[JimWayne]

Whom should I root for?? Why should I care? Australia is not really an important country. It is sparsely populated.

[OldDeckHand]

"Why should I care?"

Because while Australia is a smallish country, their conservatives have the right ideas on some big issues, not the least of which is gloBULLwarming. There wasn't a stronger, more rational voice against Kyoto than John Howard. This lady, and her party, are just like the climate change moron here and in the UK.

If for no other reason than that reason, it would nice to see the conservatives win the PM. But, this lady is at the height of her popularity, and this is a shrewd move on her part.

[Army Air Corps]

Aside from them being a regional ally and strategic partner in the Western Pacific?

[Thinkin]

“Whom should I root for?? Why should I care? Australia is not really an important country. It is sparsely populated.”

I’m hoping you are being sarcastic….IF not…
Well, you sound like obama…saying “ Iran is a small country…and of no importance”

Australia is our ally….(or was )..….what happens there is very important….

[Bhoy]

There are FReepers in Aussieland. ! That’s why we care! We’re all in this together. Appreciate very much FReepers in Japan & Korea who give insight into news we’ll never hear from MSM about state of FReedom.

[atomic conspiracy]

Tony Abbott, liberal leader, is the opponent. The contrast with Gilland could not be stronger. He is something of a wild man by most accounts, though very thoughtful and intelligent. He is also religious (Catholic) and fought against the sale of RU-486 in Australia. The pinkos really hate him.

[Gay State Conservative]

Whom should I root for?? Why should I care? Australia is not really an important country. It is sparsely populated.

Hey,we should care for many reasons...one of which is she's a vital Western ally and we must all stick together.Yes,Australia's sparsely populated but then so is Israel (for example).

To give you an idea of how close our two countries are did you know that our First Marine Division has adopted "Waltzing Matilda" (Australia's unofficial national anthem) as their parade theme? Check it out!

[odds]

>>>>”Whom should I root for?? Why should I care? Australia is not really an important country. It is sparsely populated.”

Something you should remember for a long time is that A reason you’ve been referenced & engaged in comments in this thread is precisely because Australia and the USA will remain to be allies for a long time, despite domestic, often cultural, and occasional political differences between the two countries.

Even under an Australian Bob Hawke (an Agnostic & Left Wing Australian Prime Minister), Australia remained a staunch ally of USA, and actually & for example supported the USA in “desert Storm i.e. The Gulf War” in Iraq in early 1990’s.

In the current world geo-politics, you may not be surprised how much difference a so-called insignificant, and “sparsely populated country” such as Australia can make and has always made.

Perhaps you are right, we should Not be sending citizens of our “sparsely populated” land to harms ways, but we have done so decades, for the U.S., the U.K., as well as Australia. Regardless of who should become an elected Prime Minister of Australia in 2010.

Alternatively, the USA could go for mightier, over-populated China, et al.

This, definitely, is not a one way street, in pride or arrogance.