this morning I was discussing various matters of common interest with the husband of a federal Liberal MP. He obviously is very familiar not only the personalities but the internal workings of the party. As I had written here during discussions on the loss, I was of the opinion that Howard simply found himself backed into a corner with no worthy successor. There was no one capable, or perhaps confident enough to try and take it from him, and thus by default anyone waiting to be handed the job simply not made of the right leadership material. The husband declared that assessment was exactly spot on. The Liberals were left with no other option but to contest the election with Howard as their leader. The bitterness being expressed now only confirms what Howard knew all along.
