Thursday, August 04, 2005
C-Span Contest
C-Span, my favorite network, is holding a 25th anniversary contest asking viewers to write in as to why they participate in viewer call-in portions of their programs. The winner will have an opportunity to host part of a call-in segment of one of their shows. The catch is you can only use 250 words. Here's my entry:
I almost did not submit an entry for this contest. This is because I assume my interest in C-Span's viewer call-in programs is the same as others who obsessively and compulsively re-dial the telephone in order to talk for 30 seconds on the air. We call for one reason only - to stir up trouble.
The goal is simple. It is say the most intelligent thing that anyone has ever said. But our comments cannot just be unique. They must be controversial. No controversial is too weak a word. They must inflame.
Our fuel is the impact we have on other callers. You win the prize if you get feedback from one of C-Span's unwaveringly stoic hosts.
Essential is that you hold political opinions outside the mainstream. If the topic is social security private accounts, then you have never heard of a better idea. Want to cure the ills of public education? Then give everyone a school voucher. If people are so tired of the destructive impact of the War on Drugs then why not just legalize them?
I pride myself in getting Brian Lamb to react. The question concerned the retirement of Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist. Callers commented on whether he was too old to continue in his job. My observation was he had to go based upon his inability to lead the court towards a more limited government. Mr. Lamb retorted with disbelief. He said "So you want him to leave because of his politics?" My day was made.
PermaLink | 5:29 AM |
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I almost did not submit an entry for this contest. This is because I assume my interest in C-Span's viewer call-in programs is the same as others who obsessively and compulsively re-dial the telephone in order to talk for 30 seconds on the air. We call for one reason only - to stir up trouble.
The goal is simple. It is say the most intelligent thing that anyone has ever said. But our comments cannot just be unique. They must be controversial. No controversial is too weak a word. They must inflame.
Our fuel is the impact we have on other callers. You win the prize if you get feedback from one of C-Span's unwaveringly stoic hosts.
Essential is that you hold political opinions outside the mainstream. If the topic is social security private accounts, then you have never heard of a better idea. Want to cure the ills of public education? Then give everyone a school voucher. If people are so tired of the destructive impact of the War on Drugs then why not just legalize them?
I pride myself in getting Brian Lamb to react. The question concerned the retirement of Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist. Callers commented on whether he was too old to continue in his job. My observation was he had to go based upon his inability to lead the court towards a more limited government. Mr. Lamb retorted with disbelief. He said "So you want him to leave because of his politics?" My day was made.
PermaLink | 5:29 AM |
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