How the Cards Fall

Consider for a second, The West Wing. It's a brilliant show, one of my favorites. I'm a huge Aaron Sorkin fan, the energy and quickness that are palpable in his scripts is something I can only dream of emulating. I don't just watch the show (currently going through it on Netflix) to take in the Sorkinese though, part of it stems from my love for politics, and a want to be an idealist. Let's face it, The West Wing is a brutally optimistic show. President Bartlet's administration is filled with morally pure, love-to-love characters that are looking out for the best interests of the American people. Bartlet himself is possibly the best president in American history, fictional or not. He is strong on defense, open to new ideas, and purely in favor of freedom for all. He listens to the people, and governs because he was elected, not to get elected. The West Wing presents an idealistic view of politics that, I think, is how things should be run.

Then, consider for a second the Netflix original series, House of Cards. It's another brilliant show that I have thoroughly enjoyed thanks to clever writing and Kevin Spacey's absolutely stunning performance as South Carolina Congressman Francis "Frank" Underwood. It is Underwood that gives the show it's flavor, it's uniqueness, and it's unflinching cynicism. Through his personal asides to the camera, Underwood lets us delve into the world of politics as he sees it, and how he wants it to be. Selfish to the bone, Underwood spares no expense in his attempts to claim power and accomplish his goals. It hit me in the middle of one episode (and if you watched you know which one) that Underwood is actually representing people. Well, in theory at least. They elected him, so is it not his job to do what they asked him to do, and not just to look out for himself and his own agenda? To Underwood, the election is a stepping stone to a kind of chain-free power where he can work to achieve his vision, with the people who unleashed him merely an after thought. This is how things probably are run.

Today, I watched John McCain attempt to defend himself at a town hall meeting. He did an...admirable job I suppose. Not all the questions were well formed and he was clearly among people farther to the right than the 12 inch mark on a ruler. McCain's always been more of a moderate Republican, one that is willing to reach across the aisle and grasp hands with whatever legislation seems to accomplish the most. I really admire that. I guess that makes me a pragmatist. Considering I also idolize Tyrion Lannister, than that's probably what I am.

Anyway, back to McCain. In the town hall, he came across as a sensible, moderate politician who is trying to do the most he can with what he's been given. A man of true principle, who is willing to open a closed mind in order to get some work done rather than rot in his own brain. But then I watched some clips, did some research, and realized that John McCain was a pragmatist, but for his own results and not the country's.

In the 2010 election, he went to the 13 inch mark on that ruler. This was the height of Tea Party's power, and he had to in order to get elected. However, after he won he went back to what he was, a more moderate and pragmatic individual. Is that who the people elected? No. Was that the right thing to do? Was it right to lie, or, I'm sorry, re-evaluate your positions, in order to get elected so that you can continue your work? It is a deeper kind of pragmatism, and a much dirtier looking glass to view politics through. Really, it boils down to whether two wrongs make an ultimate right. A right for country, regardless of what his constituents wanted.

Should John McCain have been a Bartlet, or was pulling an Underwood the right thing to do?

"There is no solace above or below. Only us. Small. Solitary. Striving. Battling one another. I pray to myself for myself." -Francis Underwood

Overview of Who You're Reading

I don't really like these starting out posts but they're necessary I guess. Anyway, as for yours truly, I guess I'll just give a brief overview of what I think and then get into why I think that stuff later. I'm going to try to make this as little like a bulleted list as possible, but it's really hard to guarantee anything with stuff like this. I'd make paragraph's if I could but I'm still experimenting with the formatting. Ok, figured it out, and this is a shameless edit.

Ok, so since I'll be talking about politics and issues that have become political, that's where I'll start. I don't align with a party, although I lean Democratic on social issues. Oh yeah, I'm American if the ego didn't give it away. Not that anyone else isn't egotistical. They are. I'm digging a hole here...

So yes, Democratic on social issues. I generally lean fiscally conservative, although I often question my intellect when it pertains to economics and things like that. I doubt I'll be talking about those types of things near as much as I'll be addressing issues that are less technical, and easier for more people to join in on.

As for religion: atheist, so that settles that. Honestly, philosophy and arguments for and against God/gods/Krishna/deities are some of my favorite things to talk about, but I don't know if this is where I want to do that. I'll think about it some more and maybe I'll settle that too one day.

I like to think I have made up my mind on most things, but I'm always open too new ideas. I love to learn, and hopefully you do too. Either you now think I am a godless, 'murica hating, communist loving, pinko fascist bastard (if you see the contradiction, I applaud you), or you think I am an enlightened liberal thinker who is on the right side of history, which is the left side of politics. Or I'm something in the middle, which is where I would put myself on most of this stuff. Right in middle.

"There is a distinct difference between having an open mind and having a hole in your head from which your brain leaks out." -James Randi

Outline

As a forum for my personal thoughts, analysis, perspectives, and views, this blog will do just fine. I'll try not to be too confrontational, but I hold a view because I think it's right, so if you disagree, I think you're wrong. If you can't handle that, withdraw yourself now. Now, there's not going to be any fluff, drama, and rants, except when there are. Just a voice on "paper", oxymoronically being the most simple and complex thing we've ever thought up. A summary post about me will be coming next, so that even more people can be driven away. I hope you enjoy the reading. And I think I'll just post a random quote I like, and that'll be the quirk of the place, given how original I am. Get it? Sarcasm's hard through "paper". "Forgive me my nonsense as I also forgive the nonsense of those who think they talk sense." -Robert Frost