Anyone remember the TV series "West Wing"?

[Septua]

That was like 20 years ago. Season 3 episode 5. Bartlett is trying to get re-elected, while dealing with an investigation of himself after revealing to the country he was diagnosed with MS before being elected the first time.

The White House Counsel has told Abby the investigation will be about her rather than Bartlett and she is proposing some kind of deal, to avoid a hearing.

OLIVER
You broke some laws, Abby, and quite frankly you should be ashamed of yourself, but this investigation isn't about that.

ABBEY
Look...

OLIVER
It's about the criminalization of politics, an attempt to do in a hearing room what they couldn't do at the ballot box.

OLIVER
Truth isn't a luxury. You're gonna go in there, you're gonna swear an oath. You're gonna get asked questions, you're gonna tell the truth. It's the way you stand up and say "STOP!"

Bartlett's political advisor, Bruno, is a hard ball strategist trying to convince Sam and Toby to use some soft money for advertising:

BRUNO
I don't know any other way to fight fire, Toby.

SAM
Why are you so bent on carrying these idiot leaflets?

BRUNO
'Cause I am tired of working for candidates who make me think I should be embarrassed to
believe what I believe, Sam. I'm tired of getting them elected. We all need some therapy,
because somebody came along and said "liberal" means soft on crime, soft on drugs, soft on
Communism, soft on defense, and we're gonna tax you back to the Stone Age
because people shouldn't have to go to work if they don't want to.

And instead of saying "Well, excuse me, you right-wing, reactionary, xenophobic, homophobic, anti-education,
anti-choice, pro-gun, 'Leave it to Beaver' trip back to the fifties," we cowered in the corner and said "Please,
don't hurt me."

https://westwingwiki.com/2014/04/season-3-episode-6-gone-quiet/

[elleng]

1. KIDDING?

Watching marathon on HLN NOW, and have a complete set of the CDs.

'Please don't hurt me.' One of the most memorable lines in the entire series.

[RussBLib]

4. I think it's time to rename HLN

They don't have that much "news" anymore. Tons of crime dramas, like we can't get that anywhere else.

And I see that MTV hasn't played a music video in several years now.

[elleng]

5. I don't think I've ever watched it, until now.

Smart of them to take advantage of we West Wing fans; we've been watching 24/7 for 4 days!

[Ocelot II]

2. How can I forget it?

[Shellback Squid]

3. no

[Srkdqltr]

6. The more things change the more they stay the same.

It is eye opening to see how much things haven't changed. They just got nastier.

[Septua]

9. Change

I watched West Wing when it ran but was into the quality of the show, rather than the politics.

I was apolitical prior to 2016 with mostly nothing but contempt for politics and politicians. It was Trump and Trump alone, that changed my political perspective. I too, have been watching the CNN runs of the show. At the time I actually saw that episode, the dialogue didn't mean anything to me.

Seeing it 20 years later, the relevance of the words was immediate.

[Blue Owl]

7. I see it mentioned on DU all the time!

[Bayard]

8. One of the best shows ever!

Smart, savvy, and funny. Loved it.

[ColinC]

10. Josh Lyman's dark turn towards the founding of Gilead, was certainly tragic

[grantcart]

12. Well then he really went off the cliff with those medical experiments in Get Out

[ColinC]

13. But at least he voted for Obama twice!

[grantcart]

14. Lol and wanted him to run a third time!!!

[Lemon Lyman]

11. :-)

[Septua]

22. That's it...

I don't have the DU status to post vids.

[TrollBuster9090]

15. "Crime, boy I don't know."

"For future reference, 'crime, boy I don't know' was the moment I decided to kick your ass."

Another great line. That show was all that kept me sane through the BUSH Jr. years. Little did I know that, after a brief eight years of an enlightened President, things would get much, MUCH worse.

[hlthe2b]

16. Remember? Only M*A*S*H has been watched more times in my house...

I frequently had to watch an ever-competent and soothingly human, President Bartlett after even the mention of Trump as President or NEVER get to sleep.

[DFW]

17. West Wing was the most superbly written and acted American series I ever saw

I could binge watch it again and again until I knew each line from memory, and I think I'd STILL watch it a few more times.

[Paladin]

21. +1000. (nt)

[Raine]

18. I remember the name but I never watched it. nt

[MissMillie]

19. LOL Right now I'm watching the movie that inspired that series

"The American President"

While there are certainly some flaws in The West Wing, it will always be one of my favorites.

[Zorro]

23. Lawrence O'Donnell was a writer and producer

Won an Emmy for his effort.