[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Also, the promotion of female leadership by HBO seems a bit over the top ... perhaps timed for the upcoming election?

Considering the first book was published in 1996 I would say no.

Now there are other shows out there that are definitely pushing that but the "A Song of Fire and Ice" series gets a pass.

[wardaddy]

GOT frequently embellishes gay and wimmin way beyond the books

And speaking of which

We are now way beyond the books

[ChiefJayStrongbow]

Considering the first book was published in 1996 I would say no. I think the HBO writers are now only working within a rough framework of GRR Martin's storyline and are seizing opportunities to interject their own political agenda into the show. When GRR Martin finally finishes the last book, I doubt it contains anything resembling the propagandist catch phrases that the HBO screenwriters built into the scripts.