MegaFortinbras I know. Story of my life.

MegaFortinbras I like "Who the hell is this?"

I was about to say the same thing

5 mins then everyone gotta get in and settled

He’s run corporate meetings before

well said john

+Jonathan Gwynne - Love your comment. The only question I have is do politicians have the ability to distinguish the good people from the bad ? Especially in the current political climate.

THIS IS WHY - GOOD PEOPLE- do not trust all politicans? It is simply, the ancient question dating back to Plato. "What is the Truth?" I worked in D.C. for three years, and it was certainly quite a rare thing, to find a "honest" member of both houses of Congress. Mark Twain, said it best (How do you know when a member of Congress is lying? Answer: Their mouth is moving.

Lmao I love West Wing but that's actually one of the dumbest lines of the whole show.

Jonathan Gwynne The Chairman played a murderer in Fatal Beauty

Was looking for some hockey highlights and somehow I think I just watched two seasons worth of The West Wing in 3:30 minute increments.

@@MichaelLee-dt1iw Interestingly enough there is a scene in one of the episodes of The West Wing where VP Hoynes is asking Sam how a hockey game was that he went to and proceeds to say that he was never able to get into hockey because the scoring seems to come out of nowhere and then gives a made up play by play from the commentators. So....that's probably how you ended up here lol!

😂me too! Miss this show!

Righteous Hammer.. 😂me too! Miss this show!

@Righteous Hammer Yeah, that’s pretty much how I got sucked in, too. Now, I’m binge watching it on Netflix. Almost done with it, too.

yes, quite... sincere. Salute.

*_That has YET TO HAPPEN in this abhorrent Trump adminstration._*

@@penboyasgod6103 Nor with Biden

Never in real life

@@dijoxx One hopes you watched the January 6 Committee Hearing, so you could see it in real life.

If only that was real America.

agreed.

It is a fictional show. It is written deliberately so that the Dem ideology(back then) won a debate 99% of the time. Agree with the writers views or not, it was an excellent, entertaining show.

@@dangeroreilly2028 I agree with you for the most part, but Aaron Sorkin did write really good republicans, but later seasons ( when he wasn’t on the show) definitely do what you said.

@@NozzleDog07 I disagreed with 90% of what the Bartlett White House did. But I loved the show. I thought Ainsley Hayes and Joe Quincy would be all we would ever get in the gesture of “yeah, we allow some good Republican moments”. But I liked that Santos was more conservative than Vinick in the election in Seasons 6 and 7. I thought the winner of the election was a no brainer. This was WW, of course the Democrat was going to win. I was surprised to read that the writers had originally planned for Vinick to win. But after John Spencer’s death they decided it would be too ‘emotionally taxing’ for Santos to lose Leo and the election. I’m not sure I believe that. But they got Alan Alda to portray a Republican. Shoot, I would have voted for Matt Santos.

@@cards0486 I agree with that assessment

It is to the unbelieveable credit of Sorkin and the other showrunners that of all the republicans portrayed in the show, only one of them is an evil scumbag. This wasn't from some idealized time of political harmony. This was shortly after 9/11 and only a few years after Clinton's impeachment. And yet only one republican is evil, and the other republicans in the room are eager to shut him down. That is so unrealistic as to be laughable. The Cliff Calleys and Arnold Vinnicks and Joe Quincys of the republican party were all driven out a long time ago.

@@billwithers7457 so true. I was republican til Gingrich started pulling this exact bull.

Arnie Vinnick. A Republican I wouldn't tear my hair out over if he won.

That's the beauty of the show. It shows politics where you have people who actually care about their civic duties, instead of people who are only gunning for re-election, or just winning.

There was a time when decency and statesmanship genuinely existed. In my lifetime. I feel for the current generation. They cannot miss what they never had. We, OTOH, can only quietly mourn.

@@gnomesaiyan1680 I would love Vinnick over Trump any day.

Joe Coffey

He was Haverhill in NYPD Blue. Playing a more narcissistic character than here, and did the job very well. Great actor.

And you actually had moderate republicans who mostly level headed on social issues and where just fiscal small government people unlike 98% of the current lot

Id take Vinnick over Trump in a microsecond.

In this fictional world, the Republicans never adopted the Southern Strategy or fell prey to its long-term consequences, and never sold themselves out to their Megadonors.

@@Baribrotzer **politicians. You are lying to yourself if you think only one party has sold us out to megadonors and the like.

