Where now for Howard and Costello

So what's the strategy to regain the initiative? One of the results of the leadership controversy in the last week should be an increase in Howard's approval rating - that's right, an increase. The average Australian would have had a scare this week - actually considering that Howard might not be leading the nation will have made the punter realise how much they approve of the job he is doing.

While in one sense this week has been wonderful for the Labor party - for once it is the Liberal internal squabbles dominating the press, there has been no coverage of anything Labor. IR has been off the public radar for the first time in several weeks, and the momentum behind this issue has been stunted in the leadership hype. COAG sat during the week, with Premiers taking the opportunity to fire pot shots at Costello and his 'new federalism' and appearing unified in support of Howard. That's great, but all they've done is strengthen Howard at the cost of Costello... AND Beazely. Australian's do not like change, and they particularly avoid changing something they percieve as successful - Beazely already has his work cut out in these times of prosperity. The smoothest state - federal relations in years, and a highly productive COAG meeting doesn't motivate voters to oust a highly succesful Coalition government.

Lyn Allison appeared on Ten's 'Meet the Press' this morning trying to convince everyone, including her own party, that they were not headed for the political oblivion at the next election. I agree with the assessment that the Democrats have moved too far to the Left - they are now longer a centre party - they are a Left leaning party that just doesn't do things as well as the Greens. My own views on their future have been made before - they will be as bad, if not worse as the last election - afterall what have the Democrats done since 2003 to improve in the voters' eyes?

I look forward to another week of high drama in federal politics - the Treasurer has his soapbox this week with the meeting of all state and territory treasurers. Let's see how he attempts to restablish his authority as the number 2 and works hard to get back to business.