Republican Idol

[mikelewis]

I didn't understand what a reality show really was... The concept completely escaped me. I did not understand how a show that was most decidedly unreal could possibly be called a "reality show". I was actually sporadically mildly annoyed. It was after watching a show on Fox's "Reality" TV channel, that I finally understood. What these shows were actually doing was "creating" a Reality. They created a momentary reality for their contestants as well as one for the audience who watches. This reality is a dazzling dream for the contestants and a strangely hypnotic voyeuristic experience for the viewer. In a very real way, they are able to create living dreams.

But it's important to remember that these shows are not a universal reality. Yes, the people are real, the situation is real, the emotions are real... but the consequences of failure are mitigated to a point that heartbreak is usually the only calamity. In the greater reality... the universal reality... the consequences of failure can sometimes be worse than death itself. Take Iraq for instance... some people in Iraq have suffered so much by our War reality that they are strapping bombs to their bodies and detonating themselves in a crowd of strangers. I guess, this too is a form of "reality show" which is probably why I'm still watching it on television after so many long years. See, the war is real... it's really happening... it is a reality and the contestants are caught up in this unreal reality; except the consequences of failure have been catastrophic. That's was also a reality show that was brought to us as a production of Republican Idol, I might add.

But now, the Republicans want me to consider watching a reality show where "Hockey Mom" might actually become the President of the United States. Honestly, it's nothing personal but that's not a show I can bear to watch on television for the next 4 years. John McCain is mortal... in deed, a very old mortal and though I honestly wish him a long and happy life, if he were to die tomorrow I would not be shocked. When Heath Ledger died, I was shocked... and deeply saddened. If John died, I would feel the same for his death as I would the death of Senator Byrd. Senator Byrd is a great soul but he's an old soul. That's a reality... old souls seem to die and if, God forbid, John was to pass... the reality would be that Sarah Palin would be our President.

I have often whimsically daydreamed about a Congress that was picked by draft from among the total population. A simple lottery machine would pick out the names of the candidates for Congress and the people could vote for their choice. Of course, it would be a terrible way to pick Congresspeople because there are very few skilled politicians and the odds of accidentally picking a qualified candidate out of this population is very slim. I think it would be fun to watch on television, though... it would be interesting to see the stock broker arguing with the gang banger over health care issues and environmental policies but the consequences of failure are simply too severe.

I guess my point is... you can't just jump from Hockey Mom to small town mayor to Governor to the White House... Well, No... I guess in America, you can. This is America after all... yesterday, I watched a bunch of ordinary guys (dorks) get to date a super model and on another show some gang bangers had agreed to clean up their act for $100,000.... so anything is possible on reality TV.

Maybe on Republican Idol the Hockey Mom won't get voted off the island and she can claim the Grand prize... {it seems like the hot girls always seem to win even though they're the biggest bitches on the show}. Maybe Republican Idol picked a winner... maybe she could be the next FDR or Eisenhower. Maybe she could be the next Lincoln or Washington... maybe Republican Idol is the future of this Idiotic Nation but frankly, IMO I think Republican Idol is a dumbass way of picking a President... let's just hope the consequences are merely a few broken hearts and a plane ticket home.

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1. She'll get voted off