The Santos-Vinick Live Debate
by RonChusidWest Wing aired a live debate between Matt Santos and Arnold Vinick. As those of on the west coast have not seen it yet I will not say much except to point out a few highlights to hopefully spark your interest.
Kerry supporters will appreciate how Santos responds to having made a statement that he voted for something before he voted against it in explaining they were different votes under different circumstances. I wish Kerry had responded as well.
Santos appears to have a health care plan similar to Kerry’s incremental plan. When Vinick, who has no plan, noted that the Santos plan would not provide universal care, Santos notes that his plan is proposed based upon what the Congress might pass. Santos then presents what he would do if not bound to such restrictions–and it is a plan which also makes sense in the real world.
Santos also does an excellent job of responding to Republican attacks on liberals and in responding to the Republican holy grail of cutting taxes. A year after the real debates, Jimmy Smits as Matt Santos reminds us of what could have been if the winner of the real debates won the 2004 election.
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I saw the tv debate. Good tv but it was a bit of fantasy because debates are never that loose with the candidates talking over each other like that. Sadly, I think Alda and Smits’ characters would both make better presidents than Shrub. Blech.
Definately a fantasy.
It was a fantasy because it was a real debate after they dumped the rules.
It was also a fantasy because Arnold Vinick would never get the Republican nomination in light of his socially liberal views (which weren’t an issue in the debate).
This was the first time I even watched the west wing. I picked a good time to see it. I enjoyed this. I thought I was gonna miss it, but Gov. Blanco came on for her address earlier than I thought.
It was great to see both sides of the issues (as many as they could get to) being argued with passion and information.
Donnie,
If you haven’t seen West Wing, you missed its best years when Sorkin was writing all the episodes.
I’d suggest starting from the beginning–either get the DVDs or maybe one of the channels rerunning it will be starting at the beginning soon.