Rudd’s number one! Ever again? Clearly that would be over a large number of dead bodies, including Swan, Crean, Conroy and Roxon.

Following the unprecedented public vitriol the spin from the Labor Party and some in the media is that the fallout from this challenge may actually improve public perception, as the PM has shown hardy resolve in the last few days and the reshuffle provides Gillard with the opportunity to demonstrate political shrewdness, although the Carr stories may have already blown that one. Methinks the vibe remains toxic, and it’s the vibe of which it will be hardest to be rid, rather than the public’s memory of any specific comments or events.

No-one in the media seems to have any idea of any other than the public reasons Mark Arbib has given for his resignation from the ministry and public politics, just showing that Labor politicians can occasionally keep things to themselves, if usually not for all that long. Meanwhile, the formula Julia Gillard has given for picking her ministry is “those who can take the fight to the Opposition”, i.e. those who have never seen a microphone they didn’t want to swallow.

Which seems a good excuse for removing the usually no-profile McClelland (while conveniently not applying the same standard to others like Ludwig and Macklin), but all the same strictures apply to messing with MHRs, any one of whom could go a long way towards blowing up the Government by taking their bat and ball and going home.

KRudd easily won the volume battle here too, but the sentiment of comments online was more in favour of Gillard, while talkback slightly favoured Rudd

Meryl Streep took out the Oscar for looking like an Oscar, well really for role as one of the longest serving British Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. In her acceptance speech, Streep played the humble card, referring to “Streep fatigue” but failed to mention Thatcher.