Labor would do well to remember just now the old adage "he who laughs last laughs longest".
There's no doubt the Abbott government has had an absolutely shocking run up to Christmas and start to the new year. One can hardly imagine worse.
Nonetheless, one of the endlessly fascinating aspects of politics is the certainty that the scenario today will not be there for very long.
Remember Kevin Rudd as Mr Popular from 2007 until early 2010 who became "hasta la vista babe" in June that year?
Remember a jubilant Julia Gillard at that time, then deposed only a few years later? Oh, don't forget the re-emergent, smirking Rudd. For those with a longer memory, go back to 1997, otherwise known as John Howard's "annus horribilis".
Labor's photo bombing of last Monday's Liberal Party leadership spill meeting was admittedly a bit of fun, but essentially pretty childish.
Shorten, the would-be alternative PM, having a few girly giggles does not a policy make.
He was joined by Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong, who can get away with girly giggles because they are girls and both known as substantive policy thinkers.
Shorten doesn't have either advantage. Is that the best he can do?
I think Labor chose the wrong guy as leader – a photo opportunist, not a policy man. Ordinarily you might not think that a problem because they could change leaders.
But sadly for Labor, Rudd was so enraged when his party turfed him out the first time that he convinced them to change the rules and make it extraordinarily difficult to oust a leader.
So with Labor, if you get a dud you are stuck with them. Their party room has effectively been neutered on leadership.
