Sour Grapes From The Libs

John Howard is a man who knows to give some glib statement of faint praise at historic junctures, and after briefly choking out such (he appeared to be in pain), his reaction to Bob Carr's resignation has been pretty catty and nonconcilatory. John Brogden's reaction (summed up in the Sydney Morning Herald as Brogden: I So Would Have Beaten Him In 2007) is less surprising, though the Liberal staffers who are reportedly `doing handsprings' around Parliament House might be wise to look at the swing it would require to get them in power before getting too excited.

Meanwhile, a Sydney Morning Herald website poll that has already had nearly 10,000 votes is yielding some interesting results, with the only major front bencher to have already ruled himself out leading by a fair whack (whoever came up with the options had a couple of odd ideas themselves). In fact, the three names I'm hearing coming up constantly on talkback - Bob Debus, John Watkins, and Andrew Refshauge - are all from the Left faction. Listen up, Sussex Street!

Craig Knowles - 9%
Carl Scully - 13%
Morris Iemma - 11%
Andrew Refshauge - 21%
Frank Sartor - 15%
Carmel Tebbutt - 7%
John Watkins - 12%
Reba Meagher - 8%

Total Votes: 9463