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August 6th, 2013 
Peter Nolan 
A US poll once suggested Americans would like TV president Martin Sheen, here with the late John Spencer, to take power in the real White House. Mind you, that was during the Bush administration.
Source: News Limited
SO we’re in campaign mode and Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are yet to kiss any babies, milk any cows or drive any big rigs. So far there’s been about as much action as in Waiting for Godot.
To get you in the mood, we present our list of 18 of the best political TV and movies to spice up the wait for polling day.
The Thick of It (TV)/In the Loop (film)
Ahh, Malcolm Tucker … Julia Gillard’s former press sec John McTernan might have fancied himself Tuckeresque, but there’s only one. With added bonus points because the actor who plays Tucker, Peter Capaldi, is the new Dr Who.
House of Cards (US and British versions)
How the so-called ‘faceless men’ of the Australian Labor Party must chuckle at the moniker over yum cha. But they’ve got nothing on Francis Underwood/Urquart who thinks nothing of gassing people in their cars/throwing journalists off rooftops and doing it with a smile.
The Hollowmen
So this is, um, embarrassing … Kevin Rudd’s youngest son Marcus is helping out in the PM’s HQ and thought it might be fun to use a scene from Hollowmen to attack the Opposition. Imagine being the one who had to point out it was about his dad.
Yes, Prime Minister
Yes, we in newspapers can laugh at ourselves sometimes … vintage Yes, Prime Minister assessment of our craft.
State of Play (British and US versions)
Speaking of newspapers – try to find a journalist who hasn’t fantasised about running blank pages in protest at the government.
The West Wing
Since the US version of House of Cards arrived West Wing is starting to look a little dusty and earnest, but for those who grew up on it the DVDs will still be on high rotation in our old age.
The American President
Speaking of Aaron Sorkin, remember when our Deputy PM Anthony Albanese got sprung channelling the fictional President Andrew Shepherd … enough said.
The Dismissal
This retelling of the dramatic events of November 1975, when Gough Whitlam was sacked by the Governor-General, is just brilliant. It just is.
Primary Colors
Bill? Hillary? Hillary? Bill? This is Travolta at his finest.
The Manchurian Candidate
What’s not to love about an evil Angela Lansbury – the far-fetched plot includes her character being a communist plant with a plan to install a communist president in the US.
Dave
This silly political rom-com starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver also carries a cameo by the recently-late journalist stalwart Helen Thomas.
Bob Roberts
For anyone who thinks our politicians are too stage managed, we have the mockumentary about Bob Roberts: the folksinging, millionaire (and slightly corrupt) Republican Senate candidate. It’s hard to imagine Tony Abbott picking up a guitar and singing his policies.
All the President’s Men/The Candidate
Now for the Robert Redford double feature – the first inspires all young would-be journalists, and the latter all young would-be politicians who still think they can have a career based on being true to themselves.
Don’s Party
Election parties just ain’t what they used to be. On September 7 crack out the cubed cheese, cabanossi and a flagon and see what happens.
Wag the Dog
Now this is media manipulation. After the President of the United States gets caught in a sex scandal two weeks before the election, his staff hires a Hollywood producer to invent a war for the cameras. It’s funny until you start wondering if it could be true.
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