A Lack of Curiosity -- Inadvertent, Of Course

THOSE QUESTIONS it would be interesting to hear fugitive prime ministerial PR man Tony Hodges answer, forget about them. No need to trouble the poor boy about his part in prompting that Australia Day nastiness because the truth has now been established, at least to Michael Gordon's satisfaction:

Of the tent embassy protest, Gillard rejects the proposition that she was let down by her office, which took 24 hours to brief her after it emerged that press secretary Tony Hodges had inadvertently triggered the protest.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, has "emerged" about Hodges' innocence in stirring up that ugly incident -- certainly not a shred of evidence to demonstrate it was prompted "inadvertently". But that is this diseased government's line and her apologists mouth it with dutiful felicity.

Meanwhile, Hodges continues to make himself scarce and nobody has been able to find partner in slime Kim Sattler. They have done nothing wrong, according to Gordon, but each is still in hiding, which rather suggests they have. One wonders why the pair are even bothering to lie low. The narrative is settled, the hard questions discarded, and it will be very difficult for the pair to accept invitations to write Fairfax opinion pieces if each is not at home to check the mail.

And just by the by, the headline on Gordon's interview with Gillard is a classic, one of the very best in his extensive and unvarying collection of predictions that the Prime Minister is about to blossom. Here is the latest upbeat update:

After the tumble, and staffer bumble, she's ready to rumble

And note also the picture, shot from low down to present our PM as a towering, confident presence on the political landscape. Dwarves interested in photographing Labor leaders should contact the Phage to learn of career opportunities.

Nice picture, bad framing. Readers can still see those feet of clay.