With the rain starting to fall and the leaves beginning to turn, Americans are burrowing deep into their favorite season. Mesmerized by the bloody clashes. Compelled by the test of wills. Riveted by the desperation of a Hail Mary or the breathless analysis of a pundit.
Yes, this politics stuff is fascinating, rivaled only by football and reality TV for its diversionary power and containing more than a few elements of each. Why, no less an expert than Barack Obama has compared politics to football, explaining: “A lot of players, a lot of specialization, a lot of hitting. … A lot of attrition. But then every once in a while, you’ll see an opening. You hit the line, you get one yard. You try a play, you get sacked. Now it’s like, third and 15. You have to punt a lot. But every once in a while, you’ll see a hole. And then there’s open field.”
An apt analogy. Yet it is essential to understand the fundamental difference between governance, which is what Obama was talking about, and politics. As the past several months have reminded us — frequently, painfully — politics often is about as uplifting as watching the Cleveland Browns on an endless loop while strapped to a goal post. It is difficult to find inspiration in a presidential contest between a narcissist and a raving, maniacal, unhinged narcissist.
Still, the parallels between America’s two favorite pastimes are unavoidable. We are told that this is “the most important election of our lifetimes,” a bit of hyperbole applied to every quadrennial since Aulus Metellus was in the Roman Senate (Politifact might need to double-check that one), while football brings us a “must-win game.” We are told that “turnout’s going to be important,” while football delivers insight such as “turnovers are going to be important.” And we are subjected to minutiae such as Donald Trump’s comments about a beauty queen or the Packers’ success rate when it is third-and-7 in the first five minutes of the second quarter.
