I hate to even mention a show that exists in an alternate reality where Democrats still run the White House, but I have to admit that more than once I've wished the political debates I've had to endure were more like the one depicted on "West Wing" Sunday night. No matter how good the people running the debates or asking the questions were (including me, on occasion), the candidates always had their talking points memorized and merely listened for the right opportuntiy to spout them. Most of the sessions ended up being little more than a series of strung-together sound bites, with as little in common with real "debates" as the morning "news" shows have with real journalism.
