Tonight's SMASH ending draws a striking parallel to today's political Presidential contest

[Samantha]

In a classic struggle of Good versus Evil, Good triumphed despite the depths of adversity thrown against it at a pivotal moment in the SMASH season finale. The story of two performers competing for the lead role in a musical based upon the late Marilyn Monroe, the understudy Karen Cartwright rose from the depths of despair because both her amazing talent and her grounded core championed the challenge. Against all odds, she delivered a dazzling triumph against the scheming Ivy.

With my admitted political core being solidly planted in the Democratic field, when the NBC hit program ended this evening, I caught The Ed Show re-broadcast. I could not help but think our political contest is the same story in a different arena. One player has a grounded core and his opponent has a do whatever it takes to win mantra (DWIT).*

Our political season has a six-month show remaining before the curtain falls. How will it end?

My gut tells me there is still a lot of good in this Country and its voting citizens. I believe when the pivotal moment arrives, our composite core will triumph over the chameleon and his base. I have to believe this because the opposite is unthinkable. When the season ends for this political contest, the Republicans will have a "bombshell" to explain to their financial investors....

Sam

*DWIT is the rumored Republican motto for Election 2012. "Win at all costs" was the Republican motto during Election 2000. Sounds synonymous to me.

[ablamj]

1. Ivy

is a better singer though.

[ananda]

2. Agree.

The role should have gone to Ivy from the beginning and stuck with her to the end.

[Samantha]

3. I think they are both great -- Karen is a much better dancer

and is just as good a vocalist as Ivy. But Karen is solidly grounded, and Ivy is not. I think there is a much better chance she would provide more stability for the show night after night. Karen is slender and has a build similar to the younger Marilyn but Ivy's build better resembles the Marilyn in her 30s.

Do you think there is any contrast between those two competitors and the competition between Obama and Romney? In my opinion, both Romney and Ivy are Do-whatever-it-takes to win. Obama and Karen are both solidly grounded people.

I simply wondered last night when watching Smash back-to-back with The Ed Show if anyone else saw a comparison in these contests.

Sam

[ablamj]

4. Yes

I see your point and I probably should have said that in my reply. But I thought from the start the role should have been Ivy's and should never have been taken away from her. In that respect it's nothing like Romney and Obama because Romney should NEVER have the role of President (of anything)!!

[Hatchling]

5. I had thought they should split the role

With Karen playing the young Marilyn and Ivy the older one.

[ablamj]

6. that...

would work too

[Samantha]

8. That is EXACTLY what I thought for a long time

That would have been fabulous. Who knows...maybe that is in store for next season.

Sam

[Samantha]

7. That's a great answer -- I felt the same way in the beginning

And of course I agree that the role of President should not be taken from Obama by Romney. It is just since I read about DWIT and thought about Win at all Costs, I think it is impossible to tell at this point to what levels the Republicans will stoop to purloin the election from him (and us). Thinking about the tactics they used in 2000, and having made the statement to many of my friends that I think this one will be even worse, I am very concerned.

But when it comes to simply imagining Romney sitting in the White House in President Obama's place, that thought alone terrifies me.

Perhaps it is true that in all of life's arenas, we struggle everyday with the same forces mentioned in the op. So maybe the only answer is that we pick our positions and do whatever we can to support our principles.

Sam

[ablamj]

9. Plus

I think even though Ivy does some things that we don't like, I still think underneath it all she's not necessarily a bad peson. I can't say the same for Romney at all. I don't see any good in him even deep down inside.

[trumad]

10. She is

Flat out evil.

And I swear if Karen's whiny ass douchebag boyfriend returns next season I'll lose it.

Brought to you by trumads metro-sexual side.

[Samantha]

11. I think that Romney is turning out to be much worse than I originally thought

He has some policies in mind that have not been given much publicity. Two of these are ending on a national basis the minimum wage. Aren't workers in this Country already being exploited enough? He also wants to pass a National Right to Work law, so even states that don't have that now will. So why is he keeping this "under the covers" so to speak. Perhaps he watches too much Smash and has developed an admiration for Ivy's playbook?

Sam