The week that was….

Three weeks into the five week break before Parliament resumes, the media swarmed yet again to the story that required the least effort. Some called Hockey’s ‘entitlement’ speech refreshing and encouraging, others called it ‘courageous’ and an unnecessary distraction. Meanwhile, blogger Matt Cowgill’s post showed that big cuts can only be made from safety net welfare payments.

Amongst the quality pieces on the Greens, there are some insightful posts from bloggers with connections to the party.

By the weekend, many writers had turned their eye to the economy and the Government. GrogsGamut’s regular Wednesday post explained how government debt and interest rates have no connection.

There was also an excellent longer read from Mark Latham explaining why suburbanites are climate change deniers.

Hockey’s speech

• Annabel Crabb: Eye popping politics – Hockey ‘entitled’ to candour
• Michelle Grattan: A strange sense of entitlement
• Matt Cowgill: Has Joe Hockey promised the end of the Australian safety net?
• Mark Kenny: Middle class welfare will test Australia’s means
• Christian Kerr: B-Team a drag on Abbott’s progress

The Greens

• Tad Tietze / Dr_Tad: The Greens after Brown – what lies ahead?
• Piping Shrike: The problem of the “political cycle”
• Preston Towers: Shaping a new form of Greens leader in the Milne kiln
• John Warhurst: Milne’s daunting new challenge and link to the study mentioned Julia 2010 – the caretaker election
• Geoff Gallop: Is it a case of Bob Brown to Bob Katter?
• Lenore Taylor: Working for Greens and country

The economy

• Greg Jericho / GrogsGamut: Government debt and interest rates have no connection
• Laurie Oakes: Gillard rallies her troops for the final round
• Ross Peake: Gillard budgets for her own rescue
• Peter Hartcher: Rescuing the boom’s benefits
• Lenore Taylor: Abbott sweats on ALP loss to repeal the carbon tax
• George Megalogenis: Aussies leave US blokes behind in their recovery from GFC

Longer read

• Mark Latham: Mass denial