To my mind, the best – and most authentic – illustration of how young political idealists become disillusioned by their political heroes is provided by George Stephanopoulos’s All Too Human – A Political Education, a convincing account of his journey through Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign to power. There is a line that sums it up in George Clooney’s intelligent The Ides of March, which we watched this evening; ‘he’s a politician; he’s bound to disappoint you sooner or later.’ Ryan Gosling turns in a brilliant performance as the Stephanopoulos-type idealistic campaign warrior losing his illusions, but he is able to play to the foil of the equally brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman as the grizzled campaign veteran who has long since realised that the only absolute virtue in politics is loyalty. Clooney cleverly directs, competently co-wrote the screenplay with Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, author of the original stage play, Farragut North, and excellently acts the presidential hopeful, Governor Mike Morris. Full marks on all scores – at least for political anoraks like me. I think all budding politicians should watch this film before they launch themselves into the fray. Where are your lines in the sand and are you willing to move them? Where is your non-negotiable dividing line between idealism and realism? Can betrayal ever be morally right and, if so, under what circumstances? Maybe best to think about all of that before you start shinning up the greasy pole…