Politicians Love Stupid Sports Publicity Stunts

Here’s the key to getting the public on your side if you’re a politician: Vote for/support enough legislation to make it look like you’re doing something, but don’t vote for/support anything risky enough that it might actually create real change. Oh, and this: Make sure to actively participate in whacky sports-related hijinks when your city/state’s team is doing well. It’ll add to the “man of the people” allure, although in reality, it’s probably something completely asinine used to distract the public from the fact that politicians are actually nothing like them. People are stupid though, which is why these hijinks go over like gangbusters.↵↵We have two examples today of exactly what I’m talking about. First, in Pittsburgh, the mayor is going to change his na--oh god, forget it. It’s so dumb I can’t even explain. Take it away ESPN:↵

↵↵⇥So goodbye, Luke Ravenstahl; hello, Luke Steelerstahl. ↵⇥↵⇥Ravenstahl, -- er, Steelerstahl -- says he decided to remove “Raven” from his name just as he predicts the Steelers will remove the hated Baltimore Ravens from contention in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. ↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥On Wednesday morning, the mayor began, but did not complete, an official name change petition, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.↵⇥

↵↵The idea was suggested in the breeding grounds for mindless thought: sports talk radio. Oh, wait, I have one: How about Barack Obama changes his name to Barack Outes, because the Utah Utes beat Bama and thus busted the BCS that Barack so dearly hates! Get it! Am I right?! Sigh.↵

↵↵Thankfully, there are still some REAL MEN left in politics (note: not for long) who enjoy some good ol’ fashioned CORRUPTION and signing of women’s BREASTS (over their shirts). I’m speaking about Blago, of course, who shows how it’s done:↵

↵

↵