We wish John Brogden a swift and full recovery. Suicide is never a wise option for a fit young politician, and if anyone thought otherwise, check out the photos of Brogden being loaded into an ambulance (in the SMH, the Tele and Ninemsn ) – you’ll see them all over tonight’s TV bulletins.

Sadly, Brogden’s extreme reaction to his travails shows he still didn’t get it. Was he really so naive as to think the media wouldn’t boot him, and boot him as hard a possible, once he was down? Are there really any politicians left who want the media to regurgitate their lies – but don’t think the beast won’t bite back once the muzzle is off?

Those looking for reasons that Barry O’Farrell suddenly withdrew from the Liberal leadership race overnight once he heard of Brogden’s suicide attempt, should consider that context.

Those circulating rumours about Brogden, of course, were not exclusively limited to the Labor Party and journalists. Brogden blamed slick Young Liberal dandy Alex Hawke for spreading the rumours about his misbehaviour – and today in The Australian Andrew West highlights the role of Hawke’s boss, hard right “Christian Values” backbencher David Clarke, in the rise of Peter Debnham as the next Liberal Leader:

We’ve now had two young-ish politicians pull the pin on their careers this year. Both Brogden and Mark Latham demonstrated they were unprepared for the heavy responsibility of High Office. Both were blown off by the media; they apparently never stood a chance once their weaknesses were publicly revealed.

This month’s Vanity Fair asks why the politicians who survive scandals are more likely to shamelessly barge their way through media criticism, while the pollies who fall on their swords and accept criticism are invariably skewered by their critics.

The public figures with chutzpah, who blast their way through, who refuse to bow to the power of the press no matter how serious their misconduct, are more likely to survive with their careers intact and their reputations enhanced. The Jeff Kennetts of this world; the OJ Simpsons, the Rush Limbaughs.

But the media apparatus is geared to chew up politicians who show weakness. When Brogden said on Monday: “I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably,” he was being charmingly naive. The days of honour among thieves are long gone. Gentlemen’s agreements to withhold the nitty-gritty details that make politicians human are over. Here is the news: the news will get out – eventually.

Politicians who believe the media is their friend are fools. When the time comes, the same journalists who give you obsequious airtime to promote your achievements will dance on your grave. And history will probably be kind to them because they’ll write it.

This morning, the Ten Network’s Melbourne news director, Dermot O’Brien, made this astonishing statement in a segment with 774’s Jon Faine: “Don’t forget this: John Brogden resigned over a racist comment. If John Brogden indulged in sexual harassment over a long period of time, is there a problem – maybe they enjoyed it?”

While Neanderthal twits like O’Brien run the media, it’s going to be a very long time before the media gets the balance right between reporting private stupidity and covering public office. On the flip side, words are bullets, and we wonder if Janet Albrechtsen will chose hers more carefully in future. While regurgitating her vendetta against Latham, she wrote of Brogden in this morning’s Australian: “Swift punishment comes to those who transgress the rules of civil society. And that is a good sign.”

The punishment inflicted by Brodgen on himself overnight – spurred partly as it was by News Ltd’s crass tabloid assault on an unstable young man – is a bridge too far. Even Albrechtsen must realise that. Properly understood, even individualism has limits. Learning where to draw the line between colourful, even withering commentary, and gratuitously offensive slurs is the mark of a sophisticated and free society. Latham was shot down by the electorate for failing to understand that distinction. And Brogden saw the electoral writing on the wall.

On the issue of civility in politics, the people seem to be doing a better job of leading than some of our leaders.