Half of what I say is meaningless

But I say it just to reach you, Julia…

Yes folks. Gillard and Heffernan, the new Sonny and Cher, dominate the Crikey/Media Monitors Tuesday Top Twenty for the week of 1-7 May.

Gillard knocked her leader down a spot — just as many in the Labor Party fear she may do later — while Peter Costello managed to fall in the lead up to the Budget thanks to Big Bad Bill.

Greg Combet and Steve Bracks continue to grab the airtime for the ALP, while Malcolm Turnbull and Helen Coonan were strong government performers.

And look who came in at Number 10! Kelly Hoare! This is what is known as a one hit wonder. We hope.

This
Week
(Move)

Politician

Press

Radio

TV

Internet

Total

1
(0)

John Howard

921

9,092

3,476

6,641

20,130

2
(1)

Julia Gillard

447

9,720

3,962

1,805

15,934

3
(-1)

Kevin Rudd

778

5,317

3,144

5,003

14,242

4
(*)

Bill Heffernan

223

4,669

2,267

496

7,655

5
(-1)

Peter Costello

342

3,233

1,658

1,452

6,685

6
(4)

Greg Combet

154

3,637

492

593

4,876

7
(2)

Steve Bracks

178

1,014

822

1,296

3,310

8
(4)

Malcolm Turnbull

102

1,648

246

1,029

3,025

9
(14)

Helen Coonan

65

1,402

852

485

2,804

10
(*)

Kelly Hoare

102

2,112

201

265

2,680

11
(-4)

Joe Hockey

79

1,045

559

805

2,488

12
(4)

Morris Iemma

79

1,509

87

642

2,317

13
(-5)

Peter Beattie

169

725

187

1,119

2,200

14
(4)

Wayne Swan

76

1,257

415

305

2,053

15
(5)

Philip Ruddock

50

199

1,100

635

1,984

16
(-3)

Alexander Downer

80

659

173

860

1,772

17
(2)

Mike Rann

98

647

153

605

1,503

18
(-12)

Peter Garrett

33

794

97

534

1,458

19
(6)

Alan Carpenter

101

532

217

434

1,284

20
(1)

Tony Abbott

51

427

168

615

1,261

The Top Five talkback issues during the week were:

Rank

Politician

Talkback

1

Julia Gillard

904

2

Bill Heffernan

576

3

Kevin Rudd

550

4

John Howard

502

5

Greg Combet

228

And if you want a non-political comparison, here’s how plucked Eagle Ben Cousins scored in the media this week:

Ben Cousins

209

3,409

1,763

673

6,054