Table of Contents

Foreword Stanley K. Schultz vii

Introduction. American Idle: Politics and Popular Culture Joseph J. Foy 1

Part 1 Setting the Stage: American Political Thought, Beliefs, and Culture

1 Aye on Springfield: Reasons to Vote "Yes" on Popular Culture Greg Ahrenhoerster 9

2 R for Revolution: Hobbes and Locke on Social Contracts and Scarlet Carsons Dean A. Kowalski 19

3 Political Culture and Public Opinion: The American Dream on Springfield's Evergreen Terrace J. Michael Bitzer 41

Part 2 Cast and Crew: Actors and Institutions in American Government and Politics

4 Congress, Corruption, and Political Culture: Mr. Bulworth Goes to Washington John Grummel 63

5 The President as Hero: Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Bartlet Jennifer J. Hora 81

6 Seeking Justice in America's Two-Tiered Legal System: "I Plead the Fif" Kristi Nelson Foy Joseph J. Foy 97

7 Madisonian Pluralism and Interest Group Politics: Inhaling Democracy, Choking on Elitism Joseph J. Foy 117

8 Entertainment Media and Political Knowledge: Do People Get Any Truth out of Truthiness? Christopher A. Cooper Mandi Bates Bailey 133

9 Broadcast News and the Movies: Wagging Somebody's Dog Dick Flannery 151

Part 3 Lights, Camera, Politics: Contemporary Issues in American Government

10 Torture, Terrorism, and 24: What Would Jack Bauer Do? Timothy Dunn 171

11 Civil Liberties v. Law and Order: Exploring Responses to Terrorism in The Siege Nathan Zook 185

12 Influencing American Foreign Policy through Popular Music: All the World's a Stage Brett S. Sharp 199

13 Twentieth-Century American Folk Music and the Popularization of Protest: Three Chords and theTruth Craig W. Hurst 217

14 Reevaluating Democracy in America: Profound Disappointment, Profound Hope Margaret Hankenson 233

Afterword 251

List of Contributors 259

Index 263