Now that Football Fantasy leagues have finally ended, how do we fill in the gap? I thought, what with the election season in full swing, setting up a set of rules to follow the election Fantasy league style might be a neat way to mix up how, exactly, we follow politics around here.

So here is the basic idea... I'm not interested in a pick-em league. It wouldn't make for much of a fantasy season, what with there only being one truly measurable outcome, and that in November. So I figure we do this Fantasy Football style... setting up positions that can have a measured output each week, schedule different teams against each other, tally the points, and see who wins. Some of my ideas for positions.

Steady Riser: This is for the pol you think has nowhere to go but up. Every week, you get two points for each percentage point he or she gains on their opponent. You also lose a point for each point they lose.

The Anchor: This is for the pol in free fall, opposite of the steady-riser. Two points for every percentage point that they lose, while losing a point for every point that they gain. If a pol drops out of the race while in this position, they earn a 20 point bonus for their team.

King-Maker: The King-maker earns double points when they campaign for someone else and gain that person points. So, if you have Karl Rove in this position and during the week he campaigned for, say, Gingrich in Iowa, and Gingrich gained four points that week in Iowa, then Karl Rove would score eight points for your team that week. Like the steady riser, they will also lose a point per point that candidate loses.

Mud-Slinger: This is for the pols who are not above fighting dirty. Every time your pol in this position makes an attack on their opponent that does not pertain to that person's political acumen or policy, you score two points. So, for instance, in the last Presidential election, insistence that Obama lacked the experience to be president would not have counted, claims that he was a terrorist would have. In order to count, the comments MUST come from the mouth (or pen) of the candidate themselves. Political messages they simply approved, like TV ads, do not count.

One Trick Pony: This is for the pols that have one platform and ride it into the ground. Every time they give a statement on their designated issue, they gain a point. Every time they speak on an issue other than the one you picked, one of those points goes away. (This must be volunteered information. Simply answering a question about something else does not count. However, if asked a question about something else and they manage to turn the question to their preferred issue, they gain an additional point.) For instance, let's say Senator A is all about recalling the troops. While on the campaign trail, if he randomly gives a speech about tax cuts, he loses a point. However, if a reporter asks him about tax cuts and he responds, he still has six points. If said reporter asks a question about tax cuts and the Senator answers that they cut taxes if they recalled the troops, then the Senator gains two points instead of just one.

I would say that each time could have a roster of 8 politicians or public figures. I would recommend limiting the involved races to contests that are at least somewhat national, so I would include those running for President, Senator, House of Representatives, or Governor. We'd pick our pols draft style.

What do you think?