The left do like to criticise Howard, saying his 'gravitas' and 'man of conviction' tags are all fabrications of the political imagination. I disagree.
Obviously, like any politician there were instances where he chose the easy option. However,this was not embedded into his political psyche.
On issues such as reconciliation, workplace reform, the republic etc, he chose to take the path he thought was appropriate and stood by those ideas (no matter how ideologically driven they were).
I doubt we will ever see Rudd choose to take such approaches. He is a populist who craves this popularity. The election campaign was testament to this.
If the government is a 'one term wonder' (I hate that cliche but for some reason I used it), or indeed a two term government, I don't believe that it will be remembered fondly. There haven't been the sweeping reforms of Whitlam and Hawke to nullify what will be perceived to be fiscal mismanagement.
I'm with blue_chameleon. There is not one ounce of sincerity about Rudd. His speeches are read with little expression, and he tries to be everything to everyone. I mean, his heart lies in the classical compositions of Bach and Mozart, yet he tries to purport that he is this Australian bloke with a passion for Cricket and the Brisbane Broncos.
When in Victoria during the bushfires, he was seen to be hugging the victims ,as any Prime Minister would. The difference between Rudd and his predecessors if that his hugs seemed more like the hug you'd give your mother-in-law, rather than one of compassion. Again, this lack of sincerity overrides all else.
Yet dispite all of this, his popularity remains strong at this point. I think it will take evidence of the failure of the stimulus packages to arise as well as stability in opposition ranks for the polls to reflect my sentiments.