[gavinlit]

My main issues with the administration of howards govt are related to the use of scare/wedge politics - actively encouraging the scapegoating of certain minority groups (namely refugees), fairly strong hypocrisy and his govts disdain for human rights and basic democratic process. As a person he certainly stands by his personal beliefs which I think is an admiral trait in anyone- but has been responsible for some pretty disgraceful stuff over the last couple of terms of govt.

Had it been a different party govt I would feel exactly the same way. Think of the basic values you might teach your children (honesty, compassion,etc ) and then imagine how hard it would be to justify to them your govt/leader acting in quite the opposite fashion. The irony is that he appears to be quite a religious person yet dosn't follow the basic teachings of the church. To me he fails the basic values/good guy test. Not someone I'd want to know as a neighbour I guess.

Of course I realise that about 30% of my fellow countrymen would probably disagree with the above statements, which is what democracy is all about.