As Barry O'Farrell in NSW has discovered, the way to stay popular is to keep out of the limelight, make rational decisions, and do your bloody job properly.

Surely in any article about media and politicians you have to mention of Kevin Rudd? On the basis that what is written 17000 km away may be closer to the truth read this interesting article in the UK Spectator 4 July 2013 edition:

"In a perfect world, Kevin Rudd would not be campaigning for election but visiting an analyst. ... just who is Kevin Rudd? ...

The centre of the dysfunction is not simply his ruthless political ambition — and the treachery, betrayal and frantic 24-7 mindset that go with it — although that trait certainly explains why so many of his colleagues have resigned from the cabinet ministry and/or parliament.

Nor is the root of his problem his longing to be all things to all people. Most of what depresses and even disgusts people about Mr Rudd now was visible in 2007 when he ran against John Howard. His salient characteristics were trickery and fakery, the chameleon appeal to all sides at once, which helped him persuade the so-called Howard Battlers to come home to Labor without being embarrassed to tell their mates they were doing so.

From the outset, however, his leadership was an exercise in bad faith. From border protection and carbon pricing to economic reform and fiscal policy, Mr Rudd was always trying to say too many things to too many different people, to square circles and reconcile the irreconcilable. Given his recent flip-flops on gay marriage and 457 visas, nothing has changed.

But there is another explanation for the Rudd dysfunction: self-gratification taken to an extreme, an obsession with always being the centre of attention — like a spoiled child — and an addiction to being in the media spotlight.

... Despite the risk of appearing too negative, Tony Abbott is obliged to alert the electorate to what many Labor people already know: this bloke is a complete and utter fraud."

The article gets better.

EQ:

...In real life we vote for the most popular Psychopath...Kev fits that profile pretty well perfectly thanks...

How this article failled to mention The King Clown anywhere shows it's merit.