That sinking feeling - one view of the Howard campaign

One has to wonder if John Howard is capable of lasting out the final twelve days of this election campaign. His inability to make any meaningful connection with the national electorate through his media appearances is obvious. Frequently clumsy, obscure, defensive or testy, perhaps the only way he can win government is the hope for a huge sympathy vote on 24 November from that bloc of voters who remember that they once almost liked him.

The Age article on Howard's sorry campaign week that was:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/that-sinking-feeling/2007/11/10/1194329566789.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Senate ballot paper for NSW: Group voting tickets

Australian Electoral Commission list of Senate group voting ticket preference distributions in New South Wales.

Australian Electoral Commission:
 http://www.aec.gov.au/pdf/elections/2007/gvt/NSW_2007_gvt.pdf

11th November 2007: Lest we forget

Field of red poppies in France

Janette Howard: official prompt, guide and primary carer?

Now this article in The Age asserts that Janette Howard proudly supports her husband. Very true. However if the chronology reflects the journalist's notes accurately, then it also shows a wife who is supplying verbal prompts to keep her man on the ball.

We have previously seen film footage of Janette having to physically guide John in the right direction.

All this is typical behaviour of the partner of a first-stage dementia sufferer. At that stage when if given the right verbal cue, the sufferer can still appear fully competent and aware on a day when cognitive function has been erratic.

The question of John Howard's fitness for office is not going away.

The Age article:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/janette-plays-second-fiddle-with-gusto/2007/11/10/1194329568955.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1