Biden’s Exit and the 2024 Election Are Outdoing the Drama of ‘Veep’ and ‘Scandal’

As a longtime cinema devotee and someone who has witnessed the evolution of political drama on television over the past decade, I can’t help but be in awe of how drastically things have changed. A little over ten years ago, the hottest trend in TV was exploring the chaotic possibilities of politics. Shows like “Scandal,” “House of Cards,” and “Veep” fueled our collective imagination with their depictions of political intrigue and backroom deals.

Around ten years ago, television was captivated by portraying the chaos that could potentially engulf politics. Shows like “Scandal,” “House of Cards,” and “Veep” presented a world where political administrations were filled with murder, deceit, and unexpected twists. The Fitzgerald Grant administration on “Scandal,” Frank Underwood’s rise to power on “House of Cards,” and Selina Meyer’s rollercoaster ride on “Veep” offered a vivid alternative to the real-world political scene. While our politics weren’t gloomy per se, they often lacked the element of surprise that these shows provided.

With Joe Biden’s decision not to run for president again, the contrast between Kamala Harris’ potential nomination 10 years later couldn’t be more striking. The events of the past few weeks have been so unexpected and chaotic that they seem almost unreal, as if scripted for a movie. However, it’s important to remember the significant impact the November election will have, regardless of the outcome, and the serious repercussions of recent events, such as the attack on Donald Trump’s life which carried potential life-threatening consequences.

I’ve got to admit, the political scene before Labor Day this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. With most people tuning in for elections, we’ve witnessed an attempted assassination of President Trump, which momentarily halted his determination to run for re-election. And let me tell you, this pushback all started due to Biden’s subpar debate performance on June 27. Now, I know I don’t need to remind you that this was unusual since the debates took place between two men who hadn’t officially claimed their party nominations yet. This debate was one for the history books; it was a must-watch spectacle in an already jam-packed season filled with them.

As someone who has closely followed politics for many years, I strongly believe that relying solely on what is portrayed on television to understand the political developments of 2024 would be a grave mistake. The world we live in today, with all its complexities and nuances, cannot be fully grasped through a narrow lens. To borrow a phrase that resonates deeply with me, everything that has transpired this year exists within the context of our collective history and experiences.

The elections of 2016 and 2020, with the “Access Hollywood” tape scandal and the pandemic-induced remote voting respectively, have already become well-known. However, the events leading up to the 2024 election have been extraordinarily unique and bizarre, making the news feel unstable and disconnected from reality. Even before unexpected announcements, such as Biden’s decision not to run for re-election, seemed plausible. What other turning points in American history have seen so many extraordinary occurrences pile up?

Essentially, the major shift since “House of Cards,” “Scandal,” and “Veep” is that chaotic disorder in the federal government has become a common occurrence in American life. It’s ironic that during the Biden presidency, which initially attempted to restore a sense of normalcy to American politics after these shows portrayed such disarray, we find ourselves witnessing events reminiscent of those series. For instance, Selina Meyer’s political journey from a bumbling and powerless vice president to an unexpected president in “Veep” now appears far-fetched and comical when compared to the real-life scenario unfolding with Vice President Harris in 2024. However, it’s important to remember that “Veep” was designed to explore Meyer’s unique psychology by pushing the political system to its extremes. Real life, on the other hand, doesn’t focus on character development and rarely resolves neatly.

As an admirer, I’d express it this way: The upcoming months carry both excitement and risk for those who support the Democratic Party. We find ourselves in uncharted waters, as former President Obama put it when commenting on Biden’s withdrawal. This means we’re free from the constraints of what has come before – like political dramas such as “Veep” and “House of Cards,” which seem like cynical responses to more idealistic shows like “24” and “The West Wing.” With their endless swapping of presidents, these newer programs appear jaded compared to the optimistic vision of dedicated public servants who saved America every week from 1999 to 2006. When Biden made his announcement, the New York Times published an intriguing piece by Aaron Sorkin suggesting that the Democrats might nominate a Republican like Mitt Romney in a show of unity and patriotism.

In real life, events don’t always follow a neat and predictable path like in “House of Cards.” The show may have had unexpected plot twists, but ultimately, its central character, Nancy Pelosi in this analogy, seemed to orchestrate everything. However, political dramas as a whole were losing popularity even before the bizarre events of 2024 took center stage. Today, real-life events feel more captivating and harder to look away from than any writer’s imagination.

And it’s only July.

2024-07-22 02:46

Biden’s Exit and the 2024 Election Are Outdoing the Drama of ‘Veep’ and ‘Scandal’

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