Charles Richardson
Psephologist and writer
Charles Richardson has contributed to Crikey since 2002, and was a ministerial adviser in the Kennett government and a former editorial manager at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney.
One of the things people most welcomed with the return of the old order was the ability to celebrate Christmas again.
For psephologist, 2010 wasn't as big a year worldwide as 2009 -- only three of the G20 countries held elections, as against five last year -- but there were still plenty of highlights, and of course there was a lot going on in Australia.
Fresh from his triumph in securing the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell", Barack Obama suffered defeat in the US senate on the weekend when Republicans succeeded in preventing a vote on an immigration reform bill.
Although he he survived a vote of confidence on Tuesday, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that Berlusconi's career is drawing towards a close.
For better or worse, Victoria's new government has the chance to do what it wants.
Any PR consultant could have told the Chinese government that the least damaging thing it could do for its own reputation would be to quietly release dissident Liu Xiaobo and allow him to travel to Oslo to accept his Nobel Peace Prize.
A close election doesn't necessarily mean close seats: the new Victorian government has the narrowest possible majority, two seats, in the legislative assembly, but there's been no real interest in the counting for the last week.
Counting continues in the Victorian state election, with two upper house seats still very much undecided.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
The law-and-order policies Ted Baillieu has promised to implement, risk tilting the balance of the criminal justice system towards vengeance.
