Get real, politicos

Warren Beatty plays a "real" politician in Bulworth.
Image: IMDB

I've always liked the movie Bulworth. There's something so lovable about Warren Beatty delivering incisive truth through his raps.

I've always thought that if Bulworth were real and he ran, that he'd win.

As the presidential race gears up for 2008, things are getting equally ridiculous.

Politicians everywhere are scrambling to master the oft-misinterpreted "facebook effect."

Sure, facebook is the future, but the future of what?

On the surface, facebook appears to be a platform where empassioned young citizens can organize, leveraging the collective power of adolescent zeal.

Sure, people appear to support given issues. "Tell 10 to Tell 10" has been a recent one. It asks each member to tell 10 friends to click each day to help fight breast cancer.

I got an invite from somebody (can't remember who), and sure, I thought it was a good cause, so I joined. But do I do my 10 clicks a day? Sorry, I don't.

Let me tell you something: I know that almost every last one of my friends is on facebook and uses it daily. To my knowledge, not one of them has become more politically active than they already were.

I think that the excitement that has been generating about facebooking politicos and events like the CNN/YouTube debate is not so much about new media as it is about the new perspective on politicians that it gives us.

These outlets bring us close to our politicians as people, warts and all, which is a radical shift. Overly rehearsed political speeches, made by Washington aspirants heavily caked in broadcast makeup, are no way to develop rapport.

But let us into your life and we'll be your friend. I'd still vote for Bulworth.