No need to apologize, that's all good stuff. I think JRut & yourself nailed it!
Although I'm just a young official, hearing the "political" excuse is already old to me. Most cases are people who think they are better than they really are or people whose time has come & gone...

Does politics in officiating assigning/advancement exist? Of course, but no more than the politics in our everyday lives ie: work, relationships, etc.