The accepted take on Kevin Rudd’s first 100 days in office (just past or looming, depending on your version of the imperial calendar) is that thus far we have little to show for our change of government other than an ineffectual welter of platitudinous symbolism.

Maybe, maybe not.

John Howard’s speech to the American Enterprise Institute was a clear a reminder of just how far the entirety of Australian politics shifted on November 24, 2007. It seems Howard is just about the only person who would have it otherwise.