Ben Affleck has been an increasingly popular presence in the political realm as of late. Earlier this week, he testified on Capitol Hill about security in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and recently his name has come up as a possible contender in the impending Massachusetts special election to fill the seat to be vacated by John Kerry's appointment as secretary of state. Affleck, 40, grew up in Cambridge, Mass.

But it turns out running for political office might be a stretch too far for the actor and activist.

In an interview with GQ, Affleck had some pretty harsh words for the American political system, including "toxic," "poisonous" and "inappropriate" (laced with expletives before them).

"I have gotten myself involved with politics, actually fairly in a pretty deep way, only to find that it really just took the wind out of my sails," he said. "You know, it was much more interesting from the outside than from the inside."

It's worth noting that Affleck appears to dance around the question: "Have you ever had serious considerations" about running for office?

"I have never had a serious conversation. Not really," he said. "I could tell you but then I can't say what it is."

For those hoping for a Ben Affleck vs. Scott Brown showdown this summer, don't abandon all hope yet.