Media, still dumb

The media still can't figure out that Kevin Rudd and Australia are bit players in the whole "fix the Bush recession" game. We're acting on behalf of the two countries that are the most fucked, the US and UK, and basically helping them out to convince the EU, Brazil and China that they should give our buddies a break and not ask for too much in return for pulling them out of a hole they've been enthusiastically digging for the past ten years. If John Howard did it, he'd be a lapdog, but because the media can't quite figure it out they're torn between constantly attacking Rudd on meaningless issues that don't resonate with the public and grudgingly acknowledging the aura of statesmanship that has been lent to him by Obama and Brown as he does work on their behalf. The G20 is really an audience for the US and UK to come begging, hat in hand, for concessions from other states who will drive a hard bargain in return for bailing them out. Not being in a position to negotiate, we might finally start to see some movement on the protectionism both states are notorious for, which is hopefully the payoff for Rudd's hard work.