CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: Here is John Clarke and Bryan Dawe on the three-ring circus that is politics.

BRYAN DAWE: Good evening. Your name is Wazza, is that right?

JOHN CLARKE: Yeah, Wazza is my name - well, Wazza's my nickname.

BRYAN DAWE: But you're known as Wazza?

JOHN CLARKE: Yeah, yeah, my mates call me Wazza. Good evening.

BRYAN DAWE: Yeah. And what's your real name?

JOHN CLARKE: My real name's actually Jeremiah.

BRYAN DAWE: Jeremiah Wazza.

JOHN CLARKE: That's right, yeah.

BRYAN DAWE: And, what's the surname there, Waz?

JOHN CLARKE: Bullfrog.

BRYAN DAWE: Jeremiah Wazza Bullfrog.

JOHN CLARKE: That's right, yeah, good evening.

BRYAN DAWE: Terrific. Well your special subject tonight is the history of circuses.

JOHN CLARKE: That's right, yes.

BRYAN DAWE: Interesting subject.

JOHN CLARKE: I find it interesting. Yes, I've always found it interesting, yeah.

BRYAN DAWE: Have you always been interested in circuses?

JOHN CLARKE: I have, yeah, I've always been interested in circuses.

BRYAN DAWE: Did you go to circuses as a kid?

JOHN CLARKE: I did. Yeah, I loved the circus as a kid, yeah.

BRYAN DAWE: And what did you love about them, Waz, do you remember?

JOHN CLARKE: Just the fantasy element, I suppose. The way you're taken out of your own drab life.

BRYAN DAWE: Absolutely. OK, Waz, your questions start now. Best of luck.

JOHN CLARKE: Thanks.

BRYAN DAWE: Who challenged Julia Gillard for the leadership of the Labor Party this week?

JOHN CLARKE: Kevin Rudd.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And how did he present himself in the lead-up to the vote?

JOHN CLARKE: Oh, as the only person who could lead his followers out of the wilderness.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And, yes, he was offering himself up as a ...

JOHN CLARKE: Well he wanted to be the leader. He was offering salvation ...

BRYAN DAWE: Yeah, a little bit - a little bit more.

JOHN CLARKE: Messiah! He was offering himself up as a kind of messiah.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And Waz, was he the messiah?

JOHN CLARKE: No, he was just a very naughty boy.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And what did he do afterwards?

JOHN CLARKE: He apologised.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. Whose side were his backers on?

JOHN CLARKE: They were on his side.

BRYAN DAWE: Can you be more specific?

JOHN CLARKE: No. I didn't understand it at any stage. I could never work that out.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. Who was the right-wing ...

JOHN CLARKE: Angelina Jolie.

BRYAN DAWE: No, that was the right leg.

JOHN CLARKE: Oh, sorry.

BRYAN DAWE: Who was the right-wing powerbroker who spoke out about ...

JOHN CLARKE: Shorten Swan Crean.

BRYAN DAWE: Shorten Swan Crean?

JOHN CLARKE: Shorten Swan Crean.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. Who is the hot tip to get the Foreign Ministry position?

JOHN CLARKE: Stephen Smith.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And what's his current role at the moment?

JOHN CLARKE: He's currently the Defence Minister.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. And what is the Defence issue about which he's been trying to convince other members of the Labor Party about?

JOHN CLARKE: Yeah, they're drones.

BRYAN DAWE: No, I'll just repeat that question again there. There is a Defence issue about which Stephen Smith has been trying to convince other members of the party about.

JOHN CLARKE: Yeah, drones. All of them are ...

BRYAN DAWE: No, hang on, Waz; I think you're missing it here. It's an Air Force issue.

JOHN CLARKE: Yeah, unmanned aircraft.

BRYAN DAWE: Correct. I woulda thought you'd get that earlier actually. It's been quite prominent in the media.

JOHN CLARKE: Drones. Yeah, they're drones.

BRYAN DAWE: Yeah, yeah, sure, correct. Yeah, yeah, no, correct.

JOHN CLARKE: Drones. Yeah, oh, ok, yeah.

BRYAN DAWE: And after that round, you've won Peter Slipper.

JOHN CLARKE: Oh, no, it's OK, I'll just go quietly. See ya.

CHRIS UHLMANN: I make no comment.