Do you feel it is out of place to use real life to inspire story lines?
I think real life is incredibly useful as a basis for certain elements of a story.
A "for instance"...
I've always had real difficulties creating a real sense of political intrigue in my campaigns. It's just not something that I do particularly well. The ideas are either tired, or more commonly either are too simple or too convoluted.
Read the front page of the morning paper. I guarantee you there is a story there that could form the basis of a great thread within your campaign. Of course, it need not be the main story, but as a means of introducing an element of politics, I think its a great trick.
For years, the kingdom's scholars warned of dragon attacks from the Southern Realms. As is often the case, however, politicians with more pressing agendas failed to heed the warnings of their more learned colleagues.
After a recent dragon attack destroyed the southern villages throughout the realm, a powerful noble family vowed to investigate whether the king and his followers had adequately prepared the realm. The noble family is leveraging popular support for its investigation...but to what end? Theirs or the realm's?
A nobleman of the family sends for the PCs and asks them whether they would be willing to try and bribe an official for information relating to the attack...
This could have easily started as an article about Katrina. The ports contract, Iranian facility testing, etc. It's all a gold mine if you look.
So yeah. Real life is great!