Howard HAS got a problem. or at least one of many- He has to put off the election long enough to allow Latham enough time to shoot himself in the foot, but he has to do it before Christmas, because that's when Latham promised to bring the troops home, but if he loses, It can't be earlier than Christmas eve, because he needs to make sure that Latham cannot bring the troops home before Christmas.
With Bush's pile of lies about the reasons for the Iraq invasion becoming taller, and Howard's own nose being seen to be both longer and browner every day, he has to get the election done very soon.

Latham's responses, on the other hand, don't seem to carry the oomph I would have expected of him.

I think voting green is a very good idea! It's a serious pity we don't yet have the means to break the two-party political tangle.The old Vietnam slogan still rings true "When offered two alternatives, take the third."

and YES folks, I'd love to see our pollies living on a childcare worker's wage and with an average worker's superannuation that they cannot claim till 65 AND an absolute prohibition on going into business in areas related to their ministerial portfolios for five years.
In fact I'd like to see all members of the major political parties do some non business type work or be required to stand in the queue at Centrelink over about a year.

Sometimes the bastards just make my blood boil. I'm glad I've now got Mudcat and an intelligent community willing to listen and talk about this stuff. Your very good health,folks!

                         Jack Halyard