My very old high school friend Brad came to Philly for a surprise visit. We got lunch!
Jilly: You know those weird, backwards towns that elect, like, dogs for mayors? How does that work?
Me: Administrative staff do all the real work. Mayor just shows up for ribbon cutting and stuff. Just like in real life!
Jilly: I think that’s what we need to do for Congress.
Brad: You know, there’s precedent for that. There was a horse in the Roman Senate!
Me: Seriously?
Brad: Incitatus*! It was all a big joke. Emperor Caligula had such little respect for the other branches of government that he would have this horse in the senate’s arguments, shitting everywhere and generally being obnoxious, to show that that’s how intelligent the senators were.
Me: Is that real?
Brad: Of course it’s real. Why else would I know it?
*The historical accuracy of this story, as it states in the linked Wikipedia page, is sketchy on its best day. Kind of like everything that comes out of my mouth.