(2004-10-09) — Just hours after the polls closed across Australia, and Prime Minister John Howard headed for his fourth term, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore filed a lawsuit in international court at the Hague alleging “irregularities” in the balloting.
The election was seen by many as a referendum on Australia’s participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the subsequent efforts to bring democracy to Iraq. Mr. Howard’s opponent, Mark Latham, had promised to withdraw Australian troops from the Coalition.
“Somebody was disenfranchised or coerced down under,” said Mr. Gore, now an itinerant professor. “John Howard betrayed his country. He played on their fears. There’s no way they could have re-elected him legally. We’ll fight this result all the way to the U.N. Security Council if need be.”
Democrat presidential contender John Forbes Kerry expressed displeasure at the Australian election outcome.
“This is the wrong election result, in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Mr. Kerry said. “Think of the precedent this sets.”
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1 Knowledge Is Power: SondraK.com // Oct 9, 2004 at 10:35 am
Almost as insane as Jimmy Carter …
Gore Lawsuit Challenges Australian Election Results (2004-10-09) — Just hours after the polls closed across Australia, and Prime Minister John Howard headed for his fourth term, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore filed a lawsuit in international cour…
2 PRESTOPUNDIT -- "It's a team sport, baby!" // Oct 9, 2004 at 11:21 am
A GREAT MORNING in the blogosphere with
Hewitt, Scrappleface and InstaPundit….
3 Pejmanesque // Oct 9, 2004 at 4:59 pm
AUSTRALIA DOES NOT EQUAL SPAIN
As Will Collier notes, Australian Prime Minister John Howard not only won a fourth term in office, but also increased his parliamentary majority. This means that there is increased political support for Australia to remain as part of the coalition…
4 small dead animals // Oct 9, 2004 at 8:34 pm
John Howard Wins 4th Term
A victory for the coalition of the bribed and coerced. Anti-war Labor party leader Mark Latham took home the consolation meat tray….
5 Reverend Mike's House of Homiletic Hash // Oct 10, 2004 at 10:05 pm
The News from Down Under
Last week, Phil was suggesting that Vice President Cheney was not up to the job and offered his own favorite PM, the Man of Steel himself. However, it would appear that Mr. Howard has other things to do with his…