The Question

When an issue gets done to death and everyone's sick of it; there's always the leadership question. When there's column that's nearing deadline and the thought of talking to Wayne Swan about the Budget makes you want to crack skulls and feast on the goo inside; there's always the leadership question. When someone goes on Q and A, performs well and the audience's shoes stay on; there's always the leadership question. Whenever there's nothing to ask or if the answer would be so boring that it amounts to the same thing; ask about the leadership.

When you've got to write something, but can't think of anything, play the leadership card – but you can only use it as much as you like.

Not only does it get you out of jail for one story, it creates heaps of other stories as well. There's the follow-up article where you get some shifty looking guy to say 'That's ridiculous, I fully support someone'. If you can wait long enough for a new poll to come out – so, you know, 24 hours, you can get another story like "Leadership Tensions Reflected/Not Reflected in Latest Whatever". Even if the poll's main numbers don't say what you want them to say you'll be able to find some obscure question or interesting dichotomy that you can again throw at that shifty looking guy from earlier.

By now some friends have probably jumped on the band wagon and your away; you'll now have some filler next time you've got half a story – You: "Does the issue with the Budget/refugees/angry senate/carbon tax/NBN/something have anything to do with the ongoing leadership tensions? Shifty guy: 'That's ridiculous'. You: 'Do you fully support…?" Shift guy: '…Someone, yes." His darting eyes and innate sweatiness will take care of the rest.

This fundamental practice of political journalism was on show yet again this past week. Kevin Rudd goes on Q and A, and all of a sudden he's popular again. "Hey, remember that guy we really hated a year ago? He's pretty awesome." So of course, some wise arse asked the question everyone loves to ask politicians: "Do you want the leadership?" The reason this is everyone's favourite question is because no matter what the situation, no matter what side of politics they're on, whether they're in government or opposition, the answer is always yes. Watching a politician answer it while trying not to sound like some destabilising rabble-rouser seems to be some people's idea of a good time.

Getting an honest answer is not the intent of the question. Shit stirring is the intent of the question. Think about it; divorced from politics the question is: "Do you want a promotion that could possibly/will lead you to the very pinnacle of your profession, and provide you with a place in history forever?"

How much thinking time would you need? The answer is obvious, the questioner just wants to see him squirm and try to hide his pants bulge of ambition.

Does want to be Prime Minister again? Hells yeah. Will he do anything about it is the question that is important. He probably won't, but if he was gifted the opportunity it would be wacko the diddli-yo and sucking sauce bottles all over again, I guarantee it.