www.breakfastpolitics.com

FRIDAY

Relative to rest of world, our debt is modest, Alan Wood, Australian
KRudd "wants to rule the world", Andrew Bolt, Herald-Sun
"Rudd is incapable of fundamental logical consistency", Michael Costa, Australian
"Budget chaos for employee share schemes", Andrew Main, Australian
Employee share plan suspensions follow budget changes, Patrick Durkin & Annabel Hepworth AFR
An early election is most unlikely, Michelle Grattan, Age
Turnbull calls Rudd's early election bluff, Malcolm Farr, Telegraph
Turnbull picks only a small fight with Rudd on budget, Peter Hartcher SMH
Malcolm wants to put your fags up 75c a packet... Michael Harvey, Herald-Sun
And block new income test for health insurance rebate, Mark Kenny, Advertiser
Turnbull wants 3c extra a cig to ease public health pressure, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
"Turnbull blows smoke at bluff", Matthew Franklin, Australian
"Turnbull has gambled by saying no yet again", Lenore Taylor, Australian
Turnbull's budget reply risks making Opposition the issue, Michelle Grattan, Age
Govt QT assault on Turnbull is unrelentingly scripted, Annabel Crabb SMH
There's broadsheet world & there's tabloid world, Laura Tingle AFR
Budget Speech in Reply, Malcolm Turnbull, Courier-Mail
Budget is "image-building", not nation building, George Megalogenis, Australian
"Huge cuts" to PS staff numbers coming, David Uren, Australian
Will we really get back to boomtime growth in two years? Paul Murray, West Australian
Rio shares plunge, Chinalco deal on verge of collapse, Matt Chambers, Australian
"Modern awards will kill off jobs", Peter Anderson, Australian
Unemployment in inner Sydney has doubled, Jacob Saulwick SMH
Unions to fight any attempt to raise super access age to 67, Misha Schubert & Dan Harrison, Age
"Longer lives means more years at work", Stephen Lunn, Australian
Labor, Coalition combine to beat Greens "de facto pay rise" block, Ben Packham, Herald-Sun
"Golden years on hold with no silver lining", Sue Dunlevy, Telegraph
Govt rejected proposal to toughen disability pension rules, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Govt rejected proposal to include family home in age pension means test, Misha Schubert, Age
Combet negotiates ETS change for landfill but not yet for coal, Tom Arup, Age
Combet gets old landfill grandfathered out of ETS, Renee Viellaris, Courier-Mail
"Cap & trade will be a permanent drag on economic activity", Vaclav Klaus, Australian
Lib MP Haase claims native title tears Aboriginal families apart, AAP/Herald-Sun
Smith accepts responsibility for accidental document release, Jonathan Pearlman SMH
DFAT in damage control after Smith doc blunder, Brendan Nicholson, Age
Smith document leak breaches international protocols, Mark Kenny, Advertiser
DFAT does international ring around after document leak, Emma Chalmers, Courier-Mail
Petraeus is assembling an All Star Afghanistan team, David Ignatius, Australian
Don't "foist a charter of rights...on the Australian people", John Hatzistergos, Australian
Xenophon to force toughening of journo shield laws, Nicola Berkovic & Chris Merritt, Australian
Govt payout to grieving dad after Immigration Dept sends daughter back to Iran, Jewel Topsfield, Age
Workers on maternity leave sacked from Defence-owned childcare centre, Ewin Hannan, Australian
SA only state to miss out on tertiary ed infra handouts, Maria Moscaritolo, Advertiser
But SA does get $15m for science-oriented national thinktank, Advertiser
Buswell announces one year WA payroll tax refund, Amanda O'Brien, Australian
New Canberra suburb to be called "Beard", Megan Doherty CT
Vic gaming minister shouldn't be surprised he's not believed, Michael Shmith, Age
Oppn may block new Crown deal in upper house, David Rood, Age
Theophanous stands down staffer over Brimbank evidence, David Rood & Paul Austin, Age
Virginia Judge pal on fraud charge, Kate McClymont & Andrew Clennell SMH
Tas govt dept abolished by Bartlett, Nick Clark, Mercury
Maybe male team sports teach men to be violent, John Fitzgerald, Age
"A tale of two dumb jocks", Patrick Smith, Australian
Goward on the Sharks' unnamed others: "They're cowards", Josh Jerga, Age
"Gutless players run for cover as sex scandal widens", Dean Ritchie, Telegraph
Players put up wall of silence, Dean Ritchie, Alison Rehn & Stefanie Balogh, Telegraph
Rugby league bunners should face facts: They want to do it with each other, Annabel Crabb SMH
Respect women & take personal responsibility, Maxine McKew, Telegraph
Fatty Vautin is awful. How does he keep his job? Holly Byrnes, Telegraph
Prof Catharine Lumby should be sacked over league scandal too, Andrew Bolt, Herald-Sun
Rudd calls for greater respect for women, AAP/West Australian
Sometimes the media has to be judge & jury, Richard Ackland SMH
"Ethical men must fight for change", Karen Willis SMH

Canberra weather: 15, fine, windy, BoM

International:
The international Cap&Trade v Carbon Tax brawl, Phil Levy, Foreign Policy
Recession prices are drawing Brooklynites to Manhattan, Michael M Grynbaum NYT
Oldest known figurative sculpture identified & you'll never guess what it's of, Brandon Keim, Wired
Two hints: It's 35,000 years old & "very sexually charged", Art Daily
Boxers or briefs...or gripper trunk or Y-back thong? Christina Binkley WSJ
"Tolkien out-Wagners Wagner", Tom Shippey TLS

THURSDAY

Rudd: I will pull that early election trigger, Phillip Coorey SMH
All eyes on Turnbull's reply tonight, Michelle Grattan & Tim Colebatch, Age
Being PM could be a short-term career move for Rudd, Greg Sheridan, Australian
It's all go in PM&C with 65 more staff, Brendan Nicholson & Ben Doherty, Age
Swan: I won't bore you with pesky details, Annabel Crabb SMH
Nathan Rees could not find one nice thing to say, so said nothing, Andrew Clennell SMH
Rees versus Rudd: It's war, Simon Benson, Daily Telegraph
Birth & IVF costs will go up, Nick Miller, Age
Super could be locked away until 67 too, Misha Schubert et al, Age
Super & pension changes are good, truly, Malcolm Maiden, Age
MPs' retirement plans are unchanged, Herald Sun
Spending pledge will limit election promises, Matthew Franklin & David Uren, Australian
Swan: we will spend more if we have to, David Crowe & Laura Tingle AFR
Things will get worse, Swan warns, Stefanie Balogh, Courier-Mail
Surplus projections are just not credible, Michael Stutchbury, Australian
Economists can't agree on budget forecasts, Jacob Saulwick SMH
Budget is wrong, Terry McCrann, Herald Sun
At least the markets believe it, David Uren, Australian
More people eating a smaller cake, Tim Colebatch, Age
Swan pulls Grandma Murphy's amazing chicken trick, Katharine Murphy, Age
Last minute decisions saw budget documents pulped, John Kehoe AFR
Structural rot set in under Howard, Mark Davis SMH
Costello launches a shiny new website, Tony Wright, Age
Opposition all a'muddle, Jacob Saulwick SMH
Rural Australia "gets off lightly", David McKenzie, Weekly Times
But PC says drought assistance must go, Debra Jopson SMH
Middle-aged & stuffed? You're stuffed, Adele Horin SMH
Punished for staying alive, Mike Rafferty SMH
Govt predicts jobless will switch to disability allowance, Malcolm Farr, Daily Telegraph
Welfare groups keep trying for jobless, single parents, Stephanie Peatling SMH
Single parents are copping a big stick, Jessica Brown SMH
PhD students are dirt poor too, Rebecca Smith, Age
Business wants family tax benefits cut more, Greig Gailey, Australian
But maintain skilled migration, business says, Paul Maley, Australian
New Cabinet committee on border protection, Phillip Hudson SMH
GST collapse trashes NSW budget, Brian Robins SMH
ACT budget is $200 million poorer too, Victor Violante, Canberra Times
Too much stimulus will give us bloated govt, Stephen Kirchner, Australian
What if the GFC never happened? Joshua Gans, Age
Overspending Labor sows the seeds of its own destruction, Mark Latham AFR
Where's the defence detail? Jonathan Pearlman SMH
Bigger, sharper teeth for Auditor-General, Phillip Hudson SMH
Alcopops tax has boosted other booze revenue, Siobhain Ryan, Australian
SBS may still cut radio, TV, online services, Dan Harrison, Age
Oppn support means media protection bill will get tougher or fail, Chris Merritt, Australian
Federal court restructure may well fail too, Michael Pelly & Nicola Berkovic, Australian
Now govt is saving car dealers, Mark Skulley AFR
Rio-Chinalco deal could yet collapse, Elizabeth Knight SMH
Larry Anthony quits ABC Childcare as more centres close, Natasha Bita, Australian
Solar panel rebates don't work, Mark Davis & Stephanie Peatling SMH
ETS bill better than nothing, say climate scientists, Adam Morton, Age
Global warming debate has lost its audience, Bjorn Lomborg, Australian
Overseas student body has an interesting new boss , Guy Healy, Australian
Uni of Sydney is now just a wedding backdrop, Elizabeth Farrelly SMH
New inquiry on digger's death in Afghanistan, Mark Dodd, Australian
Timbercorp collapse should not doom rural schemes, Leslie White, Weekly Times
Vic bushfire warnings were just so wrong, Gary Hughes, Australian
Bushfire 000 callers diverted to Centrelink, Norrie Ross, Herald Sun
Emergency staff had no idea Marysville had been razed, Karen Kissane, Age
Natl disaster review warned of disaster in 2005, Marika Dobbin, Age
What Evan Thornley is doing now, Peter Alford, Australian
Vic Premier won't talk about Crown's big win, Sarah-Jane Collins, Age
WA wants to quarantine income of problem drinkers, black & white, Nicolas Perpitch, Australian
Perth man charged for YouTube rant, West Australian
Adelaide water restrictions end in 2012, but prices up, Christopher Russell et al, Advertiser
Tas govt to shut entire department, Damien Brown, Mercury
UN Human Rights Council: vampires on the blood bank board, Vaclav Havel, Australian
Nine puts Matthew Johns on standby, Lex Hall, Australian
Johns contrite, but doesn't get it, Amanda Meade, Australian
Mrs Johns wouldn't wanted it to have been her daughter, Andrew Webster, Daily Telegraph
NRL's gender advisers are out of touch too, Miranda Devine SMH
We all need to change our attitude, Naomi Toy, Daily Telegraph
Drop the term "group sex" for a start, Jill Singer, Herald Sun
NRL can't change our sex lives: player, Jamie Pandaram SMH
The Footy Show - tired, tawdry & for the chop, Erin McWhirter, Daily Telegraph
Goward: Johns should name the other players, Georgina Robertson SMH

Canberra weather: 15, fine partly cloudy, BoM

International:
Futons, fluffy dusters - Lib Dems snouts in the expenses trough too, Martin Beckford et al, Telegraph
Should oceans be part of climate change debate? Maybe, Abdul Khalik, Jakarta Post
English can drive you crazy, Keiko Watanabe, Yomiuri Shimbun
The brain switch to turn off the Tim Tam urge, Jonah Lehrner, New Yorker
Which might help Americans stop eating, Christy Harrison, Gourmet
Elections are dirty at Oxford, Alexandra Frean, Times

WEDNESDAY

Treasurer's Budget Speech, Wayne Swan, Australian
Budget winners & losers, SMH
Post-budget political odds: Coalition shortens but Labor still a monty to win, Courier-Mail
"It's a very Labor budget", Michelle Grattan, Age
Generational change budget Howard couldn't or wouldn't do, Malcolm Farr, Telegraph
"A bravura performance if ever there was one..." Tony Wright, Age
The "work harder, longer & survive on fewer handouts" budget, Michael Harvey, Herald-Sun
Swan pitches "nation building for recovery", Stefanie Balogh, Courier-Mail
"A rough budget for tough times", Mark Kenny, Advertiser
"Unprecedented cash shortage" forces focus on priorities, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Swan surfs the moment & sets up some reform waves, Dennis Atkins, Courier-Mail
Retirement age put up to 67, in stages, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Treasurer "has budgeted like a Depression-era housewife", Lenore Taylor, Australian
Govt way too soft on middle class welfare cuts, Adele Horin SMH
"Axeman has to settle for a scalpel", Annabel Crabb SMH
"High marks for controlling operating costs", Malcolm Maiden, Age
"A credible plan to return the budget to balance", Alan Mitchell AFR
"Turns out that at heart Swan is a real optimist", Jennifer Hewett, Australian
Treasury & RBA have fallen out over the growth forecasts, Terry McCrann, Herald-Sun
Treasury & IMF part company on economy's future path, David Uren, Australian
"The most puzzling, back-to-front budget I can remember", Ross Gittins SMH
Rudd sentences middle class to dig him out of budget hole, David Penberthy, Telegraph
"This is a transition budget", Tim Colebatch, Age
Govt chooses to "give programs a haircut rather than behead them", Phillip Coorey SMH
"Rudd has lost his boldness & roar", Peter Hartcher SMH
Infrastructure spend is $22bn out of our $700bn infrastructure shortfall, Adele Ferguson
"Hundreds of thousands of families...will lose family payments", Sue Dunlevy & Alison Rehn, Telegraph
Govt is only taking care of the "nice" pensioners, Susie O'Brien, Herald-Sun
"Portrait of an optimist in the middle of a nightmare", Paul Kelly, Australian
"Giving with one hand & taking away with the other", Jessica Irvine SMH
"These are budget cuts that won't bark", George Megalogenis, Australian
Budget leaves "a host of tough decisions for someone to take", Michael Stutchbury, Australian
"Budget is much tougher than it needed to be", Kenneth Davidson, Age
Close to a million will be unemployed for the best part of a year, Jacob Saulwick SMH
What's in the budget for higher ed? Andrew Trounson, Australian
What vice-chancellors think of the budget, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Wayne channels Eva Peron, Tim Blair, Telegraph
"It's manana from Kevin", Andrew Bolt, Herald-Sun
"Stuff the budget... (It's) going to be a rough ride", Catherine Deveny, Age
Conroy: It's time for broadband action, not more studies, Ben Doherty, Age
Labor's journo shield bill goes down in Senate, Chris Merritt, Australian
Fielding opposes new alcopop bill, Ben Doherty, Age
Drought assistance to farmers hurts budget & environment: PC report, Ben Doherty, Age
Small business should relax about the IR laws, Julia Gillard, Australian
Political spin bowling - first simplify, then exaggerate, Janet Albrechtsen, Australian
World War "Monthly": My part in Sally Warhaft's downfall, Peter Costello SMH
What Swan should do about the Rio-Chinalco deal, Gina Rinehart, Australian
Australia has never resolved what fairness means, Greg Melleuish, Australian
Elders go to London to claim remains of 600 Aboriginals in museums, unis, Paola Totaro, Age
Tiwi Islanders fear quarantine breach from boat people arrivals, Paul Toohey, Australian
Murray River water declared unfit for human consumption for first time, Tom Zed, Advertiser
Forget northern Australia as a food bowl - it wouldn't work, Greg Roberts, Australian
"Sexuality remains at the core of Islamic social organisation", Tanveer Ahmed SMH
Australian Left should go back & look at Brian Fitzpatrick's views on Israel, Nick Dyrenfurth & Philip Mendes, Australian
Sydney misses out on fed infra spend, Linton Besser SMH
O'Farrell slams Tripodi's megatrip spend, Brian Robins & Andrew Clennell SMH
Vic Libs call for ALP secretary to be sacked over Brimbank scandal, Sarah-Jane Collins, Age
Brumby Govt tucks Crown Casino announcement under budget cover, Rick Wallace, Australian
SA Treasurer says GST revenue plunge will devastate budget, Greg Kelton, Advertiser
Bligh's "wild rivers" bill divides Cape York indigenous leaders, Greg Roberts, Australian
Get this - Collingwood is dragging down average crowd numbers, Caroline Wilson, Age
Williamson: Blanchett's STC privileges production values over plays, Elissa Blake SMH
9 to bone Matthew Johns today, Andrew Webster, Telegraph
On compassion for other species, Katrina Fox SMH
"A croc walks into a bar..." Nick Calacouras, NT News

Canberra weather: 16. sunny, BoM

International:
Top US Afghanistan general ousted - not aggressive enough, Elisabeth Bumiller & Thom Shanker NYT
Germany's Greens "have lost their unique selling point", David Gordon Smith, Der Spiegel
China may up prices to deal with Beijing water shortage, Cui Xiaohuo, China Daily
A highly political game of golf, Veera Prateepchaikul, Bangkok Post
House & Cuddy: "an attraction between two highly intelligent workaholics", Ginia Bellafante NYT
How the Mona Lisa nearly got soaked at The Met in 1963, Cristina Ruiz, Art Newspaper

TUESDAY

Conroy's Telstra split plan: break up, get into broadband, John Durie, Australian
Unions charge Kim Carr to win over PM to buy Australian, Phillip Coorey SMH
NSW Labor President Bernie Riordan attacks 35 years of Labor govts, Imre Salusinszky, Australian
Alcopops bill will try again today, Christian Kerr & Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Joyce: Nats will develop their own ETS response, Nicola Berkovic, Australian
Final budget deficit tip: $58 billion, Phillip Coorey & Mark Metherell SMH
Budget will claim to save 200,000 jobs, Matthew Franklin, Australian
But Treasury forecasts 8.5% jobless rate, Michelle Grattan & Tim Colebatch, Age
Rich retirees will fund poor pensioners, Sue Dunlevy, Daily Telegraph
Labor backbenchers unhappy with budget leaks, David Crowe AFR
"We make no apologies for sustainable borrowing", Wayne Swan, Australian
Costello gets angry: our spending was prudent, Matthew Franklin, Australian
Good for Kath & Kim, bad for Prue & Trude, Susie O'Brien, Herald Sun
Election promises to be broken tonight, Ben Packham, Herald Sun
Green energy to get $1 billion, Steve Lewis & Mark Kenny, Advertiser
"Inhumane" Villawood to be renovated in Budget, Paul Maley & Matthew Franklin, Australian
Some parents will get parental leave twice, Stephanie Peatling SMH
Maternity leave makes many happy, Ben Schneiders, Age
But some want more, Liberty Sanger, Age
Parental leave does not tackle the welfare trap, Michael Stutchbury, Australian
Everyone's an expert on budget day, Shane Wright, West Australian
Ken Henry's economic horror show, Steve Lewis, Daily Telegraph
PM can't blame the world for everything, Piers Akerman, Daily Telegraph
Stop stuffing around super, Bruce Brammall, Herald Sun
Rudd & Obama are fellow reckless spenders, Peter L. Swan, Australian
"Wayne Swan has gone fiscally feral", Terry McCrann, Herald Sun
Stars align for an early election, Paul Williams, Courier-Mail
Stacking is just the way of the political world, Dick Gross, Age
Lib leadership pretenders are not idle, Malcolm Colless, Australian
"Abstinence makes the voters grow fonder", Gerard Henderson SMH
Faulty bowel cancer tests have dudded nearly half a million people, Lex Hall, Australian
Bad news is tests delivered false negatives, Kate Benson SMH
Garrett's parrot may, or may not, cost jobs, Imre Salusinszky, Australian
Bob Carr intervenes for the parrot, Simon Benson, Daily Telegraph
Business leaders to challenge Gunns pulp mill, Matthew Denholm, Australian
But Tas Premier wants mill built now, Sue Neales, Mercury
Investors are doing little about any ETS, Elaine Prior, Age
Last Australian troops out of Iraq by July 31, AAP/Australian
Winding-up confirmed only after intl pictures, Brendan Nicholson, Age
Defence ordered to review Afghan deaths inquiry, Nick McKenzie SMH
New boat adds pressure to humanitarian visas, Tom Arup, Age
Unused map predicted deadly course of Vic bushfires, Gary Hughes, Australian
Kinglake could have been warned, Karen Kissane, Age
Offensive opinions the price of free speech: a bill of rights won't help, Michael Sexton, Australian
"Thailand is the new Indonesia, and vice-versa", Peter Hartcher SMH
What passes for normal in the NRL? Stuart Honeysett, Australian
Mmmarvellous milk, Richard Cornish, Age
Stuck for cash? Milk a sheep, David McKenzie, Weekly Times
Whatever you do, don't go swimming in Lake Burley Griffin, BP Extra

Canberra weather: 17, mostly fine, BoM

International:
Tibetans are not anti-Chinese, but pro-justice, Amy Yee FEER
New South African cabinet rewards ANC cadres, Mmanaledi Mataboge, Mail & Guardian
Chavez tightens his grip on Venezuela, Tyler Bridges, Miami Herald
Tory expenses boss claimed thousands for gardening, Holly Watt, Telegraph
From Aga to Zanussi: the A-Z of British MPs' expense claims, Telegraph
Sarah Waters: corsets to the age of austerity, Robert McCrum, Observer
Gordon Brown's make-up secrets, Nick Parker, The Sun

