Inflation has hit a 17-year high in Australia, as reported by NEWS.com.au. And just in case you had any doubt as to who NewsLtd was hoping you’d blame for it, this helpful composite image appears at the top of the story:

Memory lane … Various images from 1991, the last time inflation breached 4 per cent.

Subtle, huh? But did readers take the bait?

And how. Third comment into the thread reads:

This is what you get with Labour (sic).

Posted by: YoungLib 12:12pm today

And, of course, it’s mostly downhill from there. Thank you, NewsLtd.

I’ve been sitting on a GrodsExclusive for a while now, which I’ve been reluctant to post for reasons that will soon become apparent. However, a recent comment here by Dave From Albury convinced me to break my silence:

[…]
Do you understand how debasing it must be to put your name to the kind of shit that Andrew Bolt has published? The man deserves the Grand High Medal of Rupert for his efforts.

The fact is that Andrew Bolt has been rewarded for his efforts over the past few years, as have several of his News Ltd stable-mates — not by Rupert Murdoch, but by the man who holds the biggest place in his (and their) heart(s): John Winston Howard.

A News Ltd insider emailed me a few weeks ago and revealed, under the condition of anonymity, that shortly after Howard’s ignominious defeat in the 2007 federal election, the former prime minister personally sent a special gift to each of his most sycophantic lickspittles strident supporters in the press; a touching memento of their faithful service over the course of his time in office.

Say what you will about John Howard, but there’s no denying he knows how to look after the people who so vigorously looked after him.

Yesterday News Limited’s The Australian won an award in a competition between News Limited newspapers. Today Andrew Bolt is declaring John Howard the unanimous winner of the election based on — wait for it — editorials in News Limited newspapers.

John Howard wins - the endorsement of most newspaper editorials today, that is:

Adelaide’s Sunday Mail:

Change for change’s sake is not a good enough reason to vote out a Government… The Sunday Mail believes the Coalition is best placed to govern Australia for the next three years.

Perth’s Sunday Times:

The Sunday Times believes change for change sake is simply not an adequate trigger to throw out a Coalition Government which, while far from perfect, has overseen record prosperity in WA and the nation.

Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph:

The Sunday Telegraph accepts readers believe it is finally time to give Labor a go. But Mr Rudd … must stare down a Labor cabinet inhabited by many with union and factional allegiances… The Sunday Telegraph advocates a vote for Labor, provided Mr Rudd give these assurances.

Melbourne’s Sunday Herald:

But why take the chance? Why change horses when Australia galloping strongly ahead with the lowest unemployment in a generation? … Australians should stick with Mr Howard.

Melbourne’s Sunday Age:

On the contenders’ “exposed form”,The Sunday Age does not see enough differences between the Coalition and Labor to urge readers to vote for one over the other.

(Those missing are ones I can’t yet find.)

This verdict is interesting because, among other things, it isn’t commone (sic) for newspapers to advocate a vote for the underdog. We like to back winners. Another reason this is interesting is the Rudd hasn’t even been able to get the support of the Sunday Age.

Surprise, surprise. Every single one of Rupert Murdoch’s flying monkey newspaper editors has endorsed John Howard. Total coincidence, I’m sure. And let’s just have a look at that “endorsement” from the Fairfaix Sunday Age again

On the contenders’ “exposed form”,The Sunday Age does not see enough differences between the Coalition and Labor to urge readers to vote for one over the other.

Read it in full here if you want to check for yourself. That’s not an endorsement of either leader; Andrew Bolt is mad.