Item one: Last Saturday, and it's reported that Maxine McKew, the high-profile ALP candidate for preselection to oppose John Howard in the electorate of Bennelong, has received death threats - something that made the papers worldwide.

Item two: Senator Bob Brown (Greens, Tas) urges John Howard to publicly condemn the death threats against McKew.

Item three: It's the following Friday. So far, it appears John Howard has done no such thing. True, he's been busy this week...

Item four: ...but not too busy for him to announce an after-hours GP clinic in Ryde. That's Ryde, in the electorate of Bennelong.