Poll results of West Wing Viewers under age 30 - A big swing to the right.

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, November 8, 2005 | Lisa de Moraes

[cgk]

So no Zogby is polling fictional politicians. How bizarre is that?

Creepy isn't it? This HAS to be satire!

[xlib]

With Alda as the GOP rep and Santos as the Dem presumptive, I lost interest. Go for the liberal or the leftist-in-GOP-clothes? lol.

Part of the show's appeal for me is it is a window into liberal wishful thinking. Only on TV does a liberal get the dem nomination more easily, and the moderate on the republican side. In their dreams it'll be Howard Dean vs McCain! 30 years of history hasn't shown them that liberal dems and moderate republicans lose, or become one-termers.

[appleharvey]

From all that I've read. Alan Alda is a Hubert Humphrey liberal. Misguided, but not evil or hateful. Frankly, I think He's a damn good actor.

[Stillwillin]

Ronald Reagan raised his profile speaking on behalf of Barry Goldwater

This speech is a verbatim transcript of "The Speech" given as a portion of a pre-recorded, nationwide televised program sponsored by Goldwater-Miller on behalf of Barry Goldwater, Republican candidate for the presidency whom Ronald Reagan actively supported.

http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/rendezvous.asp

[Non-Sequitur]

Taking a poll on a phoney debate with phoney candidates? Well that's telling us a lot!

[RHINO369]

To tell you the truth the moderate republican candidate on the the west wing is more conservative than Bush is. He didn't want to fund education with federal money, he was opposed to increases in medicare, he wan't to balance the budget. They only thing that puts him to the left of bush on any issue is abortion.

[Cableguy]

I stopped watching because the "debate" was tilted to the left. But I guess people saw through all that spin by the writer of the show, Larry O'Donnell, who is a liberal Democrat.

[Non-Sequitur]

They only thing that puts him to the left of bush on any issue is abortion.

It could also mean that more M*A*S*H fans watched the show than LA Law fans.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

What a joke having the biggest liberal of the past 30 years, Alan Alda, playing a conservative candidate....convincingly!

[Looper]

I do, I can't resist. I spend half the time yelling at the TV, and annoying my wife, who wonders why I watch it.

It's liberal fantasyland, where New England and ACLU lib Bartlett can get elected.

[RHINO369]

Half the fun of the show is to realize how wacky some of the stuff gets.

[Looper]

Alda's Vinick also is superior to Bush on border issues.

[cgbg]

It was obvious that WW was intending for Santos to be in the election. He kept coming from behind, astoundingly (yeh, right), to win or come in a close 2nd in the primaries.

Several Freepers have said this, but my read is different.

In the debate Santos came across and young (immature) and nervous, while the Pubbie more Presidential.

I also believe the psychology of WW is they want to persuade the pubbies to nominate a "moderate". If Alda loses they send the wrong message.

The broad political environment in WW is a Republican Congress and a short-staffed overworked lame duck Democratic WH trying to avoid fading into obscurity.

One other clue imho is the advisor to Alda who was the former Democrat (the loud, obnoxious guy). He is portrayed over the years as the most cold-blooded winning back-room guy.

The other "expert" who has called an Alda win for the past year is Santos VP (Leo) who is also portrayed as the other expert.

The polls seem to constantly show Santos nine points back, and the insiders on WW know that a nine point lead going into the debates is almost never overcome without huge gaffes by the leader.

[Wiseghy]

I thought it was striking how good this scripted debate really was. While it was clearly written by a Democrat who doesn't have a clue about conservatives, there was an attempt to portray pubbie positions accurately, which has been rare in this show.

The speech about African taxes by Alda was highly dramatic, even riveting and very interesting. I have actually never hear that about this cycle of taxes, charities and loans in some African nations.

[paudio]

They only thing that puts him to the left of bush on any issue is abortion.

That's pretty much how MSM define somebody as a 'moderate' or not. An economic leftist who opposes abortion will not get moderate label. He/she will be called 'anti-abortion' Democrats.

[pepperhead]

I seen that slime ball Larry O'Donnell on tv the other day. He said Alan Alda's character is a republican from California. Since I have never seen the show I wonder how good job a guy portraying a senator from California could do arguing for the right. How far did this character take it in the debate? And no I don't want to watch it and find out for myself.;)

[wildbill]

Well, I was one of the people they polled both before the show and afterwards and I'm pretty well-informed on politics. But who knows about the rest of the sample.

It was a ridiculous poll, asking me to answer questions 'as though the characters were real.'

Sample question: If you had a flat in the rain, would Santos or Vinick be more likely to stop and help you.

[longtermmemmory]

The are doing a poll about a SCRIPTED PRETEND DEBATE?

What is this some kind of left wing looney Gore vs Bush revision?

Personally, I don't watch anything with Alda.

Then again no networks TV and not even trying.

[Stillwillin]

about as bizarre as some of the focus groups i have been involved with. they have just scaled the exercise to a new level. i wonder, who funded the poll?