I've never really understood the fascination with the television show "24". Here's a show based on the gimmick that it was a unique one-shot: one season, 24 hours, and the show is over. Except, like Bush & Co.'s "War on Terror", the show trudges on years later and never really seems to get anywhere. At this point it has devolved into predictable, simpleminded war-porn for America's battalions of Cheeto and soda fueled sofa-warriors.

So it suprises us not in the least to read this morning that Senators Cornyn (R - Tx) and McCain (R - Ariz) are whoring themselves out recording promo ads for the show.

Quick, who said the following?:

“When bad things happen to good people, it’s probably fate. When bad things happen to bad people, it’s probably Jack Bauer. And I can’t wait to see what Jack Bauer has in store for the bad guys this season on ‘24.’”Was it a blogger? A football announcer? President Palmer? Chuck Norris? Of course not, silly rabbit, it was Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). And Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will soon be recorded saying something similar.

Cornyn, the former Texas attorney general, is a devoted watcher of the Fox show and has recorded two promotional TV spots for its upcoming season premiere. The ads will run on Fox News Channel beginning Friday.

And a GOP source said McCain — a fellow “24” fan who actually appeared on the show last season — also has agreed to tape some promos this week.

That first quote above was one of Cornyn’s scripts. The second script: “Here in Congress protecting the American people and winning the war on terror is our number one priority. But has anyone also noticed that there have been no terrorist attacks in the United States since Jack Bauer has appeared on television? Think about it. And check out this season of ‘24.’”

“We wanted to show people another side to legislators, the funny side,” explained Cornyn spokesman Brian Walsh.

via Roll Call

Memo to Brian Walsh: We just assumed your boss was pure satire all along. You mean he's serious when he speaks?

Seriously, though, how pathetic has the macho posturing become when Senators make the PR decision to align themselves with worn-out tv shows? Perhaps it's just a natural result from being so long aligned with worn-out policies.

I propose that FOX and the Republican Party just get it overwith and merge completely. Then we can all tune in to the weekly episodes of "GOP" - rehashed A-Team scripts recast with Dick Cheney as "Hannibal" Smith, Condi Rice as "Faceman" Peck, Don Rumsfeld as "BA Baracus", and George W. Bush as "Howling Mad" Murdock.