Why "little johnny" Howard? How does name-calling enhance political debate? The man has been PM for 10 years. I saw Kevin Rudd referred to as "Kevin Dudd" in another on-line forum recently and I felt the same way.

BTW, I agree with the sentiments expressed by others - I really, really hope this is it for the Coalition. Their economic management has been competent (rather than outstanding) but they are primarily populists and manipulators who are rapidly laying the framework for a fairly nasty self-centred, self-interested and exploitative society. I think they have over-stepped the line in giving their (particularly rural and rich) constituents a lot of protection and money and they are not doing us or our kids any favours with with their foreign policy or their cobbled together responses to pressing environment issues.

Labor sure doesn't thrill me at the moment but they are light-years ahead on several key issues and should be given a chance.