Tardis time 2- Howes Young?

The most amazing thing about this evening's Australian Story? The bombshell that Paul Howes, the faceless man who appears on every TV program even hinting at politics spouting words with a cadence that worries those of us who dislike toss and focus-grouped weaselisms, is 28 years old. 28!

Paul Howes, with and without face. He is not an animal.

The wisdom of Howes' appearance on the program will be added to speculation on the wider Labor movement and its immediate health. One assumes that the profile was aimed at fleshing the human, putting a face on the faceless, and humanising the tough union thug. He was, we learnt, once homeless. He wept for the Beaconsfield miners. He is a, quote-unquote, 'decent bloke'. And Bill Shorten, tellingly, said that it made good sense to hire smarter people than yourself- so he hired Howes. Uh-huh.

Shorten, we were told in the SMH, is the most likely next leader of the ALP. The bookies have his odds 'shortest' (sorry), and the bookies are never wrong. Except for the weekend just gone. Of course, the problem is that, regardless of whether Labor forms a Government, Howes, Shorten, Arbib and Bitar smell. Morris Iemma will tell you so. As will Maxine, as will any number of folk desperate to launch on how Labor have arrived at this place. Gag orders have been issued, as looking like mates is critical to having a hope of forming a 'stable' Government (Stable is the new sustainable). But it'll come out. It will all be spilt.

The LNP isn't entirely rosy either- the Nats are a loud lot, and their relationships with the three independents will make discussions fruity. Seats are dropping in and out of contention. At this moment it looks like Denison will not be taken by the superspy, and Labor remain confident of winning Hasluck. The money is on 73-73, 3 ind, 1 Grn. And the bookies are never wrong are they?

Now all there is to do is settle in for Q&A. Without Mark Arbib, who has been pulled from the show at his leaders request. A good thing it is too. Some faceless men should remain exactly that, with no mouths to make sound with.