In a rout that will, hopefully, be a harbinger of things to come in the US, right wing, Bush rectal appendage John Howard, one of the true fascists of the 21st century has been excreted from Australian politics. The Wall Street Journal reports,

Australian Prime Minister John Howard suffered a humiliating defeat in national elections Saturday, according to preliminary results, most likely ending the political career of one Asia's most enduring conservative leaders and a key ally of U.S. President George W. Bush in the region. Voters were ready to hand control of the government to Australia's opposition Labor party, headed by former diplomat Kevin Rudd, who has promised to boost relations with China, pull some troops from Iraq, and re-make Australia as a leader in the global effort to stop global warming. The defeat appears so complete that the 68-year-old Mr. Howard, Australia's second-longest-serving prime minister, appeared likely to lose his own parliamentary seat, which he has held for 33 years.

Still, Rudd ran as a free trade advocate, just like Howard. But Rudd promised to be a global warming activist.

One thing that helped Rudd and his labor party beat Howard's party was Howard's backers were caught distributing fake literature suggesting that the labor party supported Islamic extremists. (Swiftboat ads, anyone?)

Al Jazeera reports that Rudd promises to withdraw 500 troops from Iraq, just leaving a small number to aid in security. He also promised to become more independent of the US on Foreign Policy.

Defeated Howard had promised, that if he was re-elected, he'd keep Australian troops in Iraq.

It appears that the way to obscurity for Leaders of US allies is to unflinchingly support George W. Bush.