(Pieces of this are refurbished from an email exchange I had yesterday.

Skip to the end if you just want to know about the greatest sport to never live.)

I draw a big line between the actual law-making/governing process and the election process.

I find the former important and useful, but gummed up. I understand that this is by necessity, but it makes it no less frustrating for someone who just likes to get things done as cleanly, quickly, and directly as possible.

In middle school or whenever I first learned about a filibuster, I honestly thought it couldn’t possibly be a real thing.

What could be more unproductive? Why not just have a thing where you “declare a filibuster” and advance to something that can actually move forward?

(It was since explained that the purpose is to give the members a chance to get a more full understanding of what’s being discussed. I’m skeptical they use it for that, and also skeptical about whether the filibuster is ever used for this purpose at all, or if it’s just a big “hahah we are screwing up everything you’re trying to do” move.

This may be misguided, but it’s my layman’s perception. Please allow that I’m formally trained to write about giant airplanes flying to the moon, and am not a lawyer or political scientist.)

As disenchanted as I can get with government in general, the election process I’ve come to find completely ridiculous.

The level of phoniness and hyperbole and nastiness and BS in the show that’s going to take place between now and November is just too much for me to take seriously.

these guys always talk about the founding fathers like they just got off the phone with them this afternoon lol

— Brian Spaeth (@brianspaeth) August 30, 2012

Random but informing aside. Does this inspire you or what:

In addition to being the two most awkward speakers I’ve ever watched, they say nothing about what would actually be better for the country other than “not Obama”.

Then there’s Mitt Romney.

He gets up there last night and not only dismisses global warming, but openly mocks anyone who thinks it’s real. It’s his right to deny/ignore definitive scientific conclusions, but what purpose does it serve to mock?

Are you 12 years old.

Further, if you want to go hardcore anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage, THEN DO IT.

Don’t dance around saying it directly, and don’t lay it in there as mild subtext, in the hopes people on the fence might not notice what you just said.

It’s stuff like this that drives me away. Here is my ideal politician:

1) No overdramatic, hyperbolic BS.

Say what you mean, mean what you say, use facts, and cut the drama. Paul Ryan will have you believe the US will erupt in flames from coast-to-coast the day after Obama is re-elected.

To reply to all the tweets, I honestly don’t think the POTUS has as much influence on the economy as politicians would like us to believe.

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) August 31, 2012

If you are POTUS when a “Next big thing hits” You are a genius. If you are POTUS when a bubble bursts you are an idiot. Both are wrong

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) August 31, 2012

You know what I like about Mark Cuban?

He’s very smart, he admits there was a massive amount of luck in his success, and there’s never been a time I doubt that he’s just speaking his honest mind in as clear and direct a method as possible.

He’s just being a human being, and not a walking press release. Why can’t politicians do this in the election activities.

Forcing your kids to stand on stage and wave at me on TV doesn’t count.

2) No cutting down people who think differently than you.

Disagreement doesn’t have to be vitriolic, nor should it be, since these are people you’re trying to sway to your way of thinking.

This is basic Dale Carnegie stuff – you’d think that would be basic reading for politicians.

3) This is kinda the same as the first one, but just don’t do this:

how to make political speeches: “my grandfather was in a war, i met a farmer once, [opponent] sucks, vote [candidate], god bless america”

— Brian Spaeth (@brianspaeth) August 30, 2012

My grandfather actually did fight in WW2.

I’m not dismissing it as meaningless by any measure, but I’m almost certain it’s had no influence on me whatsoever, other than that he survived, thus clearing the way for the co-creation of my Mom.

If I were running for any kind of office, I can’t conceive of putting this in any address – it has zero to do with anything regarding the ABCs of one’s policy.

I get that it’s playing to some kind of “I have patriotism and love for America in my blood”, but that’s just an attempt to play on people’s emotions, and I’m not going to vote for someone based on the fact they can make me cry.

(At the same time, if you take such elements into account and find it important in your candidates, I totally support it and actually think it’s great.

You clearly have a big heart and a real sentimental pull for the concept and history of These United States of America.

This sounds so condescending even as I type it, but do you see how we can think about things differently without being mean to each other? Wouldn’t that make us coming to an agreement or compromise on something that much easier?)

There’s no doubt I’m disillusioned when it comes to politics as a whole. At the same time, I know it’s vital and important.

The question is, whose responsibility is it to get me more engaged?

Is it on me as a citizen to set aside my cynicism and displeasure, or is it on the system (and the people working in it) to prove to me that it’s worth making the effort?

Just don’t know, just don’t know.

On a more interesting note, here’s a cool sport they should put in the Olympics next time: Tackle Diving.

Basically, you have two high dives perpendicular to each other, with one about 10-15 feet above the other. The higher platform holds the diver, and the lower holds the tackler.

The goal is for the diver to execute a perfect dive without getting tackled in mid-air.

Think of all the different strategies for fake-dive-starts there could be, and you could award points for mid-air evasive maneuvers that still let you hit the water with good form.

The tacklers are the other divers, to ensure maximum competitive action.

Another thing is the tackler has to wear a cape.