Terrific work, Margo. You've created a map for decent Australians who care to read it, to lead them out of the mire of obfuscation, intrigue and lies of 'little johnnie'. I've just put up our (first) page about the book with some of the media coverage of Tony Fitzgerald's speech and the manipulative attempt at rebuttal of his words by Vanstone - see the link.

The current government was not just one with cruel refugee policies since Tampa, it has always been more than the refugee issue. At our first public refugee event in Perth I called Howard's attempt at controlling Australia's directions an intent to establish a 'manipulative dictatorship' in Australia. That was in the presence of Andrew Bartlett and Carmen Lawrence, and my knees were shaking at the time. Your book is another contribution to the growing list of publications exposing the dark shadows in our country, and I thank you.

I'm Antony Loewenstein, one of the collaborators and contributors to Not Happy John!. It's been a wild couple of weeks, and the response by all you out there to the book and its message has been really encouraging for us all. The media coverage has also been telling. Who's covered it, who's ignored it, who's praised it, who's trashed it and who has simply engaged in personal attacks. It's clearly much easier to hammer the writers and their personalities than actually talk seriously about the issues raised. So be it.

It's times like these, however, when greater media diversity in this country is sorely needed. Packer and Murdoch control a hefty percentage of what we see and hear. And if the Howard Government has its way, we'd soon be watching more Fox News style 'investigation' and less real investigation. I recently read a well-known Aussie blogger once again talking about privatising the ABC. Can you seriously imagine a book like this being covered in an organisation fun

I cannot thank you enough for the publication of this book.

Whilst I had long believed the Howard governments actions and policies to be detrimental to our own society and international standing, I had not questioned the health of our Democracy to the same extent.

It pains me to realize that we are standing before the abyss, so to speak - with our democratic foundations being cast away for short term political and economic gain. We have lost the feeling of empowerment that comes from being engaged in the democratic process.

Through reading this book, I realised that the danger to our democacy transcends our political differences and leanings. Left-Right, Labour - Liberal - Greens, whereever our political allegiance lies, our common goal must be the democratic health of our nation.

This book has been a call to action for all Australians, building up to a critical mass of public pressure we can change the society we live in.

As a society it is our

Margo obviously really, really enjoyed writing this book about big, bad, mean John Howard, and I really really enjoyed reading her thoughts on him. Best book I've borrowed in a long time! I heartily recommend it!

Hi. MK is running flat-out with NHJ! promotional and media appearances right now. Here are a few upcoming events:

a) she's debated former Liberal Senator and ex-Howard staffer Michael Baume for the SKY News program 'Australian Agenda'. This will run Sunday (4 July) in the morning and the evening slots (7.30 am and 10.30 pm), and Monday (5 July) at 1.30 pm;
b) She's chatting with ABC metropolitan radio's 'Sunday Nights' presenter John Cleary this weekend, from 10 pm;
c) Gerard Henderson's Sydney Institute has also generously invited MK to give an address some time in August, so keep your eyes out on that one; and
d) tomorrow she'll be 'mini-relaunching' Not Happy John! at Bungedore, just north-east of the national capital: Saturday 3 July 2004, Canberra. 12.30pm - A SUITABLE BOOK event, Village Sq

Now that her extreme whinings have a home on the web other than the woeful Webdiary, when will Margo quit the SMH, as she seems unable to follow the SMH code of ethics.

IMPARTIALITY - Staff will not allow personal interest, or any belief or commitment, to undermine their accuracy, fairness or independence.

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES - Herald staff shall avoid any prominent activity in partisan public causes that compromises, or appears to compromise, the journalist or the newspaper.

http://www.smh.com.au/ethicscode/

I

Margo et al, grabbed the book last night and couldn't put it down. Its great to know someone cares about our democracy, our country and its place in the world. So, why do we read? To know we are not alone. (ps. love the thought of independents holding the balance of power in the House of Reps.)

I've always seen my right to vote as an obligation - a duty of citizenship; the

Yay, yay, yay.

Ok. You have wet the appetite now go away and make the main meal. Its not just little Johnny Howler but the whole bloody lot. How did we 'the people' allow him and the other idiots political power. In any event keep going.

THIS SITE SUCKS !!!!!!!!! get a life you boring old farts

NHJ! Reviewer Paul Stack has a query about this book and website and MK's obligations under the SMH ethics code. Paul writes:

'Now that her extreme whinings have a home on the web other than the woeful Webdiary, when will Margo quit the SMH, as she seems unable to follow the SMH code of ethics. (Quote): IMPARTIALITY - Staff will not allow personal interest, or any belief or commitment, to undermine their accuracy, fairness or independence. PUBLIC ACTIVITIES - Herald staff shall avoid any prominent activity in partisan public causes that compromises, or appears to compromise, the journalist or the newspaper.

NHJ! readers can find the full SMH Code of Ethics here.

Hmmm, always with the awkward questions. Other bloggy types have made similar observations/accusations, albeit in slightly less eloquent prose. MK'll respond in depth next week - she really is flat-out at the moment. But she certainly rejects that the

Margo, you do good work, real good work. The book is a rallying point, a call for us to be concerned and to take a stand with all those citizens who seek to preserve our democracy. Make no mistake, the contents of this book have skewered the Howard Government and his Black Knights. Each chapter makes you sink further into your chair, as the catalogue of misery, deception, lies and selfishness mount, leaving you to wonder how you missed joining the dots for so long. It's an impressive list for its sheer rottenness. It's a bloody political incendary device. It will be noticed and read. It sets the real agenda, the moral and ethical political bottom line for anyone who fancies being a representative of the Australian people. Ignore its contents at your peril. What is at stake is nothing less than our democracy! Without that we have bugger-all to bequeath to our children. What would we say to them? Read this book? It will not be permitted and then you will know all is lost.

Hi again, and if you've found your way here thanks to Steve Mayne & Co's very generous link from over at Crikey, bear with us on the 'road-test' side, as we're still getting the techo routine down pat. And (as we say in the book): SUBSCRIBE NOW to the mighty Crikkers Team if you've not done so already!!!! (OK, OK, Steve, so we promise that this will be the last such icky, shameless plug for a while at least, since we wouldn't want the OzPollyBlogosphere to get TOO incestuous and mutually fawning...so now we here at NHJ! stand braced for some ruthless and useful review-flaming from the more pro-JH Crikey readers. (Or for that matter, simply those sceptics who can't stand blathering lefty gits like me...my deathless clunking prose fills out Chapter Four: 'Ordinary Australian Appeasers'. ) So do your worst, all dissenting readers. Bang us out a feisty, critical review or two...oh, but if you do feel moved to bag the book, t'would be rather nice i