John Brogden’s stupidity is Morris Iemma’s gift. Brogden has been
tainted, and is now unelectable; that is why he has been prevailed on
by his party heavyweights to quit today.

The Labor ads in the next election would have needed no words: just this morning’s horrible Daily Tele
media headlines “Brogden: My racist sex shame” and grabs of Brogden –
then cut to Morris strolling with his wife and kids in the park.
Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Brogden wasn’t helped by the role of the hard-right Young Liberals
federal president Alex Hawke, who has been stirring up the story behind
the scenes. Brogden went out accusing Hawke – closely allied to Tony
Abbott – of disloyalty. For Hawke, it is a double-edged scalp: he will
come under criticism for working behind the scenes against the state
party leader.

“I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably,” said
Brogden in standing down this morning, his likely successor Barry
O’Farrell by his side. All because he thought he was on a sure thing,
had a skinful and mistook friendly journalists for “friends.”

Had he stuck to the Diet Coke, he would have stood a good chance of
taking the premiership in 2007. Now he leaves his party in the
lurch, with crucial by-elections in the balance.

How will this play out in the forthcoming state by-elections? It
won’t be good for the Liberals. Just when Labor’s instability and
failures in so many areas are starting to bite in the electorate, the
Libs lose their leader through an act of frat-boy stupidity.

Lucky Morris Iemma now gets to take on a fresh Opposition Leader who
must build a profile and confront a Labor machine desperate to cling to
power. Maybe the new Liberal man will realise that a political
leader must be “on duty” 24 hours a day – and that journalists are not
always your mates.