West Wing: The show is okay, but basically has a tired feel to it -- this is better than other shows, like
Gilmore Girls, that have a tired feel while being a downer and/or blah, or
Family Guy that is just not funny any more -- catching it Sunday, it is almost anti-funny. As to new celebrity guest -- currently the evening co-host on
Air America -- playing a political consultant somewhat like herself -- she was again pretty good, but did not really have as much energy as she could have. As to the show's takeoff of the Plame story, their reporter actually is a martyr for a good cause.
Most people are not into the trivia of the modern political landscape as those on the blogosphere, but a quick perusal of the current state of the (Republican) leadership in Washington D.C. should give even the causal reader some pause. Consider:
The majority leader of the Senate is currently being investigated for insider trading and related shenanigans, a majority leader that has not been free from controversy, including (being a doctor notwithstanding) giving a positive prognosis of Terry Schiavo -- deemed in effect brain dead by autopsy reports -- via videotape.
The majority leader of the House of Representatives had to step down after being indicted for his relationship with a campaign finance mess that has already been declared (by a conservative judge that the defense specifically wanted) illegal and subject to fines. Also, he is involved with a chief lobbyist, also indicted ... aside from the fact that someone involved in the lobbyist's business was a victim of a gangland type hit.
Said lobbyist is involved with said majority leader's support of blocking basic employee rights laws in an American protectorate, local businesses subject to lawsuits and such for the laissez faire situation that resulted. A situation that included forced prostitution and compulsion to have abortions or lose one's jobs. There is also the business about crooked dealings with Indian tribes and gambling, with which Ralph Reed (formerly of the Christian Coalition, an organization that is against gambling overall ... I actually heard him say so) was also involved.
The announced replacement of the majority leader was rejected by fellow conservatives for unclear reasons. Said reasons, the subject of some snide remarks on the lib blogosphere, probably has something to do with the fact the guy's um partner is his highly paid aide, with a pay grade higher than most such positions offer ... which also appears to be against ethic rules. But, since, um, he's not married or anything, there is an um loophole. The person that actually filled the position, Rep. Blunt, is part of the same crooked cronyism that got DeLay in trouble. But, this sort of thing is not really too upsetting to many people -- they don't expect much from their leaders anyway. Indictment hits harder.
The presidency. Where to start. There is the incompetence -- surprising only to the clueless -- shown in the New Orleans (19-7 vs. Bills), Iraq, etc. There is the trouble top aide Karl Rove is involved in, including exposing the name of an undercover CIA agent. The top procurement officer that was indicted. Rumors, apparently reliable, that the President is drinking again. Breach of laws respecting use of government funds for propaganda purposes. Officers coming out discussing how they had to seek out senators since there was no clear rules on torture (those involved in said "rules" or lack thereof, are appointed to key positions as well as federal judgeships). And, so on.
But, you lose elections, you must deal with corrupt hacks in key leadership positions. Um ... must double check where that is found in the Constitution. As an aside, the general sentiment seems to be that strongly supporting such corrupt cronyism is not a disqualification to a seat of the Supreme Court -- in fact, as long as the choice isn't too bad (especially if conservatives are pissed off), one can totally live with it. Sell you soul too many times ...
