The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    The West Wing debate

    By EmmaZahn on Sun, 02/05/2006 - 4:12am |

    At the beginning of the program, Alan Alda said they should debate like Lincoln.  Why then does this debate sound more like the McLaughlin Group?  Sigh.

    Comments

    That was a plot device to make the debate more interesting visusally and dramatically. Nothing more. Alda's character to me seemd out of character in suggesting that.

    Moreover, modern politicians have no venue for a Lincoln-Douglas style series of debates, because the modern TV format will not allow for the kind of exposition that made those debates historic. Each of the Lincoln-Douglas debates ran for about three hours and were narrowly focused, so the relative mastery of each candidate in his subject and his thinking processes were clearly visible. No such thing as a sound bite. And as you alluded, there were relatively no interruptions or head to head arguments, either. The two fictional candidates actually moved AWAY from a Lincoln-Douglas style debate in that they agreed to less structure, rather than more. They had a conversation, heated at times. Lincoln and Douglas had formal debates, which consisted of a series of long, alternating speeches. Just wouldn't fly today. In the mid-19th Century, people would build an entire day around such an affair, maybe even have a picnic. Not in eye-blink America circa 2000.


    by Man MKE (not verified) on Mon, 11/07/2005 - 7:52pm

    Thanks for the response.  You seem to have enjoyed the program more than I did. 

    While a Lincoln-Douglas style debate might not fly today, I really wish we could get away from the shouting head format that passes for a discussion of issues on too many political programs.  To see a real presidential debate in that format would just cause more people to tune out the process than already do.

    -Emma


    by Emma Zahn (not verified) on Mon, 11/07/2005 - 9:55pm

    And my main complaint with the show was that we had fictional characters debating their fictional positions — I don’t watch The West Wing for a quick summary of the standard Republican/Democrat position on the death penalty.  Le sigh.


    by viviane (not verified) on Tue, 11/08/2005 - 1:15am

    Emma, I'm with you.

    I fondly remember when Dick Cavett had an evening talk show and would bring in thoughtful, intelligent guests like Gore Vidal. They'd sit for the whole hour and have a provoking and informative discussion. There is absolutely no reason we couldn't force the major candidates to sit together alone in a room and make them have a one or two hour conversation. We'd learn a lot that way.

    Ever see that indie movie "My Dinner With Andre"? Two guys having dinner, and a wide-ranging conversation. That's the plot. But it was scintillating. Americans need to develp more patience and get rid of this "I looked into his soul" crap. You can form an impression of a stranger in five minutes, perhaps, but listening to him speak for an hour, and watching him do it, has got to be a lot more illuminating. I surely don't think G.W. Bush would do well with voters if they could have a one on one chat with him that lasted more than 15 seconds.


    by Man MKE (not verified) on Fri, 11/11/2005 - 1:39pm