Howard: "I am under fire, what do I do? TERROR! TERROR! TERROR!"

[gemini_liberal]

I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am sick to death of this evil coward hiding behind peoples fears and desperation to avoid any accountability! I realise these are the exact same tactics as the evil tyrant in the US uses, but whereas people can see into *'s motives, nobody even blinks twice when Coward does the same thing. It's amazing, how the scumbag is under fire over Telstra, and all he has to do is announce some "anti-terrorism" laws (read: anti-anybody who isn't white) and the useless corporate media forgots about all of Cowards faults and covers what a great leader he is for standing up against those mean terrorists (despite the fact that he hasn't stood up against any terrorists!)

As for the laws, from what I hear, they are completely barbaric, draconian and rediculous. He claims that he wants to make sure the laws preserve as many of our civil liberties as possible, but considering he's already on the record saying that the only right we're entitled to is the right to live, I don't really have much hope that his pathetic attempt to look moderate is anything more than total BS!

I swear, if Dante's Inferno is the correct vision of hell, a new deeper circle will be created for evil scum like these people. I just pray that in the future (if there is one) Australians look back on this era as a dark one, not a golden one!

[texpatriot2004]

1. "Never underestimate the power of the choir." Dr. M L King, Jr.

[rooboy]

2. I told my mother today that I know what John Howard will do next...

because I know what Karl Rove would do next. It's simple as that.

[zum]

3. What alternative do we have?

Recent state Labour governments have shown that they're entirely into control-freakery too. If federal Labour ever attain government again, do you think they'll overturn this? The Democrats in the US supported that so-called Patriot Act of theirs that allows secret warrants, searches, wire-taps and apprehension of suspects, but they at least had the foresight to demand a "sunset clause", probably because some aspects of their act are arguably un-constitutional. We don't have any sort of constitutional safeguards like that, and Labour hasn't had the wit to propose that the laws be reviewed or else expire in, say, three years, if they're abused or prove to be redundant.

He's under fire? How? Control of both houses, at least two years of fuckery ahead, and no realistic opposition in sight. His biggest problems are Abbott and Costello performing "Who's PM First"?

[gemini_liberal]

4. I understand your point

But as many of the faults that Labor have, it's nothing compared to the absolute evil this man has brought to the nation...

I apologise if sometimes I may seem like a stooge for the ALP - I assure you I am not, I just don't like to lose focus of who is the true enemy.

While there is plenty of blame to go around: The ALP for not standing up to the draconian conservative policies of Howard, the moderate coalition members for not standing up to him in order to keep power, the third parties for putting their own partisan interests first before the interest of change, the media for only criticising opposition parties and never those in power, as not to rock the boat and most importantly the Australian people for not paying attention and letting stupid slanderous 30 second ads decide their votes. However, all of this blame does not even hold a candle to where it and most anger should be aimed - to Howard and his ultraconservative inner-circle that made this all happen...

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Howard's security move 'draconian'

AUSTRALIA is in danger of capitulating to terrorism with a draconian over-reaction, legal and community leaders have warned in response to the Prime Minister's security package.

While new offences such as leaving baggage unattended in airports were seen as inevitable, extended powers to detain, question and search individuals were described as disturbing and open to misuse.

The leaders said the Government had failed to show that the new measures were needed or practical, and that the Government's approach was exclusively focused on law enforcement while failing to look at the social causes of terrorism.

Law Council of Australia president John North said the release of the package appeared to reduce the premiers' security summit later this month to a rubber stamp of the Prime Minister's announcement.

"A modern democratic nation that begins to talk about preventive detention, long periods of custody without charge and ever-expanded stop, question and search powers is in danger of capitulating to terrorists, because they will have achieved their objective," Mr North said.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/war-on-terror/howards-security-move-draconian/2005/09/08/1125772640547.html

[Matilda]

6. The laws aren't necessarily aimed just at anybody who isn't white.

I think we can safely assume that anybody who is openly critical
of government policies and Howard in particular is likely to be
tagetted. I think it has far more to do with crushing dissent than
it has to do with terrorism.

Australians should be questioning Howard's assertion that the
innocent will have nothing to fear - tell that to Cornelia Rau and
Vivien Solon. Think about the shooting of de Menezes in London -
this is what all too often happens when the police and security
forces are not held publicly accountable for their actions.

As for stopping terrorism - common sense tells us that if terrorists
want to strike us, they will. They can guard the airports, the
ports, the Opera House and major public buildings, but they can't
guard every suburban shopping mall, cinema, town hall, theatre or
sports ground. The best defence is to stop meddling in ME affairs,
and putting this country in the firing line of extremists.

I'm in despair though knowing that Labor hasn't got the guts to call
this for what it is - the end of our civil liberties.

[Matilda]

7. The laws aren't necessarily aimed just at anybody who isn't white.

I think we can safely assume that anybody who is openly critical
of government policies and Howard in particular is likely to be
tagetted. I think it has far more to do with crushing dissent than
it has to do with terrorism.

Australians should be questioning Howard's assertion that the
innocent will have nothing to fear - tell that to Cornelia Rau and
Vivien Solon. Think about the shooting of de Menezes in London -
this is what all too often happens when the police and security
forces are not held publicly accountable for their actions.

As for stopping terrorism - common sense tells us that if terrorists
want to strike us, they will. They can guard the airports, the
ports, the Opera House and major public buildings, but they can't
guard every suburban shopping mall, cinema, town hall, theatre or
sports ground. The best defence is to stop meddling in ME affairs,
and putting this country in the firing line of extremists.

I'm in despair though knowing that Labor hasn't got the guts to call
this for what it is - the end of our civil liberties.