Sunday, January 20, 2008

Political Superbowl

For the first time in my life, I've become interested in politics. Rabidly interested. I watch the plays and the calls, cheering from the sideline for my team, catcalling the referrees when they call 'em like they're blind.

And what a season it's been!

From what I understand, the first few events of the season typically set the stage of perceived inevitibility to the point that the last events of the season are all but trivial. This time that hasn't happened.

Despite the most successful pre-season of any candidate, Romney got all sorts of flak for peripheral issues that sidelined his campaign's meaty offense during the runup to Iowa. Huckabee scored a big upset in the confusion, and did it with a flair of drama (or melodrama, perhaps). Remember his sanctimonious declaration that he was going to run a positive campaign? Somehow the voters allowed him to both have his cake and eat it too when he half-released a misleading attack ad. Iowans did it largely because he's their God-fearing guy. (All can be forgiven for one of your own.) Ed Rollins and Chuck Norris flanked him during his Iowa play like a pair of pitbulls at the feet of the Godfather. Huck's high road was last seen disparaging Romney (indirectly, of course) in Huck's South Carolina concession speech, of all places.

Then there's McCain. The veteran "straight talker" who managed to get New Hampshire to believe that electing a cranky old pessimist is better than a talented optimist that the press doesn't like. The issues revolved around McCain's ostensible honesty and consistency versus Romney's supposed "phoniness" and [insert derogatory euphemism for excellence here (e.g. robotic, plastic, etc)] While Romney has been open about his occasionally changing views, McCain rails on him with a straight face, all while he himself has patched up his platform with a wholesale panderama.

And it's not so much politicians acting like politicians that makes a good show (with the flops and fouls) but the way the referrees consistently give some the upper hand while claiming impartiality!

I remember hearing that there may eventually be a documentary about Romney's run for president. I, for one, am looking forward to it. There has been more tackles, fakes, hail Marys, and bad calls than should ever go unrecognized (regardless of the eventual outcome). But as far as outcomes are concerned, let's hope the hometeam (America) comes up with a win by electing the right guy both for the conference finals and in the political Superbowl next November.

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