House of Cards  19.3.11

I couldn’t possibly comment:

We’re delighted to tell you that in late 2012 Netflix will be bringing to our members in the U.S. and Canada exclusively “House of Cards,” the much-anticipated television series and political thriller from Executive Producer David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. We’ve committed to at least 26 episodes of the serialized drama, which is based on a BBC mini-series from the 1990s that’s been a favorite of Netflix members. (Netflix)

Or, maybe: If you’ve ever wanted the essence of politics, the schemes, the manipulation, the games, the viciousness, condensed into a timeless, enthralling play, enjoy Ian Richardson performance as Francis Urquhart, a modern mix of the Shakespearean figures of Richard III. and Macbeth, who succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minster. (IMDB)
Some of the political wisdoms the series conveys:

• Power and its volatileness: “fear that this might be the day we wake to find the magic gone” (youtube)
• Political loyalty: “a helping hand in these rather trying days” (youtube)
• Leaking: “beware of an old man in a hurry” (youtube)
• Social responsibility: “let’s give our young people a chance to learn self discipline, again” (youtube)
• Power, terrorism and leadership: “Deeper than honour, deeper than pride, deeper than lust, deeper than love is the getting of if all. The seizing and the holding on.Tthe jaw is locked, biting into power and hanging on. Biting and hanging on.” (youtube)
• Trust and power: ” But they all, all of them, betray us eventually. They love us, but not quite enough. They trust us, but not quite enough. And we trust them to be entirely human, meaning less than trustworthy. Which means we cannot entirely sleep. As the cat’s eyelids flicker, some part of us must stay awake, always, ready, as the coiled spring is ready.” (no link here, alas)
• Role of a parliamentary majority leader: putting a bit of stick about