Alan Who?
Russell Roberts at Cafe Hayek on a different presidential speech:
In the closing statement, Alda gives an eloquent defense of freedom, the power of individuals to solve problems via markets, and the importance of limited government as envisioned by the Founders as a way to keep confidence in government doing what it should.
There were a few missteps here and there, but overall, it was the best defense of limited government I've heard from a candidate since Reagan. It figures, as a friend pointed out, Alda and Reagan are both actors.
Of course, the whole thing was a live version of the West Wing. But what I found interesting was how little they chose to caricature the Republican's views, at least in the part I saw. He wasn't a "compassionate conservative." And he wasn't a heartless monster. He was about as Jeffersonian as you could imagine. Whoever gets the Republican nomination the next time around ought to hire whoever wrote Alda's lines.
I have to wonder; I haven't watched
West Wing in...well, I watched exactly two episodes all the way through. The writing was crisp, well-done, comically ill-informed (on military matters, certainly) and marinated in a sickly-sweet Clinton sauce.
Have they - or the network - come to realize that America is growing more conservative than they are, and that they are in danger of losing their market?
In fact, I have to wonder - as apparently Russell does - if they're not trying to run to the President's right:
It would be even nicer to have a candidate to choose from who actually believed those lines as well.
Hm. Show the American people an unattainably-Jeffersonian ideal as part of an effort to split the GOP. Very interesting...
Don't say us Forbes guys didn't warn you all...
Posted by Mitch at
November 8, 2005 08:00 AM
| TrackBack
I think they should keep Martin Sheen, only for the next eight years he's the insane president from The Dead Zone. Cause how cool would that be?
Posted by: angryclown at November 8, 2005 11:40 AMMitch:
I have the West Wing debate episode in the TIVO hopper, still. I haven't even watched it myself. Let me know if you're interested and we could have a couple beers and tune in!
Flash
Posted by: Flash at November 8, 2005 12:31 PMI'm interested!
Posted by: mitch at November 8, 2005 01:07 PMThe Doctor called me after the first commercial break (Half hour into it. It was one of those limited commercial interuption episodes) He commented about how realistic it was and how he wished that REAL candidates would debate with the kind of substance coming from boths sides of the aisle.
And to make it even better, which I didn't notice Hayek's post or yours mention, is that the episode was NOT taped, it was LIVE as in actually LIVE, giving it a 'I wonder if someones is going to screw up' feel to it. Since I haven't seen it yet, and I haven't caught anyone commenting on any gaffs, I suspect it was a clean run. But that doesn't mean there wasn't twists and turns througout. The Doctor hinted, but didn't give anything away.
We'll talk tonight. Give me a jingle when you get home.
Flash
Posted by: Flash at November 8, 2005 01:36 PMThe Dead Zone Crazy Prez was Sheen's shining moment, his best performance ever.
"Gentlemen, the missiles are flying, hallelujah!"
Posted by: Tim at November 8, 2005 04:32 PMThe show started drifting rightwards when Sarkin left (and about the same time I left the show as well - not for political reasons but because the sets got darker and more depressing, and the writing wasn't up to Sarkin's previous standard. Instead of being brilliant commentary in the finest traditions of "Yes, Minister" it turned into a soap opera).
At its best, "The West Wing" has always been a gentle rant: first to the Clinton adminstration ("See? See? This is how it's SUPPOSE TO BE") and now to the conservatives, idealizing the national conversation.
Incidentally, speaking of high-minded conversations, Al Franken had a wonderful discussion on 11/8 with Jim Walsh of Sojourner's Magazine about his updated book "The Call to Conversion". I think any thoughtful Christian would find it interesting grist (it is not nearly as partisan as Franken's normal hackery). The download is at airamericaplace.com/archive.php and the segment starts at the 55:30 mark and lasts for 20 minutes.
Posted by: Bill Haverberg at November 9, 2005 03:15 PMmound induct alternating Aztec Gleason unpreserved Hickman
Posted by: at June 27, 2006 11:32 AMwaltzes wrecker inscribe mediocrity regressing,exam toweling!
Posted by: at June 30, 2006 11:58 PM