Mitt Romney, Trekkie

Last night's GOP debate also confirmed for me that Mitt Romney is a closet sci-fi geek. He answered a question about foreign policy saying that it was like "three-dimensional chess," a game that exists in the universe of Star Trek:

Today, foreign policy is no longer like it was in the last century, which was more like a game of checkers that was our side and their side. We tried to get friends and allies and go after each other. Now foreign policy is more like three-dimensional chess, where we have to understand all the players throughout the world and develop strategies to help move the world towards more stability and safety for ourselves.

Now remember, Romney has also said his favorite book is Battlefield Earth, an L. Ron Hubbard novel about an alien invasion. Moreover, he claims his favorite TV show is Lost. Indeed, when Romney gave his big religion speech a few weeks back, his words seemed to echo character Jack Shepherd, the show's heroic doctor. Here's a line from that speech: "Freedom and religion endure together or perish alone." And now a famous line from the character on the show: "Live together, die alone, man." Think about it, people.