From kabooie to torpor
In one of first few episodes of The West Wing's third season there's a scene where Sam, C.J., Toby and Bruno's people were debating whether President Bartlet should use the word "torpor" in a speech. One of Bruno's people, Doug, was saying it's not a word a lot of people know. Sam told him it means "apathy" and "dullness." Then Doug retorted that he knows what it means, but if other people don't know what it means it's pointless.
Then Bartlet walks in and said: "It's not our job to appeal to the lowest common denominator, Doug. It's our job to raise it. If you're going to be the 'Education President,' it'd be nice not to hide that you have an education."
Hooray.
So despite my lingering amusement over "kablooie," I have to say I'm incredibly happy Barack Obama is president, if only for the fact that he's ushering in a new smart. George W. Bush made dumbing down a national policy: Under his presidency, it's o.k., even a matter of pride, to be stupid - because it's not stupid, it's plain-spoken, it's how the average American speaks or thinks, it's how common folk in these parts do things. Lame, right?
So here's to raising the bar and not catering to the lowest common denominator. I must be the only person to miss President Obama's inauguration speech on TV. I heard all the raves about it though, so I looked up the transcript, made available by the NYT. No impossibly big words, but it has a gravitas, good rhythm and powerful imagery.
Some favourite parts: "For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West, endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth."
And: "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." (love it!)
I'm such a TWW fan girl but I always think of Sam Seaborn when I think speech writing. And here's the real-live Sam Seaborn of this administration, 27-year-old Jon Favreau:
Jon Favreau (AFP/Getty Images)
Sigh. Yes, I know Sam's way cuter, smarter, hunkier, kinder and all around more perfect. But in the absence of scintillating Sam Seaborn articles, here's a NYT story on Favreau, or Favs, as he is called, written during the Democratic Party nomination campaign.