By ERIC LICHTBLAU and BRIAN STELTER

WASHINGTON — With Republicans hoping to recapture a number of statehouses in November, the media conglomerate headed by Rupert Murdoch is inserting itself into the races in bold fashion with a $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association.

From Peter Costello

In a dull campaign, Mark Latham's report on 60 Minutes was one of the more interesting. I know the media canned it. Before it aired, Laurie Oakes told us Latham had "crossed a line". Nothing upsets journalists more than the idea that outsiders can do their job.

Who knows where that could end? The public might realise there is nothing special about the insights of political journalists - a group of people who consider themselves expert on something they have never done. Every so often a journalist chances their arm in real politics.

Badenden... drawing by Gus.

An artist today said he was left "dumbfounded and astonished" after an exhibition of his nude paintings was taken down from a council office following complaints from staff.

John Vesty had arranged to display his paintings for four weeks at the North Norfolk District Council offices in Cromer.

from Crikey .....

At least Abbott's honest about wilful refusal to buy into global warming

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes:

In the trigger-happy post-9/11 world, the favoured way to instigate a war is to demand that the designated "evildoer" prove a negative. 

As the clock ticks down to the 2010 Federal Election what exactly are the major political parties offering Australian voters? Very little it seems. The atmosphere of major party fear and loathing is cause for some serious reflection on the state of democracy in Australia. Isn't it about time that we as citizens start to push for real change and accountability.

That moment has arrived and it is up to us to do something.

from Crikey .....

Mungo: double disillusion leaves spirit of the nation in jeopardy

Mungo MacCallum writes:

Artificial meat grown in vats may be needed if the 9 billion people expected to be alive in 2050 are to be adequately fed without destroying the earth, some of the world's leading scientists report today.

Holy asylum seekers Boatman - Australia's border patrol forces would have a hotline to Tony Abbott under a Coalition Government to ask him if they're allowed to turn the boats back.

As another boatload of illegal immigrants arrived on the weekend - the 152nd since Labor won office - Mr Abbott explained how his pledge to turn back the boats would work.

"In the end it would be a prime ministerial decision," Mr Abbott said.

"It would be the Government's call based on advice of the commander on the spot."

Mr Abbott said the phone call from sea would come to him - on the boatphone - and it would be his choice whether or not to turn a boat back if it was safe to do so.

Former prime minister John Howard says Julia Gillard has no right to hide the details surrounding her ascension to the top office.

The second longest serving prime minister also criticised Ms Gillard's predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for dodging questions about his axing. 

"I've said all along that I would be the underdog," Mr Abbott said.

"I'm running against the full might of an incumbent government. I'm running against five incumbent state Labor governments. I'm running against the union movement which is a $1 billion-a-year logistics support operation for the Labor Party. I'm running against big money, big factions. I'm running against big politics .....

I'm running against everyone."