Tony Blair's Mate Turns Ugly

The final days of the Australian General Election (polling day Saturday) have seen the ruling Liberals exposed for a dirty tricks campaign in the marginal electorate of Lindsay in western Sydney.

Liberal activists distributed a bogus pamphlet purporting to be in support of the Labor Party from an Islamic organisation that doesn't actually exist.

Australian Prime Minister and Liberal Party Leader John Howard vehemently denied any knowledge of the leaflets, stating: "I was at dinner with my mate Tony at the time the offence is alleged to have taken place. We spent the entire evening discussing the war in Iraq and the quality of the Beluga caviar. If someone else did this then they should take the blame, but it's absolutely nothing to do with me.

Watching Howard's denial made me feel queasy. The denial of responsibility, refusal to answer questions and patronising smugness reminded me of someone, but I simply can't think who. Still, at least he didn't pick his nose and eat it.