>>>>> "mr" == martin rudalics <rudalics@gmx.at> writes:

    mr> I don't know whether `python-shift-left' and
    mr> `python-shift-right' are of any use without a prefix argument.

They are, I often use them after adding or removing a statement in a
code.
    
    mr> With a prefix argument, they are simple wrappers for
    mr> `indent-rigidly'.  

Yes, this makes no sense.  It would be more logical if they indented by
(* python-indent count).

    mr> Maybe you could propose a patch to provide the behavior you
    mr> like.  

OK, see below for some suggestion.

    mr> In any case, it might be better to use `use-region-p' instead of
    mr> `mark-active' to be more consistent with Emacs 23.

But then the indent commands would work only if transient-mark-mode was
enabled, wouldn't they?

2009-02-23  Milan Zamazal  <pdm@zamazal.org>

	* python.el (python-shift-left, python-shift-right): When called
	with a prefix argument, indent by that many levels, not columns.

	* python.el (python-shift-left, python-shift-right): Don't
	deactivate the active mark.