Well, that about wraps it up for this lifetime

You know, I've spent some time-maybe not a huge percentage but some-arguing that the politics of the fans of a particular entertainment, or of its creators, should not be an issue in whether or not you enjoy it. The creators of "The West Wing," for example, liked to cite that they had heard from Republicans who disliked the politics of the fictional Barlet administration, yet enjoyed the series. Simply because it was so well-made.

This always seemed a perfectly servicable argument to me. If you enjoy a show, you enjoy a show, and it should make no difference or not whether you like the politics of its fans or creators. Well god, with his/her/or its ironic sense of humor, seems to want to test that little theory of mine.

Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security...was the featured speaker at a morning forum sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that normally sticks to real, if less sexy, topics such as tax policy and entitlement programs. Heritage's Phillip Truluck conceded in introductory remarks that the event at the Ronald Reagan Building was "very unusual" for the conservative organization.

He was probably right, considering that the panel discussion after Chertoff's remarks included two national security scholars, "24" co-creators Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, and the actors who play the show's Nixonish president (Gregory Itzin) and CTU agents Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) and Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub).

The discussion was hosted by Rush Limbaugh, who breached the art-vs.-life divide early by planting a big kiss on the woman he introduced to a knowing audience simply as "Chloe."

All this, plus special guest Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who sat in the front row of the packed amphitheater.

Then Bernard and Rajskub bid a hasty farewell. The whole group of counterterrorism experts, actual and synthetic, was headed to the White House for lunch. For real.

Well, $&#&.

"24" has been embraced by the evil, clownish boors that make up the modern Republican party. Which would be bad enough, even savoring the irony they don't see that Logan was at least as Bushesque as "Nixonish."

But the show is embracing them right back. They've turned Tony and Chloe into whorish flacks for them. Sorry, Mr. Bernard and Ms. Rajskub, but you didn't have to show up. Mr. Sutherland didn't.

And they're lending creedence to the idea that a TV show explains and excuses torture.

Via ABC News:

Show co-creator Joel Surnow told the Times that "If there's a bomb about to hit a major U.S. city and you have a person with information … if you don't torture that person, that would be one of the most immoral acts you could imagine."

Which means Abu Ghraib prison and the detention center at Guantanamo Bay are a-okay, right? 'Cause they're just a bunch of Tonys and Chloes, doing The Nation's Business The Only Way It Can Get Done.

And George W. Bush, why, he's just like Jack Bauer!

Jack Bauer's strategy is always proven in the end to be, if not 100% correct, then certainly the only thing he could have done with the information he had at the time. He never offloads responsibility onto others, he always knows exactly what he's doing, he asks for-and inspires-great sacrifice, shuns self-glorification and has no use for politics.

Yeah, for George W. Bush, that must be like looking in a mirror.

Yes, it's been quite a season. "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and her creative partner leave the show, but not before turning Lorelei hateful. The writing on "Veronica Mars" goes stupid. "Huff" goes from good to bad so fast I view it as a mercy killing when Showtime decides to take it off the air.

Now I just thank god that Sorkin and Schlamme have a new show coming on next season. Otherwise I'm just seeing a lot of "Boston Legal" and "Bones" in my future come fall.