Image is everything!

The PM has scored a big zero on the popularity scale once again!

If image is everything then the PM is not winning votes yet again.There is nothing more I despise than people sucking up other people’s arses. It is nauseating when people just go along with whatever the popular people do or say and the fact that our PM continues to do it with the Bush Administration really disappoints me.

One simple fact of life is that popularity can be both positive and negative, depending on how you use it. Well, nowadays it seems to me that power does not produce popularity. The perfect example of this ugly recipe for disaster is the United State of America, and its destructive use of power, thanks to George W. Bush and his trigger happy administration.

Lawrie Oakes of the Bulletin reveals that Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, declared earlier this year to US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice that he wants the US to improve their world image. Rice asked Sarkozy, ‘what can I do for you?’, and his request was simple; improve the US world image to help solve problems for the US and its allies. According to Oakes, Sarkozy alleged that “it is difficult when the country that is the most powerful, the most successful - that is, of necessity, the leader of our side - is one of the most unpopular countries in the world. It presents overwhelming problems for you and overwhelming problems for your allies. So do everything you can to improve the way you're perceived - that's what you can do for me.” If only they had listened.

It is interesting to me that the US do not take their power and authority in the world more seriously. They are, as Sarkozy states, the most powerful and successful nation in the world (well, that is very debatable if you ask me), yet still the most unpopular. Well, there is no denying the US has a fan, a very dedicated one, John Howard. So, does that make all Australian’s one? I think election time will reveal the answer to that question.

Now, everyone knows life should never be a popularity contest, but that is all politics is about! Howard has certainly not won any more supporters after his “buddy buddy” display during the APEC Summit last week. The results of the week revealed nothing unusual. Bush, the puppet master, had Howard dangling by his divisive strings and Howard cooperated with his every move.

Imperative issues that have further damaged Howard’s popularity are his unyielding support for Bush’s policies over climate change and Australia’s provisions in Iraq. The Australian PM has been no more than utterly compliant with all of the Bush Administration’s policies; especially those that so many Australian’s want to see direct changes in.