new lapdog.

Some people are so sensitive, jeez.

- Say, Bri...did you know that becoming too friendly with a right wing American president can hurt you in the polls?

- I don't think I have anything to worry about, Ron, but thanks for the advice. Now let's go hit the town, cowboy!

I like Kevin Rudd. He's one of those actual smart people - you know, the kind other countries elect to lead them.

DamnYankees: I like Kevin Rudd. He's one of those actual smart people - you know, the kind other countries elect to lead them.

Tell me about it. It's possible to be TOO smart and well educated for many of the American electorate.

Slaxl: Some people are so sensitive, jeez.

Yeah, but to be fair it's easy to misconstrue. I don't salute my friends or equals (well, I don't salute anybody yet) in an informal setting. While checking out U.S.-Australian diplomatic relationships (on Wikipedia!), I did notice they are one of our closest allies. It's a good idea to not do anything to jeopardize the relationship by even jokingly making it seem one of us is subservient to the other.

ComicBookGuy:

Tell me about it. It's possible to be TOO smart and well educated for many of the American electorate.

You guys gotta quit bashing them. People can be blinded by hope, fear and b.s. Sometimes it's hard to tell which of those produced the results. One thing the U.S. is supreme in is marketing, and a good portion of the marketing muscle has been turned inward. Influence-able doesn't equal stupid.

The U.S. has had good leaders due to actions taken by voters and we have had bad ones. To assume that every voter will automatically pick the least educated candidate to lead their country is foolishness.

The U.S. has had good leaders due to actions taken by voters and we have had bad ones. To assume that every voter will automatically pick the least educated candidate to lead their country is foolishness.

Are you new here, or a troll?

5h4wn:

Neither, I just don't buy into the cynical view most Fark posters hold of the average person. The arrogance alone in assuming the poster is somehow above the intelligence level of his peers is astounding.

DamnYankees: I like Kevin Rudd. He's one of those actual smart people - you know, the kind other countries elect to lead them.

Yeah, so smart he can't use a farkin' dishwasher.

As a matter of protocol, Bush actually is senior to Rudd. PMs are merely heads of government, while Presidents are heads of state. Not that he's supposed to salute him or anything, but such rules actually are fairly important to a lot of the pomp and circumstance that surrounds high-ranking government officials.

Subby, you mean a salute like this?

Churchill2004: As a matter of protocol, Bush actually is senior to Rudd. PMs are merely heads of government, while Presidents are heads of state. Not that he's supposed to salute him or anything, but such rules actually are fairly important to a lot of the pomp and circumstance that surrounds high-ranking government officials.

is that why W groped the german pm?

opposition lawmakers said it belittled Australia.



A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.

I like Rudd. I hope he has a worthy president to salute by next year. Maybe both our countries can get back on track after our "conservative" douche-wongers are long gone.

/gObama

Lighten up, Bruce.

I just can't get used to the idea that this guy in the new PM of Australia.

Especially given his singing career in 1978: