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Marius - Politics …

In the 19th century Lord Acton was probably regarded by his pals as a moral giant and an intellectual colossus, but today he is remembered for just one short quote.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

He apparently wrote this in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887.

If he were writing today he could have added a PS along the lines of: “Over time, power also tends to be centralised into fewer and fewer hands.”

Decades ago Australian governments were made up of a Prime Minister, some key senior ministers and the rest. But the rest were not mute observers, their noses pressed to the windows of the PM’s office as they gazed in awe at the exercise of executive government.

Parliament had a bigger role then and more people were having their say. The former Labor MP Barry Cohen recently pointed out in a column in the Spectator that question time used to involve a few questions to Prime Ministers from Opposition leaders. Then it was the turn of backbenchers to raise genuine local inquiries.

Today question time is substantially an attempted cross examination of the PM by Malcolm Turnbull. The difficulty for the opposition leader is that the witness doesn’t have to answer any questions and can, in fact, spend his time abusing the prosecuting counsel. And he appointed the judge.

Opposition backbenchers are almost never heard in question time while on the government sides their only role is as the stooge who asks the minister a Dorothy Dixer.

“First among equals” has always been a glib phrase for anyone trying to describe the subtle pre-eminence of a PM in cabinet. Like some other revered sayings - “The exception proves the rule” - it is nonsense, a lie.

The “first” part is right, but forget about anyone else being equal to the PM. John Howard was not the only voice in cabinet, but he was much the most powerful, none was equal. Not even close.

The present government has the PM and an inner circle of Gillard, Swan and Tanner, and a lot of planning has gone into ensuring no ill-disciplined outsiders cloud any issues.

At the moment the issue the government sees as the most dangerous is that of asylum seekers. As the days of the stand off with the refugees on board the Oceanic Viking ticked over, fewer government voices were heard on the issue, as the inner circle tried to control a debate with a lot of potential to harm the government.

With the government in deeply defensive mode the only heads seen above the parapet for days were the PM and the Foreign Minister. Gaffer tape was freely available to any other government member who might feel chatty.

Ministers are now more timid that ever about speaking out, even in their own areas, without clearance from on high.

By the way Lord Acton’s famous quote should be let run for a few more words. After remarking on the corrupting tendency of power he noted: ” Great men are almost always bad men.”

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Mark - Breakfast E.P. …

Thanks again to Anna Hipsley for piloting the Breakfast ship again this week through a sea of news — from the waters of the Indonesian archipelago, through the shoals of strife in Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the US economy — apparently out of the doldrums and hoisting the spinnaker in a stiff breeze.

I thought I should mention the last item we played on Breakfast this week — an excerpt from BBC World’s “Hardtalk”.

The guest on the confrontational interview program this week?

None other than one John Winston Howard.

Host Stephen Sackur’s questions actually provide a fascinating insight into how Australia is viewed from outside….on everything from Iraq to asylum seekers.

And John Howard provides a feisty defence of his government and its policies.

It’s worth watching in full.

You can see it here on the Hardtalk web-site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/default.stm

Don’t forget Max Presnell, Helen Thomas and Scott Wales will be along on Sunday morning at 10am Eastern Summer Time on ABC NewsRadio with “Weekend Halftime at the Races”, wrapping up a huge day tomorrow at Flemington with no less than four Group Ones, including the Victoria Derby and the Mackinnon Stakes. They’ll also be previewing Tuesday’s $5.5 million Melbourne Cup.

Helen likes Kiwi stayer “Monaco Consul” for the Derby.

Scott agrees.

But Max believes it’s impossible to go past current favourite, “Shamoline Warrior”.

And the Mackinnon Stakes?

Helen reckons it will be between “Scenic Shot” and the Caulfield Cup winner (and last year’s Melbourne Cup hero) the Bart Cummings trained “Viewed”.

Scott likes “Vigor”. In fact this race is make-or-break for the Caulfield Cup place-getter. If “Vigor” wins, Danny O’Brien’s charge gets into the Melbourne Cup.

“If he gets into the Melbourne Cup, he’ll go close to winning that as well,” muses Scott.

Max likes “Rangirangdoo” in the Mackinnon. In fact he suggests taking a Quinella with “Rangirangdoo” and “Racing to Win” to add some value.

My tip?

If you can’t be at Flemington, sit back with a cold beer, turn on the telly, and enjoy what many argue is the greatest day of racing in the world.

Have a great weekend.