(no subject)

[malsperanza]

In the aftermath of the past week's total fugue-state of delerious euphoria, I am noticing that America seems weird fixated on political information. OK, I'm a political junkie and so's many of my friends, but does it strike anyone else as a bit odd to be invited to a party to sit around drinking homemade aquavit and guessing who's going to be in Obama's cabinet? Can anyone remember a time when a new president's cabinet stirred the slightest interest at all? Prior to last week, could any of us name the president's cabinet appointments?

OK, maybe Sec'y of State; and maybe in an economic crisis we actually want to know about the Treasury Sec'y. But yesterday on the subway (Friday night in Manhattan, folks coming home from the theater and movies) I heard a bunch of rowdy jocks arguing about who's going to run the Department of Labor. Not to mention the new Techology Czar. And of course that other new cabinet post, Secretary of Teh Cool.

In the midst of all this, a fanfic beta (mistress_siana in fanficrants) offers a much-needed reality-based critique of the new American romance:

Dear America,

please stop it. Your OMC, Obama, is the worst Sue I've seen in a long time. Your WIP has been going on for a while now, with frequent updates, but so far, we haven't seen a single flaw. Coolest guy in town, funny, smart as a particularly smart whip, easily catches the eye of every swing state, about to adopt a puppy... even rappers like him. Rappers! The world is a hostile place. Suspicious European governments aren't going to be excited to the point of dribbling on their shirts the moment he appears on their doorstep. 200,000 people in Berlin? Come on. That name alone. Seriously, what's with people and their love for unusual names? John and Bill are perfectly fine for a president. Or Milhous. Even worse, your John McCain is completely OOC. That man's a war hero, he's not going to suddenly, I don't know, campaign with a fake plumber or something, just to make your character look better. Even more ridiculous: al Qaeda endorsing McCain to show how awesome your Sue is. And I'm not even talking about Sarah Palin. The world doesn't work that way.

However, the worst thing is the puppy. Please, don't let him have a puppy. If that happens, the planet will spontaneously combust to be replaced by a big ball of fluff and sunshine. Seriously. Al Gore was bad enough--Oscar AND Nobel Prize, puh-lease--but at least he had the decency to lose the election. For the love of puppies, give us some flaws, something to work with, okay?

Lots of love,

Europe


*sigh* I suppose now we'll have to go back and rewrite the whole thing to add some realism and plausibility. Like, maybe a humongous worldwide economic meltdown ... nah, too melodramatic. How about a state law denying civil rights to a whole class of citizens? Meh, kinda outdated. Ideas, anyone?

Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the Foe!Yay Obama/Jindal slash. Tryin hard not to think about Obama/Palin, unless maybe noncon.


Also, I just discovered the biggest timewaster ever: TV Tropes

Comments

[executrix.livejournal.com]

Hey! I just finished watching Tanner '88 tonight, and there was extensive TV coverage of Tanner's cabinet nominees even after it was obvious that Tanner had lost.

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

That was a remarkably good movie. I haven't watched it in years.

Srsly though, can you name Bush's Interior secretary without googling? Or HUD, or Energy or Education? I sure couldn't. Not even sure I can think of who's doing Homeland Security. Well, ok, no one is; but you know what I'm sayin.

I can see why the media are interested; the cabinet is the only Obama news there is right now, and they're jonesing. Also, if it weren't for Obama they might have to cover the White House and the economic crisis, which eww. But what interests me is the way the Obama campaign, and the win, have gotten the general public interested in basic political discussion. Maybe only temporarily, but it's an achievement.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

The spouse and I were talking about this very subject. (Of course we braced in horror eight years ago.)

[malsperanza.livejournal.com]

So, who do you like for Commerce?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Well, he's the news junky--I had sat down when I heard the speculation about Clinton vs Richardson. But I must confess I'm not really yep to all the old Clintonites and newer people.

[larryhammer]

TV Tropes is, indeed, a wonderful timesink. As well as a well of information about things you never knew you needed to watch.

---L.