We interrupt this whatever for some politics...

... because apparently, politicians have now decided that if you can't beat The Chaser - join 'em.

That's right, those howlingly funny Liberal tricksters in the Sydney seat of Lindsay decided to launch their own election prank on voters - distributing bogus flyers purportedly from a group called "Islamic Australia Federation", urging people to vote Labor because they support the Bali bombers and back construction of a controversial mosque.

Now I could be mind-bogglingly outraged by this insidious and nasty play on race and religion intended to divide a community for short term political gain. I could follow the likes of Channel Nine political commentator Laurie Oaks, who gave those involved a giant serve on the 11 o'clock news this morning.

But what really gets my goat, what really boils my stew, what really gets me in a hump of lovely lady lumps - is that this is the Liberals' idea of a joke. The suggestion appears to be that the Liberals are a bunch of highly-intelligent satirists with a sardonic wit dryer than John Clarke's - and we're all just too thick to get their incisive political commentary.

Current member Jackie Kelly - who's conveniently retiring at this election, and whose husband is implicated in the dodgy pamphlet drop - this morning described it as a Chaser-style prank, apparently with a completely straight face. What next? John Howard drops the c-bomb then says "Well, they say it on Newstopia!"?

At what point are the Liberals going to realise that as a party, they don't do satire? They are a strictly ABC 6:30pm timeslot affair. Remember the old British sitcoms they used to show before the news, usually starring Penelope Keith, or perhaps Patricia Routledge? I can just imagine Mr Howard rolling in his chair at the wacky antics of Hyacinth Bucket ("It's pronounced 'Bouquet", Janette!"), or Tony Abbott applauding plucky Felicity Kendall in The Good Life. Sure, there's a lot of feel-good stuff there, but hardly razor-sharp satirical comedy.

Supposedly Peter Costello's a big fan of Get Smart, but I am yet to hear him pull out a "Would you believe... it's been a giant cock-up?" The only thing they could lay claim to is that this whole episode sounds like it could be something out of Yes, Prime Minister, but somehow I don't think they'd take that as a compliment.

So while you're weighing up your options at the ballot box on Saturday; while you're carefully considering each party's commitment to the environment, infrastructure, education, industrial relations, interest rates, the war in Iraq and fighting the zombie scourge - please don't forget about comedy. In this time of global tumult, we all need a good laugh - and we need somebody in charge who knows what good humour is.

Of course, neither of the major parties can claim the title "King of Comedy". That surely must go to Pauline Hanson, who's current tilt for a Senate seat - and the possibility people might support her - is surely the biggest joke of all.