MONDAY

Judges may win top-up payrise of 6%, Nicola Berkovic, Australian
Only we old MPs could survive on our "very limited" pay, Wilson Tuckey, Australian
Defence have "covered up" role in Afghan deaths, Nick McKenzie SMH
Diggers want more publicity for the "right" kind of deaths, Ian McPhedran, Herald Sun
Real people are calling the economic shots, Malcolm Farr, Daily Telegraph
No risk of a boring budget this year, Annabel Crabb SMH
Swan's budget reflects his musical tastes: contradictory, Phillip Coorey SMH
This Treasurer knows how to bathe a baby, Gerard McManus & Peter Familiari, Daily Telegraph
"Behind the budget with Wayne Swan", kevinpm.com.au
It's maternity leave lite - no paternity leave or super payments, Ben Schneiders, Age
Modest, cheap & late, Michelle Grattan, Age
Paid parental leave in 2011, but baby bonus stays too, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Working new mums win - eventually, Phillip Coorey & Stephanie Peatling SMH
It is actually parental leave, Stefanie Balogh, Courier-Mail
No extra cash for single parents, but maybe softer treatment, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Howard will be fall guy for tough budget, Matthew Franklin & David Uren, Australian
Swan must unwind the unsustainable, David Uren, Australian
This will be an election budget, not a recession budget, Laura Tingle AFR
Access tips deficit at $48 billion, but a hard road to repay, David Uren, Australian
What has already hit the cutting room floor, Jessica Irvine SMH
Beer up, smokes up, poor hit, Mike O'Connor, Courier-Mail
Thanks for the cash bonus, now give me my tax cut, Ross Gittins SMH
Oppn will try not to say no to everything, Patricia Karvelas, Australian
Coalition is running a marathon, not a sprint, Arthur Sinodinos, Australian
Govt should have picked recession sooner, Glenn Milne, Australian
Budget lock-up should call last drinks, Michael Wilkins, Australian
Rudd needs to try on an austerity persona, David Burchell, Australian
Garrett and a parrot will "cost 1000 jobs", Daily Telegraph
Alcopop row is still bubbling along, Louise Hall SMH
Uni entry scores will set natl high school league tables, Anna Patty SMH
Unis expect they will have to wait for govt help, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Retiring academics must be replaced by imports, Andrew Trounson, Australian
Bond Uni turns 20, Cosima Marriner SMH
Swinburne Uni has one big squatting problem, Carolyn Webb, Age
Don't forget rural research, Andrew Campbell, Australian
David Borthwick to head govt bailout bank, David Uren, Australian
Driver of China free trade talks quits DFAT, Michael Sainsbury & Rowan Callick, Australian
China's economy is firing up, John Garnaut SMH
Defence will have machinery, but what about the people to drive it? Greg Callaghan, Australian
Fighting robots are real, Peter W. Singer, Age
Broome gas plant to sign indigenous jobs pledge, Debbie Guest, Australian
First local swine flu case has already recovered, Richard Macey, Age
Ex-NSW Minister wants sex sacking reversed, John Stapleton, Australian
Vic Police's real underbelly is soft & flabby, John Silvester, Age
First evidence at formal Vic bushfire hearings today, Karen Kissane, Age
Doubt on Gunns pulp mill permit, Matthew Denholm, Australian
Museum of Aust Democracy: give it a go, William McInnes SMH
Press Council faces budget cuts & a role revamp, Mark Pearson, Australian
Survey claims users will pay for online content, Nick Tabakoff, Australian
Protect books, boost the economy, Jason Steger, Age
"Suicide is selfish ... a first-world luxury", Gabrielle Carey, Age
Group sex ingrained in rugby culture: Four Corners, Brad Walter SMH
Media diary, Amanda Meade, Australian

Canberra weather: 17, mostly fine, partly cloudy, BoM

Best from the Weekend:
Budget 2009: Sharp edges, unpredictable political victims, Laurie Oakes, Herald-Sun
Swan is a working class boy with ingrained fiscal caution, Gerard McManus, Herald-Sun
"Just look at Mr Rudd's cranky-pants' rap sheet..." Wendy Hargreaves, Sunday Herald-Sun
Rudd & Wong "pulled off a magnificent meta-swifty on the green lobby", Annabel Crabb SMH
How Wong suckered them - the old "last minute meeting" trick, Greg Roberts, Australian
Looking at Malcolm Turnbull, I see...Lawrence Springborg! Dennis Atkins, Courier-Mail

International:
Evidence mounts that ethanol isn't even pale green, Bryan Walsh, Time
"A quiet coup": Woman designs mosque in Turkey, Cliff Kuang, Fast Company
Nothing was going to stop A-Rod getting back on the field, Ben Reiter, Sports Illustrated
Madame de Stael, Europe's brilliant "First Modern Woman", Richard Holmes NYRB
Lucie Ree, Jennifer Lee & Ernst Gamperl show in Tokyo (thanks to Issy Miyake), DH Rosen, Japan Times
"Frugal Traveller" does Portland, Matt Gross NYT