Malaysian deal boosts Chris Bowen’s press

Tony Abbott was off spending a few Swiss Francs, but he only dropped three spots, while Acting Opposition Leader Warren Truss, the man with a Ludwig-like public profile, moved 29 spots. He still couldn’t manage the top ten, despite having plenty to talk about with the Malaysian solution immediately in trouble and a global share market collapse, with the Opposition already smelling blood on the 2012/13 surplus commitment.

Perhaps that’s why we have responsible government, so politicians can adapt to the current conditions, rather than making commitments way into a financial future that so clearly is a mystery to everyone? Just a thought.

Wayne Swan’s reply has been that the Opposition is causing all this turmoil with their economic potty mouth, while the IMF did him a favour, saying the local market is in great shape to withstand another global market crisis.

Meanwhile Chris Bowen put his sternest no exceptions face on, as the complexities of the asylum seeker issue continue to mount up and Tony Burke popped up in the Kimberley to try and calm down those Broomers who don’t want an enormous LNG project on their doorstep.

Mike Rann finally gave a date for his departure, a couple of months away, the whole process again bringing into severe doubt the professionalism of the professional politicians in the Labor movement.

Tony Abbott might be sunning himself in Europe, but that hasn’t slowed down discussion about him in online social media. The share crash and Malaysia deal stalemate saw Wayne Swan and Chris Bowen move up, while talkback comments continue to target Julia Gillard.

Tributes were numerous as news reported on the passing of the WWII resistance heroine known as The White Mouse.