the case of Britain I don't want the conservatives taking power...I hope they can get Blair to step down.

[faithnotgreed]

3. so why isnt our liar trailing badly

[havocmom]

6. Australia doesn't have many two legged sheep?

That'd be my guess.

[Lori Price CLG]

7. Because Faux News keeps terrorist Bush in office...

Without Faux, etc., the Idiot Usurper and his nutball associates would have been tried for treason for their role in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[0007]

12. Because our media is under siege by a bigger lying asshole

and most journalist fear of being blackballed or worse.

[movonne]

4. Anyone know when this election takes place?..and what does it

mean not calling the election????

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. What are the chances of this SOB's defeat?