John Howard has been traveling a lot since he got turfed. You can’t blame him, really. By last November – even in his own electorate – Australians were less than enthused about the fella. But over in America, wingnuts staring down the possibility of an Obama presidency just love him.

If you dare, check out the video at PajamasTV where Johnny explains how the media were all agin’ him. (I think it was taken just after he got that award that Bron was talking about)

Highlights abound. Not least among them is the premise of the thing: that Howard had a “contentious relationship with the press” which “wasn’t a whole lot better than the Republican party’s in the US”.

Now, my memory isn’t what it once was, but I could have sworn that John had a few media outlets very much on side. Just for a start I recall a national newspaper openly campaigning for him, friendly columnists in practically every major paper, a good relationship with the family who owned Channel 9 and The Bulletin for most of his tenure, and a bunch of right-wing shock jocks cheering him on. So why would JWH think the meedja were out to get him?

HOWARD: It is a reality in all of our societies that the majority of people who go into the media have a centre-left disposition, that’s just the reality. Not all of them, and there are a significant number of remarkable exceptions to that rule.

Yes, there are many significant and remarkable exceptions to this rule, Mr Former PM.

HOWARD: You need as much diversity as you can have in the media.

Stuff like cross-media ownership restrictions can help with that.

HOWARD: In talkback radio you have a different attitude, a different spirit.

Indeed. Then, with a cheeky grin:

HOWARD: On occasion I accused particular outlets of having a particular bent… From time to time when I’ve been involved in a heavy debate or a heavy campaign I’ve made some remarks about certain outlets in Australia that have identified them with the Labor Party.

Who could he be possibly have been making these mischievous allegations about?

So then there’s some painful, faux-blokey banter about the Olympics and vegemite and Jamaica, after which as quickly as he appeared, the Man of Steel is gone. That leaves the Internet TV guys to talk about how awesum he is in absentia.

PJTV GUY: His single quality is his moral courage, his ability to see right from wrong, and say it plainly.

Hmmmmmm. Are you sure?

OTHER PJTV GUY: My daughter is now in Australia… and she says he’s actually thought of very kindly by the people of Australia who still think of him being a towering leadership figure.

I dunno. I can think of some people who don’t remember him that fondly.

Inflation has hit a 17-year high in Australia, as reported by NEWS.com.au. And just in case you had any doubt as to who NewsLtd was hoping you’d blame for it, this helpful composite image appears at the top of the story:

Memory lane … Various images from 1991, the last time inflation breached 4 per cent.

Subtle, huh? But did readers take the bait?

And how. Third comment into the thread reads:

This is what you get with Labour (sic).

Posted by: YoungLib 12:12pm today

And, of course, it’s mostly downhill from there. Thank you, NewsLtd.