The post you are reporting:
Parliament is on holiday and the media are in search of stories to fill the otherwise empty pages.
Some old stories get dug up and relaunched as if new, others are full of exaggerated outrage with little substance (Mandy running the UK on a Blackberry for instance).
I suppose the newspapers have to fill their pages somehow.
In between all this there is something happening and that illustrates the difference in morale, motivation an leadership in the the major political parties.
The Conservatives are conducting a series of speeches delivered by front bench spokesmen. Those of us who are political anoracks will be fully aware as will the readers of the broadsheets.
This last week we have had policy annoucements on health, on education and today George Osborne is making a big speech. On writer described Osborne's speech as marking a significant moment in project Cameron. There is a continious trickle of news coming from the Conservatives, for those who are on the look out for these things.
From Labour there is nothing by way of policy. No real thinking at all really.
Why is this happening? Whay are announcements being made when no-one is listening? What is going on?
It is all about preparing for Government. Its building up a head of steam towards the Conference season, its about preparing journalists and commentators rather than the public as a whole. That said, those members of the public that are really interested will be aware as well and that is not a bad thing.
The election is close now, in 9 months time we are likely to have a new Government (May being the most likely election date rather than June).
Even Brown is reported now to be resigned to losing the election (Ok, that may be a silly season story, but it did come from a good source to a journalist on the Spectator who is not one of the usual sensationalist suspects).
It is difficult to find any serious journalist who thinks Labour can win.
The conference season staring next month will be the start of the end for Labour. The big question is, will Brown stay with it and lead Labour in the next election. Increasingly people are thinking not....
We shall see.
Well, now back to sleep until the end of the silly season......