Initial reaction

STREWTH is not a fan of party political campaign ads.

STREWTH is not a fan of party political campaign ads.

This is largely on the grounds they make us feel stupider in roughly the same way that a swig of meths and a quick clout on the bonce with a nine iron might (not a scientifically tested comparison). But we do have something of a fetish for that bit at the end, where whatever atmosphere or message the ad was trying to build up in its 30 seconds is neatly popped by that rushed voice informing us who spoke and who authorised it. Curiously, it can also be a bastion of reticence, where first names are replaced with a mere initial. This can be understandable in some ads, such as the ALP's new one that features a cartoon Tony Abbott performing a version of The Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Show, which may possibly be the worst political ad since that inflatable octopus NSW Labor used unsuccessfully against Nick Greiner. Seriously, Joe Hockey as a dancing sumo wrestler? But in another new ad, the one featuring a certain former treasurer casting doubt on Abbott's economic credentials, that same moniker modesty only goes so far. As we're informed, it's authorised by N. Martin and spoken by P. Johnstone and Peter Costello.

Robb on a roll

TONY Abbott has some competition in the ranks with yesterday's emergence of Andrew Robb, verbal ironman. Fronting the media with opposition communications spokesman Tony Smith to talk broadband yesterday, Robb pulled the light of his verbal stamina out from under a bushel yesterday -- and what a mother of a bushel it must have been. It blossomed from a normal(ish) press conference into something altogether more remarkable. Eventually, Smith made his excuses (OK, he had to go to the National Press Club to debate Stephen Conroy) and left, but not Robb, who pushed on. The 60-minute mark (not to be confused with the 60 Minutes Mark Latham, dear Lord, no) was reached and breached and Robb ploughed on. And on. Strewth dropped out for a bit to read some of Liberal National Party candidate George Christensen's misogynistic, homophobic, anti-Semitic writings from his student days (ah, but a misspent youth all of 12 years ago), and when we returned from that edifying detour, Robb was still going. Unusually, the Coalition's HQ still hadn't cranked out the transcript by yesterday evening; we suspect there's a sweatshop off some dim alley, from which the clatter of keyboards has sounded all night.

No Mornings star

JULIA Gillard may have made hay on Q & A, almost immeasurably so, but that doesn't mean she's ready to favour every facet of the jewel that is Aunty. Since becoming PM in June, she has snubbed the ABC 891 Mornings show in her home town of Adelaide, rejecting repeated requests from hosts Matthew Abraham and David Bevan for even a brief telephone interview. The PM was at it again yesterday, appearing on Adelaide talkback station 5AA for a soft interview but refusing to front the Mornings show, which is dedicated to politics. ALP state secretary Michael Brown put it down to ratings, yet the latest survey has ABC 891 more than a point ahead of 5AA in the morning timeslot, and less than 1 per cent behind market leader MIX102.3. Perhaps, Christopher Pyne's more classical efforts on the show in recent times have placed the PM under the misapprehension that the minimum requirement is a working knowledge of the works of Plutarch. Abraham, however, would like to assure all concerned: "Bevo and I are more Homer Simpson than Plutarch."

Bishop's bad move

FOLLOWING yesterday's mention of Julie Bishop's unexpected cane-toad wrangling talents, a number of Strewth readers have nominated the humble Bufo marinus as the one creature capable of withstanding the Bishop death stare. As for Bishop's plaintive cry of "Why is it that most politicians get to kiss babies and I get to hold a cane toad?", Townsville reader Greg Humphries replies, "Julie, that was a baby until Mark Latham kissed it."

Hits and myths

WHILE Malcolm Turnbull goes about the business of being the federal minister for Wentworth (after this paper became just the latest to accidentally lump him with the pleasingly enigmatic title), his competition is revving up. After a fashion. Independent candidate Malcolm Duncan is running on a platform that includes policies that acknowledge Turnbull mythology ("No cat to be strangled ever again in Wentworth") and Labor's leader-removal methods ("strict knife control laws for politicians"). Strewth's field agent was handed a flyer by Duncan, who was sporting a bow tie and black cape.

Festival face-off

WE hear there was something of a tense encounter at the Byron Writers Festival between writers Blanche d'Alpuget and Mungo MacCallum, possibly something to do with the latter's description in print of the former's facelift looking "stuck between two floors". Though any rumours about Blanche giving Mungo's beard an almighty pull can be taken with a grain of whatever condiment comes to hand. Surely.

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