Never really thought about the precise location of Qumar before. No wonder it was so strategic.

So in "17 People," an Algerian-born terrorist is stopped at the Canadian border carrying nitroglycerin. As a result, President Bartlett closes the embassies in Tanzania and Brussels. These are two seemingly random (to me) embassies, located thousands of miles away from the terrorist, who was across the world on a different continent.

Is there some kind of foreign policy link I'm missing here? It's something I've never quite understood.

I gotta say, I really love Doug attacking the team for too much educating the public about MS. “You guys are never happier than when you’re educating the public! Just change the subject!”

I’m also including self-deprecating remarks by the insiders.

Bartlet: Let’s start with the two Senators that are our friends. When we’re done with that, we’ll move onto the other 98.

{contains spoilers}

At the beginning of Season 05 with Jed giving up power to Walken, if for whatever reason Jed delays sending in the second letter even further. In the beginning when Jed asked for information Leo says he can't talk about it, but was at the start. Later when emotions die down and the thinking starts to become clearer, GLen might say something on tv or Leo lets slip something and the talk starts to be more about work. Jed might be tempted to ask Leo to do something behind Leo's back or outright disobey Glen.

Do you think Jed would stay Loyal to Jed or choose republic and service?

Just started what has to be at least my 10th rewatch. There are a couple of plot points in the pilot that are bothering me.

Why would Sam misunderstand the fact that “Leo’s daughter’s fourth-grade class” was coming for a White House tour? By this point, Sam and Leo had worked closely for at least a year during the campaign and administration. Did Sam think Leo — a man in his 60s — had a daughter in elementary school? Did he not know Leo had an adult daughter who was a teacher? On long plane and bus rides during the campaign, surely these people discussed their families with each other. And why is Mallory’s last name O’Brien? It’s never hinted at during subsequent seasons that she had been married. Or was she Leo’s stepdaughter?

And, not to beat a dead horse, but Mandy is unlikable from the jump.

Bartlet told Seaborn that he would run someday. Maybe it’s finally someday…

It could parallel the 2028 election timeline. Could start in the campaign to capitalize on the election energy.

Last year of West Wing was 2006 where...

A charming, handsome, young, charismatic man overcomes odds to be the first minority elected, beating an older, moderate republican. To do this, he chose a much older but highly experienced white man as his VP.

In the 2008, Obama picks Biden to beat McCain.

Only missing the Palin aspect...

“…But you work for me.”

-McGary to Toby, Slow News Day.

Do WH Senior Staff serve at Bartlet’s pleasure or work for McGary? Discuss.

I feel like saying both is a cop out. Only one of them was elected to something. Remember 25 and how Bartlet went on about how some of Fitzwallace, McNally, and Sec. Hutchinson could go to jail if they refused a presidential order. Leo needs to learn his place.

So I’m on my umpteenth rewatch of the series, and Bingo Bob has now been introduced and I gotta say…… I don’t know what it is but this time I just can’t stand him. He’s never been my favorite by any means, but this time he just irritates me more than normal. I have as much dissent towards him as I do Will, which is rare because for me Will is my least favorite character.

Anyone else get a character they suddenly can’t stand during a re-watch?

https://youtu.be/fXVBp3XRGuM?si=TpXo8PDHBAtpjYOM

I showed TWW to my son when he was 12 (15 years ago), and he loved it instantly. He lived with his mom, spending a couple days a week with me, and we'd spend a lot of our time wathing the DVD's.

Once, when I was at wotk, out of the blue, I got a text from my son - "Bruno Gianelli is a badass."

I laughed out loud and sent back,"You're damned right he is."

He's 27 now, and living in a different city. I see him, but not as often as I'd like. We do text, but mostly about ordinary stuff. Today, though I received this -

"Bruno Gianelli is still a badass".

I would have loved to see Fitzwallace as VP, as they were discussing in S3E17. That would have been amazing.

Russell is very boring.

I’m on rewatch number who knows how many and I can never get past what a petulant little jerk Sam is to everyone throughout the process. He acts like everyone else knew and lied to him, like no one else has a right to any opinion but him.

As people may have already seen in the news today, a viral video is circulating showing an older man slap a younger man for sitting during the national anthem at a Cubs game.

This got me a little riled up and thinking on the way home on the meaning of respect for one’s country and the First Amendment. It did bring to mind the Season 2 Episode 3 “The Midterms” scene where President Bartlet lays a verbal smackdown on an arrogant conservative radio host when she doesn’t stand for the President when he enters the Oval Office.

I don’t recall the entirety of circumstances around the scene, but other than the Bible lesson he schools her with, the part that sticks with me the most is the ending when he says “One last thing, while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tightass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits,” and then proceeds to stare her down until she stands up.

I hate this part. It completely undercuts his entire speech and moral argument. While I could recognize it as a power play, the biggest issue is she isn’t one of his staff members. She doesn’t work for the government, the White House, or for the President. No matter what the protocol might say, she has the RIGHT to sit down. Yes, perhaps he might have the authority to have her escorted from the premises for “being disruptive”, but I feel that he should have found some other way to humble her into showing respect, instead of using the office of the Presidency in that moment.

Mrs Fiderer and Mrs Frizzle from The Magic School Bus are both played by Lily Tomlin… my mind is blown. I need to go sit down…

Not sure if this idea has been floated on the subreddit before. What if there was a new West Wing-like show that mirrors the current political climate in the US. A denigrated version starring none other than Charlie Sheen. He could be a former reality TV star (which he really was at one point I believe) that gets into the office being bombastic, toxic, off-the-cuff bully. He could be a Democrat or Republican but with a strong emphasis on the negatives and how damaging a reactive, non politician would be in office.

I don’t know why I waited until now to watch this show. My parents watched it and loved it, and I was an angsty teenager who cared more about playing punk rock on guitar and video games with friends. When Newsroom came out, it even took me a while to watch that one and I ended up really enjoying it. But why it has taken me until 2026 to watch The West Wing? Perhaps I am looking for some hope in the world of politics and governance in the U.S. or finally getting to my list I have carried of shows I have been told to watch. But I just finished this show and what an experience.

Strong series. Loved the characters. And I know it is risky and naïve to write, but it seemed like a rosy look at how the office of the president can be truly honorable and held in high regard. It’s easy to get sucked into the scandals and underbelly of politics within our governing bodies, so it was nice to escape into a narrative that restored a sense of duty when serving in office. I don’t know, I am rambling. Great show, and the ratings make sense to me.

Thank you for your time.

To this day, I WISH I could be a smooth as Lord John.

#gerald

I was relistening to the podcast on a long car trip. Obviously it's her purview to not do an interview, it's just odd that every other main cast member joined the show. Even Rob Lowe - and they got Alan Alda. Yet she was never on, and I don't think they ever mentioned it. Was there a falling out with the cast? Did she not like her performance.