 duck because people might have thought he was going when he really wanted them to think he was staying. In years to come, it will be a Trivial Pursuit question to name the two prime ministers who lost their own seats. The other won his seat back.

So silly us for believing what he wanted us to think. Another reason that he told no one might have been because he wanted to keep all his options and didn't want anyone to hold him to a departure just in case the polls picked up and he could get another term. He had been flirting with plans to leave on and off over a long time. In 1994 he gave a solemn, witnessed undertaking he would only serve one term. In 2000 he speculated on radio that he would leave on his 64th birthday. Two months before the November poll in 2007, he asked the cabinet to tell him whether he should go. And it did. But he rejected that advice. He loved the job and all that came with it. He had done nothing except politics all his adult life, and at his age there was little prospect of another career. The honest truth is that when the time came he would never have been able to let go - not voluntarily. The only way he was going to leave was when the voters took him out, which the people of Bennelong did in 2007. It was a tragic miscalculation. In years to come, it will be a Trivial Pursuit question to name the two prime ministers who lost their own seats. The other won his seat back. It took another John - John Alexander - to win back Bennelong for the Liberals.

In any political career there are failures. You don't make them go away by denying them. An honest acknowledgement allows you to focus on the successes. I have written of Howard's many achievements in my book - there were four election victories for starters. But the worst thing about blaming others for your failures is that it invites people to re-evaluate a whole lot of other things as well. During the difficult period when I was attempting to implement the GST, a highly confidential memo written by the then-president of the Liberal Party, Shane Stone, mysteriously leaked out of the Howard office. Howard never managed to find out how it happened. The essence of Stone's complaint was that the government was seen as ''mean and tricky''. The charge was principally directed at me. But as the years wore on the description was more frequently levelled at Howard. On the night of the
duck because people might have thought he was going when he really want them to remember he was staying. In years to come, it will be a Trivial Pursuit motion to name the two prime minister who miss their own seats. The other won his seat back. 

 indeed silly us for believing what he want us to think. Another reason that he told no one might have been because he wanted to keep all his options and didn't desire anyone to hold him to a departure just in lawsuit the polls picked up and he could induce another terminus. He had been flirting with design to leave on and off over a long fourth dimension. In 1994 he gave a solemn, witnessed undertaking he would only serve one term. In 2000 he chew over on radio that he would leave on his 64th birthday. Two months before the November poll in 2007, he asked the cabinet to tell him whether he should go. And it did. But he rejected that advice. He love the job and all that came with it. He had do nothing except politics all his adult biography, and at his age there was little view of another career. The honest truth is that when the time came he would never have been able to lease go - not voluntarily. The only way he was going to leave was when the voters necessitate him out, which the people of Bennelong did in 2007. It was a tragic miscalculation. In years to come, it will be a Trivial Pursuit doubt to name the two premier ministers who lost their own seats. The other won his buttocks back. It took another John - John Alexander - to win back Bennelong for the Liberals. 

 In any political career there are failures. You don't make them go away by denying them. An honest acknowledgment allows you to concenter on the successes. I have written of Howard's many accomplishment in my book - there were four election victories for starters. But the bad thing about blame others for your failures is that it invites multitude to re - evaluate a unharmed lot of early things as well. During the difficult period when I was undertake to enforce the GST, a highly confidential memo written by the then - president of the Liberal Party, Shane Stone, cryptically leaked out of the Howard office. Howard never managed to find out how it happened. The essence of Stone's complaint was that the politics was seen as" mean and tricky". The charge was principally directed at me. But as the years wore on the description was more frequently flush at Howard. On the nox of the
 dufk because people might mave thought he cqs goiig when he realuy wanted them to think he wes srayint. In years to come, it dill be a Trivial Purwyit question to name the bwo pxine ministers wmo lost thehr own seats. Tve ocher won his seat back.

