Santos vs. Vinick
In the parallel political universe of the West Wing, Democrat Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) held their first presidential debate on live television tonight. I was initially skeptical of this gimmick, but I've got to give the show's writers credit; it turned out quite well. It was certainly an original television watching experience, and at times it made for compelling drama. The writing was superb and the actors both did a solid job under difficult circumstances. At times I forgot I was watching a scripted event.
NBC has really gone all out to make this presidential campaign seem real. If you don't believe me, check out the official campaign websites for Senator Vinick and Congressman Santos. They even have campaign blogs and a form you can fill out if you want to volunteer.
As with all West Wing episodes, however, this one left me feeling depressed. As soon as the show ended, I was reminded that in the real world there aren't politicians like Santos and Vinick. No, instead we're stuck with people like George Bush and Nancy Pelosi. If only the Democratic and Republican parties could really nominate candidates like this, people that represent the best their respective parties have to offer and are willing to eschew the lunatics and crackpots on both the Left and the Right. Sigh.
NBC has really gone all out to make this presidential campaign seem real. If you don't believe me, check out the official campaign websites for Senator Vinick and Congressman Santos. They even have campaign blogs and a form you can fill out if you want to volunteer.
As with all West Wing episodes, however, this one left me feeling depressed. As soon as the show ended, I was reminded that in the real world there aren't politicians like Santos and Vinick. No, instead we're stuck with people like George Bush and Nancy Pelosi. If only the Democratic and Republican parties could really nominate candidates like this, people that represent the best their respective parties have to offer and are willing to eschew the lunatics and crackpots on both the Left and the Right. Sigh.
posted by A.L. at 11:22 PM
2 Comments:
I am glad that someone else is taking as much pleasure from this show as I am. I am really enjoying this years show and I think it is probably the best season thus far.
I, like you, also wish our real life gov officials could be like the ones represented in this show. However, being a republican, I sometimes feel like the show is unfair in the way the republicans are seen. It is obviously written by writers with a very liberal political view. They make it sound like the democrats are the saviors of the country and the republicans are the evil menence just looking to devour the rights and freedoms of every american.
The West Wing is good drama. It represents a 2 party system in which, in the end, the good guy wins (the democrats of course). But the show is just a dramatic representation of one view and hardly represents the consciousness of the country as a whole.
DJ,
You make a good point. The show does not reflect the consciousness of the country as a whole, which is the most depressing of facts. It should.
Politics in this country is no longer about ideas, ideals or visions. Instead, it is about winning and losing - about advancing one's career rather than about pursuing the good of the country.
In my humble opinion, it is not Democrats who are responsible for this relatively recent shift in the political arena; rather, it is our current administration and its 'masterminds'.
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