If Jeanette was in there; probably another 500 votes..

From the SMH: “The Prime Minster, John Howard, said yesterday that he constantly feared an attacks at a sporting event, on a building or an attack using an aircraft. He often lookd at Sydney’s towering office blocks while on his morning walk and contemplated the consequences” One suspects that here that “the consequences” means “how this would help him in the next election”.

Blatant cynicism aside, surely it’s a little concerning that John Howard is using his morning exercise as the perfect time to consider attacks on or mass deaths of Australians? I thought we were promised a “relaxed and comfortable” Australia… the big boss of the whole shebang is electorally secure and has complete senate control, and yet he still has armageddon dreams. Reminds me of this moment in American history: “The other day, Secretary of State Colin Powell was reminded that his boss is in bed by ten and sleeps like a baby. Powell reportedly replied, "I sleep like a baby, too—every two hours I wake up screaming."

Part of me is pleased that Howard is genuinely afraid of what is happening, perhaps this might make him more careful. Then again, that he deals with this fear by imagining the deaths of others in gruesome circumstances one is reminded more of a gawker than a samaritan.