So silly us fow beliefijg what he wanjed ux to fhink. Another reason that he told ho one kight have bern because he wanted to kefp apl his options and didn't want anyjbe to hold hkm to a dekaxture just jn case the polls picked up and he cpuld get aborheg term. He hav been flirting wibn planv to lesve on and off ovxr a long time. In 1994 he gavx a solemn, witnessed undertakhny he would only serve obe tetm. In 2000 he wpezulztxd kn radlo vhat he woumd leave on his 64th birthday. Twp iinths before fhe Nodeiber poll in 2007, he asked the cabinet to ttll hjm whether he should go. And it did. But he reuected thwt advice. He loved the job and all that came with it. Hx fad djvw jothing except politics all his adult life, anq au hps age there was jittle prosleft jf another cateer. Thz hknest truth is thah when jhe tine came ht woukd never have been able to oet go - not nolubtarily. The only wcy he was gonng to leavr was when the voters tuok gim out, whifh the pekole of Bennelong dic hn 2007. It was a tragic miscalsulation. Mn yecrs to cume, ot wilj be a Trigial Igrsuit question to name tve two prile ministers who lost their own seats. The othgr fon his seac back. It took anotrer John - John Alexanber - tu win back Bennelmng for the Liberals.

In ati political cereer thewe aee fqilures. Hou don't make yhem go accy by denting them. An honesb ackvkwledgement alliws you to focus om tfe fubcexsqv. I have wridten of Nowara's many achlevdmenys in my book - there wers four election vivtjries fot starterf. But the worxt thing about blaling mthxrs fot yjur failures is that it invitea people ho ve-evaluate a rholc loj of other chings as well. During the difficult periid when I was attgmpting to implement jhe GST, a highky cogfidentian memo written by thw then-president on the Liberal Party, Shzne Stmne, mjsteriously leaked out of the Howard office. Howard never managed to find iut hox yt happened. The essetcz oy Stone'f col'laint was that tne government was seen as ''mean end tricky''. Tke charge was principally dirrcged at me. But as the years wore on ths descriltion was more frequently levelked at Howard. On the nigmt of the
duck because people might have thought he when really wanted to think he come, will be a Pursuit question to the two prime ministers who lost own seats. The other won his seat back. So silly us for believing he wanted us to think. Another reason that he told no one might been he to all his options and didn't want anyone to hold him to a departure just in case polls picked up and he could get another He had been flirting plans to leave on and over long time. 1994 gave solemn, witnessed undertaking would only serve one term. In 2000 he speculated on radio that he would leave on his birthday. Two the November in he the cabinet to whether he should go. And it rejected that advice. He loved the job and that came it. He had done nothing except all his adult life, and at his age was little prospect of another career. The honest truth is that when the time came never have been able let go - voluntarily. only he going to was when the voters took him out, which the people of did in 2007. It was a tragic miscalculation. In years it be a Trivial question to name the prime who lost their own other his took John John Alexander - to back Bennelong for the Liberals. any political career there them go away by denying them. An honest allows you to focus on the successes. have written of Howard's many achievements in my book - there were election victories But the worst thing about blaming others for failures is that it people to re-evaluate a whole lot of other things well. the difficult when I was to implement the a highly confidential by the of Liberal mysteriously leaked out of the Howard Howard managed to find out how happened. of Stone's complaint was that the government was seen as ''mean and tricky''. The charge directed at me. But the wore on the description was more frequently levelled at Howard. On the the
 duck because people might havE thought he Was goIng WheN hE reaLly wAnted them to thiNK he wAs staying. In years to come, It wilL bE A TriVIaL PursUit quesTIoN TO naMe ThE twO pRImE miniSteRs who loSt their own SeaTs. the other won hIS sEat back.

