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Who needs The West Wing? Well, it's over. Though I suppose it's a good thing health-wise, for me at least. On Sunday morning I found myself curled at the foot of my bed, narcotized from lack of sleep, watching Face the Nation at 7:30 a.m., because the U.S. networks think West Coasters are too stupid for the political shows. This means we have to get up real early to catch the eastern satellite feed. I saw Ross Perot and Ralph Nader. I meant to stay awake for all the others, I really did, but at 11 a.m. I was fast asleep on the floor in front of the TV and had missed them all. Something to do with haring after George Bush and Al Gore through the Pacific Northwest last week. But does the end of the campaign mean I won't be getting e-mail from Mr. Nader anymore? Friends suggest there's always The West Wing. Huh? I might as well watch Canadian TV. The West Wing is one long apology for the Clinton administration, without the corruption -- all noble control freaks, who think government can solve everything if they can only have all our money. In fact, most every network night-time drama has become a political soapbox. Family Law and Judging Amy (at least) are fully fledged arguments for government intervention in family life. Maybe the end of the campaigning means those people trying to help me think clearly will stop copying endless reams of liberal cant to my e-mail. And I won't have to watch self-righteous movie stars preening themselves about their wonderful noble feelings about the disadvantaged and the evil of corporate greed. That would be OK. What I like most about the remorseless coverage Americans devote to their elections is that, once in a while, an old- fashioned actual person shows up and voices an opinion. The people who put together the talk shows and panels and town halls eventually have to reach for participants who don't make their living in the delirious businesses of culture and entertainment and politics. They simply run out of bodies and have to turn to real people. And the sturm und drang, the sheer drama of it all, makes people care so much. Enough to spend US$700-million on the race, according to a figure I was e- mailed recently by Mr. Nader's crew. The entertainment value is far, far higher. And actual debate about actual ideas sometimes peeks through, cast in a way that panders to ratings, so people actually watch. Even though, nine times out of 10, strategy is the subject most discussed, once or twice a day the perennial inner-city attitude of cynicism and nihilism is slightly disturbed. The closest U.S. election in 40 years has brought us some wonderful moments. Rick Lazio, the Republican candidate for senator from New York, crossing the floor trying to force his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton to sign a pledge of no more soft money. Al Gore stalking George W. Bush around the stage during the presidential debates and towering over him, like some kind of Soprano, the Solicitor-in- Chief and Shrub. Mr. Gore's hectoring condescension. Shrub's balancing on his toes and clicking his teeth, as if he's spoiling for a fight. The shout, "Help is On the Way" - - a last week favourite of the Bush camp. The sheer vitality of the battle. Contrast the "rats" ad with the current Liberal soft-focus soma for Canadians, entranced by the obfuscations of bureaucracy, or CPAC and Newsworld's stunningly dull election coverage. If we Canadians cared as much about our politics and our country, we'd find a way to jazz it up and force people to care. Contrast Al Gore's Ayn Rand look, the perfect socialist realist candidate - - rock solid and aristocratic -- with the imperious Jean Chretien, who models his untouchability after Pierre Trudeau's equally unfounded arrogance. Both U.S. presidential candidates were rock-ribbed patricians, men born with silver spoons in their mouths, working very, very hard to appear like real folks, and only Mr. Bush came close. How did he do that? Who would have thought so much failure would be so attractive? And who would have believed that Shrub with his famous incapacity could tame the religious right and unite a fractious party? Then there's the Monica Lewinsky effect and the slow unraveling of the Bill Clinton/Al Gore White House trust, the mountain of lies accreting into "no controlling legal authority." Mr. Gore's use of legalese only spurred more intense questioning. In the debates, in which he was expected to crush the dyslexic Mr. Bush, he came over as a smart aleck. He did not help himself by interrupting and sighing audibly. In the second debate, he was so determined not to repeat his mistakes he remained all but frozen, afraid to take on his opponent. Frozen by the need to have actual feelings and untested opinions. It was heartening to see the attack dog, trained from birth to power, tamed. Oh well, at least there's still Mr. Chretien. I think I'm just getting warmed up on Mr. Chretien. He makes a lovely target.

© 2004 Elizabeth Nickson The material at this website is available only for personal non-commercial purposes, and it may not be reproduced without permission.