For those of you who missed it last night, the debate on West Wing was a fantastic piece of television, and a fantastic piece of political theater.
Just to get the obligatories out of the way: Yes, I understand it was scripted. Yes, I understand it's entertainment.
That said, I thought it was more informative, instructive, and presidential, than any of the debates we've seen our glorious, hand-picked candidates soundbite their way through in the past 3 or 4 elections. I only hope that every high school civics class in the country uses that 1 hour of TV to show kids what debating, politics, and differing views of America are all about.
Speaking of high school, when I was that age I'd sit down to watch Questions with the Prime Minister when it was on. (And, yes, I recognize what that says about me.) But what a concept. A nationally televised, script-free dialogue between the head of the executive branch and his colleagues in the legislature.
Now imagine that in the US today. Yes, crying is allowed.
Sure, a week or two of Bush playing president to the cameras in the Senate might be entertaining, but beyond that, he'd be exposed for the uncurious, insufficiently informed, and dolorously unaware of the way the world is as compared to how he thinks it might be.
Almost none of the Democratic candidates in the last election would fare much better. We've created a political system that eschews substance in favor of what consitutes style. And even that is stretching it.
As though it was hard to tell from what I write here, I'm a bit of a romantic (when it comes to politics only) so I'm going to start the campaign right here, right now.
Questions with the President
A 30 to 45 minute weekly prime-time exchange between the President and the Senate. Democrats and Republicans are allowed to alternate questions, and who asks them is up to them. No topic is out-of-bounds. Live broadcast to PBS and C-Span.
Like every press conference, the flacks and pundits will spin it afterwards, but for a change, lets let the American people watch their political leaders engage in a dialogue about the issues of the day. It'd be a remarkable day for civic education in this country.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Live Debate
Posted by John at Monday, November 07, 2005
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1 comment:
Alektra--maybe, maybe not. Over the course of four years a president would have to sit down with the Senate, say, 200 times. I think many people would watch it. And maybe they'd think an inarticulate President shouldn't hold the position. Or maybe they'd feel more comfortable with a President who speaks like many around the country. But at least we'd know. And could make the choice based on something other than soundbites.
Also, for those of us who believe that that articulate communication is something important to teach all people, it would let us know just how well/not our educational system was doing.
And like I said, I tend to be a bit idealistic.
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