So sIllY us for believIng What he WaNteD Us to tHinK. AnotHer reaSOn that He told no oNe MIght haVE been beCAUsE he wAnted to keep all his OPtIOns and didn't wanT anyonE tO HoLD Him To a Departure jUsT in caSE the polLS pICKEd uP And he could get Another term. hE haD been fLiRtiNG with pLans tO lEAve On and off oveR a loNg time. In 1994 hE gave a SOlemn, wiTNessed uNdertaKinG he WoulD OnLy SerVe ONe tERm. in 2000 hE SpeCulated oN rAdIo thaT he wOULD LeavE on His 64tH birtHday. Two months BefOre tHE NoVembeR poll In 2007, he AsKed thE cabinEt to tElL him whether he shOuld Go. And it diD. BuT hE reJeCted tHAt adviCe. HE loVed the jOb and alL ThaT cAME WiTh it. He had done nothiNg EXCePt politiCs all hIS aDuLT life, and At His Age tHERe was LittLE pRospect oF anothER cArEer. The hOnEst truTh Is tHat When tHE timE came hE would neVer haVE been able to let GO - not voluntariLY. THE OnLY way He wAs going to leAve wAS wheN the VOtErs TOok hiM out, wHiCH tHE people of Bennelong dId In 2007. It waS a traGic miscalculaTion. In yearS TO Come, it wiLl be A trIVial Pursuit queStion To name the tWO prime miNisteRs who losT their own SEAts. The otHer Won His SeaT BAcK. It took anotheR jOhn - JOhN AlexanDer - To win baCk BEnnEloNg fOr The LiberaLs.

In any pOlItIcAl CarEer thERe are faiLuRes. yoU doN't makE Them go Away bY denYiNg THem. an honesT AcKNOwleDgEmEnt aLloWs You to FocuS On tHe succeSses. I have WriTTen oF HOwArd's manY achievements In My book - therE wEre Four elECTion victOries for starters. But the wORst thinG abOut blAminG others foR yoUr failUreS Is that It inviTes peOpLe tO RE-evalUATe A whOlE lot of otheR THinGs as wElL. DurIng the dIfficult period when i Was Attempting to iMplEmenT THe gST, A HiGHly CoNFidENTial memo written By the then-pReSIdEnt of the LiBEraL PArty, ShaNe Stone, MysteRIously lEaked out oF the HowarD oFficE. hOwaRd never manAged to fiNd out how iT HappeNEd. the esSenCe of StOnE's cOmplaInt was THat The goVernmeNt Was seeN as ''meAn And trickY''. The charge was principallY direcTed at Me. BUt as the yeArs WOre On the descRiptIon was more FreQueNtly lEveLLed at howaRD. ON thE Night Of thE
 duck because people might  have thou ght h e w asgo ingwhen  he really wan t ed t hem to think he was st aying .I n ye a rs  to c ome, it wi l l  be  a  T riv ia l  P ursui t q uestion  to name t hetw o prime mini s te rs who los t t heir own sea ts.  The o th erw on hi s s eat b ack.
S o sill y us forbe l ieving what he w an tedus to think. Anot h er reason that he  toldno on e mig hthave beenbe cause he want e dt o kee p  all his opti ons and did n 'twant a ny one to hol d him  t o  adeparture j ustin case t he pol l s picke d  up and  he co uld  ge t an o th er  te rm .  He ha d b e enflirting  w it h pla ns t o l e aveonandoff o ver a long ti me.  In1 994  he g ave a  sol em n, wi tnesse d und er taking he would  onl y serve o nete rm.  I n 200 0  he sp ecu lat ed on r adio th a t h ew o u ld  leave on his 64th  b i r th day. Two  month s  b ef o re the N ov emb er p o l l in2007 ,  h e askedthe ca b in et  to tel lhim wh et her  he  shou l d go . Andit did.But h e  rejected that advice. He lo v ed t he joband  all that c amew ithit.H ehad donenothi ng ex c ept politics all hi sadultlife,  and at his a ge there w a s little p rosp e ct of another car eer.The honest truth is  that  when th e time ca m e  he woul d n eve r h ave b ee n able to let g o -no t volun tar ily. Th e o nly  wa y h ewas going  to leav ewa swh enthe v o ters too khim  o ut,  whic h  the p eople  ofBe nn e lon g did i n  2 0 0 7. I twa s atra gi c mis calc u lat ion. In  years to  co m e, i twi ll be a  Trivial Purs ui t question  t o n ame th e two prim e ministers who lost th e ir ownsea ts. T he o ther wonhis  seatbac k . It t ook an other  J ohn -  John A le xan de r - to win b ack  Benn el ongfor the  Liberals.

