September 13, 2007
The level of emotion invested in John Howard is amazing, at both ends of the spectrum. Hate is a strong word, but Howard Hater is an appropriate label for some. On the other hand, Howard Hugger is barely adequate considering some of the deifying tendencies around the place.
Howard's a walking representation of the divisions he's relied on over the years which has involved some pretty extreme stuff, so it's not all that surprising if generates extreme feelings in people. Back in May that famous Howard hater Phillip Adams wondered what he would do with himself if Howard lost and he had nobody to hate anymore. What will Howard worshippers do without him? Will they just invest the same intensity of emotion in hating Rudd?
Some Howard devotees have already begun their period of mourning. Some are convinced Rudd is worth hating on his own merits because, no matter how much he resembles Howard, he isn't Howard. Some will hate him simply for beating Howard. Others will transfer their adoration to whoever replaces Howard without a qualm, if Andrew Bolt is any indication.
And then there are the ones who seem to genuinely fear Rudd. The prophets of doom who anticipate packs of union bullies prowling our neighbourhoods and frightening the elderly, economic collapse on a scale beyond imagination, Mandarin speaking children unable to communicate with their English speaking parents.
This article has to be seen to be believed. It's not the first of its kind at Online Opinion, but it's the most extreme so far. It extends fear and loathing beyond Rudd and the Labor Party to include the apparently idiotic public thinking of voting for him and, of all people, Janet Albrechtson. Some of the commenters see this election as a battle between the forces of good and evil.
How will such people manage to bear the thought of their own countrymen, let alone rubbing shoulders with them in public, if Howard loses?
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Lyn,
In relation to the article I suspect that Sandwich board wearing ranting loony numbers drastically dropped off with the advent on on-line forums.
But in saying that I wonder about the truth of these workplace and other political adverts from both sides as to whether they abide by the normal advertising laws of false advertising. But I guess we are used to it now just like the burger ads. Those burgers never do look so scrumptious in real life.
Off your topic but I'd be interested in your opinion as too which Woman would be the best for Howard to hand over to instead of Costello. Bearing in mind that the public wont have to vote her in initially.