Here is an opinion piece (Sydney Morning Herald) about the recent Bush-Howard meeting. It is rather partisan (I don't think describing David Hicks as "buried alive in Guantanamo Bay for 2 years without charge" is either accurate or helpful), but makes a good point.

The locals' two questions showed no interest in Bush's visitor. The first Australian question asked when the incarcerated David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, buried alive in Guantanamo Bay for 2 years without charge, would face trial. Bush mumbled a non-reply about "the case proceeding". The second Australian question incited Howard. As an American reporter tried to grab the last opportunity, Howard interjected: "Mr Lewis, Steve Lewis, The Australian."

Lewis, taking his cue: "President Bush, if I could ask a question?" Bush, scanning the media gaggle: "Where are you?" Lewis: "Just here. Thank you." And then the Murdoch press gallery journalist from Canberra asked the question his Prime Minister had gone half round the world to get answered, out loud, for his election campaign ads.

Lewis: "Mr Howard and yourself reaffirmed the commitment to stay the course in Iraq. Are you aware the alternative prime minister in Australia, Mark Latham, has promised to withdraw Australian troops by Christmas if he wins the election? What signal would that send to the Iraqi people and the other members of the coalition of the willing?" {my emphasis}

Bush obliged, fully and freely, what his script writers had failed to deliver: "I think that would be disastrous. It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say, 'We're pulling out'. It would dis-spirit those people who love freedom in Iraq. It would say the Australian government doesn't see hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy, who believe they can shake our will. See, they want to kill innocent life, because they think the Western world, the free world, is weak. That when times get tough, we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom, and we'll leave. And I, anyway - [to clamouring reporters] no, you can't [ask] any more. Thank you all for coming."

John Howard, beaming: "Thank you."

And thank you, oh thank you, Steve Lewis.

I guess everyone already knows the media is a charade, and that political opportunism is alive and well throughout time and space. But after a recent HZ thread exposing liberal bias in survey questions, that's an example from the other side of politics.