Suburban Mom's Political Fix: 'West Wing' Similarities, Political Fashion and Joe the Plumber as Joe the Crooner

Election Uncannily Similar to 'West Wing'

My gal pal Gayle and I both adored The West Wing, particularly its rejuvenated final season which focused on the fictional presidential campaign between Jimmy Smits, as an eloquent, young Democratic congressman with two young children, and Alan Alda, an older, bipartisan-esque Republican with an independent streak. During our conversations throughout the past year, we've often been thunderstruck at how that final season contained so many similarities with the real life campaign unfolding this year.

The New York Times has also noticed those similarities and has a piece today comparing the show with the current campaign:

"Certainly some of the parallels are coincidental. It is unlikely, for example, that the writers knew Mr. [Barack] Obama had an affection for Bob Dylan when they made [Smits' character] a Dylan fan. But it is the unintentional similarities that make the DVDs of the sixth and seventh seasons . . . so rewarding to watch now. In both The West Wing and in real life, for example, the Phillies played in the World Series during the election campaign."

Political Fashion . . . Continued

Today's Boston Globe has a top 10 list of political fashion moments from this never-ending presidential election including the flap over flag lapel pins, Hillary Clinton's pantsuits, who'll inherit the mantle of Jackie O's iconic fashion status and the post-Democratic primary season beard sported by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. (Doesn't it seem like he ran for president a lifetime ago?)

Joe the Plumber . . . to Become Joe the Crooner?

I kid you not.

Joe the Plumber, otherwise known as Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, has an agent and plans to become a "show business personality," might record some country music, according to today's NYT.

What the hell am I doing wrong?

Image credit: Mitchell Haddad/NBC via NYT.