When it comes to understanding why we as a people do what we do, mythology matters. Back in 2000, with the y2k crisis in the news, a new millennium, and political pundits talking about the end of history, G.W.Bush ran on a evangelical Christian platform. Our popular mythology held that the Apocalypse was nigh, and G.W. then spent the next 8 years attempting to bring about the end of days. (and getting as close as any president has done so far).
But after 8 years of Armageddon, the American people are looking towards the future and looking for a new shared vision. And while I'm not the first person to say this, they have turned to Star Trek for inspiration, our only shared vision of the future.
So how is this playing out... well if Bill Clinton were Captain Kirk...
And Al Gore his McCoy....
That lays the mental ground work for the next Democratic President of the United States.
Spock = Obama... Now hear me out...
* Spock had green blood, Obama has black skin
* Spock has pointy ears, Obama has a wide nose
* Spock's father was a Vulcan, Obama's father was a Kenyan
* Spock is logical and calm under pressure, Obama is a legal scholar and cool
It is a perfect fit! Who better to assume the captain's chair than Spock, who better to assume the Oval Office than Obama?
And as for Biden.. well... he's our Scotty...
But who's better for the engine room right?
Now, don't feel that the McCain-Palin ticket doesn't have a place in our pantheon of Trek characters. But we have to turn from the original show, to the much later Deep Space 9 for the comparable figures.
Let's look for the most maverick free-marketeer in the universe:
And of course his lovey assistant (aka distraction)...
Gene Roddenberry laid the ground work for this election, and the Obama campaign is now profiting from it. I for one am sure glad Gene is still smiling down at us from outer space :)