Politics is notoriously brutal, filled with wildly ambitious characters jockeying for influence in a competitive world, where money goes a long way and nobody is safe.
Incidentally, that summarizes most of the plot of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, based on a series of popular novels by George R.R. Martin.
Just like in Washington, competing factions loaded with cash are fighting for their political survival, with all eyes on the top prize.
Here, we dissect some of the best political lessons from the land of Westeros.
Note: This slideshow contains spoilers for seasons 1 and 2 only.
1. Debt-based financing is very risky.
At the start of the show, King Robert Baratheon has run the crown into a vast amount of debt to the richest man in Westeros, Lord Tywin Lannister.
As a result, Baratheon's obligations to the Lannister family make effective management of the seven kingdoms difficult. He's married to a Lannister, protected by Lannisters, advised by Lannisters and eventually killed by particularly ambitious Lannisters.
The main takeaway from this? Owing a debt to one group — whether it's sovereign debt holders, lobbyists, interest groups or campaign donors — risks both your occupation and ability to govern.
2. A devoted field operation is crucial for political success.
In one of the final episodes of season two, Tyrion Lannister returns from being held captive to learn that his father Tywin has started a war with the Starks.
Normally, Tyrion would have been disregarded and removed from the family business, but he returned with a hoard of hill people eager to kill in exchange for superior equipment.
The main takeaway? One of the best assets for a politician is a wildly energetic base of support — be they Rep. Ron Paul's libertarians, President Obama's Organizing for America, or the crowd of people waiting for the word to run Hilliary Clinton's 2016 campaign.
3. Never trust political consultants.
In season one, Ned Stark is brought to the capitol city of Kings Landing to serve as the Hand of the King.
Ned quickly placed his trust in Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, the well-connected Master of Coin. This went very badly for Ned, as Baelish was more concerned with his own financial and political stability than advancing Stark's career.
Eventually, Baelish assisted the rival Lannister faction in arresting and eventually killing Stark.
The situation could hold a lesson for the Republican Party. In the wake of the 2012 election, many conservatives have claimed that the party trusted political consultants too much during the course of the election, and contributed to the GOP's losses.
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