Mods: This is not a “debate” per se, but it is decidedly political, may spark a debate, and is in no way a rant, while letting my own preferences show.
Most people missed it, because most people don’t watch PBS. And I might have missed it, because there’s no question who I am voting for, and, like most denizens of this forum, I have this information.
But Frontline, the absolutely brilliant documentary series, put together a film called “The Choice”, simply and straightforwardly giving the biographies of both men running for president. If you care even a little, you will not find it dull. They have managed to pull together archival footage of both of them, and assemble and tell their personal stories in a very engaging and truly enlightening manner.
Of course, for my money, holding them both up side by side in this way, the choice is starkly obvious. But that’s just me. What I do believe is that anyone who is still wavering, finding themselves confused or overly influenced by the noisy bullshit and crappy “journalism” that purports to tell you anything meaningful at all, will find this film to be a sea of calm, sober, enlightening and clarifying truth about both of them that should make your decision much easier.
I invite you to watch THE WHOLE THING (though it is handily divided into bite-sized chunks) online:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2004/view/
Please, don’t shortchange yourself or the program by taking in mere snippets of it. Your decision is not minor, this is the most important election in 50 years, if not the last century. I honestly feel that this film gives you a fair portrait of both men, and will really help you decide. Yes, much of it is familiar. But not all, and not ever as clearly, engagingly, and completely as in this film. Screw the conventions and soundbites and ads. Do this, then make up your mind.
And for those who have any doubts about their man at all? You, too.
