Lose on the roundabouts, lose on the swings

In the immediate wake of Steve Bracks's shock resignation as Premier of Victoria, a decision in which the very public problems of his children played a major part, and after eight years as Premier that began when the oldest child was still only twelve, Bracks's replacement John Brumby has shown his Heffernan-hued true colours and demonstrated that he has learned less than nothing from his predecessor's life experience.

From today's Age:

'New Premier John Brumby has suggested one of the reasons he overlooked Tim Holding for the Treasury portfolio is that the young Finance Minister is unmarried and has no children.

Asked on ABC TV why he had chosen former education minister John Lenders over Mr Holding for the key job, Mr Brumby replied: "He's a bit older and has had a few more of life's experiences. He's a parent, father, husband. All of those things."'

Got political ambitions? You'd better get breeding, then, if you haven't already. And while you're at it, setting up a trust fund for the sprogs' counselling and rehab in fifteen or twenty years might be a prudent move as well.

More from Professor Trelawny

Further to Zoe's lovely bit of prophetic Potterblogging at crazybrave on Tuesday, I have another bit of apparent prophecy to offer from the pen of J.K. Rowling, this time from Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Voldemort is back; the newly-deposed Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, is visiting the Muggle Prime Minister for what is by no means the first time; and the Muggle Prime Minister notices that Fudge has changed since the last time he saw him:

'Furthermore, Fudge was looking distinctly careworn. He was thinner, balder and greyer, and his face had a crumpled look. The Prime Minister had seen that kind of look in politicians before, and it never boded well.'