I would agree with all that....I was hoping they would get returned with a much reduced majority...I wanted the Libs/nats to get a fright and a lessen in humility rather than see the socialists back in the driver's seat.
For those still whinging that Howard never achieved much in the way of infrastructure while in power I would again point out that infrastructure is mostly a State Govt matter...he tried to take water off them because he could see the State Labor Govts, particularly Vic, stuffing it up on a grand scale...he ran out of time on that one. The blame for the sad state of infrastructure in Australia lies squarely with Labor. One would assume the state Labor Govts would be much more amenable to co-operating with a Federal Labor Govt in this regard but I see no sign of it.
Howard was no more intrinsically dishonest than any other politician...politicians lie, all of them.. and I would argue at least Howard truly believed what he was doing was in Australia's best interest - I don't believe for one minute that the same claim will EVER be made of Rudd.