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The sum total of useful commentary on ABC’s stultifying I Can Change Your Mind About Climate was five minutes of British scientist and author Ben Goldacre saying he’d rather slam his c-ck in the door then debate climate change, writes climate researcher Ian McHugh.

Climate deniers are not mad, they are human. And the sooner you begin to engage with them rather than dismiss them, the better chance you may have of bringing a few along with you, writes Simon Nasht, producer of ABC doco I Can Change Your Mind About Climate.

Even if Abbott wins a 2013 election it would likely be mid-2015 before any carbon price legislation could potentially pass a joint sitting of both houses, writes Matt Grudnoff, a senior economist at The Australia Institute.

The tensions between Tony Abbott and Peter Reith have deep roots in recent Liberal history. The former minister’s eagerness to prevent a return to “the Fraser years”, unencumbered by the party presidency, will be fascinating to watch.

It’s that time of the six-year electoral Senate cycle again, where departing senators give their valedictory speeches outlining what they’ve accomplished and how their political dreams were crushed. Crikey documents the farewells.

I worry about Gerard Henderson, really. He has a chronic case of corresponditis — the inability, at the end of a protracted exchange of letters, to allow his correspondent to have the last word, writes former Labor leader Mark Latham.

If the Liberals are serious about an alternative approach to NBN, they have to start with the vertical separation of Telstra, write Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer.

Sinologist-at-large Graeme Smith reports from behind the Q&A scenes. Nick Minchin said they were “mates”, then it all went sour…

Eric Abetz is expected to be named as Nick Minchin’s replacement as Senate leader, but fighting has broken out over the deputy position. Will the conservative Mathias Cormann beat the moderate George Brandis? asks Latika Bourke.

Crikey readers weigh in on Mike Rann’s personal approval rating, Guy Rundle’s fact checking and whether Nick Minchin is retiring due to family reasons or cash.

It’s official, Nick Minchin will be retiring at the next election. Bernard Keane reflects on the senator whose greatest coup was wrangling the leadership for Tony Abbott.

This week’s Four Corners offered a fascinating profile on Tony Abbott’s life before he became Opposition leader. But what about since then? Is he just Howard 2.0? asks The Piping Shrike.

Evan Beaver explains just what Renewable Energy Certificates are all about. What are they? Where do they come from? Is Nick Minchin making them?

From Malcolm Turnbull’s reckless interview with Laurie Oakes, to Nick Minchin mouthing off over climate change sceptics, The Piping Shrike puts together the best Aussie politics moments of ‘09.

A bit of a confession Friday with two of our largest companies revealing lower earnings, and both blaming the high value of the Australian dollar.

The Coalition’s internal squabbling is far from over, and the next big battle will be fought over the highly-divisive issue of nuclear power, says Jim Green, when Abbott is finally forced to take a position on it next year.

Understand this clearly – more people now believe the Red-Green hypothesis, that capitalism is a system testing us to destruction in its current form, than go with the idea that it is some empty charade of communism by other means.

Stand by for pointless aggro, because the sooner we get the next election over, the better. Plus, Westpac boss Gail Kelly surely can’t believe her own press?