Homer Simpson Goes To Washington Book

Foreword Stanley K. Schultz Schultz, Stanley K.

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

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

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

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

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

Pt. 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 Grummel, John 63

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

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

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

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

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

Pt. 3 Lights, Camera, Politics: Contemporary Issues in American Government

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

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

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

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

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

List of Contributors 251

Index 255