Campbell quites cabinet...

Those three words guarantee Rudd the toughest week yet of his fledgling leadership. In a move almost certainly engineered to throw momentum back behind the Government in the pursuit of Rudd, Campbell has resigned from cabinet. I'm sure we'll see a return to cabinet in the future, or favour granted to Campbell for 'taking it for the team', just as we'll see a growing storm of media intensity come Monday. The Government has set the bar for dealing with Brian Burke - a bar too high for Rudd. Instead of dulling the relentless attacks in parliament we saw Rudd endure on Friday, the Government now has the ability to shift the attack up a gear.

This next week will be all about Rudd being on the back foot - desperately trying to regain the friendly media environment of his honeymoon, vainly trying to set the focus on his agenda, whilst remaining embroiled in the Brian Burke saga.

The honeymoon is over... time for the real 'action' to begin...

An amazing thing happened today - Kevin Rudd was held accountable, criticised even. It made me remember what normal political commentary is all about - holding both sides of politics accountable. I breathed a sigh of release at the inevitable crash to reality occurring for our fearless new Labor leader - and my didn't he handle it well. Sunrise was priceless - almost as funny as watching an unprepared Kochie take on Andrew Bolt in a global warming debate earlier in the week.

What amuses me about the whole situation is how the media itself declared the honeymoon over - like they officially grant a 3 month waiver or something. 'The honeymoon is over'... now we will actually ask questions that don't pander to the press release. You have to love the 5th estate!

I am thankful for one thing. Finally we are treated to a realistic bout between Howard and Rudd - no longer will we be forced to endure 'both side of the road' Rudd facing up against 'every thing's bad' Howard. Rudd facing up to realistic commentary will be interesting - something tells me that he will not handle it all that well. After all, he is no Howard - Rudd has had a easy road to power when compared to Howard...

Meanwhile Peter Costello continues to build his momentum - both Rudd and Howard will be haunted by the influence and power that he will exert over the next decade!