Trying to catch the deluge in a paper cup

So.

A request.

What do I think about the scary man from WA? Well, that narrows it down. Which one?

In truth, I really wasn’t going to bother about it.

It’s a little bit like Wolf Creek.

I heard all about it. It was going to be the scariest movie ever. Full of gore, suspense and terror.

Full of shit, more like. It was crap.

A bit like this garbage.

I realise I am a bit biased, but it really is a storm in a heart shaped teacup (these are cool, from this shop in Melbourne, BTW)

The media seems to be in a frenzy about it, so much so that I am completely confused as to whether or not anyone even cares. The media certainly does, and they would have you believe that it’s a very big deal. And, por supuesto, Howard and co want you to think that too.

But I asked a couple of people in the office about it. These are public servants, people who have time to read the news websites. Most didn’t care, and I had one ask “Burke? The guy with the gardening show? Did he go to jail?”

I have to conclude that the only people that care are the so-called elites and journalists. The politicians and the politics bloggers.

I realise what Howard is trying to do. He is using it to attack Rudd’s credibility, and it’s worked so far.

But only very slightly.

And now he’s gone too far. He should have been satisfied with a few points scored, but he’s pushed that extra bit. Sacking his minister for the sole purpose of scoring political points was a mistake.

Howard’s, and the Lib’s, problem is that he has for too long done whatever he likes, without anyone asking questions. He thinks he can carry on and people will lap it up. And the punters have certainly not given him any reason to think differently, so far.

He’s pushing too hard on this one, and people aren’t listening.

One thing worries me, though. This meeting first came out in November last year. It was a non-issue then, and suddenly becomes an issue when the Lib’s need some ammunition.

Now, even they must know it’s pretty weak, even if they’re flogging it for all it’s worth. They’ve pulled it out very early in the piece if they want it to affect Rudd’s election chances – I don’t think anyone will remember it by October.

So either they couldn’t wait any longer because waiting that long after November last year to bring it up would have looked even more stupid, or they have something really juicy that they’re saving for closer to the election.

I think that Labor’s adopting the right strategy so far. They appear quite calm about it, while the Lib’s look like a bunch of laughing hyenas.

As long as they can bring the discussion back to actual issues, they should be right.