The week that was…

In a scene reminiscent of a scifi movie, the entire Canberra Press Gallery shook themselves awake this week and “realised” that Tony Abbott has been playing fast and loose with the facts.Today’s papers are full of it (and yes, there have been exceptions). Meanwhile the Rudd camp continued its campaign using compliant journalists to blow on the embers of the 17 year-old Slatergate story.

Matters of import were also considered. Ben Eltham pondered the nexus between what the electorate wants and what it’s willing to pay for; Tiffin and Gittens previewed their book on PM Howard’s economic record, and Grog also pondered the the Howard “Golden Years”. Yet again, Jonathan Green made us think about the media that we consume daily. Lastly, I’ve included a link to an excerpt from Greg Jericho’s excellent Rise of the Fifth Estate.

Abbott lies and the campaign against Gillard

• Mark Latham: Lunar right crusades against Gillard
• Barrie Cassidy: Mistakes and missteps in 18 hours of madness
• Jenna Price: Misogynists and nut jobs – Gillard stares down blogosphere
• David Penberthy: Abbott mines a rich vein of rank opportunism
• Laura Tingle: Move forward – there’s no going back
• Michelle Grattan: Is Abbott on thin ice? Absolutely
• Dennis Atkins: Rhetoric rides unbridled as Tony Abbott is obsessed with polls
• Lenore Taylor: Lack of carnage Abbott’s inconvenient fiscal truth
• Geoff Kitney: Gillard must impose her own agenda
• Laurie Oakes: Have you heard the one about the politician who lies?

Economic issues

• Ben Eltham: How will we pay for it all?
• Rodney Tiffen and Ross Gittins: The Howard impact
• GrogsGamut / Greg Jericho: Who can claim the economic gold medal?

Thinky pieces

• Jonathan Green: An allegory of journalistic decline
• Misha Schubert: Politicians are people too
• An excerpt of Greg Jericho’s new book, Rise of the Fifth Estate, and my review