So we come to the end of a week where trolling through the bile and muck of the leading story meant that at the end of the shift, you just wanted to have a shower and wash the dirt off.

And I've come to the end of the week with a few questions. 

Firstly, Jami Lee Ross. 32 years old.

A man who has spectacularly turned on his leader. A man who records conversations. A man who's moment of truth evidence against Mr Bridges has been found wanting at every turn. A man who's intimidating behaviour in the past had been known about by the Party and it's President Peter Goodfellow.

A man who's fractious and at times vexatious behaviour has been well documented in the media in the past through his involvement in all levels of politics. A man who it's alleged has a very active love life with people other than his wife. A man whose ambition is famous ever since he entered politics at the age of 18. A man known as a skilled practitioner of the harder and more brutal side of politics. A man with a circle of friends who also likes the dark arts. 

My question is... how on earth did this man rise so far up in the party? He became the Whip. The guy you need to trust the most because they become the guy who knows where all the bodies are buried. He rose to 7th on the list in a caucus of 56. Simon Bridges is a numbers man in the leadership battle. If Jami Lee Ross is the 7th best isn't that telling?

Which brings me onto a question I've had in my head about National for a while. Where are the grown ups? Under Key, English and Joyce voters for National always knew they had a safe pair of hands. There's been a nagging feeling about that this next generation has not had the gravitas of the last.  It's the biggest party in the house but it hasn't felt like the next government in waiting. No more so than this week. 

Leighton Smith asked a question earlier this week what does the National Party stand for. Good question. I've seen them stand against anything Labour, the Greens and NZ First say. But I have  yet to witness a lightning rod moment of policy clarity.

Which brings me to Simon Bridges. In my opinion he's won the battle against Jami-Lee Ross. But he's losing the war. The stench of this week has engulfed his party and as leader he has to take responsibility for the tone his team presents. This yucky week will come up every time Simon Bridges name is mentioned.

His only hope is to recover the confidence and the policy clarity his predecessors used to have in spades and lead his party out of the muck of this week.