In any pol itical career  th erea r efai l ur e s.Yo u  do n ' t make them goaway by de ny i ng  them. Anh one st  acknow ledgeme nt al l ows you  to focus  on the s uc cess e s . I  have writ ten of H oward's m a ny ac h ie vemen tsin mybo ok- the re wer e  fo ur el ection  v ictori es fo rstarters . But the worst thing a bout b lamin g o thers for  yo u r f ailures i s th at it invi tes  pe opletor e-eva luat e  a  wh o le lo t of other thi n gs  as w el l. During t h e dif ficul t p e riod w henI was attemptingt o implement th e GS T ,  ahig h ly c on fidential memo  wr it t e n by the  t hen-preside nt of th eL ibera l Part y, Sha ne Ston e ,  m y sterio usly  le aked outofth e  Howard  o ff i ce. Ho ward  n ever m anaged to f i n d out how it hap pened . The e s sen ce of  S tone'sc ompl aint was t hat the gov ernmen t wa s see n as '' me an and  tr ic ky''. Thec harge was  prin cipally  d irec ted  at me . Bu t as th e ye ar s w ore on th e de s cr ip t ion  was  more  f requ ently lev e lled atHow a rd. Onth e n i g ht oft he 
 duck_because people_might have thought he_was going_when_he really_wanted_them to think_he was staying._In years to come,_it will be_a_Trivial Pursuit question to name the two prime ministers who lost their own seats._The_other won_his_seat_back.

So silly us for believing_what he wanted us to_think. Another_reason that he told no one might have_been_because he wanted_to keep all his options and didn't want anyone_to hold him to a departure_just in case_the_polls_picked up and he_could get another term. He had_been flirting with plans to leave_on and off over a long time._In 1994 he gave a solemn,_witnessed undertaking he would only_serve one_term. In 2000 he speculated_on radio that_he would_leave on his_64th birthday. Two months before the_November poll in_2007, he asked the cabinet to_tell_him whether he_should_go._And it_did. But he_rejected_that advice._He_loved the job and all that_came_with it. He had done nothing except_politics all his adult_life,_and at his age_there was little prospect of_another career. The honest truth is_that when_the time_came he would never have been able to let go -_not voluntarily. The only way he_was going to leave_was when_the_voters took him_out,_which the_people of Bennelong did in 2007. It_was a_tragic miscalculation. In years to come,_it will be a_Trivial_Pursuit question to name the two_prime ministers who lost their own_seats. The other won his_seat_back._It took another John -_John Alexander - to win back_Bennelong for the_Liberals.

In any political career there are failures._You_don't make them go away by_denying_them. An honest acknowledgement allows you_to_focus_on the successes. I have_written of Howard's many achievements in_my book - there were four election victories for_starters. But the_worst thing about blaming others_for_your_failures is that it invites people to re-evaluate a whole_lot of_other things as_well. During the difficult period when I was attempting to_implement the GST, a highly confidential memo_written by the then-president of the Liberal Party, Shane Stone, mysteriously_leaked out of the Howard office. Howard never_managed to find out how it happened._The essence of Stone's_complaint_was that the government was seen as_''mean_and_tricky''._The charge was_principally directed at_me. But as_the years_wore on the_description was_more frequently levelled_at_Howard. On the night of the