By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor
I admit that I have been watching Meet the Press since I was a little boy and my father was alive. It wasn't always "Must See TV" and I learned early that guests were on because they were important and the (chiefly) Washington reporters were from newspapers and the focus was always on tough questions that led to real answers about how a bill gets passed, how a war is avoided, what's next in energy exploration, the next manned moon venture. There was a clear national interest and what was not lost on viewers is that reporters and guests were on different sides of the desk - but they were all on the same side.
Not today. Not at all - and this is not a criticism of any of the hosts: David Gregory, Candy Crowley, George Stephanopoulos, and (national treasure) Bob Schieffer are all professionals of the highest standards. It is the national discourse. It is the blame game, it is the lack of empathy between members of both parties, it is the loss of common ground among people coming from two different angles. It is the end of a common vision, it is the actual (and palpable) disdain between Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives. It is my way or the highway. It is how things don't ever get done and why it is best to never get things done because the other party is so wrong that it will mean the end of the Republic as we know.
It is Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham every Sunday, all the time. Two fine men who are friends of mine. I respect them but, for God's sake, aren't there 98 others in the U.S. Senate? Make that 97 - Chuck Schumer, my Senator, a good friend, but always on the tube on Sunday. All three are good legislators, tough negotiators, and respected members of the Senate. But all three have been forced into strongly partisan positions of late because of the prevailing atmosphere in Washington and the rest of the country.
So here is my humble recommendation. I get it that reporters should report the news and not make the news. But reporters are already making the news and spending as much time covering themselves as they cover the policymakers (See White House Correspondents Dinner). Given that: why not have the television hosts become interlocutors for common ground? "Senator X and Senator Y, please list on our smart board so the audience can see three items of this bill (or foreign policy initiative) that you agree on?"
"Okay, thanks, now let's see how we can refine the language of each of these items so that it can appeal to some of the more problematic members of your caucus?"
"Are there any other elements we can add to the mix? (IF YES, PLEASE ADD AND REFINE USING SAME PROCESS AS ABOVE. IF NO…) " Okay, so that's a wrap. Please go back and get something done. If you do, you can be the guest next week with Sens. McCain, Graham, and Schumer."
I think this is actually a good proposal. It beats the current system of stating and digging in on partisan positions, getting nothing done, and then watching nothing getting done. In the interests of new media innovation, let's call this new phenomenon "Sunday Do Shows".
As things now stand, the Sunday shows are losing viewers because it almost makes a citizen want to go back to church again.