Viewport

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Debate

Tuesday night is a vast wasteland on television. I found myself watching a a political debate between three candidates for a state of Washington Senate seat. It reminded me that I loath politics and politicians.

The debate was predictable. The Republican spouted right wing
Republican rhetoric. The Democrat spouted liberal Democrat rhetoric and the Libertarian spouted gibberish.

The journalists asking the questions asked predictable questions about the war, the economy and the environment. The responses were artfully vague and lacking in any real course of action on any of the issues.

If I were there, I would have at least asked interesting questions of the candidates that they couldn't have been prepped for:

Do you think Berber carpet is preferable to shag?

How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

Have you ever wondered where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent?

Who framed Roger Rabbit?

It would have been fun to watch them flip through their crib sheets looking for answers to those questions. I think the Libertarian would have nailed them.

5 comments:

Alex Pendragon said...

Yea, I always wanted to know who framed Roger Rabbit!

I wish the Soup Nazi would participate in these debates. "Sir, would you continue the administrations tendency to cut taxes for the rich?"

"NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!"

Anonymous said...

I used to love when I would happen to catch a congressional debate or meeting on CSPAN before things got started, you know, while the media staff were setting up. You could see the staff moving chairs, straightening papers on the podium, kicking wires and cords out of the way. It was capturing the only real thing that goes on during politics.

I guess being a politician is no different than most other professions when it comes to scripted dialogue - they're just really bad at it.

R. said...

Being libertarian (small 'l') I find it disappointing that the Libertarian canidate wasn't cogent enough to capture your interest. You'd think that a party would at least put a person up who made as much sense as the Constitution (since the one thing most Libertarians seem to agree on is that they want a government closer to the one envisioned by the founding fathers.)

I've considered running but I'm not sure I can stomach the servitude to Satan that is required.

Time said...

THE Michael, I thought you'd be impressed that I went all political and everything.

Miss Bliss, Behind ever politician is a distainful staff making them look good.

R, my libertarian nephew. I'd much rather you pursue an honorable profession like serial killer than become a politician.

JP (mom) said...

You and your politics ROCK Tim!! Thanks for keeping us on track! JP