check out par 3 of this comment by an ABC NEWS reader commenting on Howard's resignation speech. Was she serious, or tongue in cheek??? Or was it a case of type in haste & not check spelling or sense.


Sheilah:

24 Nov 2007 11:07:48pm

Many are probably so busy celebrating at the moment that they haven't thought about what Mr Howard actually did in this campaign.

It seemed obvious for the last year that the Liberals' time was up. Had Mr Howard stepped down before the elections and let Mr Costelloe take over, the party would still have been defeated. Then the usual bloodletting and internal leadership struggles (such that the Labor Party has only recently thrown off) would have ensued.

In the party's interests, Mr Howard has gone to the election willing to take the defeat and risk a less than glorious end to his personal career for the benefit of the party. It was a case of eschewing self interest - so rare in a politician.

John Howard has done a marvellous job and should be congratulated. Now we must wait and see whether someone who has never even held a ministry can steer our country's economy through the difficult financial times ahead.