No corrupt politicians taking bribes from big corporations. All of them from representatives to POTUS. This is fantasy land! Wake up America! Stop feeding this corruption.

They have us at each others throats by design. The more they keep us butting heads with each other, the less we are watching them. And, yes, I do mean ALL of them, because you're right; both parties are SO far out of synch with what either are "supposed" to be about it's not even remotely humorous.

Chris and John: I hope you both mean that! Then stop supporting both corrupt parties!

I have to disagree here. I'm not American, I'm watching your politics from the outside and to be honest neither of your two parties is too palatable to me. I dislike them both. But I'm Italian, and I've studied our history, and I have to tell you that as bad as the Democratic party can be the GOP has gone full fascist to the point that I get scared everythime I hear the "both parties are bad" rhetoric. It worked here in Italy 101 years ago and it's horrifying to me to see it happen again. As bad as the Democrats can be they aren't actively denying anyone's right to exist. Think about it.

@@obluraschibus So do we.

@@CBeard849 Heh, not really, what the Republican party is doing in Florida and pretty much everywhere they are in power is actively putting minorities lives at risk. Ron DeSantis rethoric is the closer thing to Mussolini I've seen in the west since Francisco Franco died in 1975.

If politics worked the way Sorkin wished they did, we may not be living in paradise, but it'd be a damned sight better than what we have.

That ain't the only place. Look around you. Pogo, an old satiric comic strip from the 60s: "We have met the enemy, and they is us."

Jon, and in 2021 it started to mainline heroin 24/7. It has gone off the cliff chasing its hallucinations.

The party has been dead since Rush Limbaugh and the Southern Strategy (courting racist white voters in the South). Trump just said all the quiet parts out loud.

@@NChant101 Yeah. Jesus fucking christ. I've seen zombies that were more human.

@@wonderstruck. Nixon and Atwater. Good to see someone with some historical knowledge of how we got into this shitshow we're in today.

Have any over heard Maxine Waters? There is a Democrat for ya. Both parties have become too extreme to the point where a simple exchange of ideas is almost impossible.

Absolutely agree with you. Advise & Consent is THE difinitive novel about how Washington works.

Yes! With the wonderful Gene Tierney.

+MichaelDXavier - I loved Ainsley and her introduction to the show. Tobey, come quick, Sam is getting his a## kicked by a girl....get the popcorn. I also liked the addition of Lionel Tribbey.

+Theo Lamp ,the Leo/Ainsley interview, the Sam Seaborn preparation meeting with Ainsley to meet the President(and his sudden appearance, much to her unwelcome surprise, all of the CJ Cregg nightime press briefing centered around the Presidents assasination attempt and CJs solemn spin on controlling guns, CJs 'math lesson' and 'hunting season' lecture aimed at a TV reporter who carelessly embarrassed CJ in public. Great writing and performances throughout.

Mark Feuerstein

I would also highlight "President Walken". And the whole subplot for those episodes where everyone is worried about the Republicans... as much as the later seasons lost me, that was the last bit I remember watching and enjoying immensely. ... but hey, this show had a lot of people coming and going through it who were awesome. Clark Gregg shows up on and off for a while :)

actually, it probably stems from latin "semper serpens in herba" which means "there is always a snake in the grass".

You're totally right, but It's funny; I always remember it as "senator"...

Did we watch the same show? Because the Leo leak was a minor intern/worker in the West wing and the Photos with Laurie was her "friend" trying to get a quick buck,,.. Neither of them were career politicians. I have watched the entire Series at least 3 times

@@scotthartman8993 I'm gonna be real, I've tried to watch the full show twice and I always get lost in the middle of the fourth season because I can't get through the middle of the fourth season. This comment is from nine years ago, which sounds like the middle of my first attempt watching all of the show, and I've completely forgotten most of the details of the points I was trying to make here.

@MikeJames6 it would be better to do away with the Party system and actually make individuals represent themselves and present their own platform instead of saying "I'm a (insert Party)" and then let the Party platform carry them through all issues. Vote for the individual, not the Party they claim.

