Unless you live in Gillard's electorate you have no control over her re-election.

Gillard took over as PM not because of any democratic decision on our part but because a bunch of blokes, some of them un-elected, decided to toss the PM who'd led them to a stunning election win, and give Gillard the job instead.

When we went to the last election we did not elect Gillard as PM. We don't do that anyway in this country, but never mind, I know what you mean. Gillard didn't get a mandate. She had to woo the Independents to form a government.

If you don't know the difference between the actor PM and the "real" PM don't worry. Nobody does, and hardly anybody even cares anymore.

If you live in Gillard's electorate and so are eligible to cast a vote for her next time, don't you worry about that either because you won't be voting for a comedian. There's nothing funny about the PM.

And as for respect - we are to be respectful of this woman? Do you live in a cave?

I've got some agreement with the point of the article however lampooning our polies has a long history that's not started with Julia. I can recall the excellent take offs of Joh by Gerry Connolly http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Connolly_%28comedian%29

I used to laugh along with the Radio skit's from "How Green was my Cactus" http://www.cactus.com.au/

I've not seen the new series so maybe it's doing something different to other comedy which satirises political leaders, maybe not. Comedy is a potent tool for influencing perceptions and what's highlighted by those involved and what's ignored is very open to the bias's of the comedians involved.

I struggle wit the idea that the PM who promised no carbon tax in a government she lead deserves respect.

R0bert

The caricature at least appears to be relatively kind, from the reports I have heard... personally, you'd have to staple my eyelids to my forehead and nail me to a chair before I'd watch it, but that's just me.

Does anyone remember a guy called Max Gillies?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0dFMIcgrU

I didn't watch him either. But the fuss over this programme prompted me to look him up. How do the two compare, do you think?

I thought it was a very sympathetic portrayal of a woman who, according to public opinion polls, is widely loathed and despised. Anyone who has ever been involved in public life would recognise the juggling of demands of family and position, which ultimately almost without exception, has to be resolved in favour of position. Not so sure the public understand what it is like.

My thought was that it might actually improve her standing, if anyone in voter land is actually watching it - an audience of 1 million is big, but I bet they most didn't come from swing electorates.

Gillies was savage, and I loved him. I remember an ad he made for the ALP when John Elliott was Liberal Party President. The Elliott character said "Love me beer, so I bought meself a brewery; love me football, so I bought meself a footie team (Carlton); loved me politics, so I bought meself a political party".

Thought it was great, but then whilst voting Liberal I was appalled at the Elliott influence.

I'm starting to get the feeling that the left has no sense of humour, or at least some sections of it.

The ABC regards its self as the Publicity Arm of The Greens and Left Wing Labor.

They also believe in as much exposure of their Beloveds as possible. Any Publicity is good Publicity.

Toss in a Show like this and maybe the Great Unwashed will confuse Fiction with Reality. There the wicked Witch is really nice & cuddly and perves on Gardeners.

Trouble with their theory is ..the Great Unwashed don't watch the ABC.

The Show then becomes self delusional. The Followers believe the Myth,.

Only them.

"Gillard took over as PM not because of any democratic decision on our part but because a bunch of blokes, some of them unelected, decided to toss the PM who'd led them to a stunning election win, and give Gillard the job instead."

Ms Gillard became PM, as all others have.

The PM was voted in by the men and woman in the Labor caucus.

The same occurs on the other side. The elected members of the Liberal Party vote for whom they want to lead them.

That person becomes PM if they have the numbers on the floor of the lower house.

Our democratic right to elect the PM is carried out by the votes of the elected members of the two major parties.. We do not have a direct vote. We have never had a direct vote.

The role of PM or for that matter, parties are not mentioned in the Constitution.

It is my understanding the Nationals, Greens, Independents and other minor parties have no role in selecting PM.