We might all be heartily sick of politicians, but there's no doubting the unique fascination of current politics.
Let's draw breath for a moment to consider the extraordinary things that have happened, let alone what might yet happen.
Look at the slew of "firsts" surrounding the August 21 election:
The first time an elected prime minister (Kevin Rudd) has been dumped by his own party in his first term. The first hung parliament in modern times (since Robert Menzies formed a short-lived minority government in 1940). The first time (possibly) a first-term government has been rolled since the Scullin Labor administration amid the great depression in 1931.The first female prime minister, the first female to contest a federal election, the first foreign-born prime minister since Billy Hughes in 1915 and, if you want to get trivial, the first red-headed PM (Julia Gillard). The first federal election contested by two leaders born outside Australia (Welsh-born Ms Gillard and English-born Tony Abbott). The first indigenous MP elected to the lower house (Ken Wyatt in Western Australia). The first lower house Muslim MP (Ed Husic in Chifley). The youngest-ever MP (20-year-old Queensland Liberal Wyatt Roy). We also have the prospect of the first de facto couple to live in The Lodge, and the first First Bloke there (Tim Mathieson, Ms Gillard's partner of four years).
And look at all the oddities, upsets and shenanigans since polling day.
Maxine McKew, the giant-killer of 2007 who unseated John Howard, loses Bennelong in turn to former tennis champ John Alexander.
Independents Bob Katter, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Andrew Wilkie, along with Melbourne Green Adam Bandt, shoot to stardom as potential kingmakers and deadlock breakers who suddenly hold the balance of power.
As if that's not enough, it turns out that Quentin Bryce, who may have to exercise some rare powers as Governor-General, is the mother-in-law of Bill Shorten, one of the prime movers in Labor's palace coup that overthrew Kevin Rudd.
She has, however, been cleared in advance of facing any potential conflict of interest.
Much of it is starting to read like a soapie.
Ms Gillard said something on election night which I'm still reflecting on.
Borrowing from Bill Clinton, she said: "The people have spoken but it is going to take a little while to determine exactly what they have said."
I don't suppose any of us casting our votes had the intention of producing a hung parliament.
But I strongly suspect the outcome did reflect the national will with some accuracy - voters wanted to kick Labor but didn't fully trust the Coalition.
I would not be astonished if some act or many acts of political bastardry make any minority government unworkable, and we all find ourselves back in a booth at the local primary school before too long.
If that transpires, how would we vote then?
Would that situation force our hands, however reluctantly, one way or the other?
Would we vote the same as last time?
Or would we try to send all the pollies an even more resounding message of rejection by adopting the Mark Latham option?
Could we face another first - successive hung parliaments?
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