Writing this morning on whether Malcolm Turnbull had taken a hard Kyoto line in cabinet, The Age‘s Michelle Grattan said this:

Treasurer Peter Costello became the latest minister to be dragged into the affair, saying he was not able to confirm or deny that Mr Turnbull had advised ratifying. Both Mr Howard and Mr Turnbull have effectively confirmed the story, by declining to deny it.

What a sad commentary on the standards of political discussion that last sentence is … ”have effectively confirmed the story, by declining to deny it”. It sounds hopelessly naive, but whatever happened to simple, unadorned honesty? When did that become more politically acceptable than two grown men shuffling their feet like guilty eight year olds?