Couldn't the Republicans Write-in Alan Alda?

In "The West Wing," President Bartlett (Martin Sheen) cruised to re-election, trouncing dimwitted conservative Florida governor Robert Ritchie (James Brolin).

Truth imitates fiction! Governor Ritchie has just entered the race for the Republican nomination; only he's calling himself Rick Perry, governor of Texas.

Personally, we'd rather have Ritchie.  At least then you knew Barbra Streisand was really pulling the strings.  Plus he's fictional.  Perry is all too frighteningly real.

Perry, in case you missed it, led a giant prayer rally in Houston last weekend.  So much for the First Amendment.  In fairness, the rally was non-denominational: Members of all faiths--Christian, Jew, Muslim--could "[call] on Jesus to bless and guide the nation's military and political leaders."  Atheists, of course, were shit out of luck.

We would mock Perry's chances.  After all, he is a chuckleheaded paleoconservative with very little going for him except a well-oiled fund-raising machine.  Even if he got the nomination, he should have little chance against a smart, Nobel Prize-winning incumbent like President Obama (who whatever his shortcomings is infinitely preferable to this right-wing neanderthal).  Then again, people said the same thing when George W. first went up against Al Gore.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.