This is some plotting that Shakespeare would appreciate. Carl Franklin's directing should get an Emmy just for the texting-while-talking innovation alone.

Yes, I'm only up to episode 4 but I can sense the promise of this show . . . and the incorporation of texting into the dialog takes things up another notch. And, by the way, I think my brain would explode if I watched that many episodes of HOC's in a weekend. Too much goodness and Machiavelli!

Not impossible. Underwood has held the seat for (no spoilers) years. He takes care of his people; semi loads of pork head south every year. Anyone who tries to run against him suddenly finds all his dirty secrets run out for the edification of the voters. The RNC has given up trying to get him because it's not smart to piss off a king cobra and for a price he'll quietly play ball with the opposition. Underwood plays the long game - give a little to get a lot.

But boy is it unlikely!!

but Underwood is dug in deep and has been for a long time.

Lotsa fun for us West Wing, Newsroom types.