You're working under the delusional premise that there are very few, if any, people in the the Republican/Conservative Party that are like the person portrayed. Your Idea is that All are like the Antagonist in this scene and that No-one in the Democratic/Liberal Party could ever be of such ilk. There are a LOT more of the honest and integrity driven type people on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately none but a few hold office. By the very definition, psychologically wise, none who hold office are worthy of our vote through the make up of what it takes to run for or desire to hold office. The last great Presidents were Lincoln, Grant(maybe), and Theodore Roosevelt. The last good Presidents were Franklin D. Roosevelt, his successor Truman, and Eisenhower. The first three through intent for the betterment of the country. The second three for the same reason despite party affiliation. After that, integrity, party affiliation notwithstanding is up in the air. Not to say that they didn't do good things for the country. But the state with which they left office and the turmoil they brought forth while in office were really more of a detriment to the American People and the Country, much less the world, than anything else. We haven't had a Candidate to vote For, so much as candidates to vote Against in quite a while in this country. I Dare say since the first of the last century.

@MikeJames6 Gee Mike, you constructed a straw man and knocked him down. I'm impressed.

Funny comment coming from a supporter of a party that willingly violated State and Federal constitutional law in the last election by using tyrannical governors and activist judges. Don't act like you're apart of a pure party. The Democrats are just as robbed of morals as you claim the GOP currently is, their choice of Speaker of House and Senate Majority leader should be case enough.

@@montieluckett7036 the issue is that people with integrity are smart enough NOT to run for office, maybe we should start a draft for elected federal officials. People who want the job shouldn't be anywhere near it, and randomly forcing someone in will prevent a good old boy system from being established. Better yet, Congress will literally get NOTHING done and they'd actually have a legit excuse since no one has any ideas as to what they're doing.

Ro G you mean Jim Jordan.

Be aware; the death rate increases during a recession (this is actually cited in an episode of the West Wing.) So Maher was wising for more people to die just so get his own way.

@@johndub3866 It wouldn't be the first time he's been... off-target.

bovnyccc operalover I would be and am happy to root for country over party. If both are, however imperfectly, working for the good of the country. But clearly, the Republican Party, no longer has the interests of our nation or our people in mind. Republicans break the law hourly and at will. They blackmail, take bribes, threaten civilians, military officers and enlisted, and other government officials. Republicans openly conspire and coordinate with America’s self-declared enemies. When caught, they work together to cover up their traitorous actions. At one time, it was possible to find people of good will on both sides of the aisle, but not today. Not today.

Not a threat, a promise

Should have been "Death in the Long Grass".

This coming from an obvious Democrat whose party is trying to destroy everything this country has been the last 200 years

#iamverybadass

John Spencer. R.I.P.

The republican party was waiting in the tall grass for men like this counsel, and expended great effort in making sure they never left the tall grass alive.

And you probably feel that the Democrats are angels and virtuous

@@dennissimo7546 relative to the Rs, yes. As is said, when you and someone else are running away from a bear, you only need to be faster than the other person...

@@TheLibran38 Funny, relative to the D's, the R's are a little more palatable to me. Both parties will lie to you but the D's will get as much money from and give you some of it back as if they are such humanitarians

If you think that "your party" (whichever one it is) is the "godsend" that's going to be what keeps America standing...you are THE problem. All political problems derive from tribalism. Tribalism is the evidence that a person does not actually believe in Democracy...they only believe in THEIR tribe being in power.

@@TheLibran38 Jesus christ... Perfect summation of the current Democratic party--you just need to be faster than the other guy. Works for both parties atm, but at least with the Republican they MIGHT stand their ground and fight.

radiodf yea because democrats would never do that....

@@Glitchfaction the term 'deep state' was being focus group tested by repukes in 2014.

It's about winning. It always was among a large number (majority?).

When you see a newsreel tribute of somebodies famous last words. You think, "I'm sorry that it's over." Well, I'm sorry, but it's over. These kind of discussions don't take place anymore. Not in the Congress, the Supreme Court nor the Oval Office. Who decides about Ferguson, Iraq or pipelines? It's Wall Street. Senator Cruz, Governor Walker or Mayor Quimby's success or failure in the ballot box have become irrelevant. The "hard" choices are now being made by Rupert Murdoch, Jamie Dimon, Charles and David Koch.

bobert4him I deeply wish I thought you were wrong. But I don't. This is who controls the "two" parties. This is my country now.

Oh we ARE baby. I cannot WAIT.

Moderate Republicans are almost extinct now because they have been driven out by conservatives.

Opposite story for me. Was moderate liberal. Driven hard towards middle due to growing extremism.

Ainsley Hayes? It's because they couldn't secure the actress - she got offered a major part on one of